Cannabis News Today

[user 60570]

Todays Cannabis News

Grab a cup of coffee and check out the view.

/ STATES

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke, a former congressman, uploaded a page on his campaign site about his support for legalizing marijuana. He also tweeted, "When I’m governor, we will legalize marijuana. We will stop locking up Texans for a substance that's legal in much of the rest of the country while generating nearly $1 billion a year in new revenue and taxpayer savings. It’s the right thing to do." Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz is expected to tour a cannabis facility. Wisconsin Republican attorney general candidate Eric Toney tweeted, "WI won’t go the way of California and Illinois in legalizing marijuana and eliminating cash bail. Public safety is on the ballot." Kentucky's Senate majority floor leader said he doesn't support legalizing recreational or medical marijuana but won't block a bill from advancing if it has sufficient support from Republican colleagues. The Oregon House of Representatives approved a bill to make it harder for unlicensed marijuana growers to access water, and the Senate passed legislation to place a moratorium on issuing hemp cultivation licenses in some counties. The Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee approved a bill to allow hemp-derived cannabinoids as food additives. The Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee will hold a hearing on a kratom regulation bill on Tuesday. An Alabama senator said the prospects for his marijuana decriminalization bill are "not bright" this year even though it already advanced through committee. A Georgia representative filed a bill to grant medical cannabis business licenses to companies that are protesting their rejection in the first round of awards. A Kentucky representative introduced a bill to legalize safe consumption sites for illegal drugs. An Illinois representative filed a resolution urging Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule I. Connecticut's Social Equity Council wants lawmakers to take steps to prevent marijuana market saturation. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, located in South Dakota, says police are arresting people who buy medical cannabis at the tribe’s dispensary. New Mexico regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to marijuana licensing rules on Tuesday.

 

[user 60570]

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a short podcast about hemp innovation and research. Sen.. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) spoke about the need for equity in the legal marijuana industry. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) coauthored an op-ed calling on Congress and President Joe Biden to enact marijuana reform. Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker tweeted, "Seriously, cannabis should be legal." / LOCAL The city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa included marijuana decriminalization on its list of 2022 legislative priorities. Albuquerque, New Mexico officials updated the city's marijuana dispensary application after the initial version caused confusion. / INTERNATIONAL Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha dismissed a threat from a lawmaker about his party leaving the governing coalition if the government refuses to support the bill promoting cannabis as a cash crop. Mexico's Senate majority leader said lawmakers will not hastily pass marijuana legalization and will work to get buy-in from all parties. Fiji's minister of economy spoke about efforts to craft a hemp program.

 

[user 60570]

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is funding research on the "effects of changing cannabis laws and policies in the U.S. and globally” with a focus on understanding which components of legalization laws best protect public health.

​

The Oregon Senate Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery Committee approved a bill to create a task force on ensuring the state’s legal psilocybin services program centers equity for psychedelic business owners, session facilitators and participants.

​

A new Pew Charitable Trusts analysis shows that police are continuing to make drug arrests at a high rate even while incarceration rates are dropping.

​

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Too darn long to read

 

[user 60570]

Too darn long to read

 

[user 60570]

Feel free to post any news stories that deal with the subject of cannabis.

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Careful would not want this thread Locked too

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Careful would not want this thread Locked too

Oh that's right there are no modes here Post away LOL

 

[user 60570]

Careful would not want this thread Locked too

for what , posting cannabis news articles?

 

[ROSTERMAN]

for what , posting cannabis news articles?

No Ya was mean to me LOL

 

[user 60570]

 

[user 60570]

This is good news for veterans.




VA Secretary Expresses Need for Medical Cannabis Reforms


Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said recently that he sympathizes with veterans who have turned to medical cannabis for relief and that the VA is “looking into” improving cannabis access for veterans.

​

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough said that although the agency does not allow its physicians to discuss medical cannabis with Veterans, VA officials have discussed the need for policy changes and shared this with the White House, Marijuana Moment reports.

At a Veterans Day Q&A session, McDonough was asked a question by a Marine Corp Veteran who said medical cannabis often works better than pharmaceuticals for treating conditions like pain and PTSD. The Secretary responded by revealing the VA is “looking into” policy changes. He then shared a story about a veteran who felt he was only alive because of his service dog and cannabis.

“It was very profound,” McDonough remarked.

 

[WeedHopper]

Fk Beto. Texas will never vote that piece of **** into office.

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Fk Beto. Texas will never vote that piece of **** into office.

I heard there is a big Gay following near the Dallas area

 

[WeedHopper]

Yeah they are all chanting Roster,Roster,Roster

 

[ROSTERMAN]

Yeah they are all chanting Roster,Roster,Roster

Heck Maybe I should run
This way you would have a voice through me in the office and I could be your Advocate to help you get new Laws for your people.

 

[user 60570]

Todays pot news.

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Supreme Court is asking the solicitor general to weigh in on two medical cannabis workers compensation cases it is considering taking up. State courts have reached differing decisions on the issue.

​

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill to give temporary marijuana business licenses to hemp growers and processors to help the state prepare for a timely launch of the adult-use market. There are equity, labor and sustainability requirements for participants.

​

​

The Utah Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics such as psilocybin for treating mental health disorders. The legislation has already passed the full House. A new poll found that three out of four Florida voters support legalizing marijuana—including majorities across party, age, sex and racial demographic groups. New Mexico cannabis company Ultra Health sent a letter urging insurance companies to cover the cost of medical cannabis for certain patients, a move it argues is required under a new state law.

​

The Arizona Department of Revenue reported that consumers purchased more than $1.4 billion worth of marijuana products in 2021, the first year of legal adult-use sales. The new figures include sales of medical cannabis as well.

 

[user 60570]

FEDERAL

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) tweeted, "Legalizing cannabis and expunging non-violent convictions isn't just a criminal justice issue — it's a health and economic issue too. I'm fighting alongside @CPeoplesStokes to ensure communities which were disproportionately harmed are able to benefit from this growing industry." A spokesperson for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said there needs to be more research on "the potential public health consequences of legalization." Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, "Today, 81% of the cannabis industry is dominated by white business owners— yet thousands of people of color serve time for marijuana-related offenses. It’s long past time for my colleagues in Congress to join me in the fight to right this injustice." Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, "It’s time for Congress to act on achievable, incremental #cannabis reform that can build the bipartisan consensus necessary to become law and improve millions of lives."

 

[user 60570]

STATES

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) cheered law enforcement actions against medical cannabis businesses that officials say were diverting products to the illegal market. The state's top medical marijuana regulator said the raids should serve as a "warning." Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Danielle Neuschwanger said Gov. Jared Polis (D) "belongs in a jail cell" for "taking money out of your pockets and lining marijuana companies’ pockets." Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, a former Cincinnati mayor, tweeted, "If we want to talk about government overreach, let's talk about decades of locking up Black and brown men for smoking marijuana. It's time we legalize it and invest that revenue back into good-paying jobs for Ohioans." Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, currently the attorney general, tweeted, "1. Legalize recreational marijuana. 2. Expunge the records of those serving time for non-violent marijuana offenses. 3. Boost our economy. It's that simple." South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, discussed his support for legalizing marijuana. Here's a look at where Texas gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana reform. A Nebraska medical cannabis campaign committee reported that as of the end of January, it had received $68,000 in cash contributions and spent about $38,000. The Kansas House of Representatives approved a hemp testing and seed bill. The Oregon Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue Committee approved a bill to allow municipalities to increase local marijuana taxes. Separately, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementationvoted to divert at least $26 million from substance misuse treatment and toward police to combat illegal cannabis cultivation, but lawmakers say the move will be reversed. The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow regulators to require medical cannabis businesses to maintain motion activated video surveillance. The Wyoming Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee rejected a bill that would have allowed prosecutors to bring felony charges against pregnant women who consume illegal drugs. Washington State lawmakers unveiled a budget plan that directs $125 million to reinvestment grants for communities harmed by the war on drugs. Maryland's House Judiciary Committee chairman spoke about his marijuana legalization legislation that's expected to get floor votes this week. A Missouri representative who is sponsoring a marijuana legalization bill says the policy change "is coming whether we want to do it this way or not." A California senator tweeted, "Harm reduction — including safe needle & paraphernalia programs — is a proven strategy to reduce infections & overdose deaths. Yet conservatives continue to work to criminalize them & prop up the failed War on Drugs. How about we just follow the science?" Florida regulators are asking a judge to permanently ban a doctor from recommending medical cannabis following an undercover investigation that involved undercover agents posing as patients. Nevada regulators met to act on marijuana business issues. Utah regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.

 

[spunom]

Fingers crossed.
SB 186 in the Senate and HB 521 in the House—is dubbed LETT’s Grow, an acronym built of the bills’ main components: Legalizing sales, expunging crimes, treatment through medical use and taxing of adult-use sales. If passed, the new bill would legalize possession of up to a one ounce of marijuana in public and up to 12 ounces in a private space. Sharing of up to an ounce of cannabis between adults or patients would also be legal. People legally allowed to possess and use cannabis could also grow their own at home, with up to 10 mature marijuana plants per person.