Giggles N Dimples

Friday, January 4, 2019

Weekly Legislative Roundup 1/4/19

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Weekly Legislative Roundup of 2019!

The new Congress was just sworn in yesterday, and they are not wasting any time. U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Don Young (R-AK) re-introduced the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act, which protects those engaged in state-lawful medical marijuana programs from federal prosecution. Separate provisions in the bill exclude cannabinodiol from the federal definition of marijuana, permit VA doctors to authorize medical cannabis access to qualified patients, and remove undue federal barriers to clinical trial research to better assess the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis.

At the state level, Alaska regulators have voted in favor of plans to permit on-site marijuana consumption at designated retailers. And lawmakers in Maryland are planning to establish a working group to explore marijuana legalization implementation, if and when voters approve a ballot initiative in 2020.

And at a more local level, Dayton, Ohio is considering a proposal to completely decriminalize marijuana and remove the $150 possession fine.

Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check NORML’s Action Center 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. Another great way to stay up to date is Marijuana Moment’s daily newsletter, which you can subscribe to HERE.

Your Highness,
Carly

Priority Alerts

Federal

Join the Caucus: With public support for reforming marijuana laws at an all time high, key Congressional allies have formed the first-ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus to develop and promote sensible cannabis policy reform and work to ease the tension between federal and state cannabis laws.

Click here to email your member of Congress and urge them to join the Cannabis Caucus

Pennsylvania

State Senators Daylin Leach (D) and Sharif Street (D), as well as Rep. Jake Wheatley (D), plan to file marijuana legalization bills in their respective chambers this legislative session.

The measures would regulate the use, possession, and retail sale of marijuana by adults.

PA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization

Vermont

Lawmakers will consider legislation this legislative session to establish a regulatory framework for the regulation of a commercial, adult use marijuana market.

VT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of regulation

New Hampshire

Pre-filed legislation seeks to allow for the use, possession, and retail sale of marijuana by adults.

The pending measure permits adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and/or up to five grams of concentrate, and to grow up to six marijuana plants. The bill would also establish a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee the regulated market.

NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization

Additional Actions to Take

Massachusetts

State Senator Jason Lewis announced plans to introduce legislation to protect responsible adult cannabis consumers from employment discrimination.

The measure would prohibit employers from arbitrarily discriminating against employees who legally consume marijuana off-the-job in accordance with state law.

MA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of consumer employment protections

New Hampshire

Legislation is pending, HB 350, to expand medical cannabis access.

The measure expands the pool of medical professionals who are eligible to recommend medical cannabis by permitting physician assistants to issue recommendations to their patients.

NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expanded medical access

Georgia

Lawmakers in Georgia will consider a proposal to expand and facilitate patients’ access to medical cannabidiol (CBD) products.

The pending legislation seeks to establish a regulatory framework to permit the retail sale of medical CBD products to registered patients.

GA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical CBD access

Virginia

Legislation is pending, HB 1839, to establish an industrial hemp program that is in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.

The measure expands and amends Virginia’s existing hemp law to conform it “to the provisions of the federal 2018 Farm Bill by amending the definitions of cannabidiol oil, marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to exclude industrial hemp that is grown, dealt, or processed in compliance with state or federal law.”

VA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of an industrial hemp program

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2019/01/04/weekly-legislative-roundup-1-4-19/

The blog article Weekly Legislative Roundup 1/4/19 was first published on Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/01/04/weekly-legislative-roundup-1-4-19/

Washington Governor Moves To Pardon Past Marijuana Offenders

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee today announced his intent to provide an expedited process in order to grant pardons to those with past criminal misdemeanor marijuana-related convictions on their record. It is estimated that some 3,500 individuals will have their criminal records vacated as a result of these actions.

“The Governor is to be commended for taking this proactive stance,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Thousands of citizens unduly carry the undue burden and stigmatization of a past conviction for behavior that is no longer considered to be a crime. Our sense of justice and our principles of fairness demand that officials move swiftly to right the past wrongs of cannabis prohibition and criminalization.”

Washington is one of ten states where adult marijuana use is legally regulated. Several additional states have decriminalized minor marijuana possession. In recent years, over a half dozen states have enacted legislation permitting for the expungement of past marijuana-related convictions, and in 2018 California began the process of automatically reviewing and repealing past convictions.

“Branding these individuals, many of whom are at an age when they are just beginning their professional careers, as lifelong criminals results in a litany of lost opportunities including the potential loss of employment, housing, voting rights, professional licensing, and student aid and serves no legitimate societal purpose,” Armentano said. “It makes no sense to continue to punish people for actions that are no longer considered to be criminal in nature.”

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2019/01/04/washington-governor-moves-to-pardon-past-marijuana-offenders/

The following article Washington Governor Moves To Pardon Past Marijuana Offenders was originally seen on gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/01/04/washington-governor-moves-to-pardon-past-marijuana-offenders/

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Review: AccuVape’s Dragon X Portable Vaporizer

For those who choose not to ignite cannabis, vaping is the way to go. While vape pens are best for oil (loaded into cartridges), portable models that fit neatly in your palm are often the best method to consume flower.

That’s where AccuVape’s Dragon X comes in. It truly is handy and compact. Larger than a Zippo lighter and smaller than a flask, its sleek black design and overall utility make for a great addition to any cannasseur’s collection.

After charging, lift the swivel top and load freshly ground flower into the bowl. Close it and turn the device on by holding the power button for two seconds. It will start as red and then turn blue. The convection heating has begun.

Dragon X from AccuVape costs $98.95

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. The four small lights on the side indicate power status as well as different temperatures. Click the power button two times to adjust the temps (they range between 344°F and 428°F). It’s best not to heat at the high end or you’ll have brown flower before your know it. The device will turn off automatically to save battery; however, it does get hot to the touch.

At the bottom of the vaporizer, there’s a neat little container to store ground bud in that easily pops out. The device also comes with several cleaning tools, additional screens and a small metal bowl to use with concentrates.

Retail price: $98.95

Shop here

AccuVape is a division of Freedom Leaf Inc.

The post Review: AccuVape’s Dragon X Portable Vaporizer appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/accuvape-dragon-x-vaporizer/

The blog post Review: AccuVape’s Dragon X Portable Vaporizer was initially published to gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/01/03/review-accuvapes-dragon-x-portable-vaporizer/

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Nevada NORML: A Year in Review

With a new year on the horizon, members of Nevada and Las Vegas NORML wanted to take time to shine light on 18 of our most memorable moments from 2018. (It was hard to choose just 18!)

January 2018: Protested Jeff Sessions

We certainly didn’t expect the opportunity to protest Jeff Sessions alongside Congresswoman Dina Titus and State Senators Aaron Ford & Tick Segerblom at the Apothecary Shoppe Dispensary with every news outlet present, but it happened! We loved the chance to stand up for the State of Nevada and to be able to show our community that we are a strong voice of the people!

February 2018: Dr. Dabber became a sponsor

Yeah, that freaking happened! It was such an honor to have a company like Dr. Dabber, that we all know and respect, believe in our work and sponsor us! Together, we were able to provide record sealing services and great education throughout Las Vegas. They were even cool enough to offer hella deals to NORML members!

January – March 2018: Partnering with Harrison House

Throughout the earlier part of 2018, we had the great pleasure of volunteering for Harrison House, which was the 1st African American Guest House in Las Vegas during a very segregated time. In learning about Las Vegas’ history from a perspective that isn’t often discussed, we got a firm grasp on how marijuana has undisputedly been a tool used for oppression. This only reaffirmed that social justice needs to be a priority when discussing marijuana policy in this community. We participated in gardening and yard clean up at Harrison House, held a Black History month panel together, and helped with a Mardi Gras neighborhood celebration.

April 2018: “Setting the Record Straight” Program

Instead of hosting a 420 bash this past April, we decided to focus on having community impact through restorative justice. Finding lawyers like Garrett Ogata and Nick Wooldridge to refer prior marijuana conviction victims to, was invaluable! We created a dope set of resources to give to people interested in sealing their record and held an educational seminar educating them on the steps. We will continue to provide education on record sealing in Nevada throughout 2019 and help clients find financial assistance to do so when qualified!

May 2018: Primary Voting Rally

The 2018 midterms were NO JOKE. This was our first year dabbling in the candidacy aspects of things, but quickly learned the value of being an educated voter and focusing on primary elections. We held a press conference with our National NORML Political Director, Justin Strekal, a voter registration event at 7th & Carson in downtown Las Vegas, and even did phone banking to encourage voting in primaries all throughout May. It was amazing to see an increase in younger voters registering!

June 2018: Collected 79 Candidate Surveys from across Nevada

Nobody said it was going to be easy, and it definitely wasn’t, but it was really rewarding showing voters statewide how candidates felt on specific marijuana related issues. Because of the hard work from National NORML, we helped produce the Smoke the Vote platform for voters to refer to, and the feedback we got was incredible!

July 2018: Social Use Venue Advocacy

The City of Las Vegas began drafting ordinances for social consumption this year, and we were proud to show up and voice our concerns on the record. Although it has still not been remedied, Las Vegas NORML members advocated strongly against 24 hr surveillance fed directly to law enforcement and raised concerns about mixing cannabis with alcohol. This will continue to be an area we advocate for throughout 2019 because of the intersectionality with criminal justice reforms and consumer protections. We hope that with the introduction of social lounges, tourists and residents will both have legal places to consume!

July 2018: Lobby Day in DC

Each year, NORML activists from around the nation gather in D.C. to engage their lawmakers in marijuana policy reform. We are proud of the relationships we developed with Congress throughout this time and are confident that we can achieve great things together! D.C. can be an intimidating place, but we are loving the chance to navigate it again in 2019.

August 2018: Public Meetings at Acres

Earlier this year, Acres Cannabis Dispensary was kind enough to offer their space in the Underground to Las Vegas NORML and our members! Every first Wednesday of the month, we host a free educational meeting that is open to adults 21 or older. A huge part of our mission includes providing education to the community, so having this valuable space has been a huge blessing!

September 2018: Election Education & Voter Reinstatement

This past election cycle, we focused really hard on not only educating the community, but our board too. We worked really closely with Aaron from Restore Your Vote to learn more about how those with a criminal history can reinstate their right to vote. It’s a very common misconception that if you had a past marijuana conviction, you are ineligible to vote in Nevada, but we found out this is not solely the case. We are truly passionate about being a voice for those who have lost hope and love being able to provide resources to help educate them.

October 2018: Hung with Keith Stroup & National NORML

It’s not everyday that the founder of NORML is in your hometown! It was an absolutely memorable experience to have Keith here to help us host a voter rally at the World Famous ‘Cannabition’ Cannabis Museum in downtown Vegas! We even had the pleasure of meeting several other members of the National NORML board, too. We consider it a great privilege that we were able to show them our city and more of our work on a local level!

October 2018: Pumpkin Bongs at Cheba Hut

Our cool friends over at Cheba Hut Toasted Subs let us throw down some pumpkin carving for our October Informal with NORML, and we ran with it! Who doesn’t make bongs and steamrollers out of fall vegetables?!

November 2018: Jeff Sessions is OUT and Cannabis friendly legislators are IN!

What a relief that Sessions’ is finally gone and we can start to progress Marijuana policy at the federal level. Cannabis friendly Governors and Commissioners are taking over Nevada and the West in general. We have a lot of conversations to have with new office holders, but it’s never been easier now that 66% of Americans support legalizing marijuana!

November 2018: Herban Expo

Las Vegas NORML was the education sponsor for the inaugural Herban Expo at the Rio and coordinated over 25 educational presentations and panels over the course of 3 days! It was really impressive to see how much our community came out to listen to the speakers and the engagement it created. Herban Expo will 100% be back in 2019!

November 2018: 600 letters to Congress

Yep, you read that right…We collected 600 physical letters to members of Congress with the help of Denver NORML in just one weekend in Las Vegas! We set a goal, and people like you helped us reach it by making a small effort to tell Congress that marijuana reform is important!

December 2018: “Access for All” Patient Voucher Program

It’s been truly challenging for us to figure out a way to help patients in the state of Nevada because of regulation often making it impossible to provide medicine to those who need it. We are so eternally grateful that we have finally found local businesses like Sweet Cannabis and The Source to help distribute cannabis to patients who qualify. We look forward to building this program out even more in 2019! Visit lvnorml.org/patients for more info

And some year-long focuses we are especially proud of:

Progression and development of media

We were really fortunate to gain really talented media pros and graphic designers as volunteers this year to help us develop more interesting content. Hella props to friends like Rev from Rocester NORML and Mrs. Rex 420 here in Vegas for helping us design digital content this year! Weed TV, Vegas Cannabis Magazine and Kool Katz Media were also incredible blessings that have helped us astronomically with other media exposure this year!

Growing our squad

Grassroots activists are hard to come by these days, but it’s been clear that the 2018 Las Vegas NORML crew is no force to reckon with! The newly organized board, expert advisors, team of awesome volunteers & sponsors have been quickly gaining traction in the community and everyone is having a blast doing it! Las Vegas NORML volunteers are a diverse and passionate group of individuals that have worked tirelessly this past year to develop a positive reputation throughout the community. It is because of community members and new activists involvement that the organization continues to strengthen and grow!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2019/01/02/nevada-norml-a-year-in-review/

The following post Nevada NORML: A Year in Review See more on: The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/01/02/nevada-norml-a-year-in-review/

Hawaiians Hoping to Legalize Recreational Cannabis in 2019

Maui Wowie strain (photo courtesy of The Clinic)

Hawaii’s place in the cannabis pantheon is legendary. Anyone 50 or older who was privileged enough to smoke the island’s famous kine or pakalolo at their peak often still describes it as amongst the best herb they’ve ever smoked.

During the late ’70s, High Times routinely listed strains such as the infamous Maui Wowie, Puna Budder and Kauai Electric Blue for more $2,000 a pound at the same time commercial Mexican or Colombian was fetching just $300. There were four reasons for this: seeds, climate, passion and gardening acumen. Hippies traveling the hashish trail brought many varieties of Middle Eastern, Indian and Nepali cannabis seeds to the Hawaiian islands.

Returning Vietnam vets, many of whom had first been exposed to cannabis in Southeast Asia, increasingly settled in Hawaii. Along with seeds of the fabled Laotian Red and Chocolate Thai, the vets brought an understanding of jungle survival courtesy of Uncle Sam. The hippies, for their part, provided access to worldwide markets.

By the late ’70s, Hawaiian marijuana enjoyed its rightful place in the sun. The hippest dealers in New York and Los Angeles received $500 an ounce for precious Hawaiian flower. One OG grower, Papaya John, cleared $8,000 a pound for his prized product in the mid-’80s.

Hippies traveling the hashish trail brought many varieties of Middle Eastern, Indian and Nepali cannabis seeds to the Hawaiian islands.

These days, the Hawaiian cannabis scene is undergoing a renaissance. Hawaii was the first state to enact a medical marijuana law via the legislature in 2000. Following passage, it took 17 years to open a dispensary on the islands. Only cannabis cultivated indoors may be sold and all operations must produce their own supply. As a result of this narrow and restrictive model, a robust movement to pass a recreational cannabis law is gathering steam.

The Maui Cannabis Guild was formed to act as an umbrella group for the various stakeholders in the scene. Originally founded as the Hawaii Cannabis Guild by Will Grinnell and other farmers, it has been reconstituted to be more Maui-centric.

“We decided to form a smaller group, with fewer voices so we could concentrate more on getting good legislation passed and not miss the opportunities to create a robust industry that supplies jobs,” Grinnell tells Freedom Leaf. The main purpose of the Guild is to get state legislation passed for recreational cannabis, which is supported by several current and former Maui representatives. The next legislative session begins this month and the Guild has plans to go to the statehouse in Honolulu to talk with lawmakers.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

In Congress, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has sponsored the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act.

While the Maui Cannabis Guild focuses on Maui specifically, the Maui Cannabis Conference on January 5-6 at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Lahaina is casting a wider net. According to event producer Mary Bailey, the goal of the conference is to update attendees on the current legal climate in Hawaii, discuss the myriad health benefits of cannabis and focus on marketing, branding, investing and crypto currencies. In its second year, Bailey is hoping it becomes “one of the go to cannabis conferences,” she says. “I mean, it’s Maui!”

Editor’s note: The author of this article is scheduled to be a panelist at the conference. Tickets can be purchased here.

More Events

1st Quarter 2018 Events Calendar

NORML Chapter Newsletter

Everyday NORML Chapters from around the country invest countless hours in advocating for meaningful marijuana law reforms on the local, state and federal level! Below is a brief rundown of some of their most recent accomplishments.

NORML Chapters are Organized and Energized for State Legislative Sessions in 2019

“That’s why dozens of NORML chapters are organizing citizen lobby days to advocate for the end of marijuana prohibition and other reforms ranging from depenalization and expungement, to workplace drug testing and social consumption.”

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Freedom Leaf’s First-Quarter 2018 Events Calendar

January

5-6: Maui Cannabis Conference, Royal Lahaina Resort, Lahaina, Maui, HI

10: CannaGather CT, Shish Kebab House, West Hartford, CT

10: Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference & Expo, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC

11: Colorado Winter Hemp Summit, Block One Events, Fort Collins, CO

12: Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN; featuring Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Stapleton, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Lukas Nelson & many more