Cannabis News

looney2nz

Research Geek, Mad Scientist
interesting to note, the amount of stuff going into the landfill from Prop64 is rather prodigious, and we've barely scratched the surface with licensed and approved manufacturers and dispensaries (yeah, 5.5 months later, here we are) :(

Will be nice when it can be packaged in biodegradable hemp plastic.

I hate most of the CO2 oil dispensers now :( Huge ugly globs of plastic that wastes concentrate.

Glass syringes, can be cleaned and sterilized for reuse at least, plus I can always get the last bits out before I recycle.

So true. Many of us do not have respect for the law because of our experiences with the law. A tiger doesn't change its stripes easily.

The law sez my dispensary cannot reuse CO2 oil syringe containers for fear of marijuana residue, so....
b0Tv32u.jpg
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
Sheriffs Say Marijuana Legalization Should Be Overturned Because It Makes Them Uncomfortable.

http://ushealthmagz.com/2018/05/19/...erturned-because-it-makes-them-uncomfortable/

These Colorado Sheriffs are filing a frivolous lawsuit. Local Sheriffs aren't Federal Law Enforcement Officers. They have no obligation to go around "enforcing Federal Law".

But this actually brings up a decent point. This conflict between State and Federal Law cannot stand. Since the genie is already out of the bottle, the only choice is for the Federal Government to decriminalize cannabis. Prohibitionists need to understand that it's over for them.
 
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Marlon Rando

Well-Known Member
Local Sheriffs aren't Federal Law Enforcement Officers. They have no obligation to go around "enforcing Federal Law".

you are right no they are not, It makes them "uncomfortable" because it's a huge cash cow for the agencies and departments and has long been an excuse for dissemination of military-grade equipment to civilian police units.
 

Tranquility

Well-Known Member
These Colorado Sheriffs are filing a frivolous lawsuit. Local Sheriffs aren't Federal Law Enforcement Officers. They have no obligation to go around "enforcing Federal Law".

But this actually brings up a decent point. This conflict between State and Federal Law cannot stand. Since the genie is already out of the bottle, the only choice is for the Federal Government to decriminalize cannabis. Prohibitionists need to understand that it's over for them.
It is well-settled law (At least from a civil perspective.) the police don't have an affirmative duty to enforce the law. They can see you getting beat up right in front of them and (Again, from a legal perspective.) they don't have a duty to stop sipping their refreshing beverage and help.

Like @florduh , I don't understand the end game for this lawsuit. If they don't have to help me by stopping state-illegal activity right in front of them, I don't see how they suddenly have some duty to stop federally-illegal activity.

That being said, I don't see a free copy of the complaint online with a quick search and I don't care enough to pay for it through PACER so don't really know the claimed cause of action(s) as news stories seem to differ a bit and include information on a filing back in 2015.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member
FSU researchers find religious involvement deters recreational and medical marijuana use

Although marijuana use for medical and recreational purposes is at an all-time high in the United States, a team of researchers led by a Florida State University professor has found those who hold strong religious beliefs are choosing to stay away from weed.

FSU Associate Professor of Sociology Amy Burdette and her team found that individuals who regularly attend church and report that religion is very important in their daily decision making are less likely to use marijuana recreationally and medically. The study was recently published in the Journal of Drug Issues.
 

C No Ego

Well-Known Member
FSU researchers find religious involvement deters recreational and medical marijuana use

Although marijuana use for medical and recreational purposes is at an all-time high in the United States, a team of researchers led by a Florida State University professor has found those who hold strong religious beliefs are choosing to stay away from weed.

FSU Associate Professor of Sociology Amy Burdette and her team found that individuals who regularly attend church and report that religion is very important in their daily decision making are less likely to use marijuana recreationally and medically. The study was recently published in the Journal of Drug Issues.
except for Rastafarians. cannabis is their religion.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member

His_Highness

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
By virtue of this single line, and the reminder that this is a $223 billion industry, is it hard to imagine who might be throwing whatever money they can get away with at Sessions and his henchmen?

Not for anyone with a brain...

Some of the booze companies saw the writing on the wall and have already positioned themselves to be players in the cannabis industry. They see that they can't stop cannabis from happening and have decided it's better to prepare now for the inevitable and add another "sin" product to the mix.

http://fortune.com/2017/10/30/constellation-brands-cannabis-canopy-growth/
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
Frankly that is very smart of them. We know what the future holds. The only question is how long in the future...

In case anyone is watching I would really appreciate legal recreational before I turn 70.

Mr Prtizker? I am counting on you...
 
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macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member

florduh

Well-Known Member
Not Directly Cannabis News, but Interesting...
If Addiction Is a Disease, Why Is Relapsing a Crime?
...[O]rdering a drug addict to abstain from drug use is tantamount to mandating a medical outcome — because addiction is a brain disease, and relapsing is a symptom of it.

Excellent point. America is beholden to Puritan "Law and Order" types who see punishment as the only option for addicts. Interestingly, a huge percentage of these Puritans are hooked on Big Pharma garbage and drive their SUV's high on pills daily.

More enlightened countries like Portugal absolutely treat addiction as a disease. America could take a note. I always found it funny that "America is the greatest Nation on Earth", yet it also imprisons more of it's population than any other country. Seems like cognitive dissonance to me.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member
How marijuana is going to become bipartisan

Sessions is ............ also bringing Democrats and Republicans together — to oppose him.

Today, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (a Democrat) and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (a Republican) introduced a bill called the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which would essentially allow states to pass their own marijuana laws without interference from the federal government. Here’s a one-page explanation from the House sponsors, and here’s the bill text.
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
How marijuana is going to become bipartisan

Sessions is ............ also bringing Democrats and Republicans together — to oppose him.

Today, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (a Democrat) and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (a Republican) introduced a bill called the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which would essentially allow states to pass their own marijuana laws without interference from the federal government. Here’s a one-page explanation from the House sponsors, and here’s the bill text.

Can we just finally pass one of these fucking bills?

Multiple bills are introduced every year that would end the "gray area" Legal States are operating in. Every time they die in committee. This is a very reasonable, bipartisan bill.

As Gardner said "we can't put the ketchup back in the bottle." There will never be a massive crackdown in Legal States. Given that, quit all the fuckery and pass a Bill that decriminalizes cannabis Federally. What are we waiting for? It's a win/win for both the "Law and Order" types who don't care for Legal States flouting Federal Law, AND for cannabis fans.

It's time for the ridiculousness to end. Now.
 

Ibn Vapin

DIY Noob
Gardener bucked ol' Sessions and cockblocked his DoJ appointees like a boss, lol, when Gardener himself opposed legalization to begin with. Kinda like giving Sessions the finger and saying, 'My people voted for this, piss off bro.' Those are some big balls, mad respect.

I watched that earlier on Leafly, myself, @macbill , and I agree that it sounds super good. Hopefully the Commonwealth will hurry the flip up and legalize/decriminalize it. I even went so far as to email my representative earlier over the topic.
 

psychonaut

Company Rep
Company Rep
Trump says he'll likely support bill letting states set their own marijuana policies

President Trump said Friday that he will likely support a bipartisan bill, introduced by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), to allow states to regulate marijuana without federal interference.

We're getting closer every day ladies and gentleman. This is obviously a lot less than I would like to see, but this makes sense as a step in the right direction. Way different position than previous administrations, granted we've basically forced the feds hand at a state level.
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
Jeff Sessions Struggles to Get Planned Marijuana Crackdown Going
Attorney general vowed to toughen federal enforcement of the drug, but he doesn’t have support from Trump or Congress

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is increasingly finding himself alone in his desire to roll back Obama-era policies that took a relaxed approach to states that had legalized marijuana.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to use federal law to get tough on marijuana, announcing in January he was ending Obama-era protections for the nascent pot industry in states where it is legal. Six months into his mission, he is largely going it alone.

Mr. Sessions’ own prosecutors have yet to bring federal charges against pot businesses that are abiding by state law. And fellow Republicans in Congress, with support from President Donald Trump, are promoting several bills that would protect or even expand the legal pot trade.

As a result, Mr. Sessions, an unabashed drug warrior, has struggled to make his anti-marijuana agenda a reality, a notable contrast with the success he has had in toughening law-and-order policies in other criminal justice areas.

Marijuana advocates say Mr. Sessions’ approach, in seeking to spur a crackdown on the legal marijuana market, has largely backfired. It has catalyzed bipartisan support for research, they say, and for action to improve the young industry’s access to banks, which have been generally unwilling to accept proceeds from pot sales.

Uneven Approach
A growing number of states are legalizing marijuana use, but it remains illegal under federal law.
B3-AS804_backgr_16U_20180608144423.jpg



Underlining the pushback, Sen. Cory Gardner, (R., Colo.) on Thursday joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) in introducing a bill that essentially would allow states to pass their own marijuana laws without interference from the federal government.

Mr. Trump on Friday reiterated his support for Mr. Gardner, saying “I know exactly what he’s doing, we’re looking at it, but I probably will end up supporting that, yes.”

The dynamic highlights the unusual state of the nation’s marijuana laws. More states are legalizing marijuana use for medical or even recreational purposes as many parts of society take a more tolerant view of pot, creating a cadre of supporters from both parties. Yet the drug remains illegal under federal law, posing a challenge for U.S. officials in deciding how to pursue it.

President Barack Obama’s administration took a largely hands-off approach to states that had legalized marijuana. Mr. Sessions initially showed determination to overhaul those policies, blaming marijuana for helping fuel the opioid abuse crisis and for causing spikes in violence.

The Justice Department declined to comment. Mr. Sessions, however, recently told members of Congress that the department is now emphasizing the pursuit of more dangerous drugs.

Pressed on marijuana enforcement at a hearing, he said, “I have felt it not appropriate for me to somehow give a safe harbor or protection to areas around the country where it still remains a violation of federal law.” But he added, “The threats that we’re focused on in the Department of Justice are fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription abuses in large amounts [that] lead to addiction and death. Those are clearly where we’re moving.”

In an unusual move by a Republican senator against his own party’s attorney general, Mr. Gardner blocked nominees for Justice Department jobs after Mr. Sessions announced he was undoing the Obama administration’s approach.

Mr. Gardner stood down after receiving assurances that Mr. Trump would support protections for pot-legal states like Colorado, essentially undermining Mr. Sessions on the issue. “If they’ve voted to have a legal industry, then it would allow them to continue forward without violating any federal law,” Mr. Gardner said of the bill he co-authored with Ms. Warren.

House Republicans are also supporting a number of other marijuana-related measures. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) is pushing his colleagues to allow more marijuana research, which he hopes will pave the way to rescheduling pot—that is, categorizing it with less dangerous drugs on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of illicit substances.

Supporters of relaxing marijuana drug laws cheer the recent developments. “It was terrific,” said Don Murphy, director of federal policy for the Marijuana Policy Project, said of Mr. Sessions’ threat to the industry. “It moved this issue to a burner.”

Pot foes caution it is too soon to judge the impact of Mr. Sessions’ changes.

“It’s not a win for Jeff Sessions, but at the end of the day he still directs the department and could have the DEA close marijuana businesses,” said Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of the antipot group Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

The marijuana landscape contrasts notably with Mr. Sessions’ success in his broader law-and-order and antidrug push. He has rolled back Obama era policies that showed leniency to lower-level drug offenders, for example, instead urging prosecutors to seek the toughest punishments possible in most cases.

Mr. Sessions’ January marijuana policy left federal prosecutors to decide what resources to devote to marijuana crimes, stirring fear among dispensary owners that raids and arrests were imminent. Instead, many U.S. attorneys continued to use their limited manpower to target unusually brazen marijuana operations that are also illegal under state law, such as sprawling marijuana growers on federal lands or gangs that peddle pot along with other drugs.

Billy Williams, Oregon’s U.S. attorney, for example, is targeting the trafficking of marijuana across state lines, organized crime and businesses that supply pot to minors. This in many ways resembles the policy that prevailed under the Obama administration, which urged states to tightly regulate marijuana and keep it from crossing state lines to avoid federal scrutiny.

“I’m not making any blanket statements that we wouldn’t prosecute anyone,” Mr. Williams said. “It’s a case-by-case basis.”

Colorado’s U.S. attorney, Bob Troyer, is aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers who grow pot on federal lands, which is against both state and federal law. But his office hasn’t brought charges against dispensaries that comply with the state’s regulations.

“We never would give anyone immunity for violating federal law,” Mr. Troyer said. “As those threats evolve and change, something else could rise to the top priority level.”
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
State lawmakers still eyeing gambling expansions, marijuana legalization

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, talks about cannabis legalization and state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, talks about gambling expansion

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.tow...1e8-835d-e39856dfe0a4/5b1ebc62845b6.video.mp4

Illinoisans looking to gamble at a new casino in Rockford or Danville or to legally buy marijuana to get high for fun will have to wait until next year for the debate to spark back up at the statehouse.

State lawmakers didn’t attempt to pass legislation to tax and regulate cannabis like alcohol this year, but that doesn’t mean the movement is dead.

Illinois has a highly regulated pilot medical cannabis program for patients who have certain qualifying conditions. A bill lawmakers approved in both chambers would let cannabis be used for temporary pain management, as an alternative option to highly addictive opioid painkillers. That will now be up to the governor.

However, plans for legalizing marijuana, regulating and taxing it for adult recreational use have not advanced.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, one of the main sponsors of a legalization bill, said it was a "next year project."

“This is something we’ve been working on for a good solid year, almost a year and a half now and the pieces are coming together,” said Cassidy, D-Chicago.

“I think shortly after session adjourns (which was May 31) we’ll probably have a new version that will reflect all those conversations we’ve had over this year and a half and we’ll have something real to work from to start building that roll call,” Cassidy said.

Lawmakers held several committee hearings over the past 12 months. Those hearings included advocates and opponents to legalizing cannabis for recreational use, along with policy makers and industry experts from states like Colorado, where it is legal.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member
That's going to piss off folks in Windsor, Canada. They have gambling there, and soon rec. cannabis. Detroit will stay home if they can satisfy their craving to lose money at home.
 
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