Study: Frequent Cannabis Use Unrelated To Brain Morphology

The frequent use of cannabis is not associated with changes in brain structure, according to data published online ahead of print in the journal Addiction.

An international team of scientists from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom assessed the relationship between habitual cannabis exposure and grey matter volumes in seven regions of the brain – including the thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and the nucleus accumbens – in two large population-based twin samples.

Researchers reported, “[N]ormal variation in cannabis use is statistically unrelated to individual differences in brain morphology as measured by subcortical volume.”

By contrast, the repeated use of nicotine was positively associated with significantly smaller thalamus volumes in middle-aged males.

Authors concluded: “This is the largest exploratory analysis integrating brain imaging with self-report cannabis and comorbid substance use data. After correcting for multiple testing, there was no effect of cannabis use on the volume at any subcortical region of interest in young adults or middle-aged males. … In the context of expanding medicalization and decriminalization and the concerns surrounding the consequences of increased cannabis availability, our findings suggest that normal variation in cannabis use is statistically unrelated to brain morphology as measured by subcortical volumes in non-clinical samples.”

The findings are consistent with those of prior brain imaging studies reporting that cannabis exposure appears to have little to no significant adverse impact upon brain morphology — particularly when compared to the dramatic effects associated with the alcohol exposure.

The study’s findings fail to replicate those of a well-publicized 2014 paper which alleged that even casual marijuana exposure may be linked to brain abnormalities, particularly in the amygdala.

Last week, a meta-analysis of 69 separate studies reported that cannabis exposure in adolescents and young adults is not associated with any significant, residual detrimental effects on cognitive performance. The results from a pair of recently published longitudinal twin studies similarly report that cannabis use is not independently associated with any residual change in intelligence quotient or executive function.

An abstract of the study, “Testing associations between cannabis use and subcortical volumes in two large population-based samples,” appears online here.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/30/study-frequent-cannabis-use-unrelated-to-brain-morphology/

Study: Frequent Cannabis Use Unrelated To Brain Morphology is republished from https://gigglesndimples.com/

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Michigan Voters Can Legalize It in November

Michigan is angling to become the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana. On Apr. 26, the state’s Board of Canvassers ruled that the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMA) had submitted a sufficient number of signatures (250,000 were needed) to get the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The state legislature will have the opportunity to enact it first, but that’s unlikely. The measure would allow adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of pot and grow up to 12 plants at home. The overall tax rate would be 16% (10% excise tax and 6% sales tax) on cannabis products sold in licensed stores.

This is second effort to get recreational legalization on the Michigan ballot. In 2016, the state Elections Bureau rejected signatures submitted on a technicality. Due to this snafu, Michigan missed the opportunity to be part of the windfall of cannabis victories at the polls in 2016 when eight out of nine states passed either rec or medical initiatives.

Michigan NORML’s Rick Thompson

“The people of Michigan deserved this,” crowed Michigan NORML‘s Rick Thompson. “We’ve faced many trials and tribulations. We’ve had many stop and go signs from the federal government. That’s why states have to take the reins on the issue and really be the crucibles of democracy that they’ve always been intended to be.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said as much when he called for federal decriminalization on Apr. 20. “Justice Brandeis said let the states be laboratories,” the Congressman commented. “We’ve now had some evidence. In Washington and other states, it’s done a lot of good and no harm. The experiment has been a success. Let’s nationalize it.”

Schumer’s bill (he’s yet to introduce it in the Senate) would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, hence legalizing it.

But in the meanwhile, states are taking action. Voters in eight states and Washington, D.C. have passed legalization measures since 2012. Earlier this year, Vermont became the first state to enact legalization legislation. Currently, business is flourishing in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada and California. Sales begin in Massachusetts in July, but are being delayed in Maine. Vermont and D.C. have yet to approve a commercial market for cannabis.

Michigan voters legalized medical marijuana by a 63%-37% margin in 2008. With a war chest of $1 million, CRMA should have enough money and support to offset efforts by Healthy and Productive Michigan and Smart Approaches to Marijuana to thwart Michigan’s marijuana measure.

Related Articles

No Equity in Detroit When It Comes to Cannabis

New Jersey’s Path to Marijuana Legalization

Provinces Take Lead in Canada’s Legalization Ramp-Up

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Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/michigan-marijuana-initiative/

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Doctors’ Group Wants to Scrap Canada’s Medical Cannabis Program

A few weeks ago, at a medical conference for the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids in Toronto, things got heated. And that's putting it nicely. In attendance were scientists who study cannabis, physicians, pharmacists, and nurses. They were all there to discuss what should happen with medical cannabis policy, when the drug becomes legal for anyone to use. When the Canadian Medical Association started to explain their position, things got ugly. That position…

Source: https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/04/29/doctors-group-wants-to-scrap-canadas-medical-cannabis-program

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Weed 101: How to Choose Marijuana

From cannabinoids to terpenes, a pot novice's journey to finding the right strain. I've never been great at smoking weed. While some lucky smokers can come home, spark up a fatty and enjoy the benefits of ancient plant medicine, there's always a chance I'll end up lying awake all night, heart pounding, too out of it to even follow an episode of Bob's Burgers. When someone offers me a joint at a party, I ask, "Is…

Source: https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/04/28/weed-101-how-to-choose-marijuana

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Willie Nelson at 85: “Last Man Standing”

Willie Nelson turns 85 years old on April 29. It’s become a tradition for him to release an album around his birthday; Last Man Standing, his 73rd studio album and eighth since 2012 with Sony’s Legacy Recordings, is a fitting next episode in Nelson’s late-career renaissance.

Teaming up again with producer/songwriter Buddy Cannon, the duo penned 11 new songs for the album. Like on 2017’s God’s Problem Child, Nelson takes inventory of those that departed on Last Man Standing. On the opening title track (watch below), he name-checks Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, Merle Haggard and songwriter Norris Wilson, and wonders “who the next will be.” Despite the sad theme, Nelson’s sunny delivery and clever wordplay make for a fun tune as he jokingly sings, “I don’t want to be the last man standing/On second thought, maybe I do.”

Nelson’s Trump-era bewilderment surfaces on “Me and You” (“It’s like I’m in some moron country/I’ve never seen before”), which suggests circling the wagons with the ones you love (“The world has gone out of its mind/Except for me and you”). Unlike the Nelson favorite “Me and Paul,” there’s no reference to getting busted for weed.

But that sentiment comes through on the rollicking Western-swing number, “Ready to Roar,” when Nelson recalls: “Well, I picked up a lid from a friend of mine/And the man picked me up, now I’m doing time.” Nelson has been arrested for marijuana four times.

The heart and soul of the album, the ballad “Something You Get Through,” is destined to take its place among Nelson’s all-time classics like “Always on My Mind” and “Crazy.” Based on a conversation with a close friend who’d just lost her husband, it offers not simply consolation, but strength: “It’s not something you get over, but it’s something you get through.” Accompanied by a funereal organ and Mickey Raphael’s plaintive harmonica, the song provides the album’s overall message: “Life goes on and on/And when it’s gone/It lives in someone new.”

Willie Nelson with Merle Haggard (left), who passes away in 2016, (Photo by Danny Clinch)

Much of Last Man Standing belies that sense of mortality with Nelson’s “refuse to go gently” spirit. Along with “Ready to Roar,” the back-to-back tracks about femme fatales he fell for rollick. On “I Ain’t Got Nothin’,” Nelson’s left high and dry by a shameless gold-digger (“I gave you the ring/And you gave me the wringer”). It also includes a weed reference. And on “She Made My Day,” an innocent flirtation turns into a “world of strife” (“She made my day/But it ruined my life”).

Another fun track, Nelson’s hilarious waltz-tempo ode to liquor-induced “Bad Breath,” finds him ruminating about halitosis (“a word I never could spell”) and bad breath, which “is better than no breath at all.”

On the metaphysical two-step “Heaven Is Closed,” Nelson toasts everyone with this herbal blessing:

Let’s burn one for those still living in hell

Let’s burn one for those who think they’re in heaven

Burn one for everyone in the whole world

And anyone stuck in between

The rueful “I’ll Try to Do Better Next Time” and eerie “Very Far to Crawl” that close out the album add a level of sobriety to what is otherwise a celebration of a very lively octogenarian troubadour who’s not only surviving, but artistically thriving. This Last Man Standing plans to squeeze every drop out of his time left on Earth.

Related Articles

Album Review: Willie Nelson’s God’s Problem Child

Freedom Goes on the Bus with Willie Nelson

Annie Nelson at the Women Grow Summit

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Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/review-willie-nelsons-last-man-standing/

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Weekly Legislative Roundup 4/27/18

Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!

A lot of action was taken in Congress this week.  A bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers has introduced legislation, the Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018, to facilitate federally-approved clinical trials involving cannabis. The act ends the University of Mississippi’s existing monopoly on the growth of cannabis for clinical research purposes, by requiring the licensing of additional manufacturers. And Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has publicly announced her intention of filing legislation to protect lawful medical marijuana users from housing discrimination. The forthcoming measure explicitly permits qualified patients to consume marijuana in federally-assisted housing, including public housing and the Section 8 housing program.

Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced his intention to include the language of the Hemp Farming Act as an amendment to the 2018 version of the federal Farm Bill, which Congress is expected to take action upon in May. Sen McConnell also placed the bill on the Senate calendar using a procedural move that permits the issue to be voted on the Senate floor without going through the committee process first.

At the state level, Michigan election officials have confirmed that proponents of a statewide ballot measure, The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, have gathered enough signatures from registered voters to place it on the ballot this November. The initiative permits those over the age of 21 to grow and possess personal use quantities of cannabis and related concentrates, while also licensing activities related to the commercial marijuana production and retail marijuana sales.

Also, Governor Jeff Colyer of Kansas, Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, and Gov. Bill Walker of Alaska have all recently signed legislation into law to establish industrial hemp pilot programs in their state. On a similar note, the New Mexico Supreme Court has allowed two bills to become law that were previously vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez, clearing the way for farmers to obtain licenses from the Deptartment of Agriculture to grow hemp for research and development purposes.

Following are the bills from around the country that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level.

Your Highness,
Carly

Priority Alerts

Federal

End Prohibition: Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) have introduced bipartisan legislation, HR 1227, to exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thus leaving states the authority to regulate the plant how best they see fit.

The “Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” eliminates federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference.

Click here to e-mail your Representative and urge them to support this important legislation

Vermont

H. 167, which regulates the retail supply and sale of cannabis to adults, passed the Senate last year prior to stalling in the House. Lawmakers have placed H. 167 on the calendar for action for 4/17. Separate legislation, H. 490, to also regulate the retail production and sale of cannabis to adults, is still awaiting action from the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs.

VT resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of regulating the retail sale of cannabis

Pennsylvania

Senate Resolution 258 seeks to amend the Controlled Substances Act so that marijuana is no longer classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. If passed, the resolution would urge Congress to take action to amend federal law so that states could regulate cannabis absent undue federal interference.

Update: SR 258 was unanimously approved by the Senate on 4/25.

PA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of descheduling cannabis

Illinois

Medical
Senate Bill 336 would permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy as an alternative to opioid treatment.

Update: SB 336 was approved by the Senate 44-6 on 4/26. It now awaits action from the House.

IL resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of cannabis as an alternative to opioids

Expungement
House Bill 2367 provides for the automatic expungement of past marijuana possession or paraphernalia violations.

The measure mandates the automatic expungement of any citation for a civil law violation of either: subsection (a) of Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act, or subsection (c) Section 3.5 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. It also would allow those with certain past criminal marijuana convictions — those that occurred prior to the decriminalization of such offenses — to ask a judge to have the conviction expunged.

Update: HB 2367 was approved by the Restorative Justice Committee on 4/24 by an 8-2 vote. It is expected to be considered by the full House on 4/27.

IL resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of expungement

California

Assembly Bill 2069 would explicitly bar employers from discriminating against workers solely because of their status as a medical cannabis patient, or due to testing positive for medical marijuana use on a workplace drug test.

Update: The Assembly’s Labor And Employment Committee held a hearing on AB 2069 on 4/25, and then approved the bill. It now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of patient employment protections

 

Additional Actions to Take

New Hampshire

House Bill 1476 seeks to permit qualifying patients to cultivate small quantities of cannabis for their own therapeutic use. The bill already passed the House last month.

Update: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 3-2 on 4/25 to recommend that HB 1476 be sent to ‘interim study,’ but the bill is still expected to receive a vote in the full Senate sometime in the next few weeks.

NH resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of home cultivation rights

Iowa

Senate File 2372 seeks to expand the state’s medical cannabidiol (CBD) law. The measure will remove the arbitrary 3 percent cap on THC content, and would allow doctors to recommend CBD to those suffering from chronic pain as well as to any other patient for whom they believe it would benefit.

Update: The Iowa State Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 13 to 3 to approve the bill on 4/23.

IA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of medical CBD expansion

Illinois

Senate Bill 2298 would expand the state’s industrial hemp law by allowing individuals to cultivate hemp with a state license even if they are not part of the state’s Agriculture Department pilot program. That program only permits hemp cultivation as part of a state-sponsored research program.

Update: SB 2298 was unanimously approved by the Senate on 4/24.

IL resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of industrial hemp expansion

California

Senate Bill 930 seeks to assist financial institutions in safely conducting transactions with licensed cannabis businesses.

Update: SB 930 was heard by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on 4/25, and was then approved by the committee. The bill now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of banking access

That’s all for this week, check back next Friday for more legislative updates!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/27/weekly-legislative-roundup-4-27-18/

Weekly Legislative Roundup 4/27/18 Find more on: The Giggles N Dimples Blog

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Legislation Introduced To End The Federal Government’s Marijuana Production Monopoly

A bipartisan coalition of over two-dozen federal lawmakers, including House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL), are backing newly introduced legislation — The Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018 — to facilitate federally-approved clinical trials involving cannabis.

Passage of this act would end the University of Mississippi’s existing monopoly on the growth of cannabis for clinical research purposes by requiring the licensing of additional manufacturers.

Currently, the US National Institute on Drug Abuse designates the University of Mississippi to be the sole provider of marijuana for FDA-approved research. However, many of those familiar with their product have criticized its quality, opining that it possesses subpar potency, is often poorly manicured, and that it does not accurately reflect the wide variety of cannabis products and strains available to consumers.

Previous efforts to break this monopoly have so far been unsuccessful. In 2007, DEA Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittner determined that expanding the pool of federally licensed providers would be “in the public interest.” The agency ultimately rejected her decision. More recently, in 2016, the DEA changed its position and amended regulations in a manner to permit additional applicants to apply to federal licensure to grow marijuana. However, the Justice Department and the US Attorney General have thus far failed to take action on any pending applications.

Under this measure, the Justice Department is mandated to act on any application it receives within one calendar year.

Other provisions in the measure explicitly permits VA physicians to provide information to patients regarding their eligibility in clinical trials, and provides a “safe harbor” for universities, clinicians, and patients participating in federally-approved trials from federal interference.

Please click here to urge your federal lawmakers to support The Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/27/legislation-introduced-to-end-the-federal-governments-marijuana-production-monopoly/

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Michigan: Adult Use Legalization Measure Certified For November’s Ballot

Election officials today confirmed that proponents of a statewide ballot measure, The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, have gathered a sufficient number of signatures from registered voters to place it on the electoral ballot this November.

Proponents of the voter-initiated measure, The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, submitted more than 360,000 signatures to qualify it for the November 2018 ballot. The initiative permits those over the age of 21 to grow and possess personal use quantities of cannabis and related concentrates, while also licensing activities related to the commercial marijuana production and retail marijuana sales.

According to statewide polling commissioned by Michigan NORML, which is a leading member of the Coalition, 61 percent of voters say that they intend to vote yes on the measure.

Voters in other states will also be deciding on marijuana-related ballot questions later this year. Oklahomans will decide in June on State Question 788, which permits qualified patients to access and cultivate marijuana for therapeutic purposes. Utah voters are also expected to decide on a narrower medicalization measure in November, though officials have yet to officially certify that measure for the ballot. Proponents of a medical marijuana measure in Missouri have surpassed the number of signatures required to place it on the November ballot, well ahead of the state’s May 6 deadline. In South Dakota, officials have confirmed that proponents of a 2018 medical use initiative failed to gather the necessary number of signatures to qualify for November’s ballot.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/26/michigan-adult-use-legalization-measure-certified-for-novembers-ballot/

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NEW POLL: 63% of Americans Believe “Marijuana Should Be Made Legal”

Sixty-three percent of US voters believe that “marijuana should be made legal in the United States,” according to survey data released today by Quinnipiac University. The percentage is the highest support level ever reported in a nationwide Quinnipiac poll.

The result is similar to those of other recent national polls, such as surveys by CBS News, Gallup, and Fox News.

“Never in modern history has there existed greater public support for ending the nation’s nearly century-long failed experiment with marijuana criminalization,” said Justin Strekal, NORML’s Political Director. “As this momentum and public pressure continue to build, now is the time for elected officials to find their way to a political evolution. We are ready to welcome them to the cause of justice, fairness, and individual liberty.”

He added, “In 2018, NORML members and marijuana reform supporters will be attending town halls, knocking on doors, and making political contributions with every intention of defeating candidates who maintain their reefer madness hysteria as a justification to treat cannabis consumers as second-class citizens.”

The poll’s results also revealed overwhelming support for medical marijuana and sweeping opposition to federal intervention in states that have reformed their marijuana laws.

From Quinnipiac:

Ninety-three percent of voters support the medical use of marijuana, as authorized by a doctor. This widespread support is in line with the results of prior polls.

Voters oppose the enforcement of federal laws against marijuana in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana by a margin of 70 percent to 23 percent. Seventy-four percent of respondents say they support federal legislation to prohibit the federal government from intervening in states that have enacted marijuana regulatory laws.

Twenty-two percent of respondents acknowledged that they reside in a state where the recreational, adult use of marijuana is legal, and 61 percent of Americans reject the claim that cannabis is a supposed “gateway drug.”

Read the full results here.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/26/new-poll-63-of-americans-support-marijuana-legalization/

NEW POLL: 63% of Americans Believe “Marijuana Should Be Made Legal” is republished from https://gigglesndimples.com/

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NORML PAC Endorses John Fetterman for PA Lieutenant Governor

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Political Action Committee (NORML PAC) has announced its formal endorsement of John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.

“Mr. Fetterman has been an unrelenting champion for reversing Pennsylvania’s failed and draconic policies when it comes to marijuana,” stated NORML PAC Executive Director Erik Altieri, “He understands the absolute devastation prohibition has wrought on families across the state, most acutely in already marginalized communities. Having John Fetterman as Lieutenant Governor would be a huge step forward in advancing civil liberties and racial justice in the Keystone State, we are proud to support his candidacy and call upon voters to cast their vote for him in the upcoming primary and then send him to Harrisburg in November. Together, we can make real progress towards sensible marijuana policy in Pennsylvania.”

Upon receiving the NORML PAC endorsement, Fetterman said, “I will never shy away from the doing the right thing, and fully legalizing marijuana is the right thing for Pennsylvania. We should go full-on Colorado. It’s a simple solution to the devastation I have seen first-hand of the Opioid Crisis, and the disproportionate impact of mass incarceration on communities of color. As Lt. Governor I will be the leading voice on this issue in Harrisburg.”

Jeff Reidy, Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley NORML chapter commented on the National group’s endorsement saying, “Presenting John Fetterman with this National NORML endorsement represents the unanimous support of NORML Chapters statewide, and the community’s support for his campaign and his family values. Mr Fetterman has long been a supporter of cannabis reform, our organization, and our end goal of legalization.”

According to the latest polling conducted by Independence Communications & Campaigns, Fetterman is leading the field of six candidates in the race for Lt. Governor with 20% of the vote. A September 2017 poll from Franklin and Marshall revealed that 59% of Pennsylvanians believe marijuana should be legalized and only 31% were opposed, the highest level of support the firm has reported for legalization since they began asking the question in 2006.

Learn more about John Fetterman and his campaign by visiting his website, Facebook, or Twitter.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Primary will be held on Tuesday, May 15th. You can check your voter registration and find your polling place by clicking HERE.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/26/norml-pac-endorses-john-fetterman-for-pa-lieutenant-governor/

NORML PAC Endorses John Fetterman for PA Lieutenant Governor is courtesy of https://gigglesndimples.com

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Protections Proposed for Vermont Medical Marijuana Users Who Need an Organ Transplant

By Sasha Goldstein for Seven Days

"There's always the concern that, if there's not a specific statute or guideline [granting protections], then the risk [of discrimination] remains," said David Mangone, legislative counsel at Americans for Safe Access, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for access to medical cannabis. The group recently graded every state's medical marijuana program and gave Vermont's a zero out of five for its organ transplant protections.

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/protections_proposed_for_vermont_medical_marijuana_users_who_need_an_organ_transplant

The following article Protections Proposed for Vermont Medical Marijuana Users Who Need an Organ Transplant is republished from The Giggles N Dimples Blog

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Why Athletes Are Ditching Ibuprofen for CBD

By Graham Averill for Outside

“There is overwhelming evidence that CBD can be effective for mitigating pain,” says Jahan Marcu, chief science officer with Americans for Safe Access, which works to legalize medical marijuana. “But we haven’t seen the full clinical trials necessary to understand exactly how it works.”

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/why_athletes_are_ditching_ibuprofen_for_cbd

The following article Why Athletes Are Ditching Ibuprofen for CBD was initially seen on The Giggles N Dimples Blog

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Local veteran hopeful about new medical marijuana pharmacy in SWLA

By Maranda Whittington for KPLC 7

Landry obtained a scholarship that will allow him to head to Washington D.C. next month to attend a unity conference with Americans for Safe Access.

He plans to march with other veterans supporting medical marijuana there as well.

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/local_veteran_hopeful_about_new_medical_marijuana_pharmacy_in_swla

Local veteran hopeful about new medical marijuana pharmacy in SWLA was originally seen on Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/24/local-veteran-hopeful-about-new-medical-marijuana-pharmacy-in-swla/

Cannabis Science Conference

The post Cannabis Science Conference appeared first on Cannabis Industry Journal.

Source: https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/event/cannabis-science-conference/

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source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/24/cannabis-science-conference/

Flower Power: Pennsylvania Amends Medical-Marijuana Program

Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board recently recommended adding the use of flower, or dried bud, to the state’s nascent medical pot program. On April 16, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine approved the board’s recommendation.

“I’m ecstatic,” Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Daylin Leach, whose support was key to getting the state’s medical marijuana bill passed in 2016, told Freedom Leaf during the 2nd Annual World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo from April 12-14 at the Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. “Hopefully, we’ll have whole plant in the dispensaries in the next couple of months.”

Pennsylvania State Sen. Daylin Leach speaking at right.

The good news is cannabis flower will eventually be available in dispensaries that opened throughout the Keystone State earlier this year. The bad news is it will only be allowed for vaping purposes. According to Dr. Levine, smoking medical-grade marijuana would be a criminal offense. Currently, cannabis is available in Pennsylvania as a concentrated oil or tincture. “I really do think this is the right thing to do,” she stated. The health department has a 90-day comment period before it can effect changes in the program.

Levine also approved the board’s recommendation to add cancer remission therapy to the list of accepted conditions and changed the definition of chronic intractable pain. Leach would like to go further (such as including insomnia as a condition), but said he was “happy about this expansion.”

Patrick Nightingale speaking at Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.

Patrick Nightingale, executive director of the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society, agreed with Levine. “I fully expect the flower material will be approved for sale in our dispensaries,” he told Freedom Leaf during the conference. “Then our dispensaries will resemble medical dispensaries in other states where patients are able to select from a variety of actual cannabis strains. It’s critical that patients have greater variety and can dial up what works best for them.”

Both Nightingale and Leach were presenters at the World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo, which offered workshops and courses and featured 125 exhibitors for the event’s 5,000 attendees.

Related Articles

Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment Safe Until September

California Medical-Marijuana Pioneer Passed Away

New York’s Medical-Marijuana Program Continues to Evolve

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The post Flower Power: Pennsylvania Amends Medical-Marijuana Program appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

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NORML Releases 2018 Gubernatorial Scorecard

We are pleased to release our 2018 Gubernatorial Scorecard. This extensive database assigns a letter grade ‘A’ through ‘F’ to states’ governors based upon their comments and voting records specific to matters of marijuana policy.

KEY FINDINGS

• Twenty-four US governors received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher (14 Democrats, 9 Republicans, and 1 Independent)
• Of these, only two US governors, both Democrats, received an ‘A’ grade
• Fifteen governors received a ‘B’ grade (9 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 1 Independent)
• Seven governors received a ‘C’ grade (4 Republicans and 3 Democrats)
• Nineteen governors received a ‘D’ grade (18 Republicans and 1 Democrat)
• Four governors received a failing ‘F’ grade (All Republicans)
• Three governors received no grade because of insufficient data
• Of the 31 Republican US governors receiving a letter grade, only nine of them received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher (34 percent)
• Of the 15 Democratic US governors receiving a letter grade, 14 of them received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher (93 percent)

Commenting on the results, NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri stated, “While federal officials tend to receive most of the scrutiny in the fight for marijuana law reform, it is not just members of Congress who deserve our attention. In fact, with the majority of marijuana-related campaigns decided on the state level, it is our nation’s governors who often hold the key to our success or failure.”

Similar to the findings of NORML’s 2016 Governors Scorecard, this gubernatorial analysis once again affirms that voters’ views on marijuana policy are typically more progressive than the views held by the highest elected officials in their states – only 48 percent of whom received a passing grade from NORML. For example, while 64 percent of Americans support legalizing the use and sale of cannabis for adults, only two Governors are public in their support of this position. Governors overall are also far less supportive of legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis than are their constituents – more than 90 percent of whom back these type of reform measures.

Also evident is that gubernatorial support for marijuana law reform often falls upon partisan lines. While 93 percent of Democratic governors received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher, fewer than 40 percent of Republican governors did so. Further, nearly all of the governors who received either a ‘D’ or a failing grade from NORML are Republicans. Conversely, both of the governors who received a ‘A’ grade from NORML are Democrats. This partisanship lies largely in contrast to voters’ sentiments, as the public tends to view many aspects of marijuana law reform, such as the regulation of medicinal cannabis, as non-partisan issues. (For example, according to 2017 Quinnipiac polling, 90 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats, and 96 percent of Independents favor “allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes.”)

Altieri continued: “Voters need to push current governors and 2018 gubernatorial candidates to take a proactive and positive stance on marijuana policy. Constituents must let their governors know that holding positions on marijuana legalization that are of step with the will of state voters will cost them at the ballot box, and that embracing sensible reform policies will increase their support among voters.”

He added: “Look to New Jersey as an example. The exit of anti-drug zealot Chris Christie and the election of pro-legalization Phil Murphy has changed the entire tenor of the debate. Already, the state is moving to expand and reinforce their long suffering medical marijuana program and his very election catapulted the topic of full legalization to the top of this year’s legislative priorities list.”

To read NORML’s full report, please visit: http://norml.org/us-governors

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/24/norml-releases-2018-gubernatorial-scorecard/

NORML Releases 2018 Gubernatorial Scorecard Read more on: GigglesNDimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/24/norml-releases-2018-gubernatorial-scorecard/

Experts React To Donald Trump’s Action To Protect Medical Marijuana

By Kyle Jaeger for High Times

In a statement Friday, Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access, noted the “tremendous amount of uncertainty from this administration regarding cannabis and how federal laws would be enforced against states that have lawful medical cannabis programs.”

But Sherer continued: “If the President intends to support a federalism-based solution, we are ready and willing to continue our efforts of ensuring that patients can access the medicine they need through robust state programs.”

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/experts_react_to_donald_trumps_action_to_protect_medical_marijuana

Experts React To Donald Trump’s Action To Protect Medical Marijuana See more on: https://gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/23/experts-react-to-donald-trumps-action-to-protect-medical-marijuana/

NORML Delivers Over 10,000 Citizen Comments To The FDA Calling For The Reconsideration of Cannabis Prohibition

ASA Submits Recommendations to FDA for International Rescheduling of Cannabis

This week, we submitted comments relating to the efficacy and medical usefulness of cannabis as a medical treatment. In early April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice in the federal register asking for public comments on cannabis and its derivatives. These comments will help inform the response of the United States to the World Health Organization in potentially reclassifying cannabis.

Read ASA’s Comments Here

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/fda_comments_2018

ASA Submits Recommendations to FDA for International Rescheduling of Cannabis is courtesy of The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/23/asa-submits-recommendations-to-fda-for-international-rescheduling-of-cannabis/

Weekly Legislative Roundup 4/20/18

Welcome to the 4/20 edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!

Today’s the day. The High Holy Day for cannabis consumers everywhere. Happy Holidaze, my people! Check out all the 4/20 events happening around the country, and remember to be safe and smoke responsibly!

There have been lots of significant developments in the marijuana space recently, specifically at the federal level. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced his intention to sponsor a bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Republican Senator Cory Gardner (CO) says that he has received a verbal commitment from President Donald Trump specifying that the administration will not take action to disrupt marijuana markets in states that legally regulate the substance. Also, Senator Bernie Sanders signed on as a co-sponsor of The Marijuana Justice Act. Yesterday,  Sen. Sanders joined Senator Cory Booker on a live stream for a conversation about ending prohibition and co-sponsoring the Marijuana Justice Act.

Additionally, legislation was introduced this week to facilitate federally-sponsored clinical research into the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis among veterans, HR 5520: The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018.

At the state level, Pennsylvania’s health secretary approved a recommendation from the medical cannabis law Advisory Board to allow sales of medical cannabis in flower form and to add new qualifying conditions. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed into law a sweeping criminal justice reform bill that includes expungement for prior marijuana convictions. And unfortunately, South Dakota’s secretary of state rejected a proposed medical cannabis ballot measure because not enough signatures in a random sample were valid.

At a more local level, Los Angeles, California’s top marijuana regulator said the city is considering allowing consumption lounges, and Denver, Colorado’s mayor is proposing raising the city’s marijuana sales tax from 3.5% to 5.5% to fund affordable housing.

Following are the bills from around the country that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level.

Your Highness,
Carly

Priority Alerts

Federal

End Prohibition: Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) have introduced bipartisan legislation, HR 1227, to exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thus leaving states the authority to regulate the plant how best they see fit.

The “Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” eliminates federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference.

Click here to e-mail your Representative and urge them to support this important legislation

Louisiana

House Bill 274 seeks to entirely decriminalize the possession and distribution of marijuana, contingent on the creation of a sales tax system that would regulate the legal sale of marijuana.

Update: HB 274 was heard by the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice on 4/17.

LA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of decriminalization

Maine

Legislation is pending, LD 1539, to greatly expand patients’ access to medical cannabis. Among changes proposed by the bill: Physicians would be able, at their sole discretion, to recommend cannabis therapy to any patient for whom they think it would benefit; Caregivers would be able to manage more than five patients at one time; Regulators would increase the total number of licensed dispensaries from eight to 14.

Update: The Senate voted 25-10 to pass LD 1539 on 4/18, and it now heads to Governor LePage for his signature or veto. He has 10 days to act on the bill, but is expected to veto it.

ME resident? Click here to email Governor LePage in support of expanding the medical marijuana program

South Carolina

Legislation is pending, H 3521 and S 212: The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act, to allow for the physician-authorized use of marijuana for patients with specific debilitating medical conditions.

Update: The House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs held a hearing on H 3521 on 4/19, and then approved the bill by a 14-3 vote.

SC resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of medical marijuana access

New Hampshire

Senate Bill 388 would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a second dispensary location in the geographic area that includes Carroll, Coos, and Grafton counties for therapeutic cannabis.

Update: SB 388 was unanimously approved by the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee on 4/18, after holding a public hearing and then an executive session on the bill.

NH resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of expanding the medical marijuana program

California

Assembly Bill 1793 would “allow automatic expungement or reduction of a prior cannabis conviction for an act that is not a crime as of January 1, 2017, or for a crime that as of that date subject to a lesser sentence.

Update: The Assembly’s Public Safety Committee unanimously approved AB 1793 on 4/17 after a hearing was held. The bill now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of expunging past cannabis convictions

Alaska

Senate Bill 184 prohibits the release of past records for any marijuana offense that is no longer defined as a crime under state law. The bill’s intent is to reduce barriers to employment for people who have been convicted of low-level marijuana possession crimes that would be legal under today’s laws, and to make it more likely that people convicted of only low-level crimes will become contributing members of society.

Update: The House of Representatives approved similar legislation by a 30-10 vote on 4/15, HB 316, which restricts the release of certain records of convictions to the public. The bill now heads to the Senate.

AK resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of sealing past records

Hawaii

House Bill 2729, to allow for out-of-state medical marijuana cardholders to access medical cannabis while visiting Hawaii. Other provisions in the bill prohibit employers from either discriminating against or taking punitive actions against employees solely based on their medical cannabis use or patient status.

Update: The Senate approved HB 2729 with amendments on 4/10, but the House disagreed with the proposed amendments. Both Chambers will have to work to come up with a satisfactory compromise.

HI resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of reciprocity

 

Additional Actions to Take

Oklahoma

Democratic Representative Mickey Dollens has introduced HB 2913: The Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot Program. The bill would allow universities to cultivate hemp for research and development purposes.

Update: HB 2913 was approved by the Senate by a 39-1 vote on 4/16, and now awaits action by Governor Mary Fallin.

OK resident? Click here to email Gov. Fallin in support of industrial hemp research

Missouri

Senate Bill 547 seeks to modify provisions relating to industrial hemp. It would allow the Department of Agriculture to issue a registration or permit to growers and handlers of agricultural and industrial hemp. It would also create an industrial hemp agricultural pilot program to be implemented by the Department of Agriculture to study the growth, cultivation, and marketing of industrial hemp.

Update: SB 547 was approved by the House Rules Legislative Oversight Committee on 4/18 after holding an executive session. It was on the calendar to be considered by the full House on 4/23.

MO resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of hemp modifications

Iowa

Senate File 2398 would establish The Iowa Industrial Hemp Act. The bill would allow the Department of Agriculture to establish a research pilot program that engages in the licensed cultivation, production, and marketing of industrial hemp. SF 2398 was already unanimously approved by the Senate earlier this month.

Update: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee approved SF 2398 on 4/11.

IA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of industrial hemp research

California

Senate Bill 930 seeks to assist financial institutions to safely conduct transactions with licensed cannabis businesses.

Update: SB 930 was unanimously approved by the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee on 4/18 after a public hearing was held.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of banking access

That’s all for this week, check back next Friday for more legislative updates, and I wish everyone the happiest 4/20!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/04/20/weekly-legislative-roundup-4-20-18/

Weekly Legislative Roundup 4/20/18 is republished from https://gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/04/20/weekly-legislative-roundup-4-20-18/

Senate Leader Schumer Calls for Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana

Sen. Chuck Schumer on state marijuana legalization: “The experiment has been a success.” (Photo by Getty Images)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) thinks it’s time to federally decriminalize marijuana because “it’s the right thing to do—freedom.” The Senator’s surprising support for cannabis comes at a time when numerous bills in Congress would do just that.

But Schumer says he’ll be introducing his own legislation “to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level from one end of the country to the other. The legislation is long overdue… If smoking marijuana doesn’t hurt anyone else, why shouldn’t we allow people to do it and not make it criminal? Each state can decide on their own.”

Schumer explains that he too has “evolved” on this issue: “I studied the issue. We’ve now had some evidence. In Washington and other states, t’s done lots of good and no harm. Justice Brandeis said let the states be laboratories. Now’ve have had a few states, we’ve had a few laboratories. The experiment has been a success. Let’s nationalize it… Legalization is just fine… All the parade of horribles that people talked about didn’t occur. Crime did not spike in any place. There’s no evidence that young people are using drugs of any type more. The pathway issue hasn’t proven to be true. So it all makes sense. When you get evidence, you act on it.”

The Senator calls his thinking “practical – when so many people are incarcerated and not out there being productive citizens of society, that matters to the whole country… There are two paths here: One is decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level and there’s another path already being pursued in a bipartisan way by people like Sen. Booker and Sen. Durbin, which is criminal justice reform, which I also support. That’s a separate track dealing with people who’ve been unfairly punished… I’ve seen too many peoples’ lives ruined because they had small amounts of marijuana and served time in jail much too long. It effects communities of color disproportionately and unfairly.”

SCHUMER: “Legalization is just fine. Let’s nationalize it. It’s the right thing to do.”

NORML has given Schumer a B grade regarding his support for marijuana legislation (he co-sponsored the CARERS Act). Schumer had previously said he was waiting to see how legalization went in states like Colorado and Washington. “I’m a little cautious on this,” he commented, noting that he wanted to “see the outcomes before we make a decision.”

With Colorado raking in $500 million in taxes since 2015 and no discernible uptick in crime or underage use in the nine legal recreational states, Schumer has clearly concluded that now is the time to pursue federal legislation that would effectively legalize marijuana by de-scheduling and hence removing it from the Controlled Substances Act.

Related Articles

A 4/20 Message from Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Four Major Marijuana Bills on Capitol Hill

McConnell Introduces Hemp Legalization Bill

Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment Safe Until September

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