The STATES Act Reintroduced: Bipartisan Measure Limits Federal Government’s Ability To Interfere With State-Sanctioned Marijuana Business, Policies

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), have reintroduced The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act of 2019. This Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to reduce the number of instances in which federal law enforcement agencies could carry out legal actions against state-licensed cannabis businesses or other related enterprises.

“The majority of states now regulate either the medical use or the adult use of marijuana. It is time for the federal government to cease standing in the way of these voter-backed regulatory policies being implemented throughout the country,” said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. “Ultimately, however, we must remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act entirely in order to allow those in legal states to ultimately be free from undue federal discrimination and the fear of federal prosecution.”

Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said: “Forty-seven states have legalized some form of cannabis and the majority of Americans support its legalization. Our outdated laws have ruined lives, devastated communities, and wasted resources for critical medical treatment and research. The STATES Act is the next logical step in a comprehensive blueprint for more rational federal cannabis policy. It’s time for Congress to catch up with the rest of America are and fix a badly broken system.”

Said Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH): “The current federal policy interferes with the ability of states to implement their own cannabis laws, and the resulting system has stifled important medical research, hurt legitimate businesses and diverted critical law enforcement resources needed elsewhere. It’s past time for Congress to clarify cannabis policy on the federal level and ensure states are free to make their own decisions in the best interest of their constituents. The STATES Act does just that by respecting the will of the states that have legalized cannabis in some form and allowing them to implement their own policies without fear of repercussion from the federal government.”

The STATES Act joins multiple bills have been filed to amend the Controlled Substances Act to restrict federal enforcement actions against state-legal marijuana businesses.

They include:

HR 493: The Sensible Enforcement Of Cannabis Act, introduced by Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA).

HR 1455: The REFER Act (Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement & Regulations of Cannabis Act), introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA).

HR 2012: The Respect States’ and Citizens’ Rights Act, introduced by Congresswoman Diane DeGette (D-CO).

Supporters of cannabis reform can contact their lawmakers regarding these bills via the NORML Action Center HERE.

 

General information regarding cannabis reform:

According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, police made 659,700 arrests for marijuana-related violations in 2017. That total is more than 21 percent higher than the total number of persons arrests for the commission of violent crimes (518,617) in 2017. Of those arrested for marijuana crimes, just under 91 percent (599,000) were arrested for marijuana possession offenses, a slight increase over last year’s annual totals. Total marijuana arrests in 2017 increased for the second straight year, after having fallen for nearly a decade.

Thirty-three states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico have enacted legislation specific to the physician-authorized use of cannabis. Moreover, an estimated 73 million Americans now reside in the ten states where anyone over the age of 21 may possess cannabis legally. An additional fifteen states have passed laws specific to the possession of cannabidiol (CBD) oil for therapeutic purposes.

Sixty-eight percent of registered voters “support the legalization of marijuana,” according to 2018 national polling data compiled by the Center for American Progress. The percentage is the highest level of support for legalization ever reported in a nationwide, scientific poll.

Majorities of Democrats (77 percent), Independents (62 percent), and Republicans (57 percent) back legalization. The results of a 2017 nationwide Gallup poll similarly found majority support among all three groups.

To date, these statewide regulatory programs are operating largely as voters and politicians intended. The enactment of these policies have not negatively impacted workplace safety, crime rates, traffic safety, or youth use patterns. They have stimulated economic development and created hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue.

Specifically, a 2019 report estimates that over 211,000 Americans are now working full-time in the cannabis industry. Tax revenues from states like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington now exceed initial projections. Further, numerous studies have identified an association between cannabis access and lower rates of opioid use, abuse, hospitalizations, and mortality.

Source: https://blog.norml.org/2019/04/04/the-states-act-reintroduced-bipartisan-measure-limits-federal-governments-ability-to-interfere-with-state-sanctioned-marijuana-business-policies/

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Financial Forecast 2019: Can Cannabis Save the Beer Industry?

No one on Wall Street knows the burgeoning cannabis industry better than Vivien Azer, the managing director for consumer beverages, cannabis and tobacco at investment house Cowan and Company.

She often asks beer company CEOs about legal cannabis taking market share away from the most popular alcoholic beverage in America in states where pot is legal. Routinely, the executives dismiss any challenge from marijuana with the argument that people already get as much cannabis as they want on the black market, so any switch over to legal weed isn’t going to dent beer sales.

During a January 8 conference call, Azer said 2018 was the “worst year for beer sales in the near decade we’ve been covering the alcohol industry and we continue to believe that growing cannabis use is a factor.”

It’s all about re-engagement, a big trend for the current year and beyond. It goes like this: Once cannabis is legal, more people who may have dabbled with it in college or whenever will return to the green herb and hence drink less beer.

Cowen and Company Reports Decline in Beer Sales

Cowen’s latest consumer survey shows that people who used pot in the past month climbed to 39% at the start of 2019 compared to 30% in September 2016. It also indicates that a large portion of consumers across all alcohol types report either already drinking less beer (60%) or anticipating to do so (70%).

This and other data prompted Azer to hike her U.S. cannabis sales forecast by $5 billion to $80 billion by 2030, up from her earlier estimate of $75 billion. It’s one of many enthusiastic outlooks for the current year as the legal cannabis business continues its quick growth as a mainstream product.

Cowen and Company’s Vivien Azer

With recreational and/or medical markets coming online in Massachusetts, Ohio, Maine, North Dakota, Florida and possibly New York and New Jersey, Azer expects more substitution in place of all types of alcohol. “We’re increasingly cautious on beer,” she added.

The analyst ranks Canadian cannabis producers Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) and Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) and U.S. container maker KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTC: KSHB) as strong buys, but is much less bullish about Anheuser Busch Inbev and Molson Coors Brewing Co.

“For Canopy and Tilray, we should finally start to see the true benefits of adult-use sales, and the lapping of upfront investments made in calendar 2018 to scale up ahead of adult use,” Azer noted. “For Kush, we expect a fifth consecutive year of triple-digit growth as the company benefits from continued strong growth in California and Nevada, in addition to the new market opportunity in Massachusetts.”

Beer Makers Are Fighting Back with Canna Beverages

A rash of new joint ventures announced last year between big brewers and cannabis companies should make 2019 the year of the canna-beverage. Heineken’s Lagunitas and AbsoluteXTracts have already teamed up in California to create their non-alcohol canna-IPA Hi-Fi Hops.

Similar products are expected from Molson and Hexo Corp. (OTC: HYYDF), Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) and Canopy Growth, and Anheuser-Busch and Tilray. All three Canadian companies made deals with alcohol conglomerates in 2018. The largest was Constellation Brand’s $4 billion buy-in to Canopy Growth. Another hot 2018 rumor was Coca-Cola negotiating with Aurora Cannabis (NYCE: ACB), but that seemed to fizzle.

Asked if she thinks other Big Alcohol players like spirits maker Diageo will enter the cannabis space, Azar remarked tersely, “I’d expect all the large global alcohol companies are paying attention.”

Thanks to passage of the U.S. Farm Bill, hemp and CBD products will keep ascending in wellness, beauty and food categories. Major retailers like CVS and Walgreen’s recently announced they will begin stocking their shelves with CBD creams and tinctures. Cowen & Co. projects the category could become a $1.6 billion business over the next few years.

Watch Out for Big Pharma and Tobacco

Outside of food, beverages and cosmetics, cannabis will keep impacting other industries like pharma and tobacco. This year may see some action from Altria Group Inc. on its $1.8 billion stake in Canadian producer Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) that the maker of Marlboro cigarettes announced last year. Another tobacco manufacturer, Alliance One International, should see its 80% stake in the Goldleaf Pharm grow facility in Canada start to bear fruit.

Congressional legislation like the STATES Act would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, essentially legalizing it, while other bills deal with nagging issues like banking and tax equity.

Matt Karnes of GreenWave Advisors predicts $12.7 billion in overall retail sales in 2019—up from about $9.3 billion in 2018—and says prepare to see more mergers in Canada and the U.S. “The bar will be raised in terms of talent pool as employees from more mainstream companies enter the sector,” he tells Freedom Leaf.

VIVIEN AZAR: “There are institutional investors that won’t touch cannabis, even in areas where it’s legal. But there are some that have gotten comfortable with investing in compliant cannabis businesses.”

Joe Lusardi, CEO of Curaleaf (OTC: CURLF), the Massachusetts-based dispensary operator, thinks 2019 “is going to be the biggest year ever for legalization” because of the boost from Massachusetts and Michigan, in addition to activity underway in other states. Curaleaf currently operates 34 retail outlets, including one in Belmawr, NJ, which the company hypes as the biggest pot purveyor on the East Coast. They’re hoping to double the number of stores and expand to 10 states by the end of 2019.

Brad Nattrass, CEO of Colorado-based Urban-Gro, an agricultural technology firm, thinks large corporations will invest millions in cannabis cultivation operations, but reminds in an email that “many cultivations in 2018 were not as profitable as was projected. There’s cautiousness in the market now with some growers and investors waiting to see how the market shakes out before pursuing new opportunities.”

To be sure, plenty of obstacles remain. California’s cannabis business has yet to fully transition from the black-market economy. Profit margins may shrink in agricultural production because of competition, forcing operators to build for scale to compete.

Institutional Investors Remain Cautious About Cannabis

Capital is also a constraint because of the Schedule I classification of marijuana under federal law. This keeps banks, for the most part, from raising capital from investors and lending.

While solutions to some of these challenges may be years away, they persist in shaping the new cannabis landscape. At the same time, the more immediate focus is on fueling growth and deal-making at an accelerated pace.

“Last year was the year of the large multi-state operator for investors,” says Beth Stavola, president of operations at MPX Bioceutical Corp. (OTC: MPXEF), an Ontario-based company known for its Melting Point Extracts brand. “With more big industries entering the space, it will be interesting to see which operators will find homes in the beverage, pharma and tobacco industries or be acquired.”

Canna-stocks will remain volatile until the sector trades more on its fundamentals, like revenue and net income, and less on speculation about future growth. Many big institutional investors that have capital to spend may stay away, at least until federal law prohibiting marijuana changes.

“I do know there are institutional investors that, until they feel better about U.S. status, won’t touch cannabis, even in areas where it’s legal,” Azer asserts. “But there are some that have gotten comfortable with investing in compliant cannabis businesses.”

Despite these and other headwinds, expect optimism to pervade in cannabis in 2019.

Related Financial Articles

The Cannabis Industry’s Top 20 Pot Stocks

Tilray Makes Deals with Novartis and Anheuser-Busch

Altria Group Makes Major Move into Canadian Cannabis Market

This article appears in Issue 35. Subscribe to the magazine here.

 

The post Financial Forecast 2019: Can Cannabis Save the Beer Industry? appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/beer-cannabis-beverages-financial-forecast-2019/

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Lobbying in D.C. with Americans for Safe Access at the 2019 Unity Conference

The Americans for Safe Access 2019 Unity Conference, themed The Price of Being a Medical Cannabis Patient, featured over a hundred patients from all over America visiting their representatives in Congress and the Senate to promote the Medical Cannabis Control Act of 2019.

There are numerous legislative proposals in the current 116th Congress that seek to deschedule or reschedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, but what happens after that? At least five federal agencies currently have juristiction when it comes to cannabis policy; The DOJ, the DEA, the FDA, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and, the Department of Health and Human Services. What is going to happen when cannabis policy changes occur at the federal level? Which agency will have authority over medical cannabis policy? Will they all continue to play a role, as they have in the past?

Source: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/lobbying_in_d_c_with_americans_for_safe_access_at_the_2019_unity_conference

Lobbying in D.C. with Americans for Safe Access at the 2019 Unity Conference is republished from The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/04/02/lobbying-in-d-c-with-americans-for-safe-access-at-the-2019-unity-conference/

NORML’s 2020 Democratic Primary Marijuana Straw Poll

The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary is already heating up and we wanted to reach out to our supporters to take an early straw poll of who they think voters who prioritize marijuana law reform should support in that primary. We will be taking many more in-depth looks at the 2020 race as it progresses, including potential primary challengers on the Republican side, but first we wanted to provide an overview of all the currently announced Democratic candidates, along with their record and policy statements when it comes to marijuana legalization. Please review the information below and then cast a vote in our 2020 Democratic Primary Straw Poll!

The Senators

Amy Klobuchar

Current Office: Senator from Minnesota
2018 NORML Congressional Scorecard Grade: B
Co-Sponsored Legislation: STATES Act (2017-2018)

Summary: During her tenure in Congress, Senator Klobuchar did not sponsor her own marijuana law reform legislation and did not seem to make changing marijuana laws a priority. Senator Klobuchar did sponsor both the STATES Act and the MEDS Act in the last Congress, but has yet to sponsor any legislation that would deschedule marijuana at the federal level. She remained generally opposed to legalization, while supporting states having the right to reform their own policies, until she clarified her stance as being in support of it after announcing her 2020 presidential campaign.

Quote: “I support the legalization of marijuana and believe that states should have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders.” – 02/22/19

Bernie Sanders

Current Office: Senator from Vermont
2018 NORML Congressional Scorecard Grade: A+
Sponsored Legislation: Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (2015-2016)
Co-Sponsored Legislation: Marijuana Justice Act of 2017 (2017-2020), Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act (2017-2018)

Summary: Senator Sanders has a long history of supporting reforming our nation’s drug policy. While serving as mayor of Burlington, Vermont in the 1980’s, he called for decriminalizing drug possession and treating substance abuse as a public health issue. When elected to Congress in the 1990s, he co-sponsored legislation that would have allowed for access to medical marijuana. In recent years, he has campaigned heavily on ending federal prohibition and expunging past marijuana convictions while campaigning for president in both 2016 and 2020. Senator Sanders was also the lead sponsor on the Senate version of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act in 2015 and is a co-sponsor of numerous marijuana-related bills including the Marijuana Justice Act. NORML endorsed his campaign for re-election to the Senate in 2018.

Quote: “Prohibition doesn’t work. Studies show over half of Americans smoke marijuana. It is insane to be arresting some 600,000 people a year for using marijuana. States are moving forward on decriminalization and legalization. The time is now to say that we are not going to punish people for smoking marijuana, states want to go forward and legalize it. That is their right…The issue that really hits me here, is you have thousands and thousands of people whose lives are wrecked for possession of marijuana.” – All In With Chris Hayes, 04/20/18

Cory Booker

Current Office: Senator from New Jersey
2018 NORML Congressional Scorecard Grade: A+
Sponsored Legislation: Marijuana Justice Act of 2017 (2017-2020)
Co-Sponsored Legislation: STATES Act (2017-2018)

Summary: Senator Booker has prioritized marijuana law reform since his time serving as mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He has made ending federal prohibition a central plank in his current presidential campaign and has prioritized the issue during his Senate career, serving as lead sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act and the CARERS Act. NORML endorsed his campaign for New Jersey’s Senate seat in 2010.

Quote: “Descheduling marijuana and applying that change retroactively to people currently serving time for marijuana offenses is a necessary step in correcting this unjust system. States have so far led the way in reforming our criminal justice system and it’s about time the federal government catches up and begins to assert leadership.” – Announcing the introduction of the Marijuana Justice Act of 2017, 08/01/2017

Elizabeth Warren

Current Office: Senator from Massachusetts
2018 NORML Congressional Scorecard Grade: A
Sponsored Legislation: STATES Act (2017-2018)
Co-Sponsored Legislation: Marijuana Justice Act of 2019 (2017-2020), Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act (2017-2018)

Summary: Earlier in her career, Senator Warren was cautious on issues surrounding cannabis descheduling and legalization. In recent years, she has embraced the issue and is one of the lead sponsors of the STATES Act, that would create an exemption from federal incursion for states that have legalized marijuana for adult or medical use, and is a co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act. She has highlighted issues of the inequities caused by marijuana prohibition while on the trail for her 2020 presidential campaign. NORML endorsed her campaign for re-election to the Senate in 2018.

Quote: “Outdated federal marijuana laws have perpetuated our broken criminal justice system, created barriers to research, and hindered economic development. States like Massachusetts have put a lot of work into implementing common sense marijuana regulations – and they have the right to enforce their own marijuana policies. The federal government needs to get out of the business of outlawing marijuana.” – Press Release Announcing the STATES Act of 2017, 06/07/18

Kamala Harris

Current Office: Senator from California
2018 NORML Congressional Scorecard Grade: A
Co-Sponsored Legislation: Marijuana Justice Act (2017-2020)

Summary: Kamala Harris has a complicated history with marijuana law reform. While serving as district attorney in San Francisco and as US Attorney in California, she enforced laws that saw many go to jail for marijuana offenses and oversaw a period where raids on medical marijuana dispensaries spiked. During her campaign for District Attorney in 2016, she laughed off the question when asked about support for legalization. However, she began to embrace legalization more around 2016 and upon entering the 2020 presidential race, she has become a more vocal advocate and often discusses legalization as a criminal justice reform issue. She said she believes marijuana is a thing that “brings people joy” and supports ending federal prohibition to combat mass incarceration. She was an initial co-sponsor on the Marijuana Justice Act of 2019.

Quote: “We need to legalize marijuana and regulate it. And we need to expunge nonviolent marijuana-related offenses from the records of the millions of people who have been arrested and incarcerated so they can get on with their lives.” Sen. Harris wrote in her book The Truths We Hold.

Kirsten Gillibrand

Current Office: Senator from New York
NORML 2018 Congressional Scorecard Grade: A
Co-Sponsored Legislation: Marijuana Justice Act (2017-2020)
Summary: Kirsten Gillibrand did not initially support legalization when serving in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, she became a vocal supporter and signed on as a co-sponsor of numerous pieces of marijuana related legislation. On the campaign trail she has often spoken vigorously against our failed war on drugs and the harms caused by marijuana prohibition. She was an initial co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act of 2019. NORML endorsed her reelection to the Senate in 2018.

Quote: “Millions of Americans’ lives have been devastated because of our broken marijuana policies, especially in communities of color and low-income communities. Just one minor possession conviction could take away a lifetime of opportunities for jobs, education, and housing, tear families apart, and make people more vulnerable to serving time in jail or prison down the road. The reality that my 14-year-old son would likely be treated very differently from one of his Black or Latino peers if he was caught with marijuana is shameful. Legalizing marijuana is a social justice issue and a moral issue that Congress needs to address, and I’m proud to work with Senator Booker on this legislation to help fix decades of injustice caused by our nation’s failed drug policies.” in a press release on 2/14/2018

The Representatives

Tulsi Gabbard

Current Office: Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District
NORML 2018 Congressional Scorecard Grade: A+
Sponsored Legislation: Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (2017-2020)
Co-Sponsored Legislation: The RESPECT Resolution (2017-2020), Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 (2017-2020), Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act (2017-2018), Marijuana Justice Act (2017-2020)

Summary: Tulsi Gabbard has largely been a vocal supporter of ending federal marijuana prohibition for her full tenure in the House of Representatives. She has twice been the lead sponsor of the End Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act and continues to discuss the need for reform while campaigning. This has been a major part of her political platform, in addition to serving as the lead sponsor on End Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, she is a co-sponsor on numerous other pieces of marijuana-related legislation. NORML endorsed her campaign for re-election to the House of Representatives in 2018.

Quote: “We must pass The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act to ensure that marijuana consumers and state-licensed marijuana businesses are protected from undue federal interference. It will help reduce the strain on our criminal justice system, amend federal law to agree with cannabis’ changing cultural status, recognize the plant’s therapeutic benefits, and reduce contradictions and confusion between federal and state marijuana laws.” in a message to NORML supporters on 03/07/2019

Beto O’Rourke

Current Office: None
Previous Office: Representative for Texas’ 16th Congressional District
NORML 2018 Congressional Scorecard Grade: A
Sponsored Legislation: The Better Drive Act (2017-2018)
Co-Sponsored Legislation: The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (2017-2018)

Summary: Beto O’Rourke has been a long-time supporter of abolishing the federal prohibition on marijuana since the start of his political career as a city council member in El Paso. While serving in the US House of Representatives, he co-sponsored several bills including; The Veterans Equal Access Act, The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act, The CARERS Act, and The Industrial Hemp Farming Act. In his bid for President, he has called for ending the federal prohibition of cannabis and creating a legal, regulated market. He also supports expunging criminal records of those already convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses. NORML endorsed his reelection campaign to the House of Representatives in 2014 and his campaign for Senate in 2018.

Quote: “We should end the federal prohibition on marijuana and expunge the records of those who were locked away for possessing it, ensuring that they can get work, finish their education, contribute to the greatness of this country,” O’Rourke wrote in an email to his supporters. March 2019

John Delaney

Current Office: None
Previous Office: Representative for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District
NORML 2016 Congressional Scorecard Grade: B
Co-Sponsored Legislation: N/A

Summary: John Delaney does not have a long record of supporting marijuana law reform. When he served in the House, he did co-sponsor a very limited medical marijuana access bill and a piece of legislation that would give marijuana businesses the ability to utilize financial services.

The Governors

Jay Inslee

Current Office: Governor of Washington State
NORML 2018 Gubernatorial Scorecard Grade: A+

Enacted Legislation: In January 2019, Gov. Inslee announced his intent to provide an expedited process for granting clemency to those with past marijuana-related convictions. Under the proposed plan, those convicted of a marijuana misdemeanor after January 1, 1998, will have their record vacated. It is estimated that 3,500 individuals will be eligible for expungement. (1/4/19), SB 5131: Amends the state’s medical cannabis law so that qualified medical marijuana patients and designated providers can purchase immature plants, clones, or seeds from a licensed producer. (2017), House Bill 2064: Amends state law so that industrial hemp is no longer classified as a controlled substance under the state’s uniform controlled substances act. (2017). SB 6206: Authorizes “the growing of industrial hemp as a legal agricultural activity” in accordance with federal legislation permitting such activity as part of a state-authorized program. (2016), HB 1276: Defines any consumption of marijuana while in a moving vehicle as a traffic violation. The statute further requires that any cannabis possessed in a moving vehicle must be located in a sealed container in either the trunk, glove compartment, or some other area that is inaccessible to the driver or passengers. (2015), SB 5052: Imposed the establishment of a voluntary registration system for qualified patients, reduced the number of plants that patients may legally cultivate and possess, and imposed new regulations of physicians who authorize medical cannabis. (2015)

Summary: Under the leadership of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington state has acted as a progressive beacon for the rest of the nation in many important areas, including marijuana policy. Washington state historically became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, less than a year before Governor Inslee took office. Although his support for legalization was uncertain prior to the passing Initiative 502 in the 2012 general ballot, he has since vehemently protected his state’s program, defending it against the threat of federal interference. Inslee has assured voters that he will support legalization efforts as president, voicing his belief that it’s time the United States legalizes marijuana federally.

Quotes: “Our federal marijuana laws are broken—and we need to ensure this Justice Department does not interfere with Washington state’s thriving, well-regulated marijuana market.” 6/8/2018

John Hickenlooper

Current Office: None
Previous Office: Governor of Colorado
NORML 2016 Gubernatorial Scorecard Grade: B-

Enacted Legislation: House Bill 1267: Permits qualified patients to access medical marijuana while on probation or parole. Colorado is one of the first states to permit medical marijuana use to parolees by statute. (2015), House Bill 1373: Permits qualified patients access to medical cannabis formulations while on school grounds. (2016)

Summary: Governor John Hickenlooper has displayed lukewarm support for progressive marijuana policies and has often left voters unsure of his exact stance on cannabis-related issues. He demonstrated outspoken opposition to his state’s decision to legalize in 2014, citing that it would inspire people “to do more of what is not a healthy thing.” Hickenlooper has since admitted that his fears have not materialized. Although he still does not endorse legalization, he believes in a federal reclassification of cannabis and has voiced support for federal banking reforms.

Quote: “I would not ask the federal government to legalize it for everyone, but I think that in states that do legalize marijuana, with the voters or through their general assembly, the federal government should get out of the way, and allow them to be able to get banking… allow them to look at systems by which you can have this experiment go on successfully.” 3/20/2019

New Contenders

Julian Castro

Current Office: None
Former Office: Secretary of HUD, Mayor of San Antonio

Summary: Julian Castro has come out in support of legalization during his campaign for president. He has not held legislative office, so there is no record available for bill sponsorship or votes. While serving as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama he issued a memo reiterating the ban on marijuana in public housing.

Quote: “The White House may crack down on recreational marijuana use–even in states where voters have approved it. That’s a mistake. The federal government should focus its resources on more serious crimes. Not only that, growing evidence from Colorado and other states suggests we can sensibly legalize marijuana use with reasonable controls in place. State voters should have that power.” 02/26/17

Andrew Yang

Current Office: None
Employment: Former Tech Executive, Nonprofit Founder

Summary: Yang supports ending federal marijuana prohibition and moving towards legalization – in addition to calling for the expungement of those with existing criminal records. While he supports legalization, he also believes that there should be limits on advertising and THC levels.

Quote: “I don’t love marijuana. I’d rather people not use it heavily. But it’s vastly safer than people becoming addicted to opiates like heroin. And our criminalization of it seems stupid and racist, particularly now that it’s legal in some states. We should proceed with full legalization of marijuana and pardon those in jail for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. It’s a safer, less addictive means to manage pain for many Americans.” – Yang2020.com

Pete Buttigeig

Current Office: Mayor of South Bend, Indiana

Summary: Mayor Buttigeig has talked about cannabis reform significantly less than his 2020 competitors. He has never signed legislation directly related to marijuana, and his home state of Indiana lacks even a comprehensive medical program. However, he has voiced strong opposition to the incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders and has related his own experience with a police officer who caught him with a joint while he was in college. While Buttigieg wouldn’t obstruct efforts to change federal cannabis laws, it would likely not be a priority of his administration.

Quote: “The safe, regulated, and legal sale of marijuana is an idea whose time has come for the United States, as evidenced by voters demanding legalization in states across the country.” 2/26/2019

Source: https://blog.norml.org/2019/04/02/normls-2020-democratic-primary-marijuana-straw-poll/

The blog post NORML’s 2020 Democratic Primary Marijuana Straw Poll See more on: Giggles N Dimples

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/04/02/normls-2020-democratic-primary-marijuana-straw-poll/

Freedom Leaf’s 2nd-Quarter 2019 Events Schedule

April

3/31-4/2 ICBC Berlin, Germany
4/1-2 Cannatech Tel Aviv, Israel
4/1-3 Cannabis Conference, Las Vegas, NV
4/4 Women Grow NYC, NY
4/4 Women Grow Philadelphia, PA
4/4-7 The Cannabis Expo, Capetown, South Africa
4/5 Women Grow Washington, DC
4/5-7 Hash Bash Cup, Ann Arbor, MI
4/6 48th Hash Bash, Ann Arbor, MI
4/6 More Than Just Green: The Color of Cannabis, Philadelphia, PA
4/8-10 Cannabis Science Conference East, Baltimore, MD
4/9 The Revel: Cannabis & Licensing, New York, NY
4/10 NJCBA: Beyond Cannabis 101, Rahway, NJ
4/10 Tom Tom Festival: The Future of Cannabis, Charlottesville, VA
4/11 Women Grow Phoenix, AZ
4/11 Women Grow Las Vegas, NV
4/11-13 Patients Out of Time: 13th Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, Tampa. FL
4/14 Cannamaste: A Canna-Spirituality Gathering, Oakland, CA
4/17 Cannabis Dealmakers Summit, San Diego, CA
4/17-18 Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, Toronto, ON
4/18-19 CannaCon, Oklahoma City, OK
4/18-20 420 Music & Arts Festival Calgary, AB
4/18-21 Freedom to Grow Conference, Dallas, TX
4/18-23 Baked on the Beach, Negril, Jamaica
4/19-21 Sweetwater 420 Fest, Atlanta, GA
4/20 National Cannabis Festival, Washington, DC
4/20 Kaya Fest, Bayfront Park, Miami
4/20 Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival, Scranton, PA
4/20 Mile High 420 Festival Denver, CO
4/20 420 Hippie Hill San Francisco, CA
4/20 420 Vancouver, BC
4/20 420 Toronto, ON
4/20 Boise Hempfest, ID
4/20 Dean Ween’s Honeypot Lounge: The Puff Ball, Denver, CO
4/20 Thailand Medical Marijuana Conference, Bangkok, Thailand
4/20-21 High Times Cannabis Cup Central Valley, Sacramento, CA
4/23 CannaGather Awards, New York, NY
4/25-26 CannaMexico World Summit, Guanajuato, Mexico
4/25-27 O’Cannabiz, Toronto, ON

NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally

May

5/1 Hemp on the Bayou, New Orleans, LA
5/1-2 The Hemp Biz Conference, Denver, CO
5/3 Weed Week Spring Retreat, Los Angeles, CA
5/4 NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally/Global Marijuana March
5/6 European Cannabis Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark
5/5-6 IC3: The International Capital & Cannabis Conference (West), Los Angeles, CA
5/7 Green Market Summit: The Advanced Economic State of Cannabis, Chicago, IL
5/15-16 ICBC Zurich, Switzerland
5/17-18 Cultivation Classic, Portland, OR
5/21-23 CHAMPS Trade Show, Atlantic City, NJ
5/21-23 NCIA: 9th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days, Washington, DC
5/24 Legalized Summit: Best of Breed Awards, Vancouver, BC
5/25-26 High Times Cannabis Cup SoCal, Hollywood, CA
5/29-31 6th CannaWest, Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
5/29-6/1 Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo, New York, NY

June

6/1-2 High Times Cannabis Cup NorCal, Santa Rosa, CA
6/6-9 Lift Conference & Expo, Toronto, ON
6/7-8 Women Grow Leadership Summit, Washington, DC
6/8-9 High Times Cannabis Cup Michigan, Clio, MI
6/10-11 Native American Cannabis & Hemp Conference, Temecula, CA
6/12-14 MJBizCon Next, New Orleans, LA
6/19-20 WeedCon West, Los Angeles, CA
6/20 California Cannabis Business Globe Awards, Hollywood, CA
6/22-23 High Times Cannabis Cup Bay Area, Daly City, CA
6/28-30 3rd Florida Medical Cannabis Conference & Exposition, St. Petersburg, FL

If you’d like us to add event to this list, email info@freedomleaf.com

January-February-March Events Calendar

The post Freedom Leaf’s 2nd-Quarter 2019 Events Schedule appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/second-quarter-2019-events-calendar/

Freedom Leaf’s 2nd-Quarter 2019 Events Schedule was originally published to The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/04/02/freedom-leafs-2nd-quarter-2019-events-schedule/

New York Governor Cuomo Leaves Marijuana Legalization Out of State Budget

By: Jason Klimek, Esq., Legal Advisor to Roc NORML, and Mary Kruger, Start SMART NY Coalition Member and Executive Director of Roc NORML

Sixty-five percent of New York residents support the legalization of cannabis. Democrats control the Governor’s office as well as majorities in both the Assembly and the Senate for the first time in a decade. After repeated calls over by politicians to pass adult-use as part of New York’s budget, New Yorkers are waking up on April 1st to find out that they’ve been the subject of, what looks like, an April Fool’s Day prank, several months in the making. Cannabis legalization was not included in the 2019 – 2020 New York State Budget.

Both the legislature and the Governor’s office, after hearing New Yorkers’ opinions, have repeatedly stated cannabis legislation must address social justice concerns and avoid creating a cannabis economy that will allow large businesses to thrive to the detriment of small business. Focusing on social justice and small business will allow those communities that have been devastated by the failed war on drugs to participate in the cannabis economy and attempt to right the wrongs of the past. The longer New York waits, the less likely those goals will come to fruition. In the meantime, communities will continue to see their members arrested, prosecuted and jailed for cannabis-related offenses.

Beyond the possibility that New York may see unified control disappear in upcoming elections, if New York to wait until 2020 or longer, the probability of federal legalization drastically increases. If federal legalization were to be implemented prior to New York legalization, small business will have absolutely no chance to compete against the largest businesses who have been operating legally in other states for years and have amassed hundreds of millions of dollars of investments.

Even if New York were to legalize before the federal government, there continues to exist a high probability that New York will be surrounded by legal states, as Pennsylvania is introducing legislation to legalize, both Connecticut and Vermont are discussing the possibility of legalization, and New Jersey is sure to attempt to pass legislation again. Those surrounding states will create the markets in which small businesses will thrive and draw cannabis revenue to those states. The effect will be to deprive New York of the jobs and tax revenue while sticking New York with any issues that may arise from the legalization of cannabis.

Legalization is still possible this year, but only if we continue to put the pressure on our elected officials to get it done. We have been talking a lot about the CRTA in the past few months, the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act, legislation drafted to legalize cannabis for adult-use, written by a team created by Governor Cuomo. This bill didn’t offer the social and racial justice, community reinvestment in a meaningful way, or consumer rights that we deserve. Our allies in the Senate and Assembly were willing to negotiate on some points, and agreed they couldn’t compromise on important issues for which New Yorkers voiced strong support:

• The adult-use market must be created in a way that benefits and reinvests back into communities that have been most harmed and targeted in the War on Drugs

• Provisions must be included that would build an equitable and diverse workforce, with meaningful and ownership level work in the industry

• Restorative justice is included, in the form of sealing and resentencing past convictions for crimes that would now be legal after the legislation is passed

• Provisions are included for home cultivation, allowing consumers and patients to grow their own cannabis if they wish; this is similar to the model we see in the thriving craft beer industry in New York

The Start SMART NY campaign has been working with Senator Liz Krueger, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes for over five years on drafting legislation to legalize cannabis for adult-use in New York. They each sponsored companion legislation in the Assembly and Senate, the MRTA, or Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act. These allies in the Senate and Assembly have been working tirelessly with experts to create smart, sustainable legislation that offers marijuana justice and legalization, and we need to help them continue to do this work now, more than ever, and get this bill perfected and passed by the end of the legislative session in June.

While the MRTA isn’t perfect legislation, it has about 90% of what we’re hoping to see the final draft have; compared to the CRTA which only have about 50% of what we’re hoping to see. The rhetoric from the Governor’s office last month about this issue being rushed because we just started having these conversations simply aren’t true; the MRTA is on its fourth draft and was originally introduced in both the Senate and Assembly five years ago. These conversations have been happening and our allies are willing to negotiate with the Governor, but he needs to do just that – negotiate.

We must see the legislation rooted in justice, equity and restitution back into communities that have been devastated from the War on Drugs. When folks ask why, the answers are quite simple:

Marijuana prohibition has not been effective in stopping or remotely curbing marijuana usage. Marijuana remains the most widely used illegal substance nationally, with half of Americans admitting having tried the substance in their lifetime. Despite this widespread experimental user, the rate of regular use has not changed significantly since the 1980s, steadily remaining at about 1 in 8 Americans – despite significant increases in enforcement over that time.

Marijuana prohibition has not increased public safety. According to a Human Rights Watch report published in 2012, people who enter the criminal justice system with an arrest for public possession of marijuana are no more likely to be threats to public safety than someone who has not been arrested.

Marijuana prohibition has been disproportionately enforced in communities of color and has led to devastating collateral consequences. An arrest and conviction for a marijuana offense can prohibit individuals from fully participating in society, inhibiting their ability to get a loan, get a job, go to college, or to access public housing, among other negative impacts. Statewide, people of color have borne these collateral consequences at alarming rates, with Black and Latino people representing 80% of those arrested for simple possession in 2016 alone, despite equal rates of use across populations.

Marijuana decriminalization is not enough. New York State first decriminalized personal marijuana possession in 1977—yet more than 800,000 people have been arrested for low-level marijuana possession in the past 20 years alone. Although New York officials, including Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, have previously recognized these arrests as ineffective, unjust, and racially discriminatory, they still continue across the state because of a loophole in the law. Ending prohibition would end these arrests.

Ending marijuana prohibition is a cost-saving measure. Legalizing marijuana will drastically improve the state’s ability to make investments that benefit and advance all New Yorkers, such as education, housing, and infrastructure. In 2010, New York spent more than $650 million enforcing marijuana prohibition. Those resources went to increased policing in communities of color, resulting in more than 50,000 marijuana arrests for simple possession that year, usually only for small amounts of marijuana.

Visit http://smart-ny.com/join/petition/ to sign the petition now and pressure our lawmakers in Albany to pass smart legislation, this year. Another New Yorker’s life shouldn’t be ruined while we have folks right here in New York making money from selling the same plant.

Go to norml.org/action-center/item/new-york-demand-support-for-marijuana-legalization and send a pre-written email to your lawmakers, urging them to support this effort.

Go to vote.norml.org and find your New York State Assembly Member and Senator. Then call and tell them you want to see smart legislation passed, and you support the MRTA, sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes.

Now is not the time to back down – now is the time for the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers who support legalization to make our voices heard loud and clear; we demand marijuana justice and legalization, and we won’t stop until we get it.

___________________________________________________________

Start SMART NY – Sensible Marijuana Access through Regulated Trade – is the campaign dedicated to ending marijuana prohibition in New York. We believe that it is time to stop the ineffective, racially biased, and unjust enforcement of marijuana prohibition and to create a new, well-regulated, and inclusive marijuana industry that is rooted in racial and economic justice.

Source: https://blog.norml.org/2019/04/01/new-york-governor-cuomo-leaves-marijuana-legalization-out-of-state-budget/

New York Governor Cuomo Leaves Marijuana Legalization Out of State Budget is republished from Giggles N Dimples

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/04/01/new-york-governor-cuomo-leaves-marijuana-legalization-out-of-state-budget/

Announcing the 2019 NORML Conference & Lobby Day

We have never been at a more critical time in the nationwide movement to end federal marijuana prohibition. This September, we invite you to join NORML members from across America to learn effective strategies, hear the latest scientific and political advancements, and meet in person with influential members of Congress. With over 65% percent of the American public in support of marijuana legalization, and three-quarters of voters supporting states’ rights to enact their own marijuana policies, the time to act is now.

 

 

Sunday, September 8: NORML Leadership Summit

Earn your NORML Leadership Certification! Take a deep dive into grassroots organizing at the NORML Leadership Summit. Those who complete the one-day course receive access to exclusive educational materials that will be used to duplicate trainings across the country. Participants will be awarded certificates and NORML Leadership lapel pins to recognize their accomplishment. Training modules include: chapter organization, effective messaging strategies, lobbying to win, event planning and execution, and more.

Welcome Reception & Vanguard Awards

Mix and mingle with fellow conference attendees and celebrate the achievements of NORML Chapters, Leaders and Members from across the country at the Welcome Reception & Vanguard Awards.

 

Monday, September 9: NORML Conference

Conference programming will include expert panels, policy debates, and energizing speakers covering a wide range of marijuana policy-related topics.

 

Tuesday, September 10: NORML Congressional Lobby Day

Head to Capitol Hill with NORML where Lobby Day participants will meet with Congressional offices and advocate for the end of federal marijuana prohibition. Attendees will relax and debrief afterward at a local watering hole, to swap stories and say farewell to old friends and new.

 

Get your tickets now to join us at this important annual event!

Source: https://blog.norml.org/2019/04/01/announcing-the-2019-norml-conference-lobby-day/

The following blog post Announcing the 2019 NORML Conference & Lobby Day was initially published to The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/04/01/announcing-the-2019-norml-conference-lobby-day/