Federal Legislation to Allow Banks to Work with State-Legal Marijuana Businesses Advances in the House

Federal legislation that would allow banks and other financial institutions to provide services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law has been passed by a key House panel.

According to Reuters, the bill would provide sought-after clarity to banks across the country that want to do business with the growing marijuana industry, where companies have struggled to gain access to the financial system. The issue is especially relevant now that 10 states in the U.S. have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes; over 30 have passed some form of medical marijuana legalization.

The measure was broadly backed by a mixture of Democrats and Republicans. It now proceeds to the full House, where it is expected to be passed by the Democrat-led chamber in the near future. However, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Republican-led Senate, according to analysts.

“While all but 3 states allow for some form of legal cannabis use, marijuana is still illegal on the federal level”, states Reuters. “That has left banks largely unwilling to do business with businesses that sell marijuana or related enterprises, out of concern they could run afoul of federal laws.

In particular, banks are wary that taking deposits from pot businesses while marijuana remains illegal at the federal level could violate anti-money laundering laws, which in turn could put at risk their federal charters or access to federal payments systems.”

Currently, companies in the marijuana industry have extremely limited options for dealing with their finances, with many relying on strictly cash to do business. Numerous lawmakers noted that operating exclusively in cash can be extremely dangerous, making companies a target for theft.

The bill has the backing of the banking industry, where firms are eager for reassurance from the federal government they can engage in this sort of business. The American Bankers Association has told Congress it takes no stance on the legality of marijuana, but its widespread adoption by states “raises practical issues that must be addressed.”

Reuters notes that “Some Republican lawmakers expressed concern over permitting banks to engage in business that is still technically illegal. If Congress wants to allow banks to get into the marijuana business, it should legalize marijuana, they said.”

But proponents of the bill argued that with the vast majority of U.S. states taking steps to further legalize marijuana use, it makes no sense to refuse those businesses access to banks.

“The toothpaste is out of the tube, my friends,” said Representative Denny Heck, a Democrat from Washington.

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Study: Washington Teens Not Using More Marijuana Following Legalization

Cannabis Legalization in New Jersey Goes Back to Drawing Board

The effort to to legalize marijuana in New Jersey ground to a halt March 25 when Senate President Stephen Sweeney decided there wasn’t enough votes to pass Senate Bill 2703.

“It’s really more of a pause than a defeat,” says William Caruso, a lawyer at Archer & Greiner PC and a member of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, who helped craft the state’s medical program. “It was the first time ever a bill on adult-use cannabis came within one or two votes in the Senate of becoming a law. The goal now is to figure out where they’re short. There’s a break now for the Legislature to work on the budget and legalization will be back on the agenda in May and June.”

The measure had support in the Assembly, but would have fallen a few votes short in the Senate.

GOV. PHIL MURPHY: “History is often a bumpy road of fits and starts and setbacks. But eventually, barriers do fall.”

The effort made history as the first time adult-use legislation nearly reached the floor of the State House, but legalization is taking much longer than the 100 days that Gov. Phil Murphy targeted when he took office in late 2017.

One key opponent, Senator Ron Rice, a Democrat from Essex, has argued that legalization would encourage more marijuana use in African-American neighborhoods and that lawmakers should first pass a law expunging records of minorities convicted on drug charges. He’s famously referred to legal pot shops as “marijuana bodegas disguised as dispensaries.”

“The goal has been to pass racial and social justice reform, which includes expungement and diversity inclusion language to help create a cannabis market that looks like New Jersey, and to deal with a broken medical market and to legalize marijuana and stop arrests,” Caruso adds. “Those are still tied together and there’s no discussion on breaking them apart.”

RELATED: New Jersey Politicians Agree on $42 Per Ounce Marijuana Tax

Caruso said the law includes provisions to ensure that people with marijuana convictions applying for cannabis businesses won’t be shut out of the market and some money for training and reinvestment in communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.

Scott Rudder, president of the New Jersey Cannabusiness Association, believes it’s taking time to convince lawmakers that grew up with the stigma around marijuana. “Part of it is generational,” he tells Freedom Leaf. “People have been told for years that cannabis is bad and now people are telling them it’s fine and to trust us. They have hard time with that.”

Opponents have been muddying the issue with inaccurate or outdated numbers, Rudder says. Teen use of cannabis has actually dropped in states with legal pot and DUI arrests and opioid abuse have also declined.

“We do think we’ll get this done,” Rudder predicts. “Some of the lawmakers thought the process was rushed. There are enough votes on the fence and with the right information and if we address lawmaker’s concerns, we’ll get it passed.”

RELATED: New Jersey’s Path to Legalization

A recent change in the bill regarding expungement of records for past cannabis offenses took lawmakers by surprise. Earlier versions set the expungement limit at convictions for 50 grams or less, but that was raised to five pounds. “When people sitting on the fence saw that change, they jumped right off the bill,” he notes.

While delivery services and consumption lounges would’ve been allowed in the bill, home grow would not.

At the press conference in the governor’s office after the vote was scrapped, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin used a football analogy to explain what had just happened inside the the Statehouse in Trenton: “We didn’t get a touchdown, but we moved the ball to the one-yard line.”

Gov. Murphy, who’s been unable to sway enough lawmakers even after bringing in well-known figures to support the measure, such as U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Whoopi Goldberg, took the delay philosophically: “History is rarely made at the first attempt. History is often a bumpy road of fits and starts and setbacks. But eventually, barriers do fall to those who are committed to breaking them down. Certainly, I’m disappointed, but we are not defeated.”

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Study: CBD May be Effective in the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

According to a new study being published by the journal Brain Research, and epublished online by the National Institute of Health,  cannabidiol (CBD) ” may be effective in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy “.

“Most diabetic patients describe moderate to severe pain symptoms whose pharmacological treatment is palliative and poorly effective”, states the study’s abstract. “Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promising results in painful conditions.” With this in mind, researchers “aimed to investigate the potential antinociceptive effect of CBD over the mechanical allodynia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic (DBT) rats, as well as its involved mechanisms.”

For the study, “Wistar adult male diabetic rats were treated acutely or sub-chronically (for 14 days) with CBD (0.1, 0.3 or 3 mg/Kg, intraperitoneal; i.p.) and had their mechanical threshold assessed using the electronic Von Frey. ” Acute treatment with CBD (at doses of 0.3 and 3 mg/Kg) “exerted a significant anti-allodynic effect, which is not associated with locomotor impairment. “The antinociceptive effect of CBD (3 mg/Kg) was not altered by the pre-treatment with CB₁ or CB₂ receptor antagonists (AM251 and AM630; respectively; both at a dose of 1 mg/kg, i.p.) nor by glycine receptor antagonist (strychnine hydrochloride, 10 μg/rat, intrathecal, i.t.).”

“However,”  the study states, “this effect was completely prevented by the pre-treatment with the selective 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist WAY 100135 (3 μg/rat, i.t.). Sub-chronic treatment with CBD (0.3 or 3 mg/Kg) induced a sustained attenuation of the mechanical allodynia in DBT rats.”

DBT rats “presented significantly lower spinal cord levels of serotonin, which was prevented by the daily treatment with CBD (0.3 mg/Kg).”

Taken together, the data “suggest that CBD may be effective in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy and this effect seems to be potentially mediated by the serotonergic system activation through 5-HT_1A receptors.”

The full abstract can be found below:

Most diabetic patients describe moderate to severe pain symptoms whose pharmacological treatment is palliative and poorly effective. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promising results in painful conditions. Then, we aimed to investigate the potential antinociceptive effect of CBD over the mechanical allodynia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic (DBT) rats, as well as its involved mechanisms. Wistar adult male diabetic rats were treated acutely or sub-chronically (for 14 days) with CBD (0.1, 0.3 or 3 mg/Kg, intraperitoneal; i.p.) and had their mechanical threshold assessed using the electronic Von Frey. Acute treatment with CBD (at doses of 0.3 and 3 mg/Kg) exerted a significant anti-allodynic effect, which is not associated with locomotor impairment. The antinociceptive effect of CBD (3 mg/Kg) was not altered by the pre-treatment with CB₁ or CB₂ receptor antagonists (AM251 and AM630; respectively; both at a dose of 1 mg/kg, i.p.) nor by glycine receptor antagonist (strychnine hydrochloride, 10 μg/rat, intrathecal, i.t.). However, this effect was completely prevented by the pre-treatment with the selective 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist WAY 100135 (3 μg/rat, i.t.). Sub-chronic treatment with CBD (0.3 or 3 mg/Kg) induced a sustained attenuation of the mechanical allodynia in DBT rats. DBT rats presented significantly lower spinal cord levels of serotonin, which was prevented by the daily treatment with CBD (0.3 mg/Kg). Taken together, our data suggest that CBD may be effective in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy and this effect seems to be potentially mediated by the serotonergic system activation through 5-HT_1A receptors.

This abstract, and a link to the full text, can be found on the National Institute of Health’s website at the following link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30898678

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Connecticut Marijuana Legalization Bill Approved by Committee

Legislation to legalize marijuana was passed recently by the Connecticut Joint Committee on General Law.

House Bill 7371 was passed by the committee in a 10 to 8 vote, reports High Times. The measure must now be passed by the full Senate and House before it can go to the governor’s desk.

If the measure is passed into law it would legalize and regulate commercial marijuana cultivation, processing, and sales in the state, while companion measures to tax cannabis and allow for expungements of past convictions are being considered by different committees.

A supporter of the bill,  Democrat Rep. Juan Candelaria, said that regulating marijuana will provide a source of new revenue to benefit residents of the state.

“We have a black market and we stay idle and do nothing, that black market is going to continue to thrive,” said Candelaria. “The opportunity for us to regulate this market and utilize these dollars and really invest them … in addiction care, that goes a long way.”

According to High Times, much of the debate over HB 7371 centered on social equity provisions of the measure that would give members of communities disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs incentives to participate in the cannabis industry including reduced license fees and priority in the application process. Sen. Douglas McCrory, also a Democrat, said that the bill should right injustices inherent in the prohibition of cannabis.

“No one can dispute that cannabis prohibition was racist from its intent,” McCrory said. “We have a policy that’s been left over from the Jim Crow era.”

McCrory added that simply legalizing cannabis did not go far enough.

“When you put a knife in the back of a person – in this case, an entire community – for 80 years and you start to take it out, that’s not complete. That’s not how you help a community that’s been devastated for 80 years,” he said. “You take the knife back and there’s still a hole there. If we pass this bill – OK – now how do we remedy the hole? You have to be equitable.”

Rep. Geoff Luxenberg compared social equity in cannabis to affirmative action programs and reparations for Japanese-Americans forced into internment camps during World War ll.

“When we’re undoing a vast racial injustice, it’s not enough to say ‘We fixed the policy and everyone starts at a level playing field,’” said Luxenberg. “Because everyone’s not starting at a level playing field … we cannot legalize this industry and not provide economic opportunity for the people who have been most harmed. It’s wrong from a civil rights perspective and it’s wrong from a policy perspective.”

Republicans on the committee including Sen. Kevin Witkos did not support the social equity provisions and voted against the bill.

“To place someone that has been arrested for a crime above law abiding citizens by a panel that will consider who will get these licenses to me just doesn’t seem right,” Witkos said. “What kind of message are we trying to send to folks who are doing the right thing?”

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Regular Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced BMI, Says Study

The Top 10 Popular Marijuana Strains in California

When it comes to marijuana, California is one of the most friendly states in the nation.

Not only is California one of 10 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, they were the very first to legalize medical marijuana back in 1996. With that in mind, using data compiled by Leafly below are the 10 most popular marijuana strains in California.

• Blue Dream:

Ah, the well-known, well-loved, always-great Blue Dream. With Blueberry and Haze lineage, this strain delivers an uplifting, buzzy high, and a deliciously sweet and piney flavor. You can pretty much never go wrong with Blue Dream, which earns its place at the top of this list.

• Girl Scout Cookies:

Girl Scout Cookies has shot into prominence in recent years. This is due in no small part to it’s wonderful taste, and euphoric high. This cross between OG Kush and Durban Poison is certainly a modern classic.

• Sour Diesel:

This cross between Super Skunk and Chemdawg is known for its strong, earthy and diesel-like smell. With a high that’s energetic and uplifting, while allowing for greater focus, makes it great for daytime use.

• OG Kush:

OG Kush is one of the most well-know cannabis strains ever, with even most non-consumers having heard of it. The classic combo of Hindu Kush and Chemdawg is easily one of the most loved and sought-after strains on the market.

• Green Crack:

Despite an unfortunate name that doesn’t do the cannabis movement any justice, Green Crack is an extremely popular and well-loved strain. Its popularity is due to its sweet, citrusy flavor and smell, and it’s strong buzzing high.

• Jack Herer:

Jack Herer – named after the legendary activist and author – is a sativa-dominant cross between Northern Lights and Shiva Skunk that has a legendary reputation in its own right. It has a piney smell and flavor with a backdrop of citrus, and a smooth, even high.

• Skywalker OG

As Leafly puts it: “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.”

•  Bubba Kush:

Bubba Kush is a definitive indica that has a potent head high that’s perfect for those trying to relax or get some sleep. With sweet hashish flavors with subtle notes of chocolate and coffee, Bubba Kush is a delight to smoke.

•  Fire OG:

As noted by Leafly: “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.”

• SFV OG:

SFV OG owes much of its greatness to its OG Kush lineage, but it separates itself with a unique flavor and smell.

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Smokeable Medical Marijuana Bill Passed by Florida Senate

Report: Over 200,000 Full-Time Jobs Created by State-Legal Marijuana Businesses

Marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law hired 64,000 new employees in 2018, and now employs over 200,000 full-time workers, according to data compiled by Whitney Economics and Leafly.com.

The report, entitled Cannabis Jobs Count, identifies some 211,000 full-time jobs in the legal cannabis sector. This total increases to 296,000 jobs when ancillary employers are also included.

By comparison, 112,000 Americans are estimated to currently work in the textile industry, while only about 52,000 people are employed by the coal mining industry.

“[T]he legal cannabis industry remains a substantial and unrecognized engine of grassroots job creation,” authors concluded. “In fact, cannabis job growth is proceeding at double digit rates in many states despite being overtaxed locally and heavily penalized at the federal level.”

California (67,000 jobs) led the country in cannabis-related employment, followed by Washington (47,000 jobs), and Colorado (44,000 jobs).

The report states:

Some states that have had legal adult-use cannabis sales for a while now—Colorado and Washington opened their stores in 2014—are just now seeing the growth in cannabis jobs start to plateau.

Meanwhile, newly legal states, such as Florida (medical) and Nevada (adult use), are experiencing cannabis job booms with eye-popping gains:

• • Florida grew its cannabis employment by 703% in 2018, adding more than 9,000 full-time jobs.
  • Nevada added more than 7,500 jobs during that same year.
  • Pennsylvania ended 2017 with around 90 cannabis jobs. It ended the 2018 with nearly 3,900.
  • New York grew its cannabis employment by 278%, ending 2018 with more than 5,000 jobs.

 

Commenting on the findings, NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri said: “The federal government needs to deschedule marijuana to allow states to better and more fully benefit from the economic growth engine that is the legal marijuana industry. Further, state regulators need to ensure as this sector expands its economic benefits are shared by all, including and most especially by those who suffered most under the failed policy of criminal prohibition.”

According to a study conducted by BDS Analytics and released last year, those who consume marijuana work out more often than those who don’t, and are more likely to have a full-time job. The study separated people into three categories: Those who have consumed marijuana in the past six months, those who have not consumed marijuana in the past six months but are open to it (“acceptors”), and those who have not consumed marijuana in the past six months and aren’t open to doing so (“rejectors”).

The study found that the average age for marijuana consumers is 39. The average age for acceptors is 49, with the average age of rejectors being 56. Among consumers, 43% say they work out outdoors multiple times a week. This is significantly higher than acceptors (35%), and drastically higher than rejectors (just 25%). This trend is continued among those who work out multiple times a week at a gym; 40% among consumers, 30% among acceptors and 27% among rejectors.

The study also found that marijuana consumers are considerably more likely to have a full-time job. Among consumers, 53% have a full-time job, compared to 44% for acceptors and just 33% (less than 1 in 3) among rejectors. More information on this study can be found by clicking here.

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Former Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper Vies for Presidential Nomination. But Was He Good on Pot?

Two governors from legal marijuana states are seeking to become the Democrats’ presidential nominee in 2020. We wrote about Washington’s current Governor Jay Inslee earlier this week. Here’s our take on Colorado’s former two-term Governor John Hickenlooper, who announced his candidacy on March 4.

Like Inslee, Hickenlooper opposed his state’s recreational marijuana ballot initiative in 2012 when Colorado’s Amendment 64 passed with 55% of the vote.

By 2014, when the law was implemented and adult-use stores began to open, the Governor stated: “I hate Colorado having to be the experiment. We are going to regulate the daylights out of it.”

He added: “This is going to be one of the great social experiments of the 21st century. But going out and getting tax revenue is absolutely the wrong reason to even think about legalizing recreational marijuana. We’re going to not use this as a source of revenue to help education or expanding health care. We’re going to use it in health care where it will relate to marijuana activity… I don’t think governors should be the position of promoting things that are inherently not good for people.”

Hickenlooper contended about marijuana that it “doesn’t make people smarter and doesn’t make people healthier.”

While attending a college reunion at Wesleyan in Connecticut on May 25, 2014, Hickenlooper said he had smoked pot in the past:

“I’m way past any point of saying I didn’t inhale.”

“So far, we’ve rolled it out pretty well,” he told a crowd of alumni. “My advice to Connecticut would be to go slow on the recreational. I tell all the governors to go slow. You don’t realize until you’re trying to create a regulatory framework how complicated it is to make everything work.”

A month later, when he was running for reelection, Hickenlooper commented during a debate about legalization in Colorado: “I think you could say it was reckless. I’m not saying it was reckless, because I’ll get quoted everywhere. But if it was up to me, I wouldn’t have done it, right. I opposed it from the very beginning. All right, what the hell – I’ll say it was reckless.”

The next day he attempted to clarify what he’d said: “Perhaps risky is a better word. While I believe it was risky for Colorado to be the first state to step away from a failed federal policy given all of the unanswered legal questions and implications, the adoption of Amendment 64 by Colorado voters sent a clear message to the federal government that marijuana should be legal and regulated. Is it risky now? It is certainly less so. We have a robust regulatory enforcement system that would not have been possible without the partnership of the marijuana business owners, activists, law enforcement officials, regulators, parents, policy experts and stakeholders. Together we have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and fair system that protects the public health, diminishes the underground market and educates and keeps marijuana out of the hands of our children.”

JOHN HICKENLOOPER: “The adoption of Amendment 64 by Colorado voters sent a clear message to the federal government that marijuana should be legal and regulated.”

Hickenlooper won a second term in 2014 with 49% of the vote. He could not run for a third, so instead the owner of Wynkoop Brewery in Denver decided to toss his hat into the ring for president.

Now that he’s announced his candidacy, Hickenlooper can expect to be on the receiving end of a barrage of media questions about marijuana. On March 6, he observed: “Trust me – the marijuana industry is not going to support someone who says I don’t think it should be legal in every state. Every state should make their choice.

“I don’t think the federal government should come in and tell every state it should be legalized,” he continued. “The federal government should reclassify marijuana, so it’s not a schedule I narcotic.”

His one regret about legalization in the Centennial State? “I would have been all over edibles,” Hickelooper noted. “It took us two years to create regulations to reign that back in.”

Fun Fact About John Hickenlooper: His cousin, George Hickenlooper, directed Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991) and Factory Girl (2006), among his many films. He passed away in 2010.

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Joy Inside My Tears: The Greening of Kamala Harris

Gov. Jay Inslee Hypes Washington Cannabis, But Opposed Legalization

An Apology from Joe Biden for His Drug-War Sins Would Be Nice

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Women Grow Announces First East Coast Summit in June

Women Grow NYC holds monthly networking events at Galvanize.

As the cannabis and hemp industries continue to build throughout the U.S., no area has experienced as rapid a growth as the East Coast. Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont (plus Washington, DC) have all established medical-cannabis programs, several states (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont) have passed adult-use laws and several more are on their way or still weighing the option. Hemp is also poised to be a major force in the region.

Reparative justice, equity programs, diversity and inclusion, environmental and public-safety concerns and evolving regulations are all part of the ongoing conversation shaping East Coast cannabis.

Here’s how Women Grow plans to impact East Coast female entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Summit Moves to DC

Women Grow will bring its annual Leadership Summit to Washington, DC in on June 7-8 at the Washington Court Hotel. It will be the first woman-focused cannabis conference on the East Coast. This is a unique opportunity for us to carry our message to the nation’s capital while introducing the Women Grow brand to a new audience. Women Grow’s new leadership team also hails from the area, exemplifying the many opportunities now available to those outside of traditional cannabis strongholds.

Growing East Coast Markets

As the popularity of adult-use cannabis legislation intensifies nationwide, East Coast governors have responded to this trend by accelerating legalization efforts. New Jersey and New York are discussing such measures, expanding their medical programs to serve more patients and embracing the rising industrial hemp industry.

Women Grow’s headquarters and leadership has been on the East Coast since 2017 (we were founded in Denver in 2014). Based on feedback we’ve received, we intend to increase our East Coast presence in 2019, ensuring that women in these regions who seek to enter the industry have access to an active community and dedicated support.

Educational Programs

Reparative justice, equity programs, diversity and inclusion, environmental and public-safety concerns and evolving regulations are all part of the ongoing conversation shaping East Coast cannabis. Educating our members on these and other issues related to business, healthcare and social justice is a major component to ensuring the viability of the entire industry. Women Grow will continue its series of educational initiatives aimed at preparing the next generation of women leaders and refining the skills of trailblazers already within the space.

As the cannabis renaissance continues, the East Coast is sure to emerge as a major hub for years to come. Women Grow is committed to helping the women of the region be a part of this budding industry.

Related Articles

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Sister Summit: Women Grow Meets Up in Denver

Women Grow and the New Rules of Diversity

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Gov. Jay Inslee Hypes Washington Cannabis, But Opposed Legalization

 

On March 1, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced he’s running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Like many in the crowded Democrat field of candidates, he appears to have been advised that campaigns in this cycle need to support marijuana legalization. There are reasons to doubt his sincerity.

Inslee was elected governor in 2012. Washington voters also approved I-502 that year legalizing marijuana in the Evergreen State. Inslee opposed I-502, which may have cost him votes. Luckily for him, his opponent also was against the measure.

Inslee’s position on marijuana has evolved since taking office and he’s now trying hard to be seen as embracing the concept of legalization.

For example, when Inslee was a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO last April 20, he joked in the “Overtime” session about marijuana being a “growing industry and well-regulated ” in Washington State. “I can honestly say we’ve got the best weed in the United States of America,” he crowed.

Inslee even recently admitted during an interview on BuzzFeed’s AM2DM show that he legally grows cannabis. “Well, I may not smoke it, but I do grow it legally and we’ve got the best weed in America from the state of Washington,” the Governor repeated.

Governor Inslee’s position on marijuana has evolved since taking office and he’s now trying hard to be seen as embracing the concept of legalization.

A spokesperson for Inslee later said the governor doesn’t actually cultivate marijuana himself. That would be illegal, unless he had a commercial license, since Washington’s adult-use law famously excludes home cultivation.

Inslee now says he supports legalization, but what does that mean? It’s a broad concept and the devil is in the details. There are some very specific concerns that Inslee needs to address, particularly Washington’s ban on home cultivation.

He has a chance to rectify that this session. Bills have been introduced in the Washington state legislature that would allow adults to legally cultivate several plants for personal use. Unfortunately, SB 5155 and HB 1131 are both stuck in committee.

There are other problems with Governor Inslee. Back in 2016, he vetoed a hemp research bill. The legislature then overrode the veto. Rather than give up, the governor continued to be an obstacle by refusing to include funds for the hemp program in the budget.

In 2015, Governor Inslee signed the Cannabis Patients Protection Act (SB 5052). That measure had been opposed by advocates, and for good reason. The law resulted in the closure of more than 1,500 dispensaries, with only 222 licensed shops left standing. It also allowed some people to game the system by gaining an unfair advantage over established medical providers.

On February 26, a bipartisan group of Washington legislators wrote to Inslee complaining that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has a “toxic culture.” They’re urging him to rescind his reappointment of WSLCB board member Russ Hauge, who was district attorney for Kitsap County from 1994 until 2014.

Governor Inslee to Bill Maher: “I can honestly say we’ve got the best weed in the United States of America.”

On  January 10, Inslee announced a plan to pardon some people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions on their records. His Marijuana Justice Initiative allows some applicants to be pardoned. The governor’s office estimated that “roughly 3,500 individuals are eligible under this Initiative.”

The number of potential applicants is so small because the plan is extremely restrictive. Still, it’s a start. Or is it? According to figures obtained by the Seattle Times, only 160 people applied in the Initiative’s first month of operation. Just 13 of those applicants were actually successful. Most applicants didn’t qualify.

Even if it turns out that the 3,500-people estimate was too high, people in Washington with a conviction for a minor marijuana offense may be in luck. Washington State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon has introduced House Bill 1500, which would allow people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions to apply to the courts to have their convictions expunged.

The state police have estimated that more than 200,000 misdemeanor convictions could be vacated if HB 1500 is passed into law. If an applicant meets the necessary conditions, then the courts are required to vacate the conviction. Governor Inslee reportedly supports HB 1500.

Of course, Governor Inslee is not solely running on his marijuana record. The Governor’s main focus is climate change. Anyone familiar with hemp knows it can help improve the environment. With hemp now federally legal, Inslee needs to jump on that bandwagon before his fledgling campaign falters.

More Articles About 2020 Candidates

Joy Inside My Tears: The Greening of Kamala Harris

An Apology from Joe Biden for His Drug-War Sins Would Be Nice

The Importance of Senator Cory Booker

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Legislation to Regulate and Tax Marijuana in Vermont Passes Senate With Veto-proof Majority

A legislative proposal to tax and regulate marijuana for adult use in Vermont third and final reading in the Vermont Senate Friday with a veto-proof majority; the vote was 23 to 5.

The measure now moves to the Vermont House of Representatives for consideration. Passage in the House would send it to Governor Phill Scott for consideration.

Senate Bill 54, sponsored by 15 of the state’s 30 senators, would create a system of regulated marijuana production and sales for adult use in Vermont, reports the Marijuana Policy Project in a press release. Retail sales would be subject to a 10 percent tax, and municipalities could establish a 1 percent local option tax if they host a retailer. Under the proposal, oversight of the medical cannabis program would be shifted from the Department of Safety to a new independent commission beginning January 1, 2021. It would also change the word “marijuana” to “cannabis” throughout state statutes. A detailed summary of S. 54 is available at http://bit.ly/Vermont-S54.

Laws regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use have been enacted in nine states and the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. Vermont and D.C. are the only two U.S. jurisdictions where cannabis is legal but not regulated for adult use.

“We applaud the Senate for its overwhelming approval of this commonsense legislation”, says Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, which is leading a coalition in support of the legislation. “We hope members of the House will agree that regulating and taxing cannabis is in Vermont’s best interest. Most importantly, this legislation will make the state safer by creating a safe and legal market through which adults can access cannabis products. It will also have the added benefit of generating new tax revenue for the state, as well as local governments.”

Scott continues: “Cannabis is legal for adults in Vermont, and it’s time for it to be treated like other products that are legal for adults. That means regulating its production and sale to address public health and safety concerns and keep it out of the hands of minors. While some adults would prefer to grow their own cannabis, many would prefer to access it safely and legally from licensed stores. They should have the choice, and that is what this bill will provide.”

In January the state’s supreme court decided that the smell of burnt marijuana is not enough to justify law enforcement obtaining a warrant to search a vehicle.

In the ruling the court stated that the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from a vehicle is not strong enough evidence or sufficient probable cause to conduct legally search said vehicle.

“The seizure, aimed at immobilizing the plaintiff’s vehicle while the officer sought a search warrant, was essentially based solely on the trooper’s initial detection of the faint odor of burnt marijuana, which did not, in and of itself, create fair probability that marijuana would be found in the vehicle”, states the ruling.

The case, Zullo v. Vermont, effectively overturned a lower court decision.

Marijuana possession officially became legal in Vermont on July 1, 2018.

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Legislation to Regulate and Tax Marijuana in Vermont Passes Senate With Veto-proof Majority is available on Nick Adams (Smoking) In America

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The Cannabis Industry’s 20 Hottest Pot Stocks of 2019

With mergers and acquisitions moving at a fast pace, it’s hard to know which cannabis companies are the best values. Last year, we provided a list of the Top 12 Canadian Pot Stocks. Here’s an expanded 2019 list that includes U.S. companies investors are high on.

Acreage Holdings

OTC: ACRGF

Based: New York, NY

Cap: $1.65 billion

Stock price: $19.10

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in 10 states; former Speaker of the House John Boehner And Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney are on their board.

Related Article: They Say It’s an Evolution: On John Boehner’s Cannabis Switcheroo

 

Aphria Inc.

NYSE: APHA

Based: Leamington, ON

Cap: $2.55 billion

Stock price: $10.31

About: The Canadian licensed producer faced a short seller in 2018. Note: Licensed producers are legally allowed to cultivate in Canada.

Related Article: Quintessential Capital Challenges Aphria

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

NYSE: ACB

Based: Cremona, AB

Cap: $7.33 billion

Stock Price: $7.30

About: The Canadian licensed producer met with Coca-Cola in 2018

Canopy Growth Corp.

NYSE: CGC

Based: Smiths Falls, ON

Cap: $16.10 billion

Stock price: $47.10

About: The Canadian licensed producer sold 38% of the company to alcohol maker Constellation Brands in 2018

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc.

OTC: CWBHF

Based: Boulder, CO

Cap: $259.43 million

Stock price: $14.16

About: Produces hemp and CBD products under the CW Hemp brand

Cronos Group Inc.

NASDAQ: CRON

Based: Toronto, ON

Cap: $3.91 billion

Stock Price: $21.75

About: The Canadian licensed producer sold 45% of company to tobacco giant Altria Group in 2018

Related Article: Big Tobacco Makes Major Move into Canadian Cannabis Market

Curaleaf Holdings Inc.

OTC: CURLF

Based: Wakefield, MA

Cap: $3.48 billion

Stock Price: $7.60

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in 10 states

Freedom Leaf Health

OTC: FRLF

Based: Las Vegas, NV

Cap: $49.70 million

Stock Price: $0.22

About: Publishes Freedom Leaf magazine and manufactures hemp-CBD products

Related Article: Freedom Dives into the Hemp/CBD Market

Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.

OTC: TGODF

Based: Mississauga, ON

Cap: $893.06 million

Stock Price: $3.29

About: Canadian licensed producer

GW Pharmaceuticals

NASDAQ: GWPH

Based: Cambridge, UK

Cap: $5.4 billion

Stock Price: $177.49

About: Maker of Sativex and Epidiolex, both approved by the FDA

Related Article: The Epidiolex Effect: Will Other CBD Drugs Receive FDA and DEA Approvals?

Hexo Corp.

OTC: HEXO

Based: Gatineau, QB

Cap: $1.17 billion

Stock Price: $5.67

About: The Canadian licensed producer partnered with Molson Coors Canada in 2018

iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc.

OTC: ITHUF

Based: New York, NY

Cap: $407.62 million

Stock Price: $5.47

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in seven states

KushCo Holdings Inc.

OTC: KSHB

Based: Garden Grove, CA

Cap: $521.81 million

Stock Price: $5.94

About: Manufactures packaging products for the cannabis industry

Liberty Health Sciences

OTC: LHSIF

Based: Toronto, ON

Cap: $233.81 million

Stock Price: $0.82

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in Florida

MedMen Enterprises

OTC: MMNFF

Based: Culver City, CA

Cap: $351.07 million

Stock Price: $2.96

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in five states

Related Article: MedMen Defend Itself Over Parker Suit

MPX Bioceutical Corp.

Other OTC: MPXEF

Based: Toronto, ON

Cap: $3.4 million

Stock Price: $0.92

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in three states and owns Melting Point Extracts

Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

NYSE: SMG

Based: Dayton, OH

Cap: $4.53 billion

Stock Price: $81.80

About: Manufactures soil, fertilizer and hydroponic gardening equipment

Terra Tech Corp.

OTC: TRTC

Based: Irvine, CA

Cap: $69.69 million

Stock Price: $0.88

About: Holds dispensary and cultivation licenses in two states

Therapix Biosciences Ltd.

NASDAQ: TRPX

Based: Givatayim, Israel

Cap: $12.71 million

Stock Price: $4.61

About: Pharma company moving into cannabis formulations for specific conditions

Tilray Inc.

NASDAQ: TLRY

Based: Nanaimo, BC

Cap: $7.41 billion

Stock Price: $79.50

About: The Canadian licensed producer partnered with pharma and alcohol companies in 2018

Related Article: Tilray Makes Deals with Novartis and Anheiser-Busch

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The Cannabis Industry’s 20 Hottest Pot Stocks of 2019 was initially published on https://www.nickadamsinamerica.com/

source https://www.nickadamsinamerica.com/2019/03/04/the-cannabis-industrys-20-hottest-pot-stocks-of-2019/