Category: All Medical Marijuana News

How Cannabis Can Help You Cut Back on Alcohol and Live Healthier

When I first met cannabis, I virtually ended my relationship with alcohol entirely.

Breaking it off with the bottle wasn’t intentional; it was just a consequence of having something that offered similar stress-relieving qualities without the stomach aches, the hangovers, or the loss of control. Where alcohol offered an escape from the senses, cannabis made me appreciate every sensation and experience I could possibly take in. It brought back long-lost creativity and meaningful sociality, and motivated me to take better care of my physical self.

So why hadn’t I found this match made in heaven sooner? Simply put, I truly thought cannabis harmed the body and eroded the mind. The stigmatic differences between alcohol and cannabis was the only thing that led me to believe drinking was the favorable option.

As 2015 rolled into the New Year, a friend of mine sent me this e-book. It’s a short digital booklet that challenges you to take a “cannabis cleanse” – not in the sense that you’re ridding your body of cannabis. Quite the opposite, in fact. Instead, this guide shows you how to shed undesirable habits with (or without, up to you!) the help of cannabis.

A New Kind of Cleanse

The e-book, called Coming Clean with Cannabis, is a delightful encapsulation of one of life’s beautiful ironies: that this plant – this stigmatized natural anomaly – can help guide you to a healthier life, and you don’t even have to be a qualified medical marijuana patient to reap its benefits.

In talking with the book’s creators, Jane West and Kristen Williams, it was clear that this is a story common in many lives. “When I finally gave cannabis a chance only a few years back, I realized that the negative perceptions people have about this plant are misguided, and that it can actually benefit a lot of people in extraordinary ways,” Kristen said. “I hope this book helps to change perspectives on prohibition and encourages people to incorporate cannabis into their lives in a way that benefits their overall health and wellness.”

The book introduces the basics of cannabis from its effects on the body to choosing the right strain for your needs. Some of the 101-level information may not be new to you, but the importance comes with the challenge: how can you be more aware of what you’re putting in your body, whether that’s cannabis, alcohol, or food? And how can these habits promote other health-conscience lifestyle decisions such as socializing, exercise, or meditation? As Jane puts it, “This is the only body you will ever have,” so why not make taking care of it a top priority?

Cannabis and Alcohol in Social Contexts

Jane and Kristen’s book approaches health in a holistic way, but one recurring and central theme is alcohol consumption. This is an interesting concept because, in a lot of ways, people use alcohol in different ways than they do cannabis. For me, both cannabis and alcohol were social activities and stress relievers, but not everyone would agree with that. In fact, many find cannabis to worsen anxiety and discourage social behavior. What a majority of people don’t realize is, not all cannabis strains are created equal and not all may have this effect.

“Cannabis isn’t for everyone, but I know from my own personal experience that strains play a large role in your experience with it,” Kristen said. “Strains high in THC can produce anxious feelings, whereas strains high in CBD are much more mentally calming. If you’ve had an experience where cannabis induced anxiety instead of alleviating it, I would recommend trying a small dose (a fraction of what’s considered ‘typical’) of a strain high in CBD and seeing how that affects you.”

Jane added, “As the social use of cannabis is normalized and perceptions change, people may feel less and less anxious about their use or ‘being high’ which will elevate their experiences.”

Yes, the social experience of cannabis today is quite unlike that of alcohol. You can’t consume it in public places or bars. Non-smokers are typically deterred from cannabis altogether. And, the biggest reason of them all, it’s still illegal in most places. The exciting part is that these reasons are slowly being torn down. For example, Alaska just introduced cannabis cafes, smoke-free delivery methods are on the rise, and, hallelujah, cannabis prohibition is meeting its doom one state at a time.

Ready to Take on the Cleanse?

We may be halfway through January, but it isn’t too late to make a resolution for a healthier 2016. If you’re feeling inspired to take on the cleanse and practice more mindful living, flip through this book Jane and Kristen put together. I’ve never been good at cleanses or much of anything that requires a great deal of self-discipline, but as mentioned in the book, drive yourself to do anything for just 30 days and those healthier habits become a lot easier to integrate into your everyday living.

“We wanted to design a cleanse that would stick with people long-term instead of one that would inspire celebration after its long-awaited ending, and we didn’t want it to be focused entirely on weight loss,” Kristen said. “While weight loss a perfectly valid reason to cleanse, we feel that the real goal behind a cleanse is to become better at making good choices for your body. We also wrote the cleanse principles in a way that makes it clear the reader is choosing to take action instead of just following a list of rules, something that’s hard to do much longer than a month.”

Not everyone will feel like they can or want to substitute alcohol with cannabis, which is totally fine. You don’t need an exclusive relationship with one or the other. The point is to be educated on what options are available to you because, who knows, those options might revolutionize your life for the long haul.

How has cannabis impacted your wellness? Let’s hear your story in the comments section, or take our poll below.

Image Source: Mason Jar Event Group

How does cannabis impact your alcohol consumption?

Watch What Happens When Cannabis Is Injected Into Cancer Cells

Watch What Happens When Cannabis Is Injected Into Cancer Cells Back in 1974 there was a study done from the Washington Post that stated that THC, “slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36%.” Unfortunately, nothing was ever done […]

Hawaii Begins $5,000 Dispensary Application Licensing Process

Hawaii is gearing up for the launch of its medical marijuana program. The state has made the dispensary applications available online. Applications will be accepted until January 29, 2016. The cost of a dispensary license is $5,000. The state urges applicants to go through the application carefully and read the instructions in their entirety. Acceptance […]

Watch What Happens When Cannabis Is Injected Into Cancer Cells

Watch What Happens When Cannabis Is Injected Into Cancer Cells

Back in 1974 there was a study done from the Washington Post that stated that THC, “slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36%.”

Unfortunately, nothing was ever done after that study in regards to cannabis fighting cancer. In 1998, a new study, by Madrid Complutense states

” THC can cause cancer cells to die, and unlike chemotherapy, the THC kills nothing but the cancer cells, leaving the brain of course completely unharmed.” 

Watch the below video to show the effect of THC on cancer cells. While leaps and bounds have been made recently regarding the legalization of this substance, a lot of the research regarding cannabis fighting cancer has been halted due to legalities and major pharmaceutical companies.

The post Watch What Happens When Cannabis Is Injected Into Cancer Cells appeared first on CANNAiQ.

Getting Licensed in Oregon: Portland Retailer David Alport Tells All

When Oregon’s recreational laws took effect in October of last year, not a single recreational shop existed. Rather than delay openings by developing a process for licensing retail shops, the state simply allowed operational medical dispensaries to open doors to anyone over the age of 21.

Oregon is now phasing in its regulatory scheme in preparation to issue retail licenses. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission began accepting applications for retail permits last week, and it will continue accepting applications with no closing date in sight. State taxes came into effect on Jan. 4, although patients with an Oregon medical marijuana card can still purchase tax-free through the end of the year. The state intends to issue producer and laboratory licenses in February and retail licenses sometime in the fall, and applicants can hold multiple business licenses at a time, allowing for a vertically-integrated system. Unlike in neighboring Washington, Oregon has no cap on the number of licenses to be issued.

State officials anticipate issuing somewhere in the neighborhood of 850 total retail licenses, but that doesn’t necessarily mean 850 retail shops. Those licenses will be dispersed among producers, wholesalers, retailers, laboratories and research facilities.

Leafly reached out to David Alport, a veteran Oregon dispensary owner and prospective retailer to see how the process looks from the ground level. Alport has been in the cannabis industry since 2009, beginning as a commercial medical marijuana grower before expanding his role to dispensary owner. He now owns and operates two of Portland’s most successful dispensaries, Bridge City Collective Southeast and Bridge City Collective North. We sat down with Alport to find out more about the retail licensing process.

Leafly: If you’re already operating a dispensary, do you have an advantage in applying for a retail license?

David Alport: I think we do, mostly because the city of Portland has their own licensing process that we already went through in December. We’ve already locked down our spaces in such a way that the competition can’t push us out. Not only that, but we have an advantage in that we’re building a loyal customer base in the recreational market.

L: Approximately how much total overhead is needed to open a recreational store?

DA: That’s a tough one. I will say that whatever your projections are, double it!

L: Why’s that? What are the costs people overlook?

DA: The biggest cost new cannabiz owners overlook are the taxes. Until cannabis is declassified on the federal level, we won’t be able to write off major operating expenses such as marketing and payroll.

L: Do you think the licensing process will affect medical patients?

DA: No. Oregon patients will still be able to access their medicine tax-free through 2016. I do worry that there won’t be as many safe access points, and so we’re hoping to co-locate eventually — that we can work with the OLCC to allow both [medical and recreational] licenses under one roof.

L: Are you applying for a retail license?

DA: We are. And you know, we’re not too concerned about not getting a license.

L: What do you mean?

DA: So far the state has allowed for somewhat of a free market. It’s an “invisible hand” approach to letting the market play itself out. Right now dispensaries are selling medical marijuana for adult use to patrons 21 and older. Once the OLCC licenses take effect, we will be supplying cannabis that has been produced through the OLCC’s new system. I would bet that the majority of existing medical dispensaries will be making the switch this year.

At this point, we’re more concerned with being really thorough, complete and making sure we have a well-rounded application. We’re applying for three producer licenses and two retail licenses.

L: Realistically, when do you think that recreational shops will be opening?

DA: Well, technically, they already are open. As for the new retail shops, they’re not going to issue retail licenses until sometime between October and December. My bet would be towards the end of the year; they’re going to need a lot of time to get their ducks in a row.

L: Do you think the excise tax will be a deterrent to potential consumers? Has it been so far?

DA: Well, the Oregon Health Authority tax is at 25 percent right now, but by 2017 it should go down to 17 percent, with another 3 percent tax that can be taxed per municipality. So no matter what, it will go down 5 percent by next year.

It’s tough to say. The Oregon Health Authority excise tax is 25 percent, and it only went into effect on Jan. 4. We saw a lot of traffic before the tax kicked in, a lot of people coming in and stocking up. Since then we’ve definitely noticed a dip in traffic, but it’s starting to pick back up. I’ve noticed that people are still spending the same amount of money. If they came in to spend $10, they’re still going to spend $10. It’s just that more of that $10 is going towards the tax than to the store.

L: Is an attorney necessary to help you through the recreational licensing process?

DA: No, but it’s helpful. We’ve been consulting an attorney while applying for retail licenses, and it’s been very helpful.

L: One last question. Which state do you think will be the next to legalize?

DA: Oh, man. Nevada’s definitely going to legalize, and I’d really like to see California legalize, too. They’re just such a massive state, but there’s a lot that needs to go into a legalization push and I’m not sure they’re quite there yet.

Who Will Be Speaking At The Free Virtual Cannabis Health Summit On January 23-24?

The topic of medical marijuana is very complex. It’s more than just buying a bag of cannabis from someone, rolling it into joints, and smoking it. Chances are if you are reading this blog post, it’s because you suffer from some type of ailment or condition, and want to know more about how medical cannabis

Cannabis May Soon Come to Pharmacies in Israel

Israel may soon dramatically expand its medical cannabis program thanks to new reforms proposed by the country’s ministry of health. The health committee of the Knesset, Israel’s legislature, is set to consider the plan next week.

The changes would make cannabis available on pharmacy shelves and increase the number of licensed growers and physicians in order to address a bottleneck in patient access, Haaretz reports:

The Health Ministry has been discussing streamlining the permit process for cannabis use for two years and a plan was even published, but never applied.

In terms of supply, under the new plan the number of growers, which today is limited to eight, will no longer be restricted and anyone who meets the proper standards will be able to receive a grower’s and shipper’s permit.

The plan calls for distribution at specially licensed pharmacies, rather the current distribution system, by growers to certain distribution points or straight to patients’ homes. The plan would lift restrictions on the number of pharmacies allowed to market the drug; pharmacists would apply for a permit to market cannabis as they do for narcotics.

Cannabis would be available at pharmacies in the form of “cigarettes, cookies and oil,” according to The Times of Israel.

Currently only 36 doctors across the country can prescribe cannabis, leaving would-be patients facing monthslong waiting lists. The proposal aims to fix that, but Haaretz notes the details are still vague:

The new plan calls for training more doctors to prescribe cannabis; however, it mentions no specific numbers of physicians or a timetable. The plan only notes that “after the plan is inculcated and cannabis in the country is of proper quality and safety, the possibility will be studied … of moving to a regime of prescriptions, partial or full, and making the necessary legislative amendments.”

For more, see reports in Haaretz, The Times of Israel and the Yedioth Ahronoth.

OWC Pharmaceutical Research Raises $750,000

OWC Pharmaceutical Research (OTC:OWCP) has entered a $750,000 equity purchase agreement with Kodiak Capital Group.

As quoted in the press release:

Under the terms of the Agreement, OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp (“OWC” or the “Company”) has the right to sell Kodiak$750,000 of OWC’s common stock. Kodiak cannot require OWC to sell shares to Kodiak, but is obligated to make purchases as requested by OWC. Proceeds from the financing will be utilized by OWC to further develop the Company’s proprietary cannabis-centric products and for working capital.

OWC Pharmaceutical Research Chairman, Mordechai Bignitz, said:

We are very excited to receive our first direct investment from an institution, especially one as respected as Kodiak Capital Group. This proves to us at OWC that we are on the right track with our vision for clinical research by Institutional Review Board-approved trials, which is the prime message for the future of the Medical Cannabis market.

There are a number of companies working on cannabinoid-based therapies, but OWC Pharmaceutical Research is one of only a few that are conducting trials in accordance with IRB. We believe that this strategy not only provides OWC with a distinct competitive advantage, but that it will also demonstrate that cannabis therapies can be just as effective, if not more effective, than industrial pharmaceuticals. We have been working vigorously to complete the delivery methodology and safety protocol for our multiple myeloma cannabis-based formulation so that we can begin clinical trials for efficacy. This funding from Kodiak will facilitate that effort

Click here for the full press release.

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Vermont Governor & Attorney General Team Up For Legalization: The Leafly Roundup

The year has only just begun and legislators are already submitting new bills to transform the legal landscape for cannabis, even in some less likely places. Georgia and Indiana are making headway thanks to some very persistent members of Congress, Mississippi’s legalization initiative couldn’t quite make the cut, but Vermont is emerging as a leader for legalization with a major announcement and public show of support from some Very Important People. Even Germany is jumping into the mix with a drafted medical cannabis bill to carry cannabis medicines at pharmacies.

U.S. Cannabis News Updates

ALASKA

The Alaska Marijuana Board recently announced that they will be the first state to allow the onsite consumption—but not smoking–of cannabis in licensed retail shops, as well as in cannabis cafés similar to those found in Amsterdam. The Board is debating whether or not to allow the selling of edibles alongside the standard snacks and café fare. Once the Marijuana Board makes its decision, local counties and municipalities will still be able to allow or ban cannabis companies in the area.

Read more about the future of cannabis in Alaska.

GEORGIA

State Representative Allen Peake (R-Macon) is at it again, hoping to expand his medical marijuana legislation from last year with House Bill 722, a bill that would issue up to six licenses for the cultivation of medical cannabis, as well as expand the number of qualifying medical conditions from nine to 17 diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, intractable pain, and HIV/AIDS. He modeled his bill after Minnesota’s medical marijuana law, which is one of the strictest in the country and also does not include the use of flower, opting for cannabis oils, pills, and tinctures for patients.

INDIANA

The Indiana Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) filed Senate Bill 72 to legally protect physicians conducting clinical trials on the effectiveness of cannabidiol, while State Representative Sue Errington (D-Muncie) also recently filed a bill to help legalize medical marijuana. Unfortunately, it’s looking like Rep. Errington’s bill may be destined for the “committee graveyard,” which means it’s unlikely to move forward, although Sen. Leising’s proposal may have a fighting chance in the Indiana Congress after a promising 10-0 vote in favor of passing the bill through the Senate Agriculture Committee. Next up – the Senate floor for a full vote. Leising previously chaired an interim study on whether cannabis oil should be made legal for the treatment of children and a recent survey of her constituents found more support for marijuana than for the sales of alcohol on Sundays.

MISSISSIPPI

An attempt to legalize cannabis in Mississippi has failed to gain enough support to qualify for the 2016 general election ballot, signaling a disappointing, but not altogether unexpected, turn for the Magnolia State. The measure needed 107,000 signatures to earn a spot on the ballot, and the final tally of 13,320 fell far short. Initiative 48 would have legalized cannabis and regulated it like alcohol.

VERMONT

Governor Peter Shumlin gave a resounding State of the State address last week to his native Vermont, which included a call to action towards legalization. His speech even went so far as to outline his plan and recommendations for responsibly legalizing cannabis, including the following key requirements:

• Have protections in place to keep minors from buying; ·
• Feature taxes modest enough to keep prices low and put black-market sellers out of business;
• Provide tax revenue to expand addiction prevention programs;
• Strengthen existing DUI laws;
• Ban the sale of edible marijuana products until the state can figure out how to regulate them properly.

• In a remarkable show of support, former Vermont Attorney General Kimberly Cheney, a Republican, has thrown his support behind the effort to end cannabis prohibition. The Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana has scheduled a press conference on Tuesday to announce a new ad campaign featuring Cheney, the state’s former top law enforcement official.

These announcements coincided with a proposal from Senator Jeanette White called Senate Bill 241, which would create the legal framework for recreational legalization, starting with home cultivation, with retail sales to begin within a year. The bill sticks to many of the highlights from Shumlin’s speech, including a ban on edibles for the initial sales, only allowing the sale of cannabis flower and topicals. Incidentally, this proposal would also legalize cannabis cafés, indicating a shift towards the concept of public consumption.

International Cannabis News Updates

CANADA

Ontario is seeking guidance from the Canadian government on how to best regulate medical cannabis clinics and dispensaries, as well as retail shops for recreational cannabis. Premier Kathleen Wynne suggested that liquor stores, as part of the government-operated system, might be a suitable venue for legal sales due to a clear, well-regulated distribution network already in place.

In other Canadian news, Justin Trudeau’s administration has already begun receiving a plethora of petitions asking for an official pardon from the Prime Minister for low-level cannabis-related crimes. When asked if the government would consider it, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said she is working out the intricacies of the new legalization law and that questions of past convictions will likely be a conversation for down the road.

GERMANY

The Federal Health Ministry of Germany presented a draft bill last week for a law to make cannabis flower available by prescription from standard physicians. The bill would also force health insurance to reimburse patients for cannabis-based medicines under certain circumstances, and set up a regulated state agency for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis to pharmacies.

Health organizations such as the German Association for Cannabis as Medicine are encouraged to comment on the drafted bill until February 5th, upon which the Federal Health Ministry will take all comments into consideration.

Image Credit (cropped): Barr Law Group

Study: Marijuana Use Associated With Decreased Migraine Frequency

By Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Cannabis administration is associated with decreased migraine headache frequency, according to data published online ahead of print in the journal Pharmacotherapy. Investigators at the University of Colorado, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences retrospectively assessed cannabis’ effects on monthly migraine headache frequency in a group of 121 adults.

UFCW Praises Passage Of California Cannabis Worker Training Bill

Jim Araby, Executive Director of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, has issued the following statement on the Assembly Business and Professions Committee’s 13-0 passage of AB 26 by Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer. The UFCW is the only union representing cannabis workers in California. “AB 26 does something our union has advocated

Behind the Big Ban: Why California Towns are Scrambling to Oust Dispensaries

A typo in California’s new medical cannabis law is spurring dozens of cities to ban farms and dispensaries, threatening patients’ access to medicine and underscoring a deep cultural rift in the state.

Under the state’s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), passed in October, local governments have until March 1 to set their own rules on cannabis businesses. If they don’t act, the state automatically becomes the sole licensing authority for those companies.

Facing a looming deadline — and afraid of losing local control — many officials say the easiest response is a ban.

There’s just one thing: The deadline is a mistake. Literally. The law’s authors have said so. The March 1 cutoff “was mistakenly included as a holdover from previous drafts of the bill,” according to one author, Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg.

Last week Wood introduced an emergency measure to remove the deadline, and Gov. Jerry Brown has indicated he’ll sign it. The measure is now making its way through the Senate. Despite Wood’s assurance, the bans keep coming.

“In an abundance of caution, we have been advising our member cities to enact cultivation ordinances — in this case a ban — to make sure they preserve their regulatory authority whether the cleanup bill goes through or not,” Tim Cromartie, legislative representative for the League of California Cities, told the Los Angeles Times. “A ban is the quickest and cleanest way.”

But while it’s convenient for cities, a ban may leave patients without a legal way to obtain medicine.

“That solution may or may not be simple for lawmakers,” said Don Duncan, California director for Americans for Safe Access. “It is certainly not a simple solution for the patients who are affected by those bans, especially where those bans are commonplace.”

California became the first state to allow medical cannabis, in 1996, but some regions have never embraced the change. While the Bay Area is famously dispensary-friendly, municipalities in the southern and eastern parts of the state have often tried to eradicate them. When federal law enforcement declared a statewide “crackdown” on medical cannabis in 2011, it was at the invitation of frustrated local officials. Within months, authorities had wiped out hundreds dispensaries across broad swaths of the state.

Similar dynamics are at play in other states. Nearly 70 cities and counties in Oregon have banned state-licensed recreational shops and other cannabis businesses. The hard truth: Statewide legalization doesn’t necessarily mean it’s legal to grow or sell cannabis in every town.

Even if California lawmakers lift the March 1 deadline, it’s not clear the change would matter much in communities that don’t like cannabis. At least 87 local governments are considering or have approved bans on growth, sales or delivery, SF Weekly reports. In just the week since Wood announced the deadline fix, Leafly counted upward of 13 jurisdictions that tightened restrictions or enacted outright bans. (Unlike Oregon and some other states, California doesn’t officially track localities that ban cannabis.)

In Lemon Grove, Calif., dispensary operator Paula D’Onofrio recently pleaded with the City Council not to enact a ban, noting the drug’s success treating epilepsy and other ailments.

“I personally am not against the use of medical marijuana,” Mayor Mary Sessom wrote to D’Onofrio in an exchange obtained by Leafly. “I believe everything you say about your clients and the incredible value of the services you provide.”

Still, the mayor informed D’Onofrio that she intends to vote for the ban this month to preserve local control and “for the welfare of the City as a whole.” She added:

I think you will find many cities taking a harsh line initially. After that, I expect to see some sensibility in subsequent regulations.

Unfortunately, a few bad dispensaries have poisoned the public’s mind against this industry.

Sessom didn’t respond to Leafly’s requests for comment.

D’Onofio is working to submit an alternate ordinance that would allow dispensaries, but even if the city considers it, “I might be bankrupt by then.”

D’Onofio already faces thousands of dollars in fines because the city considers her dispensary a non-permitted business. She has attempted to get a permit, but Lemon Grove has refused to license dispensaries. The newly proposed ban would mean even stiffer fines, including the prospect of criminal prosecution.

“My plan going forward is to close down. I don’t want to get a record for this,” she told Leafly. “Once you have a criminal record in this country, you can’t do anything but be a criminal. … Your life is really affected by that.”

A few cities have used the deadline as an opportunity to look more closely at their stance on cannabis. In San Diego, not far from Lemon Grove, officials are considering allowing cultivation within the city limits, something that’s previously not been permitted. But until regulations are hammered out, San Diego’s plan is to enact a temporary ban.

Duncan at Americans for Safe Access pointed California residents to his group’s Local Access Project, which provides resources such as memos, reports and talking points designed to help influence local lawmakers.

“Hopefully over time what we’ll see is that with state licensing there will be more jurisdictions that allow for medical cannabis than there were before,” he told Leafly. “But in the short term I’m afraid we’re going to see more bans.”

No More Little Amsterdams: Seattle Zones Out Dispensary Districts

Ever wonder why certain Seattle neighborhoods have so many dispensaries, while others have none? It has to do with zoning, and it’s all about to change.

The Seattle City Council unanimously agreed Monday night to reduce the minimum distance between cannabis businesses and sensitive areas, such as child-care centers and public parks. Since 2012 that distance has been set at 1,000 feet. The new rules set dispensary buffer zones at 250 feet in the downtown core and at 500 feet in other parts of the city.

Buffers for producers and processors will be 250 feet citywide. And no more than two cannabis businesses can be within 1,000 feet, or roughly five city blocks, of one another.

Washington’s Initiative 502, the 2012 measure to legalize adult-use cannabis, established the original 1,000-foot buffer. The state Legislature last year reduced that to 100 feet, although the 1,000-foot rule around schools and playgrounds still remains in effect statewide.

Shrinking the buffer zones, Council members said, will keep cannabis businesses away from sensitive areas while preventing clusters of dispensaries — or “Little Amsterdams” — from sprouting up around the city.

“We are at the leading edge of a new industry,” said Councilman Mike O’Brien, who authored the legislation. “We’re trying our best to get this right.”

Supporters said the change will help legal cannabis compete with the illicit market by giving consumers more convenient access to state-licensed shops.

With the state already on track to issue more dispensary licenses, the new city rules could bring up to 21 new dispensaries to Seattle.

Existing buffer zones caused dispensaries to cluster together in areas like SODO, where James Lathrop runs Cannabis City. He was among those who supported the change.

“We’re here because of this crazy zoning,” Lathrop told Kiro 7. “We’re a block away from the dump.”

Photo credit: Space Needle via photopin (license)

Best Cannabis Strains for Focus and ADD/ADHD

Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, sometimes we need a little help concentrating. You’ve probably noticed that certain varieties of cannabis help you stay focused and productive while others can send your mind completely off the rails. Finding that perfect focusing strain requires a little self-analysis first: What is it that’s impeding your concentration? Are you disengaged? Do your thoughts race? Think of the below sections as your roadmap to the right strain.

We’re still waiting for research to provide more guidance on why cannabis might or might not help someone with ADD/ADHD, but we’re limited mostly to personal anecdotes. As s, it’s not a bad idea to try a few different strains – a high-THC strain, a low-THC strain, high-CBD, balanced THC-CBD, and so on. At the end of this list, you’ll also find some appetite-boosting, sleep-inducing strains for those of you experiencing the negative side effects of stimulant ADD/ADHD medications.

Strains for Mental Energy and Engagement

Cinex is the strain you reach for when that cup of coffee didn’t do the job. Providing wired euphoria that feeds creativity, this sativa can rekindle interest in tasks that may otherwise be a drag. Take caution with this one if you’re prone to anxiety and racing thoughts; Cinex can turn that up in some individuals.

It’s famous for a reason. Sour Diesel is one of the highest-rated strains on Leafly for treatment of ADD/ADHD, quite possibly due to its ability to shine a new, engaging light on activities and tasks. Speedy euphoria lets your mind stay nimble, but remember that dosing is key. Overdoing a potent sativa like Sour Diesel can have the opposite of your desired effect.

“It makes your frontal lobe act in ways you could never have imagined. It’s almost like Sour Diesel is a key, a key that opens up whole realms of your mind that you were once ignorant of.”

According to lore, this sativa was dubbed Green Crack by Snoop Dogg because its effects were so intensely stimulating. Green Crack had to make the list because, in my experience, few other strains can match its energy and focus. It sharpens the senses and brings vibrancy to the dull, all with an enticing tropical citrus flavor.

Click here to browse more strains with stimulating, focused effects.

Strains for Calming Focus

Sometimes what you need to concentrate isn’t something that speeds your brain up, it’s something to slow the brain down. The indica-dominant True OG is touted among reviewers for knocking down stress and distractions for easier focus.

“Comes on kind of slowly. Is a chilling high, but you can easily focus and do things like schoolwork, cleaning, etc.”

Blueberry Headband captures the perfect synergy of its two parents. From Headband, it inherits a supercharged cerebral effect that lends a spark of creativity. The Blueberry parent softens the euphoric intensity of Headband, providing a mellow, full-body experience that allows your thoughts run at a more manageable pace.

Click here to browse more strains with relaxing, focused effects.

Strains for Cognitive Clarity

A cross between Sour Tsunami and Harlequin, Harle-Tsu is a high-CBD strain that contains minimal levels of THC. It eases you into a sober, clear-headed calm as its relaxing effects come with minimal psychoactive impact, so you can keep your cognitive faculties intact. If you’re having trouble finding Harle-Tsu near you, try finding its high-CBD parent strains or close relative, Canna-Tsu.

“A good herb for relaxation. Not much of a cerebral high, but what little high you do get is focused and energetic but calm. Its good to mix with some powerful indicas to even it out.”

Calming physical sensations coupled with agile cerebral focus, Harlequin is another high-CBD strain that should be on your radar if concentration is hard to come by. Although this ratio can fluctuate, Harlequin typically expresses a 5:2 ratio of CBD:THC, so expect some euphoric stimulation in the mind.

Click here to browse more strains with a high CBD content.

Strains for ADD/ADHD Medication Side Effects

A genetic cross between Blueberry and Hindu Kush, Goo provides the golden trifecta of effects for those treating ADD/ADHD: appetite, sleepiness, and focus. This strain is meant for winding down, which can be difficult if you’re prescribed psychostimulant drugs that may stunt the appetite and keep you tossing and turning at night.

“Currently one of my favorite strains. When my brain is too active I smoke this and it helps calm it down.”

Jupiter OG is another indica strain that can help restore appetite and restfulness when the side effects of your medications are at their worst. This indica may still provide a little kick of focus, but it should definitely be saved for later in the night when you’re ready to help your brain shut down.

Click here to browse more appetite-enhancing, sedating strains.

Watch Conan O'Brien's Funniest Cannabis Segments

Last week Conan O’Brien delighted fans with a segment where he helped one of his staffers practice her driving skills. With the help of Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, the quartet cruised through Los Angeles, eventually stopping at a medical marijuana dispensary and filling a piñata full of fluffy buds.

This isn’t the first time Conan has wrung laughs from cannabis. Across his many talk shows throughout his career (from “Late Night” to “The Tonight Show” to “Conan”), he’s dedicated quite a few jokes and funny segments to the versatile plant. Here’s a roundup of some of his best bits to-date.

Conan and Martha Stewart Have Some Arts and Crafts Time

Bonus points to Martha for identifying the leaves as “Cannabis sativa.”

Conan’s “Camera Man” Feels the Effects of Too Many Edibles

As Conan discusses Maureen Dowd’s op-ed about getting entirely too high from a very potent edible, Conan’s “camera man” has a paranoid inner monologue where he confesses to eating an entire “weed Rice Krispie treat” and is convinced everyone can tell he’s stoned. We’ve all been there (OK, maybe not the “jumping out of a window” part).

Conan Explores Why Teen Cannabis Use is Declining

Conan reports that fewer teens are using cannabis, which leads to a segment where a dad demands to know why his son refuses to enjoy the bag of product he left out.

Conan and Andy Richter Share a “Pot Brownie” with Larry King

After Larry King tells Conan he gave up smoking cannabis because he was afraid it’d lure him back to smoking cigarettes after he’d suffered a heart attack, Conan recommends he try edibles instead and the trio splits a “pot brownie” on camera.

Do you think it’s actually an infused brownie? I want to believe. (Also, I vote to change the word “joints” to “cuckoo dust.”)

Conan Shoots Bricks of Cannabis at Cardboard Cutouts of Celebrity “Stoners”

After sharing reports of Mexican police confiscating cannons designed to shoot bricks of cannabis across the Mexico–U.S. border, Conan insists that Mexico loaned his crew a cannon so they could hurl packages of marijuana at the mouths of cannabis-friendly celebrities in cardboard cutout form. Targets include Seth Rogen and Miley Cyrus, with the “ultimate celebrity stoner” being saved for last. Who is it? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Conan Sees How Well a “Cannabuster” Works to Determine if a Driver is Under the Influence of Cannabis

After hearing about two Ohio graduate students working on a “cannabuster” to help police determine whether a driver is under the influence of cannabis, he shows the audience how well the test works.

Conan Shares a “Pro-Legalization” Ad

Conan highlights California’s efforts to legalize cannabis, first showing an anti-legalization ad before airing a convincing argument in support of cannabis legalization.

Andy Predicts the Downsides of Breeding “Marijuana-Eating Locusts”

One of Conan’s best recurring segments was “In the Year 2000,” where he and Andy Richter would make outlandish predictions for the near future. In this clip, Andy insists that the government eventually breeds “marijuana-eating locusts” in order to “combat drug use,” but the secret project has to be abandoned for a very valid reason.

Conan Asks a Guest How She Reacted to Being Cast as a “Pot-Smoking Granny”

One of my favorite Conan clips of all time is short but oh-so-sweet. He interviews the late Helen Martin, who appears in the 1996 spoof comedy Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. When Conan asks Ms. Martin how she felt about being cast as a “pot-smoking granny,” her response becomes an instant classic.

Attend The Oregon Quarterly Cannabis Caucus Tomorrow In Portland

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is doing a very cool thing. NCIA is hosting a series of quarterly caucus events across the country for the growing industry. There is one going on in Portland tomorrow. I attended an NCIA event in Portland a little while ago and met Earl Blumenauer and a bunch of

Cannabis Science Stock Update: Will it Really Be a Healthier New Year?

Cannabis Science (OTCMKTS:CBIS) put out its guidance for the new year on January 5, stating that it is starting out the new year healthier than ever before.

The company is focused on the development of cannabis-based medicines, with an initial focus on skin cancers, HIV/AIDS and neurological conditions, and says that it has placed a heavy emphasis on accelerating its pharmaceutical drug development programs. Its main goal is to acquire national and international regulatory approval for its cannabis-based formulations.

“2015 was a great year of growth for our Company. We made a great deal of progress with our drug development, acquisition strategy, product roll out, and strategic partnership search,” said company President and CEO Raymond Dabney in a statement. “With that said, 2016 is looking to be an exciting year for Cannabis Science. We are kicking off the new year with new products already brought to market — a huge head start over last year.”

In mid-December, the company secured a drug development agreement for CS-NEURO-1, a step toward starting phase 1 human clinical trials in Europe. Then, in November, Cannabis Science launched its cannabinoid-formulated capsule product line in California; back in May, it acquired pet care manufacturer and distributor Equi-Pharm with a view to entering the pet care industry.

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However, it’s worth noting that the Cannabis Science stock price has fallen over 80 percent in the past year, and is currently trading just above a penny. In fact, aside from a small share price spike last August, shares of the company remained steadily on the downtrend for the entire year — and so far in 2016, the Cannabis Science stock price is down 12 percent.

Diane Alter at Money Morning offered some insight into the company’s situation back in May. “The Colorado Springs, Colo.-headquartered company maintains its immediate focus is to treat cancer,” she said. “Its main focus, however, should be its massive cash burn.”

Alter explained that the company had just $10,000 in cash, as per its annual report released in April, and that Cannabis Science had reported assets worth $166,000 compared to liabilities of about $3.96 million.

Taking a look at the company’s most recent report for the quarter ended September 30, the situation hasn’t improved much. Cannabis Science had $4,791 in cash, $138,000 in assets and $5.1 million in liabilities. Revenues came in at $4,150, but the company also recorded a $3.9-million net loss.

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Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. (TSXV:NSP) is the only publicly-traded company in the world offering investors an opportunity to gain exposure to the hemp-based healthy foods and omega markets. Connect with Naturally Splendid Enterprises to instantly receive their next catalyst.

However, despite those numbers, one analyst still appears to be positive on the company. On Novemeber 24, Cannabis Science shared an independent analyst report from Charles Reed of Caprock Research; in it, the firm gives Cannabis Science an ‘Accumulate’ recommendation, a near-term share price target of $0.05 and a long-term target of $0.10.

In the 33-page report, the Reed admits that Cannabis Science stock has been under significant pressure, but states that the company appears to have a “first mover” advantage in terms of targeting particular applications for cannabinoids. The report was disseminated via Wall Street Corner.

To be sure, Cannabis Science is still a long way off from reaching the price targets mentioned above, and its balance sheet isn’t so healthy. Still, interested investors will no doubt be standing by for updates.

The Cannabis Science stock price is currently sitting at $0.0132. It has traded within a 52-week range of $0.01 to $0.07, with an average daily trading volume of 6.76 million shares. The company has a market capitalization of 17.19 million.

Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

The post Cannabis Science Stock Update: Will it Really Be a Healthier New Year? appeared first on Investing News Network.

What Does Healing Mean to You, and How Can CBD Help?

This article is sponsored by IrieCBD, an online retailer of premium organic CBD products including vapes, tinctures, skin care, honey sticks and the finest chocolates.

What does healing mean to you? Like a zen koan, it’s a question that can unfold and inform. Regardless of one’s individual answer, there’s power in saying “yes” to healing. Opening ourselves to the possibility can bring adjustments that pave the way for physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

When considering the meaning of healing, it’s important to distinguish between healing and a cure. To cure is to make something go away; healing is an expression of greater wholeness. Whether a health challenge, a behavioral change, or a growth point in a relationship, there is always an internal and an external aspect of healing. When we get the internal attitude and the external support right, power to heal is released.

Healing is often about discovering what is holding us back in the first place. We all get in our own way at times; whether it’s constantly staying tied to work via cell phone or sacrificing sleep in favor of getting more done, it’s easy to be resistant and persistent in patterns that aren’t serving us. The internal component of healing is often an allowing, a relaxing, and a willingness to see things differently. The external component can entail many things, one of which is plant medicine.

Plant Medicine and Integrated Healing

If we take into account the amount of stress that most of us are under in a normal day, as well as the lack of good nutrition in the average diet, it’s no wonder that we are experiencing unprecedented levels of diabetes, obesity, autism, anxiety, cancer, autoimmune conditions, and other expressions of imbalance. Medicinal plants could play a much larger role in most people’s lives by helping them maintain a balanced, healthy state.

Plant medicine works through the introduction of nutrients that bind with many sites in the body. These nutrients support proper biochemical processes, many of which increase physical, mental, and emotional resiliency. Plants differ from pharmaceuticals in that they are supportive and therapeutic without being dictatorial. They don’t force a particular function on the body; instead, they offer support in ways that allow greater adaptability and capacity for homeostasis. The body can often use the same medicinal plant to address either a hyper or a hypo state of imbalance, frequently making these plants more effective agents for healing than pharmaceuticals. The same is true of the potential of medicinal plants in helping the body maintain an existing state of wellness.

Of all medicinal plants, cannabis is recognized as one of the most important. It is unique because it is the only plant to contain significant amounts of different cannabinoids. Many doctors and nutritionists claim that cannabinoids should be listed as essential nutrients: whereas deficiencies of certain vitamins can beget specific conditions (vitamin C and scurvy, vitamin D and rickets), a diet low in cannabinoids leaves a person more susceptible to imbalances. Cannabinoids are a big deal.

The Role of Cannabinoids in Maintaining Health

Most people reading this article are familiar with the role cannabinoids play in supporting the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a modulating system that resets the nervous system and helps to protect it from a host of stressors. It also balances the immune system and increases cell-to-cell communication. Cannabis is the closest thing to a panacea of all the plants available: it lowers blood sugar levels, reduces muscle spasms, relieves anxiety, is used to manage psychosis, and features anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. We are still in the infancy of reaching our full potential with this plant.

Products like Irie’s aim to capture the unique healing properties of cannabis with extracts high in one of its primary cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD). In each extract blend, CBD delivers a wide range of benefits of its own, which can figure into maintaining an existing state of wellness as well as addressing a state of imbalance. To augment these benefits, other medicinal plant extracts are added to create specialized blends like Irie’s CBD Calm, CBD Stress Support, CBD Lifeline, and CBD Flex. Each one is meant to accentuate a particular healing quality of CBD.

For example, CBD Calm includes the essential oils of lavender and peppermint, which potentiate and magnify the calming effects of CBD to help soothe the nervous system. CBD Stress Support adds extracts of four adaptogenic herbs: maca, mucuna, ashwaganda, and holy basil, which together are meant to help balance hormones, blood sugar levels, energy levels, and the stress response itself. CBD Lifeline, designed to address more serious health issues, includes frankincense, ginger, and sandalwood – powerful oils chosen based on their long history of helping people with medical conditions. CBD Flex incorporates Celadrin, whose esterified fatty acids create a sort of “fish oil on steroids” intended not only to relieve pain but to address joint healing directly. The same process of blending CBD with complementary medicinal plant extracts and herbs is used in the creation of specialty chocolates, honey sticks, and coconut sticks in Irie’s product line.

True healing often starts with a shift in how one relates to oneself – a willingness to pinpoint where our issues are stemming from, and to address them at their source. This shift is not always easy. CBD products like Irie’s are meant to help provide support at the most fundamental level, when our normal way of operating is not getting it. They are, in a sense, a “yes” to healing.

To explore Irie’s complete product line, visit www.iriecbd.com.

Check Out A Free Virtual Cannabis Health Summit On January 23-24

There are so many cannabis events these days. Some focus on industry, some focus on entertainment, and others focus on any number of other niches/topics within the marijuana world. I don’t attend many events, mainly because I don’t like to travel. More often than not I wait for an event to be over, and then

Ep. 41 – She's a social media pro; He plans for national expansion

Published: Jan 9, 2016, 2:21 pm • Updated: Jan 9, 2016, 2:21 pm Cannabist Staff Featured guests: Rise Above Social Strategies founder Lauren Gibbs and Mindful director of government and public affairs Erik Williams. Podcast: Play in new window | Download We’re talking about problems legal marijuana businesses are having with social media and sudden […]

Oregon Cannabis Association Is Hosting A Time Capsule Party

Below is an event that I saw on Facebook. It’s being hosted by the Oregon Cannabis Association. Below is more information via the event’s Eventbrite page: Would you have guessed this is what the cannabis industry would look like in 2016? What will it look like in 2019? Please join the OCA for our 2016

US CO: At A Pot Credit Union, Still No Joint Accounts

Los Angeles Times, 07 Jan 2016 – Judge Blocks a Denver Institution That Wants to Serve the Cannabis Industry, Saying He’s Upholding Federal Law. DENVER – Saying he could not look the other way in the face of criminal behavior, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a local credit union seeking approval to become what would be the first financial institution to openly serve the cannabis industry. Doug Pensinger

How To Save Water When Growing Marijuana Plants Outdoors

What Is The Best Way To Save Water When Cultivating Cannabis Outdoors? My friend Bee sent me a link today on social media that greatly impressed me. The link was to a video of a guy who pitched on the TVShark Tank. The guy was pitching a product that helps outdoor plants consume less water

Tommy Chong: Marijuana Icon And Entrepreneur

By Anthony Johnson Cannabis cultural icon Tommy Chong has had his ups and downs over the years, in many ways his journey is very fitting for the cannabis community. Getting his big breaks in standup comedy and movie roles that centered on cannabis culture, Tommy was an entrepreneur during more “gray market” days that landed

Weekend Weirdness: Cannabis-Growing “Nuns” Refuse to Back Down Despite Cultivation Ban

The Blues Brothers may have been “on a mission from God,” but these self-described “nuns” in Merced, California, are on a mission to produce high-CBD products for ailing patients, and they’re not going to back down despite a recent city ordinance banning cannabis cultivation and sales.

Called the “Sisters of the Valley,” Sister Kate and Sister Darcey grow high-CBD cannabis plants in the garage of their shared home, and while they describe themselves as nuns, they’re not Catholic (or especially religious, for that matter). They’ve grown their small Etsy business from making $300 a day to over $3,000 a day, with purchases coming in from all over the world.

Unfortunately, on Monday, the Merced City Council voted to temporarily ban the cultivation and sale of cannabis until it can determine what the city should allow. The Merced Sun-Star notes that cultivation and sales have never actually been illegal in Merced, and the recent ordinance was approved in order to “retain local control on regulations.”

So where does that leave the Sisters of the Valley? As the city struggles to come up with a permanent solution, the ladies remain undeterred and are instead doubling down on their illegal endeavors by moving their operation to a farm in Merced County to increase their output. “Really, what last night did was fuel the fire for everyone to work harder to change their minds,” said Sister Darcey.&

Sister Kate agreed, telling ABC 30, “[Legalization is] gonna happen here. It’s inevitable so why not stand our ground?”

Legit or not, these “nuns” mean business, and they’re not backing down without a fight. Check out this video of them makin’ salves and takin’ names:

Alaska to Become the First State With Legal Cannabis Cafés

Alaska is poised to become the first U.S. state to allow cannabis consumption in businesses open to the public. The Alaska Marijuana Board has been hard at work drafting regulations, and cafés could become part of Alaska’s cannabis culture as soon as this summer.

Clubs for medical patients in Alaska have existed in a legal gray area for some time and began springing up after the state legalized medical marijuana in 1998. The medical rules were ambiguous, and combined with a lack of regulatory oversight allowed social clubs with onsite consumption to fly under the radar. They operate in a sort of loophole: Patients in Alaska are allowed to grow cannabis and consume it in private, which proponents say allows for clubs open only to members, not the public.

Law enforcement and other authorities allowed the clubs to exist presumably because the state never established a clear system for medical dispensaries. As a result, patients were stuck between growing their own cannabis or resorting to the black market.

But with the Last Frontier’s legalization of recreational cannabis, things are about to change. Before long, consumption in Alaska could look a lot more like the coffeeshops of Amsterdam.

One important distinction is that the proposal as it currently stands will allow only cannabis-infused edibles to be consumed on site. The Alaska Marijuana Board, which will have ultimate authority over the cafés, is still debating whether the establishments will be able actually to sell cannabis edibles or whether consumers will have to bring their own.

In addition, municipalities will still have the option to ban cannabis businesses, and Anchorage is already seeing problems on the horizon. Anchorage has a ban on public consumption, which means retailers that might otherwise be licensed for onsite consumption could face bureaucratic red tape in trying to open a business within the city limits.

The state’s legalization initiative technically forbids public consumption, too, but it doesn’t define what constitutes a public place.

Potential legal battles aside, this announcement bodes well for the future of cannabis in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The state board is slated to begin accepting applications for cannabis business licenses on Feb. 24 and is expected to start issuing licenses in late May.

Watch Conan O'Brien Visit a Dispensary and Fill a Piñata Full of Cannabis

Red-coiffed late night talk show host Conan O’Brien recently “helped” one of his staffers practice for her driver’s license test, with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart joining in on the shenanigans. Their sage words of wisdom to new drivers include the following gems:

• Shout “You’re my bitch!” to cars that you pass.
• Fling pennies (or batteries, if you’re Ice Cube) at bad drivers.
• Wear your seat belt (even Tupac, one of the “biggest thugs” Ice Cube’s known, always wore his seat belt).
• Driving a car without power windows is, according to Kevin Hart, “a big mistake,” because you look too stupid hurling expletives at someone before having to hand-crank the window back up.

With these essential driving basics out of the way, Conan purchases a piñata that is, appropriately, shaped like a car. His student, Diana Chang, spots a nearby dispensary so they pop in to check out what’s in stock. Kevin Hart instructs Conan to get some cannabis-infused Sour Patch Kids (Conan demands “two kilos,” which I’m pretty sure would erode the inside of his mouth), and Conan demands the budtender fill his piñata with jars of cannabis (including Green Crack). The group then absconds with a duct-taped piñata full of bud and a medical marijuana tapestry that they drape across the front of their car.

After Diana appears to hot box the car from the back seat (although I suspect that’s actually a prop, ‘cuz illegal), the group gets chided by a bicycle cop for blocking the intersection before finishing the segment at a Popeye’s parking lot while they chow down on fried chicken. Basically, Conan looks to be the best worst driver’s education instructor ever.

The entire segment is 11:38 long and well worth the laughs, but the dispensary portion starts at about the 9:00 mark. Click on the screenshot to head over to Team Coco for the video (sorry folks, their embed seems wonked):

Header image source (background retouched): Gage Skidmore via Flickr Creative Commons

These Oregon Cities Have Banned Cannabis

Recreational cannabis is legal in Oregon, but not everyone’s in on the fun. Already at least 68 cities and 18 counties across the state have banned retail stores or other types of cannabis businesses, according to news reports and a list published this week by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Some areas have enacted temporary bans but will put the issue before voters in the general election. We’ve marked those municipalities with asterisks(*). If you live in one those locations, or know someone who does, be sure to vote!

No matter where you are in the state, adults 21 and over are free to possess and consume cannabis in private, and it’s still legal to grow your own. The state has a website with more detailed information.

In addition to retail shops, municipalities below have banned producers, processors and wholesale unless otherwise noted.

Cities

• Adrian
• Albany*
• Aumsville*
• Baker City
• Boardman
• Brownsville*
• Burns
• Canyon City
• Coburg*
• Cove
• Creswell*
• Damascus*
• Dayville
• Eagle Point*
• Elgin
• Fairview*
• Gervais*
• Gladstone*
• Grants Pass*
• Grass Valley
• Halsey*
• Heppner
• Hubbard — ordinance is temporary and will expire Aug. 1 or when city adopts zoning and other regulations, whichever comes first
• Ione
• Irrigon
• Island City
• Jacksonville* — allows cultivation; bans processors, wholesale and retail sales
• John Day
• Jordan Valley
• Joseph
• Junction City*
• Klamath Falls
• LaGrande
• Lake Oswego*
• Lebanon*
• Lexington
• Lyons*
• Manzanita*
• Maupin*
• Medford* — bans retail; allows producers, processors and wholesale
• Merrill
• Mill City*
• Millersburg*
• Milton-Freewater*
• Monument
• Moro
• Mount Angel*
• Mount Vernon
• Myrtle Point*
• North Powder
• Nyssa
• Ontario
• Oregon City*
• Pendleton*
• Prairie City
• Richland
• Rufus
• Sandy*
• Shaniko*
• Spray
• Sutherlin*
• Sweet Home*
• Tangent*
• Ukaih
• Umatilla
• Vale
• Wallowa
• Wasco

Counties

• Baker
• Crook
• Deschutes*
• Douglas*
• Grant
• Harney
• Jefferson*
• Klamath
• Lake*
• Linn*
• Malheur
• Marion*
• Morrow
• Sherman
• Umatilla
• Union
• Wallowa
• Wheeler

New York's Medical Cannabis Market Debuts Today!

After a year and a half of nail-biting anticipation, New York’s medical marijuana program is finally ready to make its debut.

There are only five organizations licensed to dispense cannabis products in the state of New York, and it looks like it will be a race to open doors to the public Thursday, almost exactly a 18 months from the program’s inception. And remarkably that’s exactly as planned.

Columbia Care’s CEO Nicholas Vita has promised that their 14^th Street location in Union Square will be open, with tested products ready and available on the shelves.

Vireo Health of New York, formerly known as Empire State Health Solutions, announced that they may be the first dispensary, quite possibly in nation, to offer cannabis products that have been certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Vireo Health will be opening a location today in Westchester, with the others to follow by the end of January.

PharmaCann, already firmly established as a major player in the Illinois medical cannabis market, is planning to open two locations today: one in Buffalo and another in Liverpool. Its other two locations will not be opening until later this month.

Staten Island-based Bloomfield Industries will be operating dispensaries in Manhattan, Williamsville and Syracuse, although it’s looking likely that the first location to open will be in Lake Success on Marcus Boulevard.

Etain is a rare breed for a dispensing organization in that they are entirely women-owned and operated. Leafly caught COO Keeley Peckham as she was driving between locations in a desperate dash to open two dispensaries in 12 hours. Etain Health will be opening locations in Kingston and Albany this week, she said, and they’ve already announced that they will be carrying three strains: one with high CBD, one with a balanced CBD-THC ratio and one high-THC strain, all of which are sponsored by Bhang Medicinals.

It’s a tremendous occasion for all involved and congratulations are in order for the hardworking teams rushing to meet a tight deadline. It will be an interesting experiment to watch medical cannabis rollout in the Big Apple, as there will likely be a few bumps in the road. But it’s encouraging that the program is on track and dispensaries are ready to serve patients.

Will there be any patients to serve? For more information on how to register as a physician or a patient, please visit the New York State Medical Marijuana Program.

Colorado Marijuana Users Health Cohort

Primary Outcome Measures: Long term medical effects of marijuana use [ Time Frame: measured at baseline visit ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ] Secondary Outcome Measures: Blood and urine will be collected and retained for study purposes to look at biomarkers and correlated cannabinoid (THC) levels. Marijuana is currently used for both recreational and medicinal purposes in Colorado. The major active drug is […]

Washington Could Welcome Out-of-State Investors, Mr. Yuk

In a sharp break from previous policy, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is considering a rule change that would allow out-of-state investors to enter the state’s regulated market.

The proposed revision, announced earlier today, would address a chronic problem for Washington’s cannabis industry: drumming up enough funds solely from a pool of residents who’ve lived in the state for longer than six months. It could bring a flood of out-of-state cash as investors scramble to get in on a rapidly growing industry.

Out-of-state financiers will still be subject to the same financial and criminal background checks that in-state investors must pass, board spokesman Brian Smith told the Associated Press.

The proposed change was one of many announced Wednesday as part of the effort to merge the state’s medical and recreational programs in light of recent legislation. If adopted, the new rules would would take effect in March.

Among the other proposals, one of the most visible — at least to consumers — would be the required inclusion of Mr. Yuk stickers on labels for cannabis-infused edibles.

The Mr. Yuk rule could spark debate. The stickers are meant to warn young children away from poison, which makes them a convenient tool to keep kids away from cannabis products. But cannabis isn’t poison. Colorado tried this sort of mixed message with its “THC stop sign” proposal, which it later replaced with a diamond in response to pushback.

Other proposed changes being considered by the board would:

• Add carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent that can be used for extraction under certain conditions by patients or providers
• Add language prohibiting cannabis-infused products that require baking or cooking
• Remove language prohibiting the use of terpenes and cannabinoids
• Remove language prohibiting characterizing flavors for inhalants
• Require licensees be up to date on state taxes
• Require licensees to file employee compensation and benefits data

The full list of proposed rules are on the LCB’s website. Public comments are due to the board by Feb. 10.

Cannabis Exec Gary Johnson Launches Presidential Bid… We Think

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who until recently was president and CEO of the company Cannabis Sativa Inc., announced earlier today that he’s running for president as a Libertarian.

“I am announcing my candidacy right now for the Libertarian nomination,” Johnson said Wednesday on Neil Cavuto’s Fox Business show, positioning himself as a kind of Bernie Sanders for the free-men-free-markets crowd.

“Crony capitalism is alive and well,” he declared. “It’s Democrats and Republicans that contribute to that. I’d like to be that choice that is not going to succumb to that.”

With this week’s announcement, Johnson becomes the first cannabis industry executive to run for the nation’s highest office. Johnson also ran on the Libertarian ticket in 2012, receiving 1,275,971 votes, or just under 1 percent.

Here’s the curious thing, though. It’s unclear whether Johnson is actually now running for president — or whether he’s been in the race all along but nobody knew it.

A quick search of the Federal Election Commission’s list of candidates who’ve submitted Presidential Form 2, which must be filed within two weeks of receiving more than $5,000 in donations, doesn’t include Johnson’s name. It turns up Aidan Johnson, Barry Lester Johnson, John Fitzgerald Johnson, Krystal Shantrell Johnson, and even London Mayor Boris Johnson (filed by the “Committee to Take Back the British Empire Starting With America”) — but no Gary Johnson.

If Johnson just now entered the race, that might not be a big deal. It could mean that Johnson merely hasn’t gotten around to filing yet or that his war chest is chirping crickets. It could even mean his full legal name simply ends in a word other than “Johnson.”

But here’s the rub: The Cannabis Sativa website has an item from Sept. 9 announcing that Johnson “has become the second U.S. presidential candidate accepting bitcoin.” If accurate, that would indicate he declared his candidacy at least four months ago.

In any event, the cannabis industry’s candidate is in! And his new website, www.garyjohnson2016, proudly makes… ah… no mention of his executive work with cannabis brand “hi” or Cannabis Sativa Inc.

Come on, Gary. Loud and proud! The media will find out, anyway. In fact, I think they just did.

photo credit: Gary Johnson via photopin (license)

Science Revisited: Will Using CBD Hemp Oil Lead to a Positive Drug Test for THC?

This article is sponsored by CannaVest, one of the leading suppliers of agricultural hemp-derived CBD from seed to finished products.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this column is intended for educational and informational purposes only. CannaVest is not engaged in rendering legal or medical advice, and any information provided is not a substitute for professional legal or medical opinion.

You may recall part one of our now two-part series that explores whether a person using CBD hemp oil could test positively for THC or marijuana. The study cited concluded the following:

“…a consumer who uses a high-quality, scientifically vetted hemp-based product at the standard serving size is highly unlikely to test positive for THC and/or THC-COOH. However, it’s important to be cognizant that extremely high doses may result in a positive urine screen (that would be subsequently shown to be false via GC/MS). “

An additional study conducted by Leson, et al dove further into the subject, examining the effects of THC administration on subjects who had positive drug screens for THC. What were their findings, and do they align with Part 1’s findings or contradict the initial study’s results?

The Latest Study

Leson and colleagues’ recent study involved 15 adult subjects (10 females, 5 males) who had not previously been exposed to THC. The subjects were given single daily THC doses in an oil matrix, ranging from 0.09 to 0.6 mg, over four successive 10-day periods. Their urine samples were screened for cannabinoids using radioimmunoassay, a method of measuring very small amounts of a substance in blood.

Unfortunately, radioimmunoassay is prone to producing false positives, and it confirmed the presence of THC-COOH. The radioimmunoassay results showed that daily ingestion of up to 0.45 mg of THC in an oil matrix did not screen positive at a 50 ng/mL cutoff. When the daily intake was increased to 0.6 mg, one sample screened “positive”. At the lower cutoff level of 15 ng/mL (which is used by some employers, law enforcement agencies, and drug treatment programs), 19% of urine samples screened “positive” for THC.

However, when the samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), an analytical method of identifying different substances within a test sample, none of the samples screened positive. In fact, under the GC-MS method, the highest value obtained was only 5.2 ng/mL, well below the lower cutoff level of 15 ng/mL.

The researchers concluded the following:

“Practicing routine GC-MS confirmation of urine specimens screening positive appear to minimize the risk of producing confirmed positive urine tests from hemp oil.”

So there you have it. If you keep your consumption of CBD-rich hemp oil to less than 200 to 300 mg per day, you are highly unlikely to screen positive for THC use via the confirmatory (and most important) GC-MS test. Therefore, less than 100 mg to 150 mg daily is very unlikely to result in a positive preliminary immunoassay-screening test.

But Wait, There’s More

One caveat is that CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids are known to interact with a subclass of a very important family of enzymes known as the cytochrome P450 group (abbreviated as CYP). CBD is known to inhibit the same P450 enzymes that are known to metabolize it, and some of these enzymes (e.g., CYP3A4 and CYP2C9) are also responsible for THC metabolism along with the hepatic metabolism of ~ 60% of clinically prescribed medications. Co-administering cannabis and CBD may cause THC levels to be elevated to a greater extent, for a prolonged period of time.

Medical marijuana patients who utilize high doses of CBD concentrates should keep in mind that there are multiple potential drug interactions. Moreover, there is also the issue of pharmacogenetics– the degree of variability with which an individual’s genetics causes differences in drug metabolic pathways, which can affect how someone responds to the therapeutic benefits as well as adverse effects of drugs. Hence, the actual dose that causes a potential “positive” screen or confirmatory test for THC from consumption of CBD-rich hemp oil will change from one individual to another due to these genetic differences in the CYP450 enzyme system.

New References:

Bergamaschi et al. Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa Constituent. Current Drug Safety, 2011, Vol. 6, No. 4.

Leson et al. Evaluating the impact of hemp food consumption on workplace drug tests. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 25, November/December 2001 691-698.

Emerging Markets Update: NY Set to Go Live on Thursday

With the new year comes the opening of a plethora of new medical and recreational markets, and January is packed with exciting developments.

Alaska is getting nearer and nearer to issuing licenses to new retail cannabis businesses. Hawaii has officially established the rules for the system of medical dispensaries, despite some valid criticisms. In Maryland, a medical program that seemed so promising just a few weeks ago is facing a setback that could keep patients waiting until 2017 for medicine. Farther up the East Coast, New Hampshire is speeding up its process and issuing patient registry cards now. And last but not certainly least, New York is preparing for the debut of medical cannabis, which is sure bring hype to the Big Apple. We’re keeping an eye on these new markets as they blossom.

Alaska

The Marijuana Control Board of Alaska is tasked with writing the rules and regulations for a brand new retail cannabis system, and the process is taking longer than expected. They’ve already established some key guidelines:

• Owners of cannabis businesses must have been an Alaska resident for at least one year.
• There will be licenses issued for cultivators, manufacturers, testing labs and retail marijuana shops, including a “consumption endorsement” for the on-site consumption of cannabis inside licensed shops
• Municipalities can enact tighter restrictions on marijuana businesses, including moratoriums and zoning laws
• Edibles will be allowed, with a standard serving size of 5 mg of THC per piece.

It’s expected the Marijuana Control Board will begin accepting applications for recreational marijuana licenses on Feb. 24, 2016, in anticipation of licenses being issued beginning May 24.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Health posted on Dec. 15 the interim administrative rules for licensing the new medical marijuana dispensary program. They will remain in effect until July 1, 2018, or until other rules are adopted. The criteria for awarding dispensary and cultivation licenses will depend largely on a written proposal that applicants may submit during a brief window from Jan. 11 to Jan. 29. The criteria are as follows:

• Business background outlining education and knowledge of the industry and related industries, such as agriculture and pharmacology
• A business plan and timeline for opening a dispensary location
• Proof of financial stability
• Capability of meeting needs of qualifying patients
• Ability to comply with requirements for security, inventory, testing, patient confidentiality, packaging and safety
• A plan for the secure disposal of cannabis and cannabis-derived products

Although officials and applicants must adhere to these rules for the time being, there are several proposals Hawaii may still consider. Some include allowing sales on Sundays, allowing the transport of cannabis products between islands (an act that technically violates drug trafficking laws) and expanding the program to allow an extra license for the Big Island, which has a smaller population than Oahu but boasts a higher number of medical marijuana patients.

Maryland

Medical patients in Maryland were dealt a blow when the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission announced it will not be issuing licenses for medical cannabis cultivators and dispensaries until the summer of 2016, and, given expectations that any harvest will take at least another 4 to 6 months, it’s looking like patients will not gain access to medical cannabis until 2017. That’s nearly four years after the state’s medical program was signed into law. This is not the first time it’s faced setbacks, but it seemed as though the program was on track after the commission received more than 1,000 applications from hopeful organizations looking to open cannabis businesses in Maryland. The commission was originally scheduled to issue licenses in January.

New Hampshire

After a would-be medical marijuana patient sued the state, seeking access and patient identification, New Hampshire will now be issuing patient ID cards, even though the first dispensary isn’t scheduled to open until the spring of 2016. The law to approve medical marijuana was passed in 2013, but so far has been slow to implement. Linda Horan, the patient who sued, has late-stage terminal cancer and has been desperately seeking access, even going so far as to petition the state of Maine to allow her to visit their dispensaries. But she initally wasn’t able to because of her lack of a New Hampshire patient registration, which is required to visit dispensaries in states that offer reciprocity. Horan won her lawsuit and was able to visit Wellness Connection of Maine in Portland to receive cannabis-infused edibles, oils and tinctures she’d been seeking to treat her illness. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has already received 100 patient registry applications and is planning to issue the first round of ID cards to about 40 patients this week.

New York

New York’s medical marijuana program is on track, with at least one dispensary — and as many as eight — preparing to open this week. Columbia Care, PharmaCann and Empire State Health Solutions are prepared to open Thursday, although it’s uncertain how many patients will be registered in time to visit. The doctor and patient registry only opened to the public in December, which means that doctors have hardly had a chance to pay the $200 fee and take the 4-hour course required to recommend cannabis. Patients must be seen by a registered doctor, and, as of Wednesday, there were only 150 doctors registered to participate in the program. The opening date marks almost exactly 18 months since the program started, an impressive display of determination on the part of those involved in the creation and implementation of the program. Kudos to the hardworking folks who worked to open dispensary doors on such a strict timeline!

Fourth Corner Loss Could Be a Gain for Banking Reform

Fourth Corner Credit Union’s dream is dead — for now. But the Colorado credit union’s defeat in federal court yesterday could end up having positive implications for the political fight over cannabis banking when the U.S. Senate reconvenes next week.

U.S. District Judge Brooke Jackson dismissed Fourth Corner’s bid for legitimacy on Tuesday, declaring that he could not use the court’s power “to issue an order that would facilitate criminal activity.” Leafly has obtained Jackson’s full nine-page order.

Fourth Corner, formed in March 2014, has been granted a charter by the state of Colorado but needs a master account with the Federal Reserve. Without it, as Jackson wrote, “The Fourth Corner Credit Union is out of business.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City denied Fourth Corner’s application in July, and the credit union sued in federal court. Jackson’s decision ends that suit unless Fourth Corner appeals the ruling at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jackson’s ruling is a setback, but it isn’t all bad for those awaiting the next generation of cannabis banking. The decision contains strong language criticizing the federal government’s current “look the other way” approach to marijuana-related businesses (MRBs), and calls on Congress to resolve a situation Jackson termed “untenable.”

Over the past two years, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have outlined a rough path that banks and credit unions must follow to offer services to MRBs. (See Leafly’s recent analysis, “Here’s How Cannabis Companies Are Banking Legally on the Down Low.”)

Jackson calls those policy memos “something of a sleight of hand.” Which is, actually, a step up from how he described them in court a couple weeks ago, when he coined the instant-classic legal term of art “nothingburger.”

One such document, the Cole banking memo, “directs federal prosecutors to apply certain priorities in making enforcement decisions, but it does not change the law,” he wrote. And federal law clearly states that marijuana is illegal. Prosecutors and banking regulators might ignore that fact, the judge said, but “a federal court cannot look the other way.”

Interestingly, Jackson cited a recent decision by the 10th Circuit regarding a marijuana-related bankruptcy case, In re Arenas. In that case the court held that “while the debtors have not engaged in intrinsically evil conduct, the debtors cannot obtain bankruptcy relief because their marijuana business activities are federal crimes.”

In the end, Jackson seemed to sympathize with the plight of marijuana-related businesses and the credit union that would serve them. But he found his hands tied by one simple fact that could not be overcome: Cannabis remains federally illegal. If there is an upside here, it’s that Jackson’s decision may put more pressure on Congress to move federal banking reform into law in the coming year. The “untenable” situation, the judge ruled, is one only the House and Senate can resolve.

Fourth Corner Credit Union v. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — Dismissal Order

WTF, DC? Council OKs Cannabis Clubs, Then Bans Them

In a whiplash-inducing session on Tuesday, the Washington, D.C. Council voted to drop its ban on cannabis use at private functions — then minutes later reversed itself and voted to outlaw it once again.

Aaron Davis reports for the Washington Post:

For a brief time Tuesday, the D.C. Council embraced a new, much more relaxed version of marijuana legalization, voting to allow pot smoking at rooftop bars, sidewalk patios and most any other place a city resident declared to be a private pot club.

That lasted just about 30 minutes. After appeals from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, who argued there would be no way to rein in open pot use once existing restrictions were lifted, the council reversed itself.

The city has no ability to license pot clubs, of course, because Congress has specifically denied the District permission to fully implement its 2014 legalization vote. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., has repeatedly blocked attempts to open a legal avenue for recreational cannabis and continues to draw the ire of cannabis proponents in both the District and in his home state.

In other words, cannabis possession is legal in D.C., but Congress continues to block the District’s ability to regulate it.

Washington City Paper writer Will Sommer caught the spirit of the day perfectly:

If you like seeing confused councilmembers, tune into Channel 13 right now.

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) January 5, 2016

D.C. government can’t license private marijuana clubs. So this could get wild.

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) January 5, 2016

Never mind, looks like DC Council has changed course and will keep ban on private pot clubs.

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) January 5, 2016

Officials aren’t done yet. According to the Post, the Council plans to revisit the issue soon and could reverse it’s own reversal:

Several lawmakers said their change of heart could be short-lived, and the council agreed to reconsider the issue again within four weeks. That leaves open the question of how the council, Bowser and perhaps Congress will resolve a major disagreement about how lenient the city should be in regulating the smoking of pot in public.

Can Industrial Hemp Deliver CBD to Cannabis Patients

CBD – Industrial hemp is emerging as a potential low-cost source of CBD, but faces an uncertain regulatory future. In the past year, we observed that high-CBD varieties of cannabis frequently commanded higher prices due to their relative rarity and the exploding demand from medical patients for CBD-based products. Since high-CBD plant material is overwhelmingly […]

How Would You Describe 2015 Using Strain Names?

Before 2015 drew to a close, we turned to Facebook to ask our followers to sum up the year in one strain. Some of you opted to share your laundry lists of strains consumed, with one Leafly fan rattling off 17 strains he tried last year (and they say cannabis consumers have poor memories). Others simply responded by naming their favorite strain, with Super Lemon Haze, White Rhino, Dr. Who, Jack Herer, Blue Dream, Girl Scout Cookies, Dutch Treat and many others cracking the list.

Our favorite responses, however, were the strains that could truly summarize 2015. Without further ado…

Skywalker

This indica-dominant hybrid basically sums up the last month of 2015, when Star Wars fever eclipsed the globe. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is the seventh film in the iconic series (fourth if, like most of us, you conveniently choose to forget that episodes 1-3 ever existed) and picks up about 30 years after the conclusion of “Return of the Jedi.” Since its release date on Dec. 18, the movie has made over $750 million domestically and $1.5 billion worldwide. The relaxing and happy Skywalker could be the perfect chaser to seeing the film, helping you drift off to sleep dreaming of galaxies far, far away.

Snoop Dogg OG / Chong Star

2015 was a big year for cannabis-positive celebrities, with several announcing their own line of cannabis products. Snoop Dogg and Tommy Chong are two cannabis veterans-turned-entrepreneurs, with Snoop launching Leafs by Snoop and Chong debuting pre-rolled cones. Naturally, both legends have their own strain, which is why we feel both Snoop Dogg OG and Chong Star exemplify last year’s growing trend of celebrity product lines.

Trainwreck

Whether you attribute this hybrid to the madness known as the 2016 presidential election, the continuing implosion of celebrities like Justin Bieber and Shia LaBeouf, hot-button topics like gun control or Amy Schumer’s hit comedy of the same name, Trainwreck is an apt description of 2015’s many milestones. Considering the strain can deliver euphoric and happy effects, we’ll go with the latter and suggest pairing it with an evening viewing of the summer hit that grossed over $110 million and introduced people to LeBron James’ more humorous side.

Liberty Haze

Speaking of the 2016 election, this past year had us all in a bit of a Liberty Haze, making us want to reach for this potent hybrid as we ponder the possibility of a Trump presidency. With so many candidates and an excruciatingly long election cycle, expect to see even more craziness in 2016 as we march towards the November election. One thing’s for sure: Cannabis is shaping up to be a hot topic for the politicians.

Game Changer

Indeed, last year was a Game Changer for cannabis, with the introduction of the CARERS Act (even though it’s now stalled in committee), the debut of recreational cannabis in Oregon, Canada’s election of a cannabis-positive prime minister who intends to legalize cannabis nationwide, and many more milestones. This year is destined to be an even bigger one for the movement, with a number of states eyeing legalization. You better pick up some of this hybrid and buckle up for what’s bound to be a wild ride for the industry this year.

Honorable Mention: Rosin Tech

Okay, so it’s not technically a strain, but interest in rosin gained momentum in 2015 as cannabis consumers started to get concentrate-curious. Since rosin is a safer, DIY-version of solventless concentrate that can resemble shatter, people are reaching for their hair straighteners in an attempt to “press” their luck in making a batch of their own.

Which strain do you think best sums up 2015? Share in the comments!

Can Industrial Hemp Deliver CBD to Cannabis Patients

CBD – Industrial hemp is emerging as a potential low-cost source of CBD, but faces an uncertain regulatory future. In the past year, we observed that high-CBD varieties of cannabis frequently commanded higher prices due to their relative rarity and the exploding demand from medical patients for CBD-based products.

Since high-CBD plant material is overwhelmingly processed into infused products – many medical patients are unable to smoke for health reasons – the quality and appearance of the flowers themselves is not a high priority.

Hence, farmers of industrial hemp – defined in law as containing 0.3% THC or less – have realized that they could grow acres of a CBD-containing variety for a fraction of the cost of traditional indoor cannabis cultivation and potentially reap large profits.

Despite existing nationwide commerce in CBD products, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance.

The FDA earlier this year stated that CBD could not be sold legally as a dietary supplement, sent warnings to companies making claims that their CBD products could treat specific ailments, and published test results showing that many products did not in fact contain what they claimed.

On a state level, due to the configuration of Colorado’s regulatory systems for cannabis and hemp, high-CBD infused products made from hemp cannot enter the state’s legal cannabis market, as they are not produced within the MED’s licensed system.

However, an opinion from the Office of Legislative Legal Services on the classification of CBD – reported on in the Forward Curve report for November 27th – suggests that state lawmakers may be considering this issue.

Oregon essentially put a hold on its industrial hemp program this year to update regulations to address the unanticipated production target of CBD.

Kentucky, which has perhaps the largest and most advanced industrial hemp program in the nation, passed a bill in 2014 allowing the use of CBD oil by epilepsy patients, but it is considered unworkable due to the omission of any language regarding the production and distribution of the products it authorizes.

This year’s Spending Bill does include continued protections for hemp growers operating under the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill, and Section 763 of the 2016 Spending Bill prohibits federal funds from being used to prohibit the transportation, processing, and sale of hemp “within or outside” the state in which it was grown.

While this provision apparently authorizes interstate hemp commerce, numerous alterations to existing state law and new rulemaking will likely need to be carried out to truly facilitate the opening of this potentially massive new market.

The threat of federal intervention in the CBD realm persists. Such intervention could eliminate current interstate commerce in CBD products, restricting their production and sale to states with legal medical cannabis systems and driving up prices for CBD-rich plant material drastically.

Despite current uncertainties, some businesses are already moving to establish necessary infrastructure,
specifically the

planned conversion of a former Boeing plant in Pueblo into a processing facility to produce high-CBD hemp oil by CBD Biosciences, a joint venture of Thar Process and O.penVape, a Denver-based manufacturer of vaporizer pens and infused products that already serves the state’s recreational and medical cannabis markets.

Notably, the project is being partially subsidized with public money in the form of a nearly $5 million grant from the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, which will be drawn from the city’s sales tax fund.

The Cannabis Benchmarks™ weekly prices index report is generated from data collected by New Leaf Data Services & Signal Bay Research.

The post Can Industrial Hemp Deliver CBD to Cannabis Patients appeared first on CANNAiQ.

Calm Down, East Coast: Cannabis “Shatter” Media Coverage Woefully Overstates Its Dangers

Last week, a flurry of news stories broke on the East Coast warning readers about the highly potent cannabis extract known as shatter. They’re calling it a “dangerous new drug” that has now infiltrated states like New Jersey, and they leave it to police officers and anti-cannabis groups to describe the extract and its dangers.

“Butane is highly flammable,” Angelo Valente of Partnership for a Drug-Free told New Jersey’s News 12. “In many situations, you have explosions taking place.”

“Authorities say the high concentration of the drug can be extremely poisonous and destructive to human nerve tissue,” an Illinois news source wrote. “Hallucinations, confusion, and violent behavior are some of the symptoms caused by [shatter].”

“In fact, police departments across the country are reporting explosions, fires and injuries after teens lit the drug on fire to smoke it,” another New Jersey news source reported.

These are just some of the inaccuracies, exaggerations, and half-truths you’ll find in these stories, and if you were to read them in their full face-palmy glory, you’d think we were talking about some hardcore back alley drug that has no business in any well-adjusted adult’s life. And you’d never believe that patients actually use extracts medicinally.

Shatter and other types of cannabis extracts should absolutely be approached responsibly and with caution (the guides below will help you do so). Some contain up to five times the amount of THC as your traditional bud, and you can certainly have an uncomfortable experience if your setting isn’t right or if you take too big of a dose. However, indulging safely and responsibly requires education of realistic threats and dangers.

For those of you less familiar with cannabis extracts, we’d like to straighten out a few of these media hiccups:

• Butane extracts like shatter contain only trace amounts of butane and heating them does not cause explosions. These are caused by open home extractions with improper ventilation. Never attempt to make your own – safe butane extraction requires closed-loop botanical equipment.
• No, shatter is not “poisonous.” There are still no overdose deaths associated with cannabis or its concentrated forms. The controversial effects of residual solvents may be a concern of yours, which is where legalization and regulation come into play. States with marijuana laws that mandate product testing won’t allow you to stock anything with excess solvents.
• “Hallucinations” and “violent behavior”? Okay, these are the most extreme, unlikely side effects high potency extracts could possibly cause. You might get paranoid, anxious, dizzy, or couch-locked, but the intensity of these other side effects sounds like something ripped from this satirical Facebook page. Still, if you’re new to cannabis, don’t start with a high-potency extract – you’re more likely to experience unpleasant side effects than someone who’s spent a long time becoming comfortable with that mindset.

High-THC cannabis concentrates aren’t new (humans and hash, for one, have an ancient relationship), and the extent to which we could call them “dangerous” relies entirely on how much the consumer knows about the product. Most people don’t know any better because they don’t know what this strange glass-looking substance is, and if their information is coming from mainstream news sources, they definitely aren’t going to know how to obtain, dose, and consume them safely.

#JustSayKnow

MassRoots Now Has Over 725,000 Users

MassRoots (OTCMKTS:MSRT), a social network for Cannabis users, has crossed over 725,000 users.

As quoted in the company’s press release:

Over the next several weeks, MassRoots expects the SEO value from its new web platform, the introduction of new features for its users, and performance updates from its backend migration will continue to fuel its rapid user growth.

MassRoots CEO, Isaac Dietrich, said:

Scaling our platform to one million users is our main objective for early 2016. We believe that a large userbase will benefit our continued efforts to close advertising contracts with national brands, be a significant barrier to entry for any potential competitors, and have a meaningful impact on the legalization initiatives slated for this year.

Click here for the full press release.

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There’s Too Much Cannabis in Washington and Prices Could Plummet

There’s too much product in Washington state, and Marijuana Business Daily tells consumers to expect rock-bottom prices ahead.

Supply in Washington outpaced demand between July 2014 to November 2015, according to state records, with licensed growers producing about 16,000 pounds more during that period than retail stores sold.

What does that mean for you? MBD says prices may plummet—but you won’t be getting top-shelf quality.

Scores of cultivation companies have gone out of business in large part because of the oversupply issue, said Christopher Macaluso, a longtime cultivator in California who co-founded Canna Group, which provides consulting to cultivators in Northwest states.

Producers are now sitting on a substantial amount of surplus inventory, and the future of many of them is in jeopardy. Some could try to unload low-quality inventory at fire-sale prices, flooding the market and exerting artificial downward pressure on the broader wholesale price.

While it might mean a cheap eighth, a market-wide surplus generally isn’t a good thing. It can cause headaches for budding companies and destabilize industry leaders. But it’s not unexpected in such a young and volatile market.

“A lot of people really got into this for the money, with sort of hungry eyes, and aren’t able to produce the results that consumers, let alone the retailers, are looking for,” Macaluso told MBD.

In relative terms, the surplus is shrinking. In November 2014, the market had 3.5 months’ worth of excess inventory, state data show. It’s now at roughly 1.7 to 2 months, suggesting the market is moving closer to equilibrium.

Washington’s decision to grant more retail licenses could continue to close the gap. More stores could lead to more sales, especially if shops open in towns where consumers don’t already have access to legal cannabis.

Colorado markets also saw fluctuations early on. Prices tumbled from 2014 to 2015, according to financial services firm Convergex, and began to stabilize late last year.

From June 2014 through our prior survey this past June, prices declined from an average of $50-$70 to $30-$45 for an eighth, and $300-$400 to the lower end of about $300 for an ounce. Some stores even sell an ounce for as low as $200.

Prices then remained flat through at least mid-September.

Increased competition was largely responsible for the drop in prices as more businesses began growing and selling cannabis. Retail stores jumped from 156 in early 2014 to 385 in this past August, according to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division. The number of cultivators grew from 204 to 496 during the same period.

Until markets stabilize, look on the bright side: You might be able to scoop up some pretty delicious deals.

Image Source: The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board

Which States are Eyeing Cannabis Decriminalization in 2016? The Leafly Roundup

Welcome to 2016! It’s sure to be an exciting year, and state legislators are already jumping on board to make progress. Legislators in Georgia, Illinois, Wyoming, and Virginia are all seeking to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and some of these states are making a second or third attempt to change policies. New Mexico is trying to join four other states (and one district) by legalizing cannabis in 2016.

Speaking of legalized states, Colorado and Oregon are still in a financial pickle, with Colorado in court over federal banking issues and Oregon hoping to increase medical marijuana fees along with its newly implemented tax hike.

Make your new year’s resolution to keep up on as much cannabis news and legalization updates as possible, starting with this one!

U.S. News Updates

COLORADO

The complicated case of cannabis banking in Colorado is seeing its day in court, and one federal judge is faced with a tough decision. U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson made it clear that although he offers his sympathy for cannabis businesses trying to adhere to contradictory regulations, he must uphold federal law as it stands and his hands are tied. He felt it was inappropriate to force the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas to grant a master account to Fourth Corner Credit Union, the bank that sought to serve marijuana businesses exclusively.

Judge Jackson did say that were he a member of Congress, he would be inclined to vote in favor of allowing marijuana business banking, but as he is a federal judge, it is his duty to uphold federal law.

GEORGIA

Georgia State Senator Harold Jones (D-Augusta) is pre-filing a bill to reduce the penalties for the possession of cannabis from a felony down to a misdemeanor. As it is, the current policy is that you can be charged with a felony if you are in possession of an ounce or more of cannabis, and this bill would change the charge a misdemeanor regardless of the amount of cannabis in one’s possession. The bill would not change the law that states that it is still a felony to sell or distribute cannabis, but Senator Jones is insistent that by changing this law, the state could reduce court costs and re-focus law enforcement efforts on more pertinent issues.

HAWAII

The Hawaii Department of Health is preparing to accept applications for licensing prospective medical marijuana businesses, but there has already been criticism of the rules and their lack of definition. Several issues have been brought up, such as the lack of sales on Sundays, a ban on greenhouses and pre-rolled joints, and a lack of the definition of marijuana as a “plant,” which puts the island state in a precarious situation as it seeks to expand.

Some lawmakers are even going so far as to say that the Department overstepped its authority by making policies that differ from the dispensary law. The ban on greenhouses, for example, could increase the cost for growers significantly by forcing growing operations to be moved indoors rather than taking advantage of the sunny climate available.

The program rules were officially signed off by Governor David Ige on December 13th in anticipation of the application period, which will be open from January 12th through January 29th.

ILLINOIS

Illinois is in its third year of a seven year pilot medical marijuana program, and it’s taken this long just to get the dispensary doors open. Unfortunately, although the state’s medical marijuana pilot program has only just begun, it’s already struggling due to low patient enrollment. There are currently 3,600 patients registered in the program, well below the projected estimate of 30,000 patients enrolled by this point. The problem has less to do with the patients, however, and more with doctors who are reluctant to sign off on medical marijuana cards.

Illinois currently has 39 qualifying conditions, but the number may be increasing soon. The Illinois Department of Public Health began accepting petitions for new conditions to be added to the program from January 1st until the end of the month. By law, the IDPH must accept new petitions for proposed medical conditions in January and July, consider them, and make the according recommendations, although the IDPH has rejected the last two attempts to expand on the number of conditions. If you’d like to submit a medical condition for consideration, you can find the petitions here.

Meanwhile, Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) is making another go at decriminalizing the possession of cannabis in Illinois. The General Assembly had originally endorsed Cassidy’s proposal, which reduced penalties for the possession of small amounts of marijuana, but Governor Rauner rewrote the legislation to impose steeper fines for a small amount of cannabis. Whereas Cassidy proposed fines of $55 to $125 for the possession of 15 grams or less, Rauner’s language imposed fines of $100 to $200 for the possession of 10 grams or less.

MICHIGAN

Representative Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) introduced a new bill this year that would ban employers from firing employees for having a medical marijuana card. House Bill 5161 is being cosponsored by Representative Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and would offer legal protections; however, it also includes a provision that would allow employers to fire patients if the cannabis use interferes with their job performance. The Michigan House passed major changes to the medical marijuana system last year, but legislators felt that the lack of legal protections for patients left a gap that needed to be addressed.

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Representative Bill McCamley (D-Dona Ana) just filed the Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act, which has been revised from a previously submitted bill to include stronger language on limits and protections for federal laws. Unfortunately, this bill will most likely face serious opposition once the legislative session starts, as McCamley’s last attempt at legalization was killed in committee last February. Governor Susana Martinez has also repeatedly stated that she would veto any efforts to legalize cannabis, so it may take a few more years before legalization makes its way to the Land of Enchantment.

OREGON

Oregon recreational purchases are getting a tax hike starting today, and soon medical marijuana growers may be facing higher fees if the Oregon Health Authority agrees to a proposal under consideration. As it currently stands, medical marijuana growers pay an annual $50 fee for each patient that they take on as a caregiver, and they may grow for up to four patients. The proposal would increase the fee to $200 per patient per year and would help cover the agency’s expenses to expand the oversight of production and processing. It is estimated that this fee alone would boost the state’s revenue obtained from grower fees from $1.3 million to $5.2 million during the 2015-2017 budget cycle.

VIRGINIA

Everyone’s favorite progressive Virginia Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) is making another go at decriminalizing cannabis with Senate Bill 104. During the last legislative session, Sen. Ebbin proposed Senate Bill 686, which would have reduced the criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of cannabis from a $500 fine and 30 days in jail down to a simple $100 civil fine.

Luckily for Virginia, Sen. Ebbin is not easily dissuaded and his efforts to change the Virginia state criminal code are part of a more comprehensive attempt to remain in accordance with the Constitution, while still offering legal protection to medical cannabis patients and reducing criminal charges.

WYOMING

Representative Jim Byrd (D-Casper) is seeking to reduce penalties for the possession of less than an ounce of cannabis for the third year in a row. The penalty for those caught with up to a half ounce of cannabis would face a $50 fine, which would increase to $100 for anyone with more than half an ounce but less than an ounce. Unfortunately, the penalties for the possession of more than an ounce of cannabis would be steep and include mandatory counseling, fines of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, and probation for up to a year.

House Bill 3 will be considered by the Legislature once the legislative session resumes on February 8th.

International News Updates

AUSTRALIA / TASMANIA

It looks like Tasmania will be growing the first official cannabis crops in Australia for the upcoming clinical trials in New South Wales, which are expected to commence early next year. Tasmania is the obvious choice of location, as it already has a heavily regulated agricultural system in place and grows commercial opium poppies to produce the majority of the world’s legal pharmaceutical supply. There’s no word on which strains will be produced for the trials, although it’s likely that they will be high in CBD and low in THC.

New South Wales has invested $9 million for the clinical trials, and although Australia allows the import of cannabis for clinical research, supply is limited and having a local source will be critical in the coming months.

Top 10 Cannabis Strains in California

California has its own unique strain landscape compared to the rest of the world. With a geography that favors outdoor grows, the Golden State has championed some of the world’s finest strain genetics. OG Kush crosses flourished throughout the state, and today you’d be hard-pressed to find a strain that hasn’t been crossed with this illustrious hybrid. What other strains have risen to the top of California’s market? You’re about to find out.

Using Leafly menu data from California dispensaries, we determined which strains appeared most often and synchronized these results with local search terms. Here are the top 10 according to our data – dispensary owners and budtenders, are these strains on your shelves?

1. Blue Dream

This hybrid tops the charts in every major market, California included. Even in the state where OG Kush is expected to reign supreme, it would appear that Blue Dream still maintains a stranglehold. Leafly reviewers rant and rave over this uplifting berry-flavored hybrid, but do you think Blue Dream’s quality justifies its notoriety?

2. Girl Scout Cookies

This California native has sprinted its way to fame in recent years, gobbling up awards left and right for its potency. Itself a descendent of OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookies is given an extra sativa lift from a Durban Poison parent. In masterful balance of soaring euphoria and deeply relaxing physical effects, it’s no wonder that Girl Scout Cookies ranks #2 in the California market.

3. Sour Diesel

No doubt, Sour Diesel is a staple sativa that holds an esteemed position in most major markets. While some don’t like the strain’s funky fuel flavor, its weightless cerebral high is often worth it. The uplifting effects can help you get up and out, making this strain a perfect pair for those warm, sunny California days.

4. OG Kush

OG Kush, the flagship strain of California genetics, ranks #4 among its top strains. Reviewing this list, however, you’ll notice many of the forerunners are bred using OG Kush genetics. Countless other hybrids not mentioned here also contain OG genetics, so much so that you can attach “OG” to the end of almost any strain name and assume that some California breeder has already made it. OG Kush phenotypes are also marketed under a variety of monikers, many of which play off celebrity names and pop culture references. If we were to include all those branded OG Kushes, OG Kush might actually be the top California strain, period.

5. Green Crack

Though rare in many markets, Californians are lucky to enjoy better access to this ridiculously stimulating sativa strain. Green Crack’s racy cerebral high seems to have no ceiling, and hands down, no other strain on Leafly seems to yield as hilarious reviews as this one. California’s warm climate could very well be the reason for the abundance of this delicacy, because it sure isn’t due to lack of demand up in the cold north.

6. Jack Herer

Jack Herer is the tried-and-true sativa you’d expect to find on any market’s top 10 list. Beautifully crafted genetics from Sensi Seeds give way to a balanced effect profile that promotes happiness, creativity, and an uplifting sense of energy. That, plus its rich woody pine aroma, explains why this Amsterdam transplant has been so widely embraced overseas.

7. Skywalker OG

When Skywalker met OG Kush, a beautiful baby was born. That baby is Skywalker OG, a strain that has earned its way to fame not by name (although that probably helped), but through potency and flavor. The THC content of this indica-dominant hybrid is certainly one to write home about, and I’ve seen the loud earthy and lemon flavors of this hybrid literally raise eyebrows.

8. Bubba Kush

Bubba Kush has roots in California, so it’s not hard to imagine how this powerhouse indica carved a name for itself since its inception in the 90s. Earthy sweet aromas introduce tranquilizing mind and body effects, making this strain a perfect companion for lazy day relaxation or for a smooth transition into a restful night’s sleep.

9. Fire OG

The predominant OG family has another prestigious strain in California, and its name is Fire OG. A cross of different OG Kush phenotypes, Fire OG takes on a fiery appearance with vibrant orange hair stretching out from a bed of crystal resin.

10. SFV OG

Born and bred in California’s San Fernando Valley, this OG Kush phenotype is another unsurprising appearance on this list. Oozing trichomes as sticky as glue blanket the buds in a show of this hybrid’s potency. Sweet lemon and woody aromas lift from SFV OG’s crystal-covered buds in a testament to this strain’s true OG heritage.

Are you a business looking to get a leg up on the competition in the crowded California market? Leafly can help you stand out among the others!

How to Make Rosin

Dabbing enthusiasts everywhere, rejoice! Rosin is here, and its making some big waves in the extract community. This emerging solventless extraction technique allows anybody to make their own high quality hash oil from the comfort of their home.

The best part about rosin is that it can be made safely and inexpensively in just minutes by using ordinary household tools. This method utilizes heat and pressure to squeeze the cannabinoid-rich resin from your flowers, bubble hash, or kief. Your average hair straightener, some parchment paper, and a collection tool are all you need to produce a hash oil that rivals hydrocarbon extraction methods in flavor, potency, and effect.

Aesthetically, rosin is almost impossible to distinguish from shatter or sap. However, the difference between the two is that rosin is completely free of the residual solvents often left behind by hydrocarbon extraction processes (e.g. butane, propane, etc.). You can also make rosin at home in minutes without the dangers associated with using butane.

Rosin is certainly making an impact in the cannabis market. Dispensaries all over the country are beginning to stock their shelves with this easily crafted, incredibly potent, and flavorful product. Let’s make some!

Ingredients Needed to Make Rosin at Home*

* Please exercise caution when handling the hair straightener and use heat-resistant gloves as an added safety measure — we don’t want you to burn yourself!

Four Simple Steps for Making Rosin

STEP 1: Turn on your hair straightener to the lowest setting (280-330F) and cut yourself a small 4×4” piece of parchment paper. Now fold it in half and place your material in between the folded parchment paper before giving it a light preliminary finger press.

STEP 2: Carefully line the buds inside of the paper together with your hair straightener and apply a very firm pressure for about 3-7 seconds. You will want to hear a sizzle before you remove the pressures — it indicates that the resin has melted from the plant material.

STEP 3: Remove your sample from the hot surface and unfold the parchment paper. Now pluck the flattened nug away and grab your collection tool. This is a very sticky process so be patient and careful. For larger batches, use different clean sheets of parchment and collect your samples together at the end.

(OPTIONAL) STEP 4: Remove any visible plant material if you wish. Fold the finished product between the parchment and flatten it to your preference. Then use a clean tool to pick out any plant particulates. You may place the substance on a cold surface for a few seconds if you desire a more stable material to work with.

Now load a nice fat dab of your fresh new rosin and celebrate! You just became an extract artist!

Help A Disabled Veteran Who Had His Kids Taken Because Of Cannabis

I just read a heartbreaking article on theDaily Haze.A disabled veteran named Raymond Schwaband his wife Amelia had their children taken away while they were in the process of moving to Colorado so that Raymond could received legal cannabis treatment for PTSD and chronic pain. Per theDaily Haze: The Schwabs decided to relocate to Colorado,

Why Do the Feds Keep Targeting California?

Nearly 20 years ago, California became the first state to give patients legal access to medical marijuana. It happened with a voter initiative that was short and simple enough to fit on the back of a postcard. And ever since, locals’ relationship with federal law enforcement has been thorny, plagued by waves of FBI and DEA raids in which authorities seize property, break up families and put well-intentioned citizens behind bars.

As a thoughtful piece in the Los Angeles Times last week shows, it’s a pattern that has continued even as other states have implemented their own policies with comparatively little pushback from the feds. While hundreds of millions of dollars in cannabis is now freely bought and sold in recreational states, federal prosecutors continue to pursue cases in California.

So what accounts for the difference?

It’s easy to fault U.S. officials. Federal law regulates cannabis more tightly than opium or cocaine. But while the government’s position is extreme, that’s not the whole story. People on all sides of the issue admit that California law itself is largely to blame. And with more than a dozen states eyeing cannabis legalization in one form or another this year, there are lessons to be learned from the Golden State.

Consider the 1996 initiative that first allowed medical marijuana there. It’s extremely short, and while it clearly protected patients from legal penalties, it left basic questions unanswered: Where were patients supposed to obtain cannabis? How much could they have? And what specific ailments qualify?

The biggest gaps were around growth and distribution. So in 2003 the Legislature passed the cheekily named Senate Bill 420, allowing patients to “associate … in order collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes.” But the law never explained what that meant.

“The early medical marijuana laws were Trojan horses designed to allow effective legalization for anyone who could fake an ache,” Carnegie Mellon University public policy professor Jonathan Caulkins told the L.A. Times. “California is in that category.”

As a lawyer described it to me during the height of the federal crackdown, state lawmakers failed to delineate clearly what was and wasn’t allowed. “They’ve designed an inherently ambiguous system to allow people to enact whatever they want,” said Todd R. Wulffson of Greenberg Traurig. “From a pragmatic standpoint, it leaves everyone kind of in the lurch. And until someone tests it in court, it’s difficult to know what will fly and what won’t.”

Here’s a fun fact: Even when dispensaries in California reportedly outnumbered Starbucks or McDonald’s outlets, officials weren’t sure whether they were allowed under state law. Over the course of just a few months, one court ruling prevented a city from banning dispensaries while another ruling called them flat-out illegal.

That’s a big reason things get hairy with the feds. The Department of Justice and now Congress have announced the government won’t go after cannabis operations that comply with state law, but in California it’s not always clear what that means.

And even when growers or dispensaries make every effort to comply, prosecutors accuse owners of “hijacking” state law to sell cannabis to just about anybody. Experts say the wide scope of California’s medical law has motivated prosecutions of respected dispensaries like Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, the nation’s largest.

As the Times reports:

Even in the case of Harborside, which state and local officials often hold up as a gold standard for the medical marijuana business, California’s loose rules about who is permitted to buy medical pot have left the operations a natural target for prosecutors, Caulkins said.

‘Harborside is gigantic, and the Justice Department thinks it is not providing marijuana just for kids with epilepsy or people with cancer or people with HIV,’ Caulkins said.

States that have more recently adopted medical marijuana provisions are not seeing their legitimate medical marijuana businesses targeted because they serve a much narrower group of clients, he said.

Legislative changes could slow prosecutions. Two federal lawmakers from California, U.S. Reps. Sam Farr and Dana Rohrabacher, teamed up in 2014 to pass a measure that prevents prosecutors from targeting anyone selling medical cannabis legally under state law. Local officials have cited that change, known as the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, in efforts to curb federal cases from proceeding. They’re starting to get traction in courts, but prosecutors don’t show any sign of relenting.

Changes to California law could also help clarify what it means to be state compliant. Gov. Jerry Brown has signed three measures to clean up existing laws, but they don’t take effect until 2018. And initiatives to legalize cannabis recreationally are headed to the 2016 ballot.

It’s easy to see legal cases as statistics, measured by fluctuations in the number of businesses here or there. But prosecutions don’t simply close stores or shut down growers. Aaron Sandusky, who operated medical dispensaries in Southern California, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence, the minimum under federal guidelines. He’s expected to be released on May 8, 2021.

Two decades ago, California led the nation in legalizing cannabis. As other states weigh their options, it’s important to learn from those early experiments — and their side effects. Voters might agree cannabis should be legal, but it’s still hard to iron out how to reasonably regulate the stuff. What do we want legalization to look like?

The Best Cannabis Strains for Wintertime Activities (According to Leafly Reviewers)

From all of us here at Leafly, happy new year! No doubt you’ve already crafted your list of resolutions for 2016. Perhaps one of your new to-dos is to get moving after a solid few weeks of chowing down mostly on Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. But alas, winter weather can get in the way of good intentions.

Don’t be deterred! For one thing, the days are already getting longer, and for another, certain cannabis strains are great for beating the winter blues. Whether you’re planning on hitting the slopes or tromping through the snow, here are just a few Leafly user-recommended strains perfect for wintertime activities.

For Snow Sports

“I smoked this on a fresh ½-ft powder day skiing on the mountain and I’ll just say that I’ve never had any spiritual experience like this before.” –showell961

“I just got back from a day of snowboarding…it completely eliminated the soreness.” –JaredBrueckner

“I’ve smoked this strain hiking, and fully connected with Mother Nature. I could feel the peace around me…snow would drop from the trees and lightly fall on my face. I watched a deer run past me with a confused look on his face, and enjoyed watching him, wondering what it was like to be him.” –EntropicFlower

For Snow Leisure

“Awesome strain, made me feel adventurous as I traversed through the snow and started messing around in the snow with my friends like little kids.” –burnholesinmymemory

“We were all walking in the snow, I felt like I was in a winter f****** wonderland or some shit. Everything was so vivid.” –hemispheres2112

“Feels like you’re Christopher Walken in a Winter Wonderland.” –FoolofaTook

For Getting Out of the House

“This one keeps away the winter blues, SAD, and depression.” –avonsac

“I first felt it in my face, but instead of the pressure behind the eyes I got a warm glowing sensation under my eyes on top of my cheeks. Next as it spread over my body I became extremely euphoric and talkative. I also became very energetic which was perfect as we decided to walk old Amsterdam and with the Kali Mist in my system…the exciting hustle and bustle made for a memorable experience.” –London_1985

“Gets you out of the house to get some vitamin D and beat the winter blues.” –Puffalo

For Après-Activity Coziness

“I get couched easily, but this had me in the kitchen, cooking dinner, playing my songs through my speakers on full blast.” –arp716

“Endless rainy days and nights getting to you? Us too, but not after a couple of inhalations of this. It simply does all the things a strong sativa-dominant hybrid should do…Perfect for those endless winter days.” –lamabso

“Such a cozy, creative high. The flavor of smoke is so yummy and smooth. One hit, and it’s like being snuggled in blankets with a warm cup of tea.” –StarlingDarling

So, what are your favorite wintertime activities, and what strains do you use to accompany them? Tell us in the comments!

Weekend Weirdness: Pigeons Reveal Secret Cannabis Grow

Pigeons sure seem to be attracted to cannabis in some way, whether they’re delivering it over prison walls or inadvertently ratting (or would it be “birding” in this instance?) out illegal grow operations, the latter of which happened in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, England.

Police officers happened to notice hundreds of pigeons preferring to rest on a particular roof in town that appeared to be suspiciously absent of any frost despite the cold winter temps. A subsequent raid uncovered 14 cannabis plants, and the heat lamps used in the illegal grow were acting as a makeshift radiator, warming the roof enough to attract about 300 pigeons that wanted their undersides nice and toasty.

An onlooker told The Sun that it didn’t take a genius to figure out something shady was going on in that warmed up warehouse:

“It seems obvious when you think about it. It’s like the criminals were waving a sign saying they were growing cannabis. The birds blew their cover.”

Seems like a flimsy reason to conduct a raid, but I guess that’s what happens when a little birdy (or 300) tips off the cops.

Marijuana Policy Predictions for 2016

MPP executive director Rob Kampia’s “Marijuana Policy Predictions for 2016” has been published by The Huffington Post.

I don’t often use superlatives, but it’s easy to say that 2016 will be the most significant year yet in the battle to repeal marijuana prohibition in the United States.

Up until now, the two biggest years were 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older.

2016 will likely comprise a cornucopia of cannabis policy advances, which I’ll enumerate in the form of predictions.

Click here to read the entire column.

The post Marijuana Policy Predictions for 2016 appeared first on MPP Blog.

What Will Happen In The Marijuana World In 2016?

2016 Will Be A Very Big Year For Cannabis Since the end of the 2012 election, all eyes from the marijuana reform movement and industry have been set on 2016. Campaigns held off on 2014 efforts to ‘wait for 2016.’ People in the industry anticipating big victories on Election Day 2016 have said the words

The 6 Best Cannabis-Inspired SNL Skits

While we gear up for the 2016 Leafly Comedy Tour, which kicks off January 2nd with T.J. Miller of HBO’s “Silicon Valley” headlining at the Crocodile Café in Seattle, we wanted to start your new year with a laugh! We sifted through old Saturday Night Live archives to find the funniest cannabis-related sketches from the last 40 years. It was a tough job, but we managed to narrow the results down to the top six funniest SNL skits pertaining to cannabis. Enjoy the laughs, and happy new year!

1. Weekend Update: Michael Vick – Really!?!

This skit is less about marijuana and more about Michael Vick, football player of infamous dog-fighting shame. In 2007, Michael Vick was confronted in the Miami airport as he tried to board a plane with a water bottle filled with cannabis. Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers expertly take down his attempt, piece by piece, in a gut-busting news segment that’ll leave you dying. From his obvious (and terrible) choice of hiding spots to the possibility of the Miami airport of all places checking for drugs, the Weekend Update hosts get into a delightful back-and-forth rendition of one of my favorite segments, “Really!?!”

2. Out of Africa – Put Your Weed In It

We open in a store filled with cultural artifacts to see a 1993 incarnation of Rob Schneider playing the hippie store employee. It’s clear he knows what he’s talking about and exactly what to do with all of these artifacts. “That’s a Tanamano ancestral idol from Brazil…You put your weed in there!”

It seems that for every customer, he’s got a gift – that they can put their weed in! Whether it’s tribal masks, talking drums, or rain sticks, don’t worry, there’s a compartment for that…until Charles Barkley shows up in a police uniform and Rob Schneider completely loses his cool. C’mon, man, be chill!

3. Nancy Grace – Legal Pot

This sketch takes place immediately after Colorado legalized recreational cannabis and features Noel Wells as the sharp-tongued, squinty-eyed news host who, yes, has already made up her mind. First, she interrogates a cannabis bakery owner played by the delightful Kate McKinnon, who is completely on board the cannabis train. When confronted by Nancy Grace about being pro-pot, her reply clearly has a grain of truth in it: “Nancy, last week I made $650,000. That’s more money than I’ve made in the last 15 years! You’re freakin’ right I’m pro-pot.”

Nancy turns to Katt Williams, played with convincing nasality by Drake, complete with tempered hair flips and velvet suit. After trying unsuccessfully to convince him of the evils of cannabis, “Katt” dismisses her concerns with a colorful description of her less-crazy counterpart.

4. The Mellow Show: Jack Johnson

Featuring Andy Samberg as the ultra-mellow songster Jack Johnson, and with random witticisms spoken aloud to the camera as “vegan cookies” and “hemp necklace,” this sketch is extra funny if you’re a fan of the mellow musicians visiting. Samberg’s Jack Johnson is prone to losing his canna-friendly pets, including a jester hat-wearing gecko who “is unique in that he can both roll and smoke doobies.”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt visits the set to scat a few tunes about fedoras as Jason Mraz, and Bill Hader plays a nervous Dave Matthews who gets freaked out when the real Dave Matthews comes out pretending to be Ozzy Osbourne in all of his mumbly, long-haired, incoherent glory.

5. A New Day – New York Marijuana Policy

This gem is from one of the more recent seasons of SNL and it was, of course, inspired by true life. As you all may remember, New York City made a change of policy for low-level marijuana possession, reducing charges to a civil fine rather than jail time. In this skit, we see New Yorkers look up from their television, dust the crumbs from their lap, and step out into the New York sunshine with a bag of cannabis in tow. It quickly turns into a celebratory parade, complete with Woody Harrelson emerging from a cloud of smoke while carrying a bong among crowds waving the Rastafari flag.

Suddenly, everyone run into the NYPD. Will police try to harsh the buzz? No, instead of handcuffs, they give a tip of the hat, and the celebration continues….until someone tries to spark up a joint. Oops. Public smoking is still not allowed. Sorry New Yorkers, time to return to your couches and Funyuns to watch more “Rugrats.”

6. The Marijuana Doctor

Featuring the magnificent Kevin Spacey as, you guessed it, a physician recommending medical marijuana, this skit was filmed in 1997, just months after cannabis was legalized in California via Proposition 215, and it’s exaggerated for absolutely hilarious effect. For a sore throat, Kevin Spacey’s MMJ doctor writes a prescription for “two huge bags of weed,” with the recommendation of “huge bong tokes” to follow it up.

Darrel Hammond’s Harvey Weinstein makes an appearance, fingers orange with Cheetos dust, looking for a prescription refill in the form of a baggie from Jamal Wilkes Booth, an in-house “pharmacist” who looks suspiciously like a stereotypical dealer that reminds his patrons, “You know, Blue Cross Blue Shield don’t cover that!” Amen, Jamal!

BONUS:

American Dope Growers Union

We went digging through the archives to find this little clip from 1977, which just shows how far the cannabis movement has come. Laraine Newman opens with a somber face, advising the camera that “Every time you buy pot from Mexico, or Colombia, you’re putting an American out of work.” She urges you to buy locally sourced, American-grown cannabis, which you can identify by the “American Dope Growers Union” label on the bag.

As the camera pans out, the whole cast joins her with potted pot plants, shovels, and watering cans to sing the song of the American Dope Growers Union. Amazingly enough, while this skit was purely comical at the time, with legal marijuana becoming an industry, unions are, in fact, starting to pop up. Life imitates art!

American Dope Growers Union from Joe Turner on Vimeo.

What Are The Best Marijuana Events In 2016

What Are The Top Cannabis Events In 2016? It seems like every time I hop on social media, check my e-mail, or look on media websites it seems like there is a new marijuana event being announced. There are events for just about anything and everything cannabis related these days, from shark tank type events

How Does Depression Impact Your Sex Life, and Can Cannabis Help?

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, according to the National Institute on Mental Health. Despite its prevalence, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals rarely speak to the impact depression can have on sexuality, and even more rarely suggest utilizing cannabis as an alternative therapy. I spoke with JoEllen Notte, a sex educator, writer, and creator of the first sex-positive online survey on sex and depression, to get her take on dealing with depression and whether cannabis can help revitalize a depressed person’s sex life.

JoEllen Notte, sex educator

Ashley: How long have you lived with depression and in what ways has it affected your sex life?

JoEllen: I have been acknowledging the depression for the last 11 years, but the symptoms have been there for about 17 (since I was 19). As for my sex life, it has differed. I always say my depression comes in two distinct “flavors”:

A: Which one tends to be more common for you?

J: The first one. When that happens, I lose all interest and the idea of sex can be stressful, almost like the world is demanding more from me.

A: You created an online survey on sex and depression and received 1,100 responses. How did that come about?

J: The survey came about because I had done a little writing about my own experience with sex and depression (first when a new drug killed my libido and orgasms), and I started hearing from people about their experiences. The recurring theme I noticed was people weren’t feeling heard. Partners of people dealing with depression were often the loudest voices in my comments fields (but what about ME?!), drowning out the depressed folks, and that just pissed me off.

I did the survey for two reasons: First, because I wanted data on how widespread the experience of depression damaging one’s sex life was and that data didn’t exist. Second, because I wanted to give this experience and the people who are having it a voice.

A: What were the most surprising results of the survey?

J: Of the 1,100 people who participated in the survey, I interviewed 20. Some of the most interesting stuff came out of the interviews. Before I started the project, several people dismissed it based on the assumption that “depressed people don’t want to have sex, anyway,” so they wouldn’t be able to differentiate between medication side effects and depression. We didn’t ask about sexual side effects of depression when people were not medicated on the survey but we did in the interviews, and over 2/3 of those respondents reported that when their depression was untreated they had/wanted MORE sex.

Another thing that came out of the survey was the information about communication with doctors. We found that a lot of people were not talking to their doctor about symptoms. When asked why, we found an interesting combination of bad experiences with dismissive/sex negative doctors, shame, and fear, and also just some possibly unfair assumptions about the willingness of doctors to listen/help. A lot of people are afraid to talk.

A: I’m so glad you’re giving them a voice. I’ve experienced a lot of relief with depression-related side effects when I incorporate cannabis into my sex life. Have you also found that to be helpful?

J: For me, because my sex and depression relationship manifests in anxiety about sex, I find that cannabis is frequently the thing that can get me over the hump (so to speak) and back into the place where things sound pleasant again. I found this out completely accidentally when I was smoking for pain, but it was a really happy discovery. OG Kush and Girl Scout Cookies are my favorites for sexy time. I always picture those old-school round dimmer switches (like my aunt had on her “classy” dining room chandelier), and for me it feels like someone comes along and turns one of those down on my anxiety. The rest of me is still there, but the unpleasant stuff is turned way down. Also, GSC always makes me a little goofy.

I also chatted with Stephen Biggs, RP, who assisted JoEllen with the survey and provided his psychological expertise when designing the questions and analyzing the results. He added:

“I think that for some people who experience a lot of anxiety or negative cognition, people who are self conscious and distracted by performance anxiety… Anything that helps them relax and takes them out of their heads can enhance sexual experience. Of course, this all depends on the person’s response to the cannabis. There are number of patients that I see who report that they use cannabis as an anxiolytic [anxiety inhibitor]– it may not have a direct impact on their mood, but they feel less agitated.”

There is much more research to be done regarding cannabis, sex, and depression, but thanks to these two sexuality professionals, people are finally getting to speak out about their experiences! Do you live with depression? Does cannabis help you get out of your head and enjoy your body? Tell us your stories!

Ep. 40 – She leads student advocacy group; He's a voice for the cannabis industry

Published: Dec 31, 2015, 6:46 pm • Updated: Jan 6, 2016, 7:11 pm Cannabist Staff Featured guests: Students for Sensible Drug Policy executive director Betty Aldworth and National Cannabis Industry Association executive director Aaron Smith. Podcast: Play in new window | Download We’re talking about marijuana policy — including legislation in Congress and who’s making […]

US: Review: Harlem's Drug Warriors

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n716/a04.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Fri, 01 Jan 2016Source: Reason Magazine (US)Copyright: 2016 The Reason FoundationContact: Website: http://www.reason.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/359Author: Sara MayeuxNote: Sara Mayeux is a Sharswood fellow at the University ofPennsylvania Law School. HARLEM’S DRUG WARRIORS Was the Drug War Imposed on Black America, or Did Black America Demand It? Black Silent Majority: The Rockefeller Drug […]

Smuggler’s Blues: U.S. Legalization is Crashing Mexico’s Cartel Market

For decades, if you came across a pinch of cannabis in the U.S., odds were good it came from Mexico. Moreover, it was probably smuggled across the border by someone affiliated with a massive and often violent criminal enterprise.

Now that’s changing.

Medical and recreational legalization in the United States has caused a market crash in Mexico. According to an article this week in the Los Angeles Times, prices in some areas have tumbled as much as 70 percent.

Growers in the state of Sinaloa, one of Mexico’s biggest production areas and home to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, told reporter Deborah Bonello the amount they make on cannabis has fallen over the past four years from $100 per kilogram to $30.

That’s taken a toll on traffickers, too. Officials on both sides of the border say the drop in profits has curbed both production as well as the amount of cannabis smuggled into the U.S. by cartels.

“Changes on the other side of the border are making marijuana less profitable for organizations like the Cartel de Sinaloa,” Antonio Mazzitelli, the representative in Mexico for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, told the Times.

Only a few years ago, cannabis comprised as much as 20 to 30 percent of cartels’ revenue from drug exports, according to estimates by the Mexican Institute of Competitiveness and the RAND Corporation. So a falloff in profit is likely to hit organized crime hard.

As recently as 2008, about two-thirds of cannabis consumed in the U.S. came from Mexico, according to RAND. Current estimates peg that figure at approximately one-third. That’s likely caused by two factors: increased production north of the border and scaled-down operations by growers and smugglers in Mexico.

“The big argument for drug legalization is reducing drug cartels’ power around the world,” wrote Vox in response to the Times story. While it’s certainly not the only reason to legalize — let’s not forget the thousands of Americans behind bars, racial disparities in the enforcement of cannabis laws, or the risks faced by patients who must still obtain medicine illegally — dealing a blow to ruthless drug cartels is a cause that should rally both government officials and cannabis users.

Free-market economics have long stymied the war on drugs. Efforts by the Mexican government to encourage farmers to grow legal crops fell flat because high profits from cannabis cultivation were so appealing. But it now seems market forces may actually be curtailing illegal activity.

On top of all this, Mexico is currently considering changes to laws that would legalize or decriminalize cannabis. That could further reduce cartel profits by adding small-time growers and smugglers into the mix, the BBC reported last month.

But while piecemeal legalization in U.S. states has reduced cannabis payouts to cartels, experts say that so long as federal prohibition in the U.S. continues, trafficking by organized criminals will persist.

“If Mexico legalized marijuana production for domestic consumption and exports to the U.S. remained illegal,” RAND Drug Policy Research Center co-director Beau Kilmer told the BBC, “there would still be incentives to smuggle marijuana to the U.S.”

The Best of Cannabis Best-of Lists for 2015

If you’re reading a top-10 list today, it can mean only one thing: The old year is about to die. And websites across the interwebs are eulogizing it in a shameless attempt to capture eyeballs and boost pageviews.

Count us in.

We decided to wrap up 2015 with a top-10 meta-list, tying some of our favorite best-of lists into a master bundle. One list to rule them all, so to speak. Consider it our tabulation of tallies totting up the year in cannabis.

10. Russ Belville’s Top Ten Marijuana Data Stories of 2015 — Marijuana Politics

Radical Russ, one of our favorite cannabis radio yakkers, is also a bit of a data hound. Here he rolls up his top mining expeditions of 2015. Good stuff on youth-use surveys, the role of cannabis in the California drought, road safety and rehab admissions.

9. What Americans Googled in 2015 — Estately

The folks at Estately put out another “What Americans Googled” map with a year-end twist. What’s the cannabis connection? Check out our friends in Ohio.

8. Top 5 Cannabis Moments of 2015 — Chalice Farms

The growers and budtenders at Oregon’s Chalice Farms put out a list that’s just a wee bit self-referential. (We’re not sure Chalice’s big win at the 2015 DOPE Cup will rank so high on other tallies.) It makes our list, though, in part for recognizing Women Grow, which began 2015 as a tiny startup and ended the year as a burgeoning cannabis group with national influence.

7. Top 10 Marijuana News Stories of 2015 — CelebStoner.com

We could come up with a Top Ten list of Celebstoner’s best headlines of 2015 (No. 1: “Frank Sinatra Was Not a Stoner”), but that’s another story. Their year-end list puts the Ohio legalization debacle in the top spot, followed by a lot of state decriminalization measures and celeb calls to end prohibition. Expected: Bill Walton. Unexpected: Morgan Freeman.

6. Top 10 National Marijuana News Stories of 2015 — Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois’ medical marijuana opening drew the Sun-Times onto the cannabis beat this year, and its list leans heavily on politics. Top story: Bernie Sanders’ call to end federal prohibition, becoming the “first U.S. Presidential candidate” to do so. We could argue it was Jimmy Carter, but he only promised decriminalization, so we’ll give Bernie the nod.

5. Top 10 Marijuana Policy Victories of 2015 — Rob Kampia

Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Rob Kampia looks back at the political ground gained over the past 12 months, including a lot of local decriminalization victories, medical marijuana expansions, and five statewide legalization campaigns on track for 2016 (see our take here).

4. 2015: The Year of the Cannabis Industry — Cannabis Wire

We think you’re calling this a little early, Cannabiswire. If you thought 2015 was big, wait ‘til you see 2016. We like Cannabis Wire’s list because No. 2 is the ouster — finally, mercifully — of DEA head Michele Leonhart, whose blockheaded views on cannabis were embarrassing even to those on her side.

3. NORML’s 2015 Year in Review — NORML

NORML tops its list with one winner and one loser. Upside: Congress’ reauthorization of protections. Downside: Federal Judge Kimberly Mueller upholding marijuana’s Schedule I status.

2. (Tie) Top 10 Cannabis Studies of 2015 — LiveScience and The Joint Blog

These two sites tot up the scientific breakthroughs of 2015, including new insights into conditions helped by medical cannabis, problems with labeling inaccuracies in unregulated markets, and a new understanding of the mechanism that triggers the munchies.

1. Top 10 Weed Songs of 2015 — WeedStream

Aww, yeah. From Pop Evil’s heavy “Ways to Get High” (No. 9) to Snoop Dogg’s chill “California Roll” (No. 2), the researchers at Weedstream cover the full spectrum in 2015. We’ll let you click through to reveal who sparked up at No. 1. WeedStream’s list lends itself to a natural New Year’s Eve game: Name the single best cannabis lyric of 2015. Enjoy.

Surgeon General Report Could Sway Federal Policy

A top U.S. health official is putting together a first-of-its-kind report on substance abuse that could help set the tone for future policymaking, the federal government announced Thursday.

The report is being prepared by the office of U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and will examine “the state of the science on substance use, addiction, and health” surrounding both illegal substances and legal drugs such as alcohol and prescription pills.

Reformers are cautiously optimistic. Murthy in February acknowledged the medical benefits of cannabis, adding that “we have to use use that data to drive policymaking.” But he seemed later to backtrack, saying that “neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the standards for safe and effective medicine for any condition to date.”

Intended to be broad and comprehensive, the report will focus on an array of issues surrounding substance abuse, according to a summary in the Federal Register:

Areas of focus in the report may include the history of the prevention, treatment, and recovery fields; components of the substance use continuum (i.e., prevention, treatment, and recovery); epidemiology of substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders; etiology of substance misuse and related disorders; neurobiological base of substance misuse and related disorders; risk and protective factors; application of scientific research in the field, including methods, challenges, and current and future directions; social, economic, and health consequences of substance misuse; co-occurrence of substance use disorders and other diseases and disorders; the state of health care access and coverage as it relates to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery; integration of substance use disorders, mental health, and physical health care in clinical settings; national, state, and local initiatives to assess and improve the quality of care for substance misuse and related disorders; organization and financing of prevention, treatment, and recovery services within the health care system; ethical, legal, and policy issues; and potential future directions.

Cannabis advocate Tom Angell, who drew attention to Thursday’s announcement, noted the surgeon general’s report could be useful if President Barack Obama moves to relax the federal prohibition of cannabis before he leaves office:

The last clause about “ethical, legal and policy issues” is likely to be of most interest to advocates of reforming marijuana laws and ending the broader war on drugs.

Under the Obama administration, federal drug agencies have made a point to talk about addiction as a medical problem, but the drug control budget continues to devote far more resources to arrests, punishment and interdiction than to health strategies like treatment and prevention.

If President Obama intends to bring federal drug polices and budgets into line with his administration’s rhetoric before he leaves office, he could hardly find a better or more effective way to do it than through the nation’s top medical doctor.

A number of other changes are unfolding at the federal level that could sway U.S. policies on cannabis. Among them, the Department of Health and Human Services recently provided guidance to the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding cannabis’s potential reclassification under the Controlled Substances Act. While the advice isn’t yet public, it’s one of the many signs that the government may slowly be opening its mind to at least the medical potential of cannabis.

Image Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Recreational Cannabis Sales Tax Coming Soon to Oregon

Oregon recreational consumers have been living the high life since October, enjoying easy access, no sales tax, and the best Oregon-grown cannabis they could ask for. Unfortunately, the harsh reality of recreational legalization is about to crack down on the green utopian landscape Oregonians have come to love in the form of a 25 percent tax increase.

Starting January 4th, 2016, all recreational purchases of marijuana will be taxed at 25 percent, increasing the cost significantly. On a small scale, it’s not so bad – a $10 gram will only jump up to $12.50. However, on a larger scale, the cost is a bit more jaw-dropping — for a $125 ounce, customers will end up shelling out over $30 in sales tax.

Before you Oregon cannabis lovers jump to the worst conclusion and swear off your new favorite dispensary, don’t forget that the revenue from these sales will be going to an excellent cause (and also provided a convincing argument for legalization to begin with). Recreational marijuana sales tax will be disbursed to the following programs after July 1, 2017:

• 40 percent to the Common School Fund
• 20 percent to mental health, alcoholism, and drug services
• 15 percent to the Oregon State Police
• 10 percent to city law enforcement
• 10 percent to county law enforcement
• 5 percent to the Oregon Health Authority for alcohol and drug abuse prevention, early intervention, and treatment services
• Dispensaries are allowed to keep up to 2 percent of taxes collected

Dispensaries will need to register with the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Tax Program and submit quarterly tax returns in addition to monthly tax payments.

In preparation for the influx of cash coming from the retail industry, the Department of Revenue has stepped up its security and employee training for the handling of large cash sums, and hired an additional team specifically for cannabis-related tax payments.

Another upside to consider is that although the tax jump is extreme, it’s also only temporary. Once the program is off the ground and firmly established, the tax rate will decrease back down to a much more reasonable 17 percent permanent sales tax. Not only that, but Oregon medical marijuana patients will continue to be tax-exempt.

New York Opens Medical Marijuana Registration for Doctors and Patients

The five companies chosen to cultivate and distribute for New York’s medical marijuana program are hurtling towards January’s debut date and firing on all cylinders to make it happen. Prospective patients have been anxiously awaiting the launch of a much-needed medical marijuana program, and at long last the time has come.

New York’s State Department of Health launched the Medical Marijuana Patient Certification and Registration Program. Doctors must be registered in order to make the recommendation, which involves a $200 fee and a four-hour training course.

In order for patients to qualify for the program, they must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Create an account with my.ny.gov
• Have a photo identification
• Be able to prove he or she resides in New York state
• Pay a $50 application fee (unless it is waived for financial hardship)
• Receive a DOH Medical Marijuana Program certification from a registered doctor before applying for a registry identification card, which will be mailed upon approval
• Qualify under the conditions specified in the law:
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Cancer
  • AIDS/HIV
  • Lou Gehrig’s Disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Epilepsy
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Neuropathies
  • Huntington’s Disease

As for the state’s five dispensing organizations, here’s an update on when they’re expected to open:

• Columbia Care — CEO Nick Vita confirmed that the organization was on track for the opening regulatory date of January 5, 2016, and it will be opening a dispensary location in Rochester first.
• Etain, LLC. — It’s optimistic that it will open its five dispensaries on a rolling basis starting in late January with its Syracuse location on Erie Blvd.
• Empire State Health Solutions — It’s planning to open its Westchester location on January 5, 2016, but it’s been under radio silence to the media for the past couple of months, so we’re not sure how far along it is with the process.
• Bloomfield Industries — Its first dispensary will be located on Marcus Ave in unincorporated Lake Success. Although it anticipates a January premiere, it has not set a firm opening date yet.
• PharmaCann — It’s been quite busy in the recent months pioneering the rough terrain of Illinois’ new medical market, but it looks like this organization will also be ready to open doors at its Liverpool location by the second week of January.

Quite an impressive display of determination, which should give some hope to the patients that have been eagerly watching and waiting for access. January can’t come soon enough!

US IL: OPED: Make Cannabis Legal To Revitalize Illinois

Rockford Register Star, 29 Dec 2015 – The state of Illinois collected more than $5 million in fees from more than 350 applications for only 81 licenses to become a cultivator or distributor of medical cannabis. Rural Illinois saw a surge of interest in creating new jobs and boosting some small-town economies. The reason for this interest is to grow and distribute a plant, but not the usual ones like corn, soy or wheat.

US CA: Drug Agent Arrested For 200 Lbs. Of Pot

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a02.html Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm Votes: 0 Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015 Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA) Copyright: 2015 Appeal-Democrat Contact: Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343 Author: Monica Vaughan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption – United States) DRUG AGENT ARRESTED FOR 200 LBS.  OF POT Yuba County Deputy on Leave After Being Jailed in Pennsylvania A Yuba-Sutter drug task force […]

US NJ: Column: Legalization of Marijuana Leads to Worries Over

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a03.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)Copyright: 2015 The TrentonianContact: Website: http://www.trentonian.comDetails: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006Author: L.A. Parker LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA LEADS TO WORRIES OVER POT HEISTS Initial reports of the burglary of a Madras, Ore.  marijuana dispensary forced a check up on several local cannabis smoking friends. With all present and accounted for, […]

US OR: Column: The Best Canna-events Of 2015

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a06.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: Portland Mercury (OR)Column: CannabuzzCopyright: 2015 The Portland MercuryContact: Website: http://www.portlandmercury.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1174Author: Josh Jardine THE BEST CANNA-EVENTS OF 2015 IT’S BEEN QUITE a year for anyone who enjoys cannabis in Oregon.  On July 1, we went from being dirty, black market, pot-weed smokers to law-abiding canna-enthusiasts whose interest […]

US CO: Column: Dear Stoner: What's The Difference Between

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a04.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: Westword (Denver, CO)Copyright: 2015 Village Voice MediaContact: Website: http://www.westword.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1616Author: Herbert FuegoColumn: Ask A Stoner DEAR STONER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHAKE AND TRIM? Dear Stoner: What’s the difference between shake and trim? Sandy Dear Sandy: The big difference is that shake is the stuff that falls […]

US CA: Column: Resolving Weed

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a05.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: North Coast Journal (Arcata, CA)Column: The Week in WeedCopyright: 2015 North Coast JournalContact: Website: http://www.northcoastjournal.comDetails: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2833Author: Grant Scott-Goforth RESOLVING WEED Every year, it seems like Humboldt County’s marijuana industry, and the complicated relationship our community has with cannabis, goes through massive upheaval.  And every subsequent year, there […]

US CA: Column: (Predictions And Questions) For 2016

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a07.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: SF Weekly (CA)Column: Chem TalesCopyright: 2015 Village Voice MediaContact: Website: http://www.sfweekly.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/812Author: Chris Roberts PREDICTIONS ( AND QUESTIONS ) FOR 2016 Lists, reflections, and other filler: these are the newspaper reader’s “reward” when the calendar flips.  This is when both writer and reader would rather be polishing […]

US CO: Column: Not Your Grandma's Cookbook

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a08.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)Column: Weed Between the LinesCopyright: 2015 Boulder WeeklyContact: Website: http://www.boulderweekly.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/57Author: Sarah Haas NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S COOKBOOK If you were to see Robyn Grigg Lawrence’s new cookbook lying out on your grandma’s kitchen table, you probably wouldn’t think twice.  The book’s glossy cover shows a […]

US NJ: Column: Jersey Supreme Court Allows Modern Jim Crow to

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a09.htmlNewshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htmVotes: 0Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)Copyright: 2015 The TrentonianContact: Website: http://www.trentonian.comDetails: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006Author: Edward Forchion, NJWeedman.com For The Trentonian JERSEY SUPREME COURT ALLOWS MODERN JIM CROW TO PERSIST The marijuana laws are the oldest Jim Crow laws still on the books.  While many states across the country are changing their archaic […]

Shh! Here's How Cannabis Companies are Banking Legally on the Down Low

For cannabis companies in need of bank accounts, the news out of Colorado hasn’t been good. In a court hearing this week, a federal judge balked at the notion of forcing federal bankers to license a credit union catering to the cannabis industry.

“I would be forcing the reserve bank to give a master license to a credit union that serves illegal businesses,” U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson said at the hearing.

At stake in the court battle is whether the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City must issue a master account, which is required for lending institutions, to Fourth Corner Credit Union, a startup created earlier this year to serve state-regulated cannabis businesses. Cannabis is still illegal under U.S. law, so while Fourth Corner has won Colorado accreditation, it’s hit a wall with the federal reserve bank.

While the judge hasn’t issued a formal ruling, an executive for the credit union vented his frustration after the hearing.

“In 2016, $1.2 billion in cash will be transacted by the cannabis industry in Colorado,” Executive Vice President Mark Goldfogel told the L.A. Times. “That’s all in $20 bills. At some point somebody will die. And then we will be allowed to bank.”

But will the cannabis industry really have to wait for a changing of the guard? Goldfogel’s statement is a beauty of a quote, but it’s not exactly true.

The Fourth Corner case draws a lot of media attention, but dozens of cannabis businesses in Oregon, Colorado and Washington state already have accounts with a established banks and credit unions. These aren’t national brands like Bank of America or Wells Fargo. They’re small, state-chartered institutions with names you’ve probably never heard of: Salal, Maps, Timberland, Numerica.

It’s the industry’s quiet little secret — only it’s not exactly a secret. A few financial institutions are open about their cannabis clientele. Salal Credit Union in Seattle has been serving the cannabis sector since mid-2014.

“After talking about it at great length with our board of directors, we decided that this would be a fit,” Senior Vice President Sheryl Kirchmeier said in an interview this year. “We saw it in part as a public safety issue” for their local community, she said.

Bankers at Salem, Ore.-based Maps Credit Union, which has been doing business with medical dispensaries for more than a year and now works with state-licensed recreational businesses, were also motivated by public safety concerns. “The thought of some guy walking out of his business at night, and going to an environment where there might be lots of people, with $25,000 in cash in his backpack to buy money orders just doesn’t sit right,” Vice President Shane Saunders told the Salem Statesman-Journal.

No Colorado bank or credit union has publicly acknowledged opening cannabis accounts. But a few accounts are open. Talk off-the-record with some of the bigger players in the state’s cannabis industry, and they’ll acknowledge that they’ve managed to obtain banking services — but they almost never give up the name of their banker. Those who have accounts don’t want to lose them by exposing the bank to unwanted attention or criticism.

Data is limited, but it tends to back up the chatter. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Treasury Department bureau that fights money laundering, reports that 266 depository institutions nationwide currently maintain accounts with marijuana-related businesses, known in banking jargon as MRBs. In a recent survey of 400 respondents in the cannabis industry, Marijuana Business Daily reported that 40 percent had bank accounts.

Make no mistake: Banking is still an enormous headache for MRBs. And it’s technically illegal, federally speaking. But a lot of people are finding workarounds.

How are They Doing It?

As with everything in the cannabis industry, it depends on the state. A handful of Washington and Oregon banks are open about their business with MRBs. But those accounts, usually very basic merchant accounts, are expensive and cumbersome. In Colorado it’s very hush-hush — and it’s still expensive and cumbersome.

Washington pushed ahead of Colorado in the banking realm by being proactive with smaller banks and credit unions. Three years ago the state’s Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), which regulates banks and credit unions, took extraordinary measures to find a path to banking legalization.

DFI director Scott Jarvis spent more than a year working with federal regulators to make legal cannabis banking happen. His agency now posts specific guidelines and documents to help businesses and bankers make their way through the thicket of regulations to bank legally.

Colorado’s counterpart agency has no such guidance. Officials there thought the better way to go would be to have the state encourage the formation of marijuana banking co-ops. To that end, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies posts information about starting cannabis-focused credit unions.

Which, of course, is how Fourth Corner Credit Union ended up in federal court this week.

But wait: Banking MRBs is still federally illegal, right? Yes and no. Here’s how it works.

The big scary law is the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), a 45-year-old federal statute that outlaws money laundering. FinCEN is the main federal agency enforcing the act. If you’re a bank that wants to accept cash from a business selling a federally illegal substance, you’ve got to get FinCEN’s approval.

FinCEN has given that approval. Sort of. It’s tricky.

In February 2014, the Justice Department and FinCEN issued concurrent guidance documents (you can find them here and here) that created a way for banks and credit unions to bank MRBs without technically running afoul of the Bank Secrecy Act.

But the documents are only guidance; they’re not laws. They don’t legalize money laundering. Rather, they give financial institutions some assurance that FinCEN won’t come after them for handling cannabis-related accounts provided they follow a stringent set of rules.

FinCEN said, essentially, that it will allow banks and credit unions to handle state-legal cannabis cash as long as the banks report it to the agency and conduct extraordinary initial and ongoing due diligence on those clients.

Credit unions like Salal must file quarterly Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) on their cannabis clients with FinCEN. That sounds bad, but it’s actually good. An SAR filed under the category “marijuana limited” means the client is operating a cannabis-related business that adheres to federal enforcement priorities as outlined in the Justice Department’s 2013 Cole memo. If the credit union discovers activity that may violate those priorities, it’s reported as a “marijuana priority” case. If the credit union closes out an account, it’s reported as a “marijuana termination.”

In a way, the FinCEN guidance turns banks into another set of eyes watching to make sure cannabis businesses follow the Cole memo priorities.

All that vetting and reporting is labor-intensive, which makes these accounts expensive for the banks and their clients. Charges for a basic MRB account can run from $400 to $1,000 per month. So even if a bank or credit union is willing to open an account, a merchant might flinch at the price. Toni Savage Fox, owner of Denver’s 3D Cannabis Center, isn’t working with a bank “and it’s mostly by choice,” she told Leafly. “I won’t pay $1,000 a month for someone to store my money. It’s not worth it for me.”

Washington state is working with the FinCEN guidance, mainly because Scott Jarvis, the state’s head banking regulator, continues to put effort into making it work. When federal bank examiners looked as though they might obstruct cannabis accounts, for example, Jarvis and his agency intervened.

“We had a couple instances early on where an examiner maybe came in from out of the region and was unfamiliar with the issues,” Jarvis told Leafly. “We followed up with them and took care of the problem. And our folks,” he said of his office’s examiners, “are all pretty schooled up.”

Colorado, by contrast, has taken a “Congress must change it” stance. The state’s financial regulators have told banks and credit unions only that they must abide by the FinCEN guidelines and recent Justice Department memos. Beyond that, banks are on their own.

Don Childears, CEO of the Colorado Bankers Association, has lamented that the FinCEN guidance is too weak to offer banks the assurance they need to open cannabis accounts. “We believe it literally takes ‘an Act of Congress’ to attract banks to this business,” he advised in a letter to association members.

Such an act may finally stand a chance in both the House and Senate in 2016. (See various attempts that stalled this past year, here and here.) Until then, banking for cannabis businesses will continue to be a drag. But don’t believe the hype about cash-only being the only option. Accounts exist for those who are willing to find them — and pay.

West Virginia Veterans For Medical Cannabis Rally Next Month

I saw the following event on Facebook. If you are in West Virginia, you should definitely come out and support the cause: Sign the petition! http://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-our-troops-west-virginia-veterans-for-medical-cannabis We are uniting at the West Virginia State Capitol Building on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 to call on our state legislators to act now to allow VA medical centers

Colleges Ease Athlete Punishments for Cannabis

Colleges across the country have been slowly easing penalties facing student–athletes who fail screenings for cannabis, a new Associated Press analysis has found. And statements by the NCAA’s medical chief suggest the organization is shifting its focus away from recreational drugs and toward substances it considers cheating.

“The NCAA last year cut in half the penalty for athletes who fail screenings for substances like marijuana at its championship events, and its chief medical officer is pushing for college sports’ governing body to get out of the business of testing for rec drugs altogether. The AP found that some of the nation’s biggest universities, from Oregon to Auburn, have already eased their punishments as society’s views on marijuana use have changed.”

AP looked at policies from 57 of the 65 schools in the Southeastern Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, as well as Notre Dame.

Since 2005, 23 of the schools have either reduced penalties for failed tests involving cannabis and certain other substances or allowed athletes to test positive more times before facing suspension or dismissal. In Washington state and Oregon, which legalized recreational cannabis use during the time period AP analyzed, punishment has eased significantly despite the fact that schools still prohibit it:

“At Oregon, an athlete doesn’t lose playing time until a third failed test; at Oregon State, a third failed test used to mean dismissal, but athletes are now given one more chance.

“At Washington, a third failed test used to be a one-year suspension but is now just 30 days.”

Schools in other states adopt an array of policies, but many have become more lenient toward cannabis and other so-called street drugs, even in states where cannabis remains illegal. Athletic directors say the focus is increasingly on rehabilitation rather than punishment, especially as cultural attitudes toward cannabis change.

“It’s a moving target, and we have to find that balance between being too punitive and not punitive enough, and making sure that we help people that have a problem,” Utah athletic director Chris Hill told AP.

The changes also reflect the NCAA’s focus on performance-enhancing drugs rather than recreational ones. Athletes who test positive for PEDs usually face a one-year suspension, while an initial positive test for cannabis typically results in counseling but no suspension.

Such policies align with views of the NCAA’s top doctor, who told the AP he feels focus the body should focus on cheating, not policing morality:

“NCAA medical chief Dr. Brian Hainline said his organization should concentrate on busting athletes who use PEDs and leave it to the schools to deal with the rest, preferably through treatment rather than punishment.

“‘The most important thing that I can’t emphasize enough is that as a society, we have to make a clear distinction between recreational drug use and cheating,’ Hainline said. ‘I really believe that they require two different approaches. One is more nuanced, and one is hard core.’

“What about marijuana being against the law in most states?

“‘If we’re going to test at championship events for things that are illegal, then we shouldn’t just test for pot,’ Hainline said. ‘If there are any kids under the age of 18 smoking cigarettes, we should test for that. We certainly should be testing for alcohol for everyone under the age of 21. Then we ask ourselves, “Where does the moral authority stop?” I’m all for moral authority as long as there is a philosophical consistency to it.'”

It’d be a mistake not to mention reports Tuesday night that three Clemson football players headed for the Orange Bowl have been suspended for failed drug tests. As of Wednesday afternoon, however, it still wasn’t clear what substances were detected.

What to Expect if You Try to Fly with Cannabis

Say you spent the holidays in one of the four states — or one district — where cannabis is legal. You get to the airport and realize you’ve accidentally left a gram or two in your pocket (OK, it might’ve been on purpose). You start to sweat. What will happen on your way through security?

Chances are good you’ll be better off than you would’ve been just a few years ago. It’s still against the law to cross state lines with cannabis, but a number of airports have relaxed their policies on how to handle offenders.

Let’s be clear: The Transportation Security Administration is a federal agency, and its website warns travelers that state laws are “not relevant to TSA screening.” If screeners do find cannabis, the agency says, it will refer the matter to law enforcement. In other words, just because you bought that joint legally doesn’t mean you can bring it on your flight.

Well, unless you’re staying in Oregon. Portland International Airport allows adults 21 and over to travel with cannabis as long as they’re flying to an in-state airport, according to a July announcement.

Washington state hasn’t gone quite that far, but Seattle-Tacoma International Airport told USA Today that officials won’t make a fuss provided travelers are complying with state law.

Leave the Pacific Northwest, though, and you might have a tougher time. Authorities at the Denver International Airport make travelers toss their cannabis, but you’re likely to get off without a citation despite posted warnings about fines.

In California, where only medical use is legal, you might be OK if you can show a doctor’s note. Cannabis Now noticed an Instagram post by an employee of an extract-maker who was stopped after a TSA screener mistook kale chips for a bag of cannabis. The official said he would’ve let it go, the poster wrote, “had I shown my medical recommendation. Gotta love SFO!”

The tsa employee thought my bag of kale chips were a big bag of weed going through the scanner! He said it would have been all good if it was, had I shown my medical recommendation. Gotta love SFO! #goodvibesgoodhash #treadlightly #kalechips

A photo posted by @treometry on Dec 23, 2015 at 7:34am PST

We still don’t advise taking your chances. An arrest is no way to ring in the new year.

Canada and the Logistics of Legalization

More than two months after a landslide election of both a party and a prime minister whose campaign platforms focused significantly on the legalization of cannabis, Canada remains firmly in the international spotlight, with eyes watching globally to see the how the country handles the logistics of a national retail cannabis market.

Speculation is rampant. Regarding when and how the first steps towards legalization will occur, the most logical first step would be to use the 27 already-licensed producers of Health Canada to expand on legalization. But with the current production rates, will that be enough to meet the demand from Canadian recreational cannabis consumers?

A recent poll from Forum Research suggests that a solid majority, 59 percent, support Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s proposed legalization. About 18 percent of those surveyed admitted to using cannabis in the past year, although use was nearly double among 18 to 24 year olds, at 34 percent. Notably, 13 percent of respondents who said they don’t currently use cannabis indicated they would be “very likely” to consume it if it were legalized.

On a large scale, that means 31 percent, or somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 million Canadians, could very well participate in a legal recreational market.

Another factor to consider is the potential introduction of an international market. Canada’s stringent regulations and quality control makes the possibility of internationally importing and exporting products an attractive, not to mention lucrative, opportunity. Last year there were about 40,000 registered medical marijuana patients, a far cry from the 10 million Canadians who would potentially participate in a retail market.

The reported production rate for licensed producers in the first quarter of 2015 was about 8,848 kilograms per year, which means that if the anticipated user rate of about 1.1 grams a day is even near accurate, there’s no way for licensed producers to meet recreational demands at the current production rate.

However, many licensed producers are not currently producing at full capacity and could easily ramp up productions. And with the clear regulations and safety measures already in place, using the complex system of licensed producers seems like the most logical place to start.

The latest debate among local provinces is whether or not to sell cannabis through licensed liquor store-type outlets. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne suggested that perhaps les Société des alcools du Québec (SAQs) may be a viable means for selling cannabis to the public. While the proposal struck some as convenient, others argue vehemently that cannabis and alcohol should not be sold side-by-side.

If the government does not decide to sell cannabis in liquor stores, will they continue to exclusively sell cannabis through licensed producers, perhaps by expanding the outreach to include retail consumers? And what will come of the dispensaries currently operating across the Canadian landscape in a legal gray area?

Trudeau’s election could mean big things for cannabis, but it won’t come without some major complications along the bumpy road to legalization.

Cannabis Business Conferences are Booming. Is It a Bubble?

Where there’s a booming industry, a bevy of business conferences usually isn’t far off. And in the past few years, that’s exactly what’s been happening around cannabis.

Only a single business conference existed in the U.S. back in 2013. By the next year, the number had risen to six. And 2015 saw the rollout of a whopping 31 conferences.

Those numbers come from research by Marijuana Business Daily, which hosts conferences of its own. And while MBD sees the skyrocketing number of gatherings as an indication of the rapid legitimization of cannabis, it also warns “there are signs that a shakeout in the cannabis conference scene could be on tap.”

Look at the cannabis market’s recent growth — $1.6 billion in sales in 2013, a predicted $3.1 billion in 2015 — and it’s easy to see what both conference organizers and participants are after. Event attendees network, share best practices and industry information, and hawk products and services to one another.

The explosion of conferences parallels much of what’s going on in cannabis. As the previously black-market industry steps into a legal, regulated space (remember, for decades even legitimate medical patients were obtaining and using cannabis illegally, and many still are) entrepreneurs are jumping in to get a piece of the pie. With sales expected to jump to almost $4 billion in the coming year, the bustle doesn’t show signs of slowing anytime soon.

Is it a bubble? Only time will tell. Marijuana Business Daily predicts that “eventually there will likely only be a handful of national business-focused trade shows and major gatherings, as is the case in other industries.”

Meet the Guy Who Gave Away 1,000 Joints on Christmas Eve

For Nick DiCenzo, it all started with a problem: He had too much cannabis on his hands. “I had all this flower left over from my personal grow,” the 40-year-old Denver resident told Leafly. “You’re allowed to have six plants in a home grow here in Colorado, and it’s amazing how much one person can produce.”

As an occasional consumer, DiCenzo found himself with a growing supply and only so much personal demand. He wasn’t licensed to grow or sell, so the stuff had no legal commercial value. “I had a bunch of friends sitting around my porch in Denver last summer. We were trying to figure out what to do with it. Somebody said: Why don’t we give it away?”

DiCenzo had a further thought. What if they donated it in a way that would help the local community?

“That’s how Cannamas came about.”

Cannamas was the answer to DiCenzo’s problem. On Christmas Eve he and a handful of volunteers with his nonprofit group Cannabis Can passed out 1,000 joints — more than a pound and a half of Blue Dream and Caramelicious — to the homeless on the streets of Denver. It was a way, DiCenzo said, to both brighten the holiday for the less fortunate and bring some attention to the problems faced by those living on the streets.

Done and done. The 5-hour gifting tour garnered attention from local television stations as well as coverage in the New York Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Washington Times and Russia Today. Word on the street was good too. “Merry Christmas and a puff puff, New Year’s,” said one happy recipient.

Giving is easy. The hard part’s the rolling — and logistics.

How do you give away 1,000 joints? It’s tougher than you might think. Because first you have to roll 1,000 joints.

“We had a cannabis roll-a-thon the Sunday before Christmas,” DiCenzo said. About a dozen friends and volunteers, most with little rolling experience, spent nearly twelve hours grinding, sprinkling, and twisting. Chris Hill, founder of the Great American Rolling Paper Co., donated rolling machines and papers. “It took a lot longer than we thought,” DiCenzo said. “And without those rollers we wouldn’t have made it to 1,000.”

Then came the logistics. It’s legal to give away a single joint in Colorado. But an individual can possess no more than one ounce, so you can’t just lug hundreds of joints in a shopping bag down Colfax Avenue. “It was really tricky,” DiCenzo said. “Depending on how they’re rolled, thirty to fifty joints together contained an ounce. So we had to have a team of runners to refill our supply as we walked the streets.”

The volunteers met up around 11 a.m. at Sancho’s Broken Arrow, a Deadhead bar on East Colfax, and made their way west toward the Capitol Building, Broadway and the Catholic Charities building near Speer Boulevard. It took about 5 hours to give away every last gift.

DiCenzo isn’t your typical philanthropist. He doesn’t come from money, and he hasn’t made a lot of money. He works occasionally in film production and manages an Airbnb for his family. He’s just a guy who found himself sitting on a pile of cannabis and wanted to do something to help the homeless folks he met in Denver. His giveaway reaped a heap of free media but so far hasn’t resulted in an avalanche of donations for the homeless cause.

“We ran into a lot of people who wanted to give us donations, something for Cannabis Can,” DiCenzo said, “but we couldn’t accept,” because that could be considered an unlicensed sale.

Instead he’s asking donors to hit up the group’s GoFundMe campaign, “Restrooms & Grooms,” which is raising money to offer free showers and haircuts to Denver’s homeless. DiCenzo is hoping to raise $10,000 to purchase and retrofit an RV with showers and a hair-styling station. “When we talk with people on the street, so many of them mention the need for a haircut and regular showers,” DiCenzo said. “It’s one of the biggest obstacles they face in getting employment.”

A few days after Christmas, DiCenzo was out looking at a used RV priced around $700. “It was in terrible condition, but I gotta start somewhere,” he said. “Maybe I can renovate it and get it down to a parking lot where we can offer these services. If we can do that, then this whole thing will be a success.”

Justice Department Shuts Down Major Property Seizure Program

Threatening to seize property has been one of the most effective tools federal prosecutors have used in their stop-and-go efforts to close cannabis businesses across the country. When U.S. attorneys shuttered hundreds of dispensaries and growers across California a few years ago, it was a tactic deployed across the state.

This week the Justice Department announced it would shut down one of the most controversial pieces of its asset forfeiture operations. Under the “equitable sharing” program, a big chunk of what federal prosecutors seize can be funneled to local law enforcement agencies. That practice is over — at least for now.

“We explored every conceivable option that would have enabled us to preserve some form of meaningful equitable sharing,” M. Kendall Day, chief of the DOJ’s asset forfeiture and money laundering program, wrote in a letter to state and local law enforcement, but congressional spending cuts to the department “totaling $1.2 billion made that impossible.”

Critics contend the opportunity for police to pad their budgets has led to overuse of asset forfeiture, which allows authorities to take property — cash and real estate, most commonly — from citizens who haven’t been convicted or even charged with crimes.

Lots of money is at stake. In California, local law enforcement get to keep 66.25 percent of what’s seized under state law, but 80 percent of what’s seized through federal equitable sharing. And indeed, federal forfeiture far outpaces the local route. In 2013, California police seized $28 million in cash and property, but $98 million in federal courts, according to the Institute for Justice. And recent reports suggest that forfeiture is on the rise.

According to this week’s DOJ letter to local officials, that faucet of money has been turned off:

“While we had hoped to minimize any adverse impact on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, the Department is deferring for the time being any equitable sharing payments from the Program.”

The DOJ letter said payments will resume “as soon as practical and financially feasible.”

For now, law enforcement agencies have condemned the move. “Those seeking to do us harm can rest easier knowing one less tool can be used against them,” the National Sheriff’s Association wrote in a statement. “While Congress and the President vacation in peace and tranquility, law enforcement knows all too well that the criminals, terrorists, and criminal aliens do not take a holiday.

That stance suggests that asset forfeiture is off the table for police and prosecutors. It’s not. The move doesn’t prevent authorities from using asset forfeiture to seize property; it merely changes their ability to keep what they take.

The change “does not stop police and prosecutors from chasing criminals,” Lee McGrath, legislative counsel for the Institute for Justice, said in a statement. “They’re frustrated because Congress put on hold their chasing cash.”

As far as cannabis enforcement goes, cities even in states where medical marijuana is legal have used the program to fund efforts to shutter dispensaries and halt growers. In 2011, Lake Forest, Calif., managed to close every dispensary in the city in using forfeiture as a chief tactic.

Prior to enlisting federal help, the city had spent nearly $600,000 on prior enforcement actions. But after the forfeiture actions, a lawyer for the city said he was confident that “we’ll get every cent back.”

It’s no secret that cannabis-related businesses have been booming in recent years. According to San Francisco defense attorney J. David Nick, the suspension of the equitable sharing program could ease scrutiny on dispensaries and growers.

“Law enforcement opposition to cannabis legalization is almost single-handedly motivated by one factor: losing the forfeiture money,” he wrote in an email to Leafly. “This is a great step to a more just society and will erode paranoia felt by landlords and banks who want to do business with the cannabis community.”

'Stoner Sloth' Creators Defend Hapless Three-Toed Critter, Tell Haters They're Too Old to Get It

After watching the social media world mock their anti-drug campaign, the creators of Australia’s infamous Stoner Sloth PSAs are punching back. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, a Saatchi & Saatchi spokesman defended the ad agency’s work as a “significant return on investment and involvement.

“The videos have truly gone viral,” the agency rep told Herald writer Eamonn Duff. Global media derision “is now providing a platform for parents and teenagers all over the world to have ‘the conversation’ about cannabis in an engaging way.”

Fair point, that. For a $360,000 budget, the New South Wales government got more than 4 million views on YouTube and Facebook, and a globally recognized symbol of the adult-teen generation gap.

As for the social media derision that greeted the ads, the S&S official spun it as a classic Old People Problem. The videos were designed “specifically for teens; the audience is not for adults or long-term cannabis users,” the spokesman said. A rep for media agency UM, which handled the media buy, said its research indicated “the majority of negative comments are not from our target audience, which is teenagers.”

In other words: It’s not our worry if you don’t get it, Dad. It’s not meant for you.

Mmm, no. Here’s a curious case of an agency simultaneously arguing the success of the campaign (The kids get it even if you don’t) while heralding the social media FAIL fuel (4 million views!) as a sign of its global reach.

Let’s give Saatchi half credit. Look, the kids think the sloth ads are just as ridiculous as adults do. But 4 million views are 4 million views. And if humor provides an easier entry point into the awkward teenage conversation about cannabis use, the legal age and the effects of consumption, the government has gotten more than its money’s worth.

As a bonus, the poor Stoner Sloth has provided entertainment for all of us stuck at work during this holiday interim week. In the weeks since going viral, an entire genre of parody videos have been turned out by people with a lot of creative time on their hands. They include:

The anti-salt brigade: “Say NO to the White Death.”

We’re not saying salt is heart-healthy, but “the White Death” seems a bit of an overreach…

The straight-up message reversal, Snoop Dogg remix

The standardized testing rebel, throwback Pink Floyd version

The inevitable Star Wars mashup

And this one

Frankly we’re not sure what this one’s all about.

Image Source: Stoner Sloth

7 Giggly Cannabis Strains for Inducing Laughing Fits

In your experience, are there any particular cannabis strains that lead to more laughing fits than others? You might already know what your go-to giggly strain is, but we’ve got some recommendations for the next time you need a companion strain to that funny movie, comedy show, or time spent kicking back with friends. With the help of Leafly user-submitted reviews, we uncovered the strains that consumers like yourself rated as most giggly. Here are seven top contenders; you can also browse an expanded list of gut-busting strains in the Explorer.

Blue Diesel

Introduced by strong flavors of sour blueberry, Blue Diesel is a hybrid to elevate you to an uplifted and jovial mindset. Its nimble cerebral effects make Blue Diesel a perfect daytime companion strain, and the giddy euphoria is sure to bring on spells of laughter (unfortunately to an exaggerated degree for one Leafly reviewer).

“I laughed so hard that I threw up. And that made me laugh more.”

Laughing Buddha

Laughing Buddha’s effects can be understood simply by reading its name: a relaxed state of mind gives way to joyful elation. With an earthy and herbal sage aroma, this sativa helps you let go of stress and unlock a more lighthearted outlook on life. This strain is a favorite for weekend nature excursions with friends, or for getting your day started with a smile.

“Made me feel like nothing could annoy me, I just laughed it off! Very giggly, and made me take myself less seriously.”

Church OG

A serious name for a non-so-serious strain, Church OG is a heavy indica that’ll knock you into stupefied episodes of laughter (especially if friends are around to trigger it). The OG Kush descendent packs a sleepy punch in large doses, so take this one slowly if bedtime is still far off.

Chemdawg

The effects produced by Chemdawg’s high THC content can manifest in many ways, one of which is clearly fits of laughter. This one’s a personal favorite of mine for creative collaborations and chilling with close friends, since it lends both social and artistic energy. However, mind the word of caution from the Leafly reviewer below.

“Prepare for laugh attacks and an extremely heavy body and head high. Everything becomes funny as hell and I legit pissed myself while laughing so hard at a Steak and Shake drive-thru.”

Sweet Diesel

With a champion heritage from OG Kush and Sour Diesel, Sweet Diesel masterfully captures everything we love about sativas: a little boost of wakefulness, creative energy, social engagement, and nonstop giggles.

Black Diamond

Sometimes the best way to unwind after a long, active week is to sit down with a sedating couch-lock strain and a Netflix comedy marathon. Black Diamond is a perfect match for lazy weekends or long bedrest recoveries that take a toll on your mood.

“One of the main things I noticed when I’m on this is that the smallest things trigger the biggest laughing spell you will ever see in yourself again. I swear I saw the funniest shit ever on it, and it was the first time any strain made me laugh for more than 20 minutes straight.”

Mango Kush

First comes that unforgettable mango flavor, and then it’s all giggles. Few strains have more to offer the flavor enthusiast and the social butterfly alike than Mango Kush. Named for its strong fruity mango aroma, this hybrid keeps you chatty and upbeat for social outings or when you’re just kicking it with best friends.

“Two bowls put me and a buddy into a fit of giggles for a good 45 minutes while munching down on a bag of Cheetos. Then we got serious for a bit and had just about the most beautiful in-depth talk ever.”

2015: The Year In Review – NORML’s Top 10 Events That Shaped Marijuana Policy

NORML reviews the top news stories of 2015.

#1 Congress Reauthorizes Medical Marijuana Protections
Members of Congress approved language in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus spending bill that continues to limit the federal government from taking punitive action against state-licensed individuals or operations that are acting are in full compliance with the medical marijuana laws of their states. The provisions reauthorize Section 538 of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, which states, “None of the funds made available in this act to the Department of Justice may be used … to prevent … states … from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

#2 Federal Judge Upholds Marijuana’s Schedule I Status
A federal judge in April rejected a motion challenging the constitutionality of cannabis’ classification as a Schedule I prohibited substance. “At some point in time, a court may decide this status to be unconstitutional,” Judge Kimberly Mueller said from the bench. “But this is not the court and not the time.” Judge Meuller had presided over five days of hearings in October 2014 in a challenge brought by members of the NORML Legal Committee.

#3 Medical Cannabis Access Associated With Less Opioid Abuse
States that permit qualified patients to access medical marijuana via dispensaries possess lower rates of opioid addiction and overdose deaths, according to a study published in July by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a non-partisan think-tank. The findings mirror those published in 2014 in The Journal of the American Medical Association concluding, “States with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8 percent lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate compared with states without medical cannabis laws.”

#4 DC Depenalizes Marijuana; Arrests Plummet
Despite threats from members of Congress, District officials implemented voter-approved legislation earlier this year eliminating penalties associated with the possession and cultivation of personal use quantities of marijuana by adults. Following the law’s implementation, marijuana-related arrests in the nation’s capital fell 99 percent.

#5 Marijuana Law Changes Don’t Change Youth Use, Attitudes
Rates of youth marijuana use are unaffected by changing laws, according to data published in July in The American Journal of drug and Alcohol Abuse. Investigators evaluated trends in young people’s attitudes toward cannabis and their use of the substance during the years 2002 to 2013 – a time period where 14 states enacted laws legalizing the medical use of the plant, and two states approved its recreational use by adults. “Our results may suggest that recent changes in public policy, including the decriminalization, medicalization, and legalization of marijuana in cities and states across the country, have not resulted in more use or greater approval of marijuana use among younger adolescents,” researchers reported.

#6 Gallup Poll: More Americans Than Ever Say Marijuana Should Be Legal
Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe that “the use of marijuana should be made legal,” according to nationwide survey data released in October by Gallup pollsters. The percentage ties the highest level of support ever reported by Gallup, which has been measuring Americans’ attitudes toward cannabis since the late 1960s. The percentage is more than twice the level of support reported in the mid-1990s.

#7 Study: Marijuana Use Not Associated With Changes In Brain Morphology
Marijuana use is not associated with structural changes in the brain, according to imaging data published in January in The Journal of Neuroscience. Investigators assessed brain morphology in both daily adult and adolescent cannabis users compared to non-users. They found “no statistically significant differences … between daily users and nonusers on volume or shape in the regions of interest” after researchers controlled for participants’ use of alcohol. “[T]he results indicate that, when carefully controlling for alcohol use, gender, age, and other variables, there is no association between marijuana use and standard volumetric or shape measurements of subcortical structures,” researchers reported.

#8 Marijuana Consumers Less Likely To Be Obese, Suffer Diabetes Risk
Those who consume cannabis are 50 percent less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome as compared to those who do not, according to findings published in November in The American Journal of Medicine. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat, which are linked to increased risk of heart disease and adult onset diabetes, among other serious health consequences. The findings are similar to those of previous studies reporting that those who use cannabis are less likely to be obese or suffer from diabetes.

#9 NHTSA: THC-Positive Drivers Don’t Possesses Elevated Crash Risk
Drivers who test positive for the presence of THC in their blood are no more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes than are drug-free drivers, according to a case-control study released in February by the United States National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Authors reported that drivers who tested positive for the presence of THC possessed an unadjusted, elevated risk of accident of 25 percent (Odds Ratio=1.25) compared to controls (drivers who tested negative for any drug or alcohol). However, this elevated risk became insignificant (OR=1.05) after investigators adjusted for demographic variables, such as the drivers’ age and gender. The study is the largest of its kind ever conducted in the United States.

#10 Legal Marijuana States Collect Over $200 Million In New Tax Revenue
Taxes on the legal production and sale of cannabis in the states of Colorado and Washington have yielded over $200 million in new revenue since going into effect in 2014, according to calculations reported by The Huffington Post in September. Colorado collected more than $117 million dollars from marijuana sales while Washington collected over $83 million. Cannabis sales commenced in Oregon in on October 1, 2015 and have yet to begin in Alaska.

Major Colleges Are Reducing Penalties for Athletes’ Marijuana Use

The Associated Press reported today that some of the nation’s biggest colleges have been reducing their penalties for student athletes who test positive for marijuana.

At least one-third of the Power Five conference schools are not punishing athletes as harshly as they were 10 years ago for testing positive for marijuana and other so-called recreational drugs, according to an investigation by The Associated Press.

…

The AP analyzed policies for 57 of the 65 schools in the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, plus Notre Dame.

Of the 57 schools, 23 since 2005 have either reduced penalties or allowed an athlete to test positive more times before being suspended or dismissed. Ten schools have separate, less stringent policies addressing only marijuana infractions.

Click here to read the entire article.

The post Major Colleges Are Reducing Penalties for Athletes’ Marijuana Use appeared first on MPP Blog.

2016 Outlook Free Reports

INN has created a series of Free Reports for investors, reviewing highlights of 2015 and looking forward to 2016. Over 50 articles covering over 40 investing topics including insight and forecasts from hundreds of sources, these Free Reports offer incredible value to investors.

All new for 2016, these free reports are mobile and tablet friendly. This means you can take them to go or read these free reports at your leisure. Feel free to share with your friends and family – anyone you feel should be looking at the investing opportunities that 2016 presents.

Critical Metals Outlook: The Potential for 2016

Jon Hykawy of Stormcrow Capital Talks Rare Earth Prices 2015
Rare Earth Market Outlook 2016
Graphite Outlook 2016: Megafactory Deals on the Horizon?
Cobalt Outlook 2016: Near-term Deficit Still Expected
Tungsten Outlook: Does 2016 Have Potential?
Tantalum Price Trends 2015
Magnesium Mining Outlook 2016
Manganese Outlook 2016: Weak Steel Demand a Threat
Scandium Market Trends for 2015

Precious Metals

Gold Trends 2015: CEOs Recap the Year
Gold CEO Outlook
Gold Analyst Outlook
Silver Predictions 2016: Watch China and the Gold Price
Top Silver Investments of 2015
Platinum Price Forecast 2016: Market to Balance
Palladium Price Forecast 2016
Diamond Outlook 2016: Summer to Bring Higher Prices?

Energy

Uranium Outlook 2016: Supply Deficit in the Cards
Analysts Look Back at the Lithium Market in 2015
Junior Lithium Miners: 2015 in Review
Lithium Company Outlook
Lithium Outlook 2016: What are Analysts Saying?
Oil Price Outlook 2016: Turnaround Targeted in late 2016
Natural Gas Outlook 2016: Prices to Stay Down on Oversupply

Industrial Metals (Coming Soon)

Coal in 2015: Another Tough Year
Coal Outlook 2016: Near-term Rebound Highly Unlikely
5 Top Vanadium Articles of 2015
Aluminum Outlook 2016: Weakness to Prevail on Oversupplied Steel Industry
Tin Outlook
Molybdenum Outlook
Chromium Outlook

Base Metals (Coming Soon)

Copper Price Forecast 2016: Producers Under Pressure
Copper Outlook 2016: Companies Weigh In
Zinc Forecast 2016: Will Strong Fundamentals Boost Price?
Iron Price Forecast for 2016 and Onward
Lead Outlook 2016: Watch China for Cues
Nickel Outlook

Agriculture

Investing in Cannabis 2016: Legalization and FDA Approvals to Revolutionize the Market
Potash Outlook 2016: SOP Expected to Shine
Phosphate Outlook: Steady Demand on the Horizon

Technology (Coming Soon)

2016 to Bring Big Changes for Cleantech Investors?
3 Social Media Future Trends for 2016
Year in Review: The Bitcoin Market in 2015
Data Mining Trends for 2016
Investing in 3D Printer Companies in 2016
3 Top App Investing Trends for 2016
Nanotechnology Future Outlook 2016
Graphene Outlook
Cybersecurity Outlook
Cloud Outlook

Life Science (Coming Soon)

Top Trends for Genomics Stocks in 2016
2016 Outlook for Pharmaceutical Investors
Top Longevity Research Trends: Life Extension in 2016
Top Medical Device Trends for 2016
Biotech Outlook

Have other topics you’d like us to cover?

Please let us know!

The post 2016 Outlook Free Reports appeared first on Investing News Network.

Top 10 Marijuana Policy Victories of 2015

MPP executive director Rob Kampia’s list of the “Top 10 Marijuana Policy Victories of 2015” has been published by the Huffington Post.

In 2015, state legislators considered bills to legalize marijuana in 21 states, decriminalize marijuana possession in 17 states, and legalize medical marijuana in 19 states.

Most of the action in 2015 was aimed at achieving substantial victories in 2016, which is slated to be the most successful year in the history of the movement to end marijuana prohibition.

With this in mind, the Marijuana Policy Project is hereby releasing its top 10 list for 2015. I’m excluding international and scientific developments, instead focusing on policy developments in the United States.

Click here to read the entire column.

The post Top 10 Marijuana Policy Victories of 2015 appeared first on MPP Blog.

A Look Back at 2015; and Ahead to 2016

The end of the year is a natural time to review our progress advancing legalization over the past 12 months, and to look ahead to what we hope to achieve in the coming year.

Compared to our recent dramatic electoral victories in 2012 and again in 2014, 2015 was a slow year. We made some modest gains, but nothing dramatic.

During the current phase of legalization, when our victories primarily come by way of voter initiatives, we have become accustomed to expecting more progress in election years, especially presidential election years when the youth vote is highest, than in non-election years. Those basic rules still apply.

But even with that caveat, 2015 moved us forward and positioned us well for 2016.

Public Support Remains Strong

We are legalizing marijuana because we finally enjoy the support of a majority of the American public, both smokers and non-smokers alike. And that majority support, which first began to register in the national polls three years ago, is holding firm.

National polling in the past year by Gallup (58% support), PEW (53%), CBS (53%), Morning Consult (55%), Fox (51%), General Social Survey (52%) and Beyond The Beltway (61%) have all demonstrated marijuana legalization continues to have the support of a majority of the nation.

As the authors of the latest Gallup Poll concluded: “These trends suggest that state and local governments may come under increasing pressure to ease restrictions on marijuana use, if not go even further like the states of Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska in making recreational marijuana use completely legal.”

So the foundation for continued progress remains in place, and appears to be growing: most Americans have concluded that marijuana prohibition is a failed public policy.

Some Statewide Progress

The one most significant statewide victory during 2015 came in Delaware, where the state legislature decriminalized minor marijuana offenses ($100 civil fine for possession of up to one ounce), the 19th state in the country to stop arresting marijuana smokers. The new law became effective on Dec. 18th.

And in Oregon, where the state legalized marijuana in 2014, the legislature became the first of the legalized states to take steps to minimize the impact of prior marijuana convictions, imposed under the old law. Democrat Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation in June allowing those with past marijuana possession convictions to have their criminal records expunged, if those offenses are no longer illegal. That’s an area that each legalization state needs to revisit and address.

In a somewhat unexpected development, the state of Louisiana, traditionally one of the harshest states in the country for marijuana offenses, took significant steps to mitigate penalties for repeat marijuana offenders—defendants who, in the past, faced up to two decades in prison. Under the new law, second-time possession offenders face a maximum sentence of six months in jail (reduced from five years); and third-time offenders see their potential maximum sentences reduced from 20 years to no more than two. The new law also permits these possession offenders to have their records expunged if they remain arrest-free for two years. It is surely only incremental change, but in Louisiana, it represents real progress.

Municipal Ordinances

Much of the progress made in 2015 came at the municipal level. In East Lansing, MI 65% of the voters approved a local ordinance eliminating penalties for the possession or transfer of up to one ounce of marijuana on private property. Lansing is the seventeenth Michigan city to approve an initiative de-penalizing minor offenses.

In Milwaukee, WI, members of the City Council reduced penalties for marijuana possession (up to 25 grams) to a fine of no more than $50.00. Nine of the state’s 10 largest cities have now adopted decriminalization ordinances.

And in Miami-Dade County, FL, Commissioners in Florida’s largest county approved an ordinance that permits police to cite rather than arrest minor marijuana offenders (up to 20 grams), with a civil fine of $100. Previously misdemeanor marijuana arrests accounted for 10 percent of all cases filed in the Miami-Dade County criminal court system.

Marijuana Arrests Drop in Several Major Cities

And marijuana possession arrests dropped dramatically in several big cities during 2015. In the District of Columbia, marijuana arrests fell roughly 99%, from nearly 900 arrests in 2014 to less than 10 arrests in 2015.

In Philadelphia, where marijuana was decriminalized by municipal ordinance in 2014, marijuana arrests for simple possession dropped from 3,700 in 2014 to just over 1,000 in 2015, a drop of 73%.

And in New York City, where more than 30,000 New Yorkers were arrested on marijuana charges in 2014, marijuana arrests fell 40%, to less than 19,000 in 2015. Still far too many, but a substantial step in the right direction.

The Bad News in 2015

The most obvious political disappointment in 2015 was the ill-fated legalization initiative (Issue 3) in Ohio. Brought in a non-election year (assuring a low youth vote turnout) and drafted to enrich the investors who put-up the $23 million spent in the campaign, Issue 3 was met with widespread opposition, even among many who support the legalization of marijuana. The proposal won the approval of only 35% of the voters, making it likely that Ohioans will continue to face arrest and jail for several more years.

Another disappointment was the failure of the legislature in IL to override the veto by Governor Bruce Rauner of a decriminalization bill approved by the legislature earlier in the year. The proposal would have reduced penalties for possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana to a $125 civil fine. Police in IL arrest some 50,000 individuals annually for simple marijuana possession. In Chicago, 95% of those arrested for marijuana possession are either Black or Hispanic.

Nationwide, decriminalization proposals were introduced, but failed to be approved by the legislatures, in HI, KY, NE, NH, SC, TX and VA.

Full legalization proposals were introduced, but failed to be approved by the legislatures, in CT, FL, HI, MD, ME, MO, NM, RI and VT.

Looking Forward to 2016

As we look ahead to 2016, the best news for those who support marijuana legalization is the agreement reached by most of the major players in the nation-state of California to coalesce behind one legalization initiative. California is the big prize, and a win there will add significant momentum to the legalization movement nationwide.

Most of us presumed California would be the first state to fully legalize marijuana, as it has historically been the breeding ground for progressive marijuana policy. But in the recent past, the sheer size of the state has resulted in several competing proposals being advanced, with marijuana remaining illegal in the Golden State. The same possibility loomed large for 2016 as well, with several differing versions of legalization being circulated by different interest groups, and no assurance that anyone would be willing to compromise.

With crucial leadership provided by current Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, a consensus has now formed around a single proposal, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, and it now appears California voters will likely approve legalization in November of 2016.

Other states that appear poised to approve full legalization via voter initiatives in 2016 include Arizona, Massachusetts, Maine, and Nevada. Needless to say, were all five states to approve full legalization, 2016 would truly be a break-out year, and would set the stage for several additional states to adopt legalization in 2018. But even if we fail to win them all, it promises to be a banner year for legalization around the country.

And it is possible that 2016 may give us our first state legislative approval of full legalization. A breakthrough in this area would be especially important for those 26 states that do not offer a voter initiative option. The states that appear most likely to take this step in 2016 include the three northeastern states of Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

So as we look forward to the new year, those of us who smoke marijuana, and all who support marijuana legalization, can anticipate a string of victories that should catapult the movement well past the political tipping point in America. Our momentum continues to grow with each election cycle

We are finally winning this long fight to stop the senseless arrest of responsible marijuana smokers, and establish a legally regulated market where consumers can obtain their marijuana. As we prepare for 2016, the smell of personal freedom is in the air.

__________________________________________________________

This column first appeared on Marijuana.com.

http://www.marijuana.com/blog/news/2015/12/a-look-back-at-2015-and-ahead-to-2016/

NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

While many are already celebrating the holidays with family and loved ones, we didn’t want to miss the chance to spotlight some important marijuana law reforms that have taken place this past week. We have exciting news internationally, federally, and in several states! Keep reading below to find out more!

International:

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has signed legislation into law regulating the licensed production and exportation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Under the new policy, those seeking to grow medicinal cannabis commercially or manufacturer cannabis-based medicinal products may apply with government agencies for licensure. Regulators will also grant permits to those seeking to export medicinal cannabis products out of the country.

Santos said that the goal of the policy “is for patients to be able to access medications made in Colombia that are safe, high-quality and accessible. It is also an opportunity to promote scientific research in our country.”

While existing law allows for the personal possession and cultivation of cannabis, the plant’s commercial production, manufacture, and sale had not been permitted.

You can read more about this new policy here.

Federal: Back in July, we wrote about a letter authored by Senator Elizabeth Warren and seven other Senators that demanded answers from the federal government in regards to the facilitation of research into the medical benefits of marijuana.

While the DEA, ONDCP, and HHS responded to the letter in October, the Senators were not satisfied and have just recently written a second letter asking for those answers again after claiming the initial response, “failed to answer key substantive questions.”

Of importance to the Senators were topics such as the rescheduling of marijuana in the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the current monopoly the University of Mississippi holds on cultivating cannabis for federal research purposes, interagency coordination as well as the coordination between the federal government and states, and surveillance and epidemiological studies on the use of medical marijuana in the U.S.

This second letter once again signals to many that medical marijuana is becoming an even more important issue in the political sphere not only to voters but also to their elected officials.

Additionally, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a press release this week stating that they would “ease some of the regulatory requirements imposed by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for those who are conducting FDA-approved clinical trials on cannabidiol (CBD), an extract of the marijuana plant.”

Current federal regulation requires researchers who wished to expand their CBD based studies to submit a written request for additional CBD. This would delay the research while the request went through the approval process. According to the press release, “Under these changes, a previously registered CBD clinical researcher who is granted a waiver can readily modify their protocol and continue their research seamlessly.  This waiver effectively removes a step from the approval process.

Deputy Director for NORML, Paul Armentano comments, “It’s a minor change. The DEA has done nothing to speed the process for investigators who want to do clinical work with CBD. In order to do clinical work on a drug on the Schedule 1 list, an investigator still needs approval from the FDA, the DEA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.”

State:

Massachusetts: H. 1561: The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act of 2016 has been scheduled for a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 13th at 1PM.

This legislation would permit the personal possession, cultivation and retail sale of marijuana to adults. The measure would also permit home cultivation of the plant for non-commercial purposes.

Bring your written testimony and testify in front of the committee in support of The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act of 2016.

If you can’t make the hearing, you can contact your lawmakers and urge their support here.

New Hampshire: Legislation has been prefiled for the 2016 legislative session to allow persons 21 years of age or older to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana and to cultivate up to 6 marijuana plants without penalty.

Police in New Hampshire arrest some 2,900 individuals annually for simple marijuana possession offenses. The continued criminalization of adult marijuana use is out-of-step with the views of New Hampshire adults, some 60 percent of whom now endorse legalizing and regulating the plant, according to an October 2014 WMUR Granite State Poll.

Click here if you’re a resident of New Hampshire and want to contact your lawmakers and urge their support for this legislation!

Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh City Council on Monday voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, falling in line with a growing number of municipalities that have taken similar actions in recent years, city officials said.

Under the ordinance passed with a 7 to 2 vote, police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, will begin to issue fines of $25 for possessing less than 30 grams of marijuana and $100 for smoking it in a public space instead of citing for misdemeanors, the city clerk’s office said.

The ordinance is subject to approval by Mayor Bill Peduto, who has voiced support.

Virginia: Virginia NORML in Richmond, VA will be holding their state Lobby Day on January 14th!

Virginia NORML members and supporters will convene at the General Assembly building to bring our message directly to our lawmakers. RSVP now — this is their #1 advocacy event of the year, and they need all hands on deck in Richmond!

Participants will be teamed with other constituents and meet with their legislators face-to-face to discuss the marijuana policy reforms critical to the Commonwealth. Participants will be lobbying for decriminalization, and for eliminating the driver’s license suspension upon a conviction.

For more information click here.

Wyoming: House legislation (HB 3) to depenalize marijuana possession offenses has been pre-filed for the 2016 legislative session, which begins February 8. 

Annually, state and local police make some 2,100 marijuana possession arrests. The state ranks sixth in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests. Under state law, first-time marijuana possession offenses are classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

House Bill 3  replaces criminal sanctions involving the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of no more than $100 — no arrest and no criminal record.

To take action and contact your House member to urge their support for this measure, click here.

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Additional information for these and other pending legislative measures may be found at our #TakeAction Center!

** A note to first time readers: NORML can not introduce legislation in your state. Nor can any other non-profit advocacy organization. Only your state representatives, or in some cases an individual constituent (by way of their representative; this is known as introducing legislation ‘by request’) can do so. NORML can — and does — work closely with like-minded politicians and citizens to reform marijuana laws, and lobbies on behalf of these efforts. But ultimately the most effective way — and the only way — to successfully achieve statewide marijuana law reform is for local stakeholders and citizens to become involved in the political process and to make the changes they want to see. Get active; get NORML!

Charging Drug Sellers with Murder if Someone Dies from Overdose Will Ruin Lives, Save None

Over 47,000 people lost their lives to drug overdose in 2014 and overdose deaths continue to rise at a disturbing rate. Heroin deaths, in particular have increased 128% since 2013, and 350% since 2010.

A growing number of states are implementing harm reduction-centered approaches proven to reduce overdose fatalities. Lawmakers in some states, however, are turning to punitive, counter-productive measures in a misguided effort to combat the overdose crisis.

In New Hampshire, the state’s attorney general announced that individuals who sell drugs that result in the user dying will now face felony second-degree murder charges. The AG claims they have made this change “in hopes of deterring dealers from selling dangerous drugs, such as heroin.” Such tactics are not unprecedented, with federal and state prosecutors in Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Wisconsin pursuing similar charges. Some states have had drug-induced homicide laws on the books for years, while others charge heroin-related deaths as reckless homicide or involuntary manslaughter. Federal law has long allowed for federal prosecutors to seek increased penalties in drug delivery cases involving death.

Prosecutors hope harsh charges will deter those who sell drugs, and keep drugs away from those who use drugs. In reality, incarcerating the average street level drug seller has almost no impact on drug distribution, it does not reduce demand for drugs within the community, and new recruits simply fill the void. Such policies are retributive, not grounded in public health science.

It is more likely criminalization of overdose will result in negative unintended consequences that exacerbate the situation. For instance, establishing punitive overdose policies may reduce a bystander’s willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and emergency personnel, especially if the bystander sold to the person who is overdosing and is the only person who can call for help. Policies targeting sellers could inadvertently result in abandonment of overdose victims out of fear of prosecution.

These policies fundamentally misunderstand the dynamics of the average drug seller, treating people who use drugs and sellers as two distinct groups with different motives: drug sellers as sinister and people who use drugs as dupes. Overdoses are not caused by malice on the part of the drug seller. Overdoses are often the result of the circumstances in which a person is consuming, or unfamiliarity with a substance. In reality, the average person selling drugs struggles to make ends meet or sells drugs to supplement their own drug use. The line blurs even further when considering users who occasionally provide and use drugs with small groups of friends. Cases like those of Chelcie Schlem and Sean Harrington illustrate the folly of these prosecutorial labels.

Despite belief that street level sellers are adding fentanyl to heroin to cut costs, making a more potent drug that results in overdose, the DEA has found little evidence that fentanyl is added to heroin in the US. It is generally manufactured in labs in Mexico and mixed with heroin before shipment. Most people who sell or use heroin likely aren’t aware when fentanyl has been added.

As a nation, we have recognized we cannot arrest our way out of substance use, and it is widely accepted that those struggling with problematic drug use deserve treatment rather than incarceration. In order to reduce overdose-related deaths we must leave failed drug war policies behind and treat substance use as a health issue. Overdose-related homicide charges are a return to the outdated “tough on crime” rhetoric that inspired decades of destructive drug war policies that failed to reduce problematic substance use. Losing someone to overdose is a tragedy, and policies like drug-related homicide simply expand that tragedy.

Kaitlyn Boecker is a policy associate with the Drug Policy Alliance.

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Author: Kaitlyn Boecker
Date Published: December 23, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

Colombia To License Medical Cannabis Use

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has signed legislation into law regulating the licensed production and exportation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Under the new policy, those seeking to grow medicinal cannabis commercially or manufacturer cannabis-based medicinal products may apply with government agencies for licensure. Regulators will also grant permits to those seeking to export medicinal cannabis products out of the country.

Santos said that the goal of the policy “is for patients to be able to access medications made in Colombia that are safe, high-quality and accessible. It is also an opportunity to promote scientific research in our country.”

While existing law allows for the personal possession and cultivation of cannabis, the plant’s commercial production, manufacture, and sale had not been permitted.

Federally licensed medical marijuana production and distribution is presently permitted in Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands.

In 2013, Uruguay officials approved legislation authorizing the retail production and sale of cannabis to those age 18 and older. Consumers in that country are anticipated to be able to begin purchasing cannabis at state-licensed pharmacies by mid-2016.

The Drug Policy Alliance Requests Sentencing Reprieve for Louisianan Given 13-year Prison Sentence for Possession of Two Marijuana Cigarettes

NEW ORLEANS—The Drug Policy Alliance formally requested the Louisiana Governor today to grant Bernard Noble a gubernatorial reprieve and release Mr. Noble from prison, where he has served more than four years behind bars having been sentenced to a term of 13.3 years of hard labor without the opportunity for parole for possessing the equivalent of two marijuana cigarettes.

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 5 of the Louisiana Constitution, the Governor has the absolute power to issue reprieves of persons convicted of crimes against the state. Drug Policy Alliance has written Governor Jindal asking him to exercise his power of office by staying Mr. Noble’s unjust sentence and setting Mr. Noble free.

Legislation signed into law by Governor Jindal earlier this year would make Mr. Noble a free man today had it been the law at the time of Mr. Noble’s offense. Because the new law is not retroactive in its application, a gubernatorial reprieve is required for Mr. Noble’s release. Mr. Noble has been a model prisoner during his incarceration.

“The sentence inflicted by Louisiana on Mr. Noble for simple, low-level marijuana possession, on a gainfully employed father with absolutely no history of any serious or violent crime, is a travesty,” said Daniel Abrahamson, Senior Legal Advisor to the Drug Policy Alliance. “Mr. Noble’s sentence does not enhance public safety. It has devastated Mr. Noble and his family. And it flies in the face of what Louisianans believe and what current law provides. Governor Jindal should exercise mercy and use his power as Governor to advance fairness, justice and compassion by issuing Mr. Noble a sentencing reprieve.”

Mr. Noble’s prison sentence for possessing two joints will cost Louisiana taxpayers nearly one-quarter of a million dollars and will add to the majority of nonviolent offenders who currently fill Louisiana’s prisons.

Author:
Date Published: December 21, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

President Obama Commutes the Sentences of 95 People – and He Should Still Do More

Last week, President Obama commuted the sentences of 95 people incarcerated in federal prisons. Forty of these individuals were serving life sentences for a drug law violation.

The announcement more than doubles the number of commutations that President Obama has granted since he took the oath of office. President Obama should do more. Nearly 2,000 individuals are serving life in prison for drug related crimes. Thousands more remain incarcerated having been sentenced under unfair and outdated crack cocaine sentencing guidelines. The Fair Sentencing Act, passed by Congress in 2010, reduced the sentencing disparity for crack cocaine and powder cocaine from 100:1 to 18:1 but was not made retroactive.

A commutation is a reduction of a person’s prison sentence. The United States Constitution gives the president the authority to issue commutations for anyone convicted of a federal crime. The same holds true for cases prosecuted in D.C. Superior Court. The President cannot commute a sentence imposed by a state court, instead most often the state’s constitution gives the state’s governor the authority to grant clemency or pardons.

A pardon is official forgiveness of a crime and includes restoration of civil rights, such as the right to vote or sit on a jury. Although it can be granted at any time, it is most often granted after a person has completed their sentence and maintained a record of good behavior for a period of time. The President granted two pardons on Friday.

Many barriers exist for people released from a period of incarceration. People with a felony conviction are barred from public housing and individuals with drug related felonies are ineligible for nutritional, housing and other low-income public assistance. Many potential pathways to careers are cut off by a felony record since employers often discriminate against individuals with a criminal record and professional licenses, such as barber and cosmetology and taxi-cab licenses can be denied to persons with a felony conviction. Overall, there is little meaningful assistance provided to individuals reintegrating back into their communities upon their release.

Congress should take action to reduce long prison sentences for non-violent offenses and apply the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, spearheaded by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), includes reductions in mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, makes the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive, and expands prison programming and early release, among other things. A similar bill, championed by Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), was introduced in the House. Both bills have strong bipartisan support, and are awaiting floor action. Additionally, Congress should remove the ban on cash assistance and food stamp programs for people convicted of drug related crime. About half of states have already modified or opted out of the ban altogether.

No one should spend decades of their life imprisoned for drug related crimes. It is equally unjust that a lifetime of denied opportunities awaits a person who has just completed such a sentence. President Obama has said that he wants to restore balance to America’s drug policy; thousands of people are still serving mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes. President Obama has the power to free thousands of victims of failed drug war, restoring families and communities. I’m waiting for his actions to speak louder than his words.

Lindsey Lawson Battaglia is a policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance.

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Author: Lindsey Lawson Battaglia
Date Published: December 21, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

President Obama Grants Clemency to 95 Individuals

Today, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 95 people incarcerated in federal prison for drug offenses. This follows the commutation of 45 people in July, 22 people in March, and 8 people in December of 2014. All of those who received commutations today were serving time in prison for nonviolent drug offenses.

In taking this step, the President has now issued 170 commutations, the vast majority to non-violent offenders sentenced for drug law violations under draconian sentencing laws. President Obama has been under significant public pressure from advocacy groups and family members of people incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses who are serving long, mandatory minimum sentences.

“The President is to be applauded for bringing some much needed holiday cheer to the families of these incarcerated individuals, but we need so much more,” said Michael Collins, deputy director at DPA’s office of national affairs. “There is legislation moving through Congress that would reduce mandatory minimums, and Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell need to bring these bills up for a vote.”

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, spearheaded by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), includes reductions in mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, an expansion of the federal “safety valve” (which allows judges to use their discretion to sentence people below statutory mandatory minimums), and will expand prison programming and early release, among other things. A similar bill, championed by Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), was introduced in the House. Both bills have strong bipartisan support, and are awaiting floor action.

Just last month, at the Drug Policy Alliance’s International Drug Policy Reform Conference, more than 1,500 attendees were asked to take part in a text action calling on President Obama to use his clemency powers more aggressively to free victims of the drug war.

Jason Hernandez, who served 17 years of a life sentence for a crack cocaine offense before becoming the first Latino to receive clemency from President Obama, announced the call to action: “President Obama, I love you like a father for giving me my life back. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have done for me and my family, and I know you are not responsible for this war on drugs. You can’t end it by yourself, but, Mr. President, with all due respect, you need to do more. There are mothers and fathers that have been in prison so long that their kids are being raised without a parent — entire communities are being decimated — all because of this failed war on drugs. Mr. President, bring our loved ones home.”

“I am gratified that President Obama used his powers to release individuals who deserve to have a second chance at life,” said Anthony Papa, media relations manager for the Drug Policy Alliance, who was granted clemency in New York State in 1997 after serving 12 years under the notorious Rockefeller Drug Laws for a first-time nonviolent drug offense. “These horrific drug sentences overwhelmingly impact people of color, and it’s time our leaders righted these wrongs.”

View the list of people who received clemency here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/18/president-obama-g…

Author:
Date Published: December 18, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

Pot and Senior Citizens: It’s a Natural Fit

As another year draws to a close, and I turn another year older, I am reminded how nicely marijuana compliments the aging process. And yet, because of the fears and misconceptions from the decades-long “reefer madness” government propaganda campaign, most seniors today remain unaware of the benefits and pleasures of cannabis. Those over 65 years of age remain the only demographic in the country who do not yet support marijuana legalization. We need to change that.

Marijuana and Health

First, aging brings a host of natural aches and pains, many of which are best remedied with a little marijuana smoking. Most of us who qualify as seniors end up with a growing list of pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by our physicians, most of which have some undesirable side-effects, some minor and some not so minor. Recent research has documented that those who use marijuana to treat the symptoms of their conditions generally use fewer dangerous, Schedule 2 narcotics, avoiding the inevitable unpleasant side-effects those drugs bring, along with their palliative effects.

Improving the Quality of Life for Seniors

But primarily the point I would like to make in this column is the positive role marijuana can play in an older individual’s life, beyond the traditional medical applications. That is, marijuana can help enhance the quality of life at a time when most seniors have time on their hands and can explore facets of life that might have been missed when one’s career or family responsibilities consumed every available moment. We can now slow down and smell the flowers.

Many older citizens fill their time by traveling more extensively than before; some spend more time playing golf or tennis or some other sport that may have been only an occasional diversion during their earlier years; and many pursue an intellectual search to learn more about the world around them, an option made enormously more attractive with the internet.

And each of these uses of their free time, and many more, can be enhanced with the use of marijuana.

With a couple of hits of high-quality weed, one might be inclined to finally take the time to learn that foreign language you have always wanted to master; or to research the family tree to learn your family’s history; or to more fully understand some of the serious social and environmental challenges with which we are confronted today.

There are wonderful, creative ways to spend free time when your mind is open to new experiences.

Opening the Doors of Perception

The marijuana high, when used properly, opens the doors of perception and allows us to ask ourselves questions we might not have asked before, when we were overwhelmed with the challenges of everyday life – it stimulates one’s intellectual curiosity.

By the nature of our existence, as we grow older we naturally ponder the reality that we are mortal and will not live forever, and that none of us are certain precisely what that means. It is the nature of the human experience that some of these question are beyond our ability to answer.

Marijuana can be an entheogen that helps one achieve a degree of calmness about such imponderable spiritual questions, and allows us to set those issues aside while we enjoy each day, even with all of life’s uncertainties and challenges.

And finally, the marijuana high can turn an otherwise ordinary time into a special experience. Marijuana enhances the pleasures we derive from spending time with family and friends; from good music and good food, however one defines those things; and from those ordinary things that bring us joy each day, such as seeing a new-born baby, listening to the birds chirp in the morning, smelling the distinctive aroma of spring flowers, playing with our pets, or watching our grandchildren develop into younger versions of ourselves.

This seems to me to be the most useful aspect of the marijuana high; it allows us to find value and richness in the ordinary.

For seniors who enjoy smoking marijuana, there is really no such thing as “too much time on our hands.” It’s all good time that we can use to enrich our lives.

I sometimes think marijuana is wasted on the young; it really is best suited for those of us who are now senior citizens, with discretionary time, and enjoying every minute of it.

Stoner Seniors. It has a nice ring to it!

Annual Survey Shows Teen Marijuana Use Remains Steady, Not Increased by Policy Reform or Debate

The results of an annual survey of U.S. middle and high school students released Wednesday invalidate claims that reforming marijuana laws and debating legalization will lead to increased marijuana use among teens.

According to the Monitoring the Future Survey sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

Rates of daily marijuana use by 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders, as well as monthly use by 12th-graders, did not change from 2014 to 2015 and have remained unchanged since 2010.

The rate of monthly marijuana use by 8th-graders did not change in the past year, but has dropped significantly since 2010.

The rate of monthly marijuana use by 10th-graders appears to have dropped significantly from 2014 (and 2010) to 2015.

The survey also found a decline in the number of teens who perceive ‘great risk’ in marijuana use, negating the theory that softening perceptions of harm will result in more teens using marijuana.

The post Annual Survey Shows Teen Marijuana Use Remains Steady, Not Increased by Policy Reform or Debate appeared first on MPP Blog.

Justice Department Will Continue to Be Prohibited From Interfering in State Medical Marijuana Laws Under New Spending Bill

The Justice Department will continue to be prohibited from interfering in state medical marijuana laws under the new federal spending bill unveiled late Tuesday night.

The compromise legislation includes a provision that is intended to prevent the department, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, from using funds to arrest or prosecute patients, caregivers, and businesses that are acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws. It stems from an amendment sponsored by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Sam Farr (D-CA) that was first approved in the House of Representatives in May 2014 and included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 signed by President Obama last December.

In April 2015, a Justice Department spokesman told the Los Angeles Times that the department did not interpret the amendment as affecting cases involving individuals or businesses, but merely “impeding the ability of states to carry out their medical marijuana laws.” In October, a federal judge ruled that interpretation was inaccurate and that the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment prevents the department from taking action against individuals who are acting in compliance with state laws.

Unfortunately, the new spending plan also includes an amendment, introduced by Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland) and approved earlier this year, which prevents the District of Columbia from regulating the cultivation and distribution of marijuana for adult use. District voters approved a ballot initiative in 2014 to make possession and growing of limited amounts of marijuana legal for adults 21 years of age and older.

The post Justice Department Will Continue to Be Prohibited From Interfering in State Medical Marijuana Laws Under New Spending Bill appeared first on MPP Blog.

Congress Adopts Significant Drug Policy Reforms in New Spending Bill

Congress passed a must-pass spending bill this morning that includes language that stops the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice from spending money to block the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. The amendment was passed last year on a temporary basis and must be renewed this year.

“The renewal of this amendment should bring relief for medical marijuana patients and business owners,” said Michael Collins, Deputy Director of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “For decades Congress has been responsible for passing disastrous drug laws,” continued Collins. “It’s encouraging to see them starting to roll back the war on drugs by allowing states to set their own medical marijuana policies.”

The amendment was sponsored by Rep Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Rep Sam Farr (D-CA), and approved by the House this summer by 242 votes to 186. The Senate Appropriations Committee subsequently passed the same amendment, sponsored by Sen. Mikulski (D-MD), by 21 to 9. The amendment has already been used to successfully litigate certain court cases. In October, a federal judge threw out a case brought by the DEA against a medical marijuana dispensary by citing the amendment.

Provisions preventing Washington DC from taxing and regulating marijuana were included once again, while amendments to allow banks to provide financial services to marijuana businesses and to allow veterans to have access to medical marijuana were not included, despite the Senate’s approval of both.

Meanwhile, in a huge win for public health, Congress has included language in the spending bill that would enable states and localities to spend federal funds on syringe access programs, effectively lifting the decades-long ban on federal funding for such life-saving programs.

“Syringe access programs are a sound public health intervention, rooted in science, and proven to drastically reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C,” said Michael Collins, Deputy Director of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “Lifting this archaic ban will save thousands of lives.”

The ban was put in place in 1988 at the height of hysteria around the drug war and HIV. It was repealed in 2009 when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, but reinstated by Republicans in Congress in 2011 after they regained control of the House. But outbreaks of HIV in Indiana, and the rise in heroin use in places like Kentucky and West Virginia have forced Republicans to rethink their opposition to syringe access programs.

Restricting access to sterile syringes among people who inject drugs has been proven to lead to syringe sharing – a major cause of HIV infections. Clear evidence shows that allowing adults to access sterile syringes – through syringe exchange programs and non-prescription sales of syringes – prevents the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases, without contributing to increased drug use, drug injection, crime or unsafe discard of syringes. Such programs are also cost-effective. Syringe access programs are supported by every major medical and public health organization, including the American Medical Association, National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bar Association, and U.S. Conference of Mayors, as well as UNICEF, the World Bank, and International Red Cross-Red Crescent Society.

In countries where addiction is treated as a health issue, the fight against HIV/AIDS is being won. New HIV infections in countries such as Australia, Germany and Switzerland have been virtually eliminated among people who use drugs, just as mother-to-child HIV transmission has been eliminated in countries that make medicines for pregnant women accessible.

The language modifying the ban is as follows:

SEC. 520. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no funds appropriated in this Act shall be used to purchase sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug: Provided, That such limitation does not apply to the use of funds for elements of a program other than making such purchases if the relevant State or local health department, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, determines that the State or local jurisdiction, as applicable, is experiencing, or is at risk for, a significant increase in hepatitis infections or an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use, and such program is operating in accordance with State and local law.

Author:
Date Published: December 18, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

We are All Drug Users

Who can honestly say that they don’t use drugs? I’m not necessarily talking about illegal drugs, like marijuana or psychedelics. Alcohol is a drug. Nicotine is a drug. Caffeine is a drug. Aspirin is a drug. Many kids are on Adderall and many parents [and grandparents ;) ] take Viagra. There are drugs to help us stay awake, drugs to help us fall asleep, drugs that heal our pain and cure illnesses. You can’t watch television without seeing tons of commercials for drugs. Some drugs have been around for thousands of years while new ones are being discovered and created all the time these days. And yet most people I talk to don’t see themselves as drug users.

Drugs are a part of life, but the way we talk about drugs in our society is hugely problematic. We make distinctions based on a drug’s legal status, and most people never question why only certain drugs are illegal. Legal drugs are often looked at as “medicines” and illegal drugs are “dangerous substances.” But legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol are responsible for WAY more deaths than illegal drugs each year. And most illegal drugs were actually legal at one point. If you or your parents are old enough, going to the pharmacy might even be known as going to the “drug store” in your house.

It shocks most people when they hear that many legal drugs are the same as illegal drugs. Did you know that morphine and opioid prescription painkillers are essentially the same thing as heroin, and the Adderall we prescribe to young people across the country is virtually the same thing as methamphetamine? Watch what Dr. Carl Hart has to say – there is so much misinformation out there and he can explain much better than I can.

No one is saying that drug use can’t be problematic for some people. According to Dr. Hart, 10 to 20 percent of people who use drugs will struggle with drug misuse. So that also means that, “80 to 90 percent of people who use illegal drugs are not addicts. They don’t have a drug problem. Most are responsible members of our society. They are employed. They pay their taxes. They take care of their families.”

It bothers me that we can have compassion for people who use legal drugs but turn our backs on people who use illegal drugs. I just saw a new commercial that opened my eyes to this. Opioid painkillers are being prescribed so often there is now a market for people who want another drug to treat their opioid-induced constipation. So people who have access to legal opioids are offered other medications to deal with the side effects of their opioid use. Meanwhile, people who use heroin are stigmatized and persecuted for their opioid use and it’s such a struggle to convince lawmakers just to expand access to the life-saving drug naloxone and syringe access programs. Why are we treating these people differently? Doesn’t anyone realize that a huge portion of people who use heroin are doing so because of an addiction that started with legal prescription opioids?

Our drug policies should stem from a public health approach, not a criminal justice one. Portugal is the best current example of how to effectively do this.

I can understand why people don’t want to come out and identify as drug users – there are legal liabilities and it’s a real form of privilege to be able to speak out like that. But this should make readers reflect and think – “What if the drugs I depend on were made illegal?”

If we all begin to see ourselves as drug users, then we’ll have more compassion for those who struggle with drug misuse. We’ll see why it doesn’t make sense to arrest people simply for using or possessing drugs, and why we need to end the decades-old failed war on drugs.

Derek Rosenfeld is the manager of social media and media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance.

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Author: Derek Rosenfeld
Date Published: December 17, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance

Delaware Decriminalization Law Takes Effect Today

Delaware’s marijuana decriminalization law officially takes effect today, making Delaware the 19th state in the nation to remove the threat of jail, a punishment far too severe for simple marijuana possession.

Under the new law, the possession or private use of one ounce or less of marijuana will no longer trigger criminal penalties or create a criminal record for adults over 21 years of age. Instead, it will be a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine. Adults between the ages of 18 and 20 will face the same $100 civil fine for their first offense. Marijuana possession by minors and public consumption by people of any age will remain misdemeanors.

“Delaware’s marijuana policy is about to become a lot more reasonable,” said Karen O’Keefe, who lobbied for the bill as state policies director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Most people agree adults should not face jail time or the life-altering consequences of a criminal record just for possessing a substance that is safer than alcohol. Taxpayers certainly don’t want to foot the bill for it, and fortunately they will not have to any longer.”

The post Delaware Decriminalization Law Takes Effect Today appeared first on MPP Blog.

Vermont Marijuana Regulation Bill to Be Introduced

A new bill to make marijuana legal for adults and regulated similarly to alcohol in Vermont will be introduced next month, according to bill sponsors.

The Times Argus reports:

Legislation to be introduced next month when lawmakers return to the State House would allow those 21 and older to grow and possess marijuana for recreational use as early as July.

Sen. Joe Benning
Sen. Jeanette White

The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Jeanette White, D-Windham, and Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, would allow for lounges, where customers could purchase and use marijuana, and retail outlets in 2017. Edible products would not be allowed.

…

Personal cultivation and use would allow residents to grow marijuana in plots of up to 100 square feet. Marijuana possession would be limited to 1 ounce. Anything harvested over that amount would be required to be in a secured location. The private sale of marijuana between two parties would not be allowed, and marijuana could not be exchanged for anything of value except at a state-permitted retail establishment.

There are still details that legislators say will be dealt with in committee next session. If you are a Vermont resident, please urge your lawmakers to support making marijuana legal and visit the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana.

The post Vermont Marijuana Regulation Bill to Be Introduced appeared first on MPP Blog.

NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

With the holidays around the corner, there is plenty to celebrate in regard to marijuana law reform successes! Congress unveiled their 2016 omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the government through next year which included several marijuana measures and we’ve seen a number of state and municipal measures take hold as well. Keep reading to see if your state is moving ahead in reforming their marijuana laws!

Federal: In last week’s Legislative Round Up, we covered five distinct marijuana provisions that lawmakers sought to include in the final draft of the 2016 spending bill.

We now know that two of these provisions have been included in the omnibus appropriations bill. One measure prevents the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from spending money to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. The other measure prevents the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from spending money to interfere with the implementation of state industrial hemp research programs.

Both measures were initially passed by Congress in 2015, but required reauthorization to extend into 2016.

To read more about this legislation click here.

State:

Vermont: The sponsor has unveiled the bill that will be introduced in the state’s next legislative session to legalize and regulate the adult use, production and sale of cannabis. Once formally
introduced, the bill will head to the Senate Judiciary committee for its first consideration.

The 41 page bill allows for retail outlets, lounges, and personal cultivation. Taxes and fees are not
included in the bill language and will be covered when the bill is considered in the Senate Finance Committee.

You can read more about the legislation here and write your lawmakers, urging their support here.

Kentucky: Legislation to legalize and regulate the adult use and retail sale of marijuana, The ‘Cannabis Freedom Act, has been pre-filed for the 2016 legislative session.

The legislation allows adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis, cultivate up to five cannabis plants, store excess cannabis lawfully grown for personal use at the location where it was cultivated; or transfer up to one ounce of cannabis to another person age 21 or older without remuneration.

In a prepared statement, the bill’s sponsor said: “Too many Kentuckians have had their lives stymied with criminal records as a result of nonviolent marijuana convictions. That is wrong. It is time to stop making criminals out of citizens due to outdated and ridiculous laws concerning cannabis.”

Contact your lawmakers in Kentucky and encourage them to support this measure here!

Delaware: Legislation signed into law last June decriminalizing marijuana possession offenses took effect at midnight this morning in the state of Delaware.

House Bill 39 reclassifies the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis by those age 21 and over from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a criminal record, to a
civil violation punishable by a $100 fine only — no arrest, and no criminal record. (Those between the ages of 18 and 21 may face criminal charges, but only if it is their second or subsequent offense.)

The new law also amends the personal possession of marijuana paraphernalia from a criminal to a civil violation. Public use of the substance, as well as marijuana possession while inside a vehicle, remain classified as misdemeanors.

Municipal:

Pittsburgh (PA): An ordinance, proposed by Councilman Daniel Lavelle,  which would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana passed a preliminary vote in City Council on Wednesday.

The measure would allow police to seize the drugs and issue a $100 fine as long as a person had less than 30 grams of marijuana — about an ounce. People could have about eight grams of hash.

A final vote is scheduled for this upcoming Monday. You can contact your City Council district here to urge their support for this measure.

Palm Beach County (FL): With a 4 to 1 vote Tuesday, Palm Beach County decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Law enforcement can now give offenders a $100 fine or the option of 10 hours of community service instead of arrest. The ordinance only covers offenders 18 and over, and an offender can receive a maximum of two citations.

This vote comes after nearby cities West Palm Beach and Miami Beach also chose to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Additional information for these and other pending legislative measures may be found at our #TakeAction Center!

** A note to first time readers: NORML can not introduce legislation in your state. Nor can any other non-profit advocacy organization. Only your state representatives, or in some cases an individual constituent (by way of their representative; this is known as introducing legislation ‘by request’) can do so. NORML can — and does — work closely with like-minded politicians and citizens to reform marijuana laws, and lobbies on behalf of these efforts. But ultimately the most effective way — and the only way — to successfully achieve statewide marijuana law reform is for local stakeholders and citizens to become involved in the political process and to make the changes they want to see. Get active; get NORML!

Delaware Decriminalization Law Takes Effect

Legislation signed into law last June decriminalizing marijuana possession offenses takes effect at midnight tonight.

House Bill 39 reclassifies the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis by those age 21 and over from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a criminal record, to a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine only — no arrest, and no criminal record. (Those between the ages of 18 and 21 may face criminal charges, but only if it is their second or subsequent offense.)

The new law also amends the personal possession of marijuana paraphernalia from a criminal to a civil violation. Public use of the substance, as well as marijuana possession while inside a vehicle, remain classified as misdemeanors.

Prior to the law change, Delaware ranked #17 in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests.

Delaware’s decriminalization law mimics similar laws in effect in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont — each of which treat minor marijuana possessions as a civil violation.

Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio classify marijuana possession as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine only.

Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, DC previously enacted marijuana decriminalization policies, but have since amended their laws to legalize the plant’s possession and use.