Giggles N Dimples

Monday, June 18, 2018

Don’t Call it a Dispensary- Why Michigan Takes Marijuana Semantics Seriously

By Lauren Williams for Marijuana.com

“… It is critical that patients have clarity as to where they can obtain medicine,” said David Mangone, director of governmental affairs and counsel for the non-profit Americans for Safe Access. “It is too early to tell if this will adversely affect patient access. However, banning terms like prescription is good policy, because doctors can’t actually write prescriptions for medical cannabis under federal law, only provide recommendations.”

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

Don’t Call it a Dispensary- Why Michigan Takes Marijuana Semantics Seriously was initially published to GigglesNDimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/06/18/dont-call-it-a-dispensary-why-michigan-takes-marijuana-semantics-seriously/

June Swoon: A Stoned Bride Is a Happy Bride

As American society evolves, can the concept of marriage evolve too? After my discussion with one punk-rock bride who opted to smoke pot at her recent wedding, it may be time to revisit our stereotypes.

Congratulations on your recent marriage. What was the planning process like?

It’s a rabbit hole. For instance, my mother-in-law was convinced that square tables would ruin the wedding. Apparently, round tables are more “intimate.” I knew everyone was going to get drunk and dance, and no one was going to care about the goddamn table shape. That’s when I realized planning a wedding isn’t about me or my partner’s love for each other, it’s about the fucking party.

Why didn’t you just elope then?

Trust me, that was our first thought. But family excitement won out and we decided to endure the craziness. So we went ahead knowing the wedding was for them, but the marriage is for us. We got really good at saying no to just about everything.

“I never thought of myself as a stereotypical anything, let alone bride.”

Where was the wedding?

It was outdoors, at a lakeside in the mountains in Pennsylvania, all DIY. It seemed fitting because we spent a ton of time up there working on an old cabin, a teardown we fixed room by room.

You didn’t see yourself as a stereotypical bride?

I never thought of myself as a stereotypical anything, let alone bride. And even though we were planning a wedding, I didn’t view that as typical either. For instance, it was completely understood that our dog would be the ring bearer.

Breaking from tradition, you decided to get high at the wedding?

It wasn’t intentional at first, but yes. After the first toast of cocktail hour, a friend wanted to smoke up the newlyweds shortly after. I couldn’t find my husband, so I just decided to smoke without him instead. I couldn’t have made a better choice. For the first time all day, the frenzy stopped and I genuinely relaxed and soaked in every detail. I enjoyed talking to everyone, watching kids play, hanging by the lakeside and chatting by the fire. When the night was ending, my husband snuck some Pink Floyd into the late-night playlist. It was perfect.

Would you recommend other brides to smoke at their weddings?

Definitely. Smoking made my wedding day special, because it allowed me to really slow down and enjoy it. I spent it on my terms.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Former Missouri Supreme Court Cheif Justice Endorses Medical Marijuana Initiative

Former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice and former Dean of the St. Louis University Law School, Michael A. Wolff, will speak in support of the New Approach Missouri Medical Marijuana Initiative at a marijuana law reform conference which will take place at the St. Charles Opera House, 311 N. Main Street, in St. Charles this Saturday, June 16. Judge Wolff is a professor emeritus of law at St. Louis University and a highly respected legal scholar.

Preceding his remarks at 4:00 p.m., there will be a full day of fascinating speakers. Mr. Paul Armentano, national Deputy Director of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) will speak at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Armentano is one of the nation’s most knowledgeable and articulate experts on the science of medical marijuana. He will speak about how the legalization of medical marijuana in 29 other states has dramatically reduced opioid overdose and provided relief from suffering to thousands of Americans.

At 2:00 p.m., the leader of the St. Louis NAACP, Mr. Adolphus Pruitt, will speak, followed by Mr. Tom Mundell at 2:20 p.m. Mr. Mundell is the former commander of the Missouri Association of Veterans’ Organizations (MAVO). He is a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran.

At 2:40 p.m., Mr. Jeff Mizanskey will speak. Jeff was sentenced to serve life without possibility of parole for minor marijuana offenses. He has no other criminal convictions. After serving more than 21 years in prison, his sentence was commuted by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon following a nationwide campaign urging the Governor to do so.

At 1:00 p.m., a panel of health experts and patients will discuss how medical marijuana is helpful to people with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses. At 11:30 a.m., St. Louis Alderperson Megan Green will speak about her efforts to reform local marijuana laws through the St. Louis Board of Alderpeople and through the initiative process. Earlier speakers will review the status of the New Approach Missouri Medical Marijuana Initiative campaign and other state, national and local marijuana law reform efforts.

For more information, contact Dan Viets via email at danviets@gmail.com.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/06/15/former-missouri-supreme-court-cheif-justice-endorses-medical-marijuana-initiative/

The following post Former Missouri Supreme Court Cheif Justice Endorses Medical Marijuana Initiative is available on The Giggles N Dimples Blog

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/06/15/former-missouri-supreme-court-cheif-justice-endorses-medical-marijuana-initiative/

Weekly Legislative Roundup 6/15/18

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

A lot has happened in Congress this week. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) succeeded in inserting hemp legalization language into the wide-ranging Farm Bill – must-pass legislation that is approved by Congress every five years. The bill was then approved by the US Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

The US Senate Appropriations Committee, for the first time ever, included protections for state medical marijuana laws in base Justice Department funding legislation. On the other hand, the US House Appropriations Committee rejected an amendment to protect banks that work with marijuana businesses from being punished by federal authorities.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced The “RESPECT Resolution: Realizing Equitable & Sustainable Participation in Emerging Cannabis Trades” to elevate the importance of equity within the legal cannabis marketplace.

To all of our surprise, President Donald Trump expressed verbal support for recently introduced, bi-partisan legislation that seeks to codify legal protections for state-sanctioned marijuana-related activities. Similarly, members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently announced their support for marijuana law reforms to keep the federal government out of the business of prohibition and related law enforcement of marijuana.

At the state level, South Carolina voters approved a medical marijuana advisory question on the Democratic primary ballot by a margin of 81% – 19%. And The Maine Supreme Court ruled that employers don’t need to pay for medical cannabis under the state workers’ compensation system.

At a more local level, the St. Louis, Missouri circuit attorney will no longer pursue cases for marijuana in the amount of less than 100 grams. And Denver, Colorado is using marijuana tax revenue to fund after-school and summer programs.

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

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) have introduced bipartisan legislation, The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act of 2018, to remove the threat of federal intervention and prosecution in states that regulate marijuana use and sales. A bipartisan House companion bill has been introduced by Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

This marks the first bicameral, bipartisan legislation to end the federal enforcement of prohibition in states that have reformed their marijuana laws.

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

New Jersey

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, along with Sen. Nicholas Scutari, introduced legislation, S2703, to legalize adult marijuana sales and further expand New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.

The legislation permits those age 21 and older to legally possess and/or purchase up to one ounce of cannabis. It also permits the licensing of 218 retail dispensaries — 120 of which would provide marijuana to adults while 98 would provide marijuana to authorized patients. At present, one half-a-dozen medical dispensaries are operating in the state.

Other provisions in the measure seek to protect adults who consume cannabis from employer and/or housing discrimination, and permits certain retailers to establish on-site consumption areas.

NJ resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of legalization and medical expansion

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

SB 20-62 seeks to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis in the US territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

If passed, the bill would legalize the personal use and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana for adults age 21 or older, and establish a licensing scheme for its commercial production and retail sale. The tax revenue would be used to fund the implementation of the program and other government services.

Update: SB 20-62 was on the House’s agenda for a vote on 6/12, but was instead was referred back to the Committee on Judiciary & Government Operations.

CMNI resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of legalization

Delaware

Legalization
House Bill 110 seeks to legalize and regulate adult marijuana use.

Update: An amendment to HB 110 was filed on 6/11. The wide-ranging amendment addresses packaging and labeling, safe cultivation, tracking of sales, random testing and safeguards for the consumer. Employer protections are clarified as well.

DE resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of legalization

Expungement
Senate Bill 197 seeks to permit those convicted of past marijuana possession convictions to seek expungement.

The measure would allow individuals to file a petition with the court requesting the expungement of any past marijuana possession violations that are no longer defined as a crime under state law.

Update: SB 197 was unanimously passed by the Senate on 6/12.

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

Medical
House Bill 374 seeks to expand the state’s medical cannabis access program.

The measure would expand the pool of patients eligible for medical cannabis by permitting physicians to authorize cannabis therapy to those suffering from: chronic debilitating migraines, pediatric autism spectrum disorder, and pediatric sensory processing disorder.

Update: HB 374 was unanimously approved by the Senate Health, Children & Social Services Committee on 6/6.

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

New York

A. 9016 and S. 7564 seek to permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to those struggling with opioid abuse or dependence.

Update: A. 9016 came out of the Health Committee without a vote and was referred to the Rules Committee.

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

California

Expungement
Assembly Bill 1793 seeks “to 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. The bill was approved by the Assembly last month.

Update: AB 1793 will be heard by the Senate Public Safety Committee on 6/26 at 8:30am in Room 3191.

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

Student Protections
Senate Bill 1127 will help students with severe medical disabilities attend school by allowing a parent or guardian to come on campus to administer medical cannabis to them in non-smoking and non-vaping forms. The bill was approved by the Senate last month.

Update: SB 1127 was heard on 6/13 in the Assembly Education Committee, and then approved by the Committee. The bill will be heard by the Judiciary Committee on 7/4.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of administering medical cannabis to students at school

Compassionate Care Programs
Senate Bill 829 would exempt compassionate care programs from paying state cannabis taxes when they are providing free medical cannabis to financially disadvantaged people living with serious health conditions. The bill was approved by the Senate last month.

Update: The Assembly Committee on Business and Professions is holding a hearing on SB 829 on 6/19.

CA resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of these tax exemptions

Banking
Senate Bill 930 seeks to assist financial institutions in safely conducting transactions with licensed cannabis businesses. The bill was approved by the Senate last month.

Update: The Assembly’s Business and Professions Committee is holding a hearing on SB 930 on 6/26 at 9am.

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/2018/06/15/weekly-legislative-roundup-6-15-18/

The following blog post Weekly Legislative Roundup 6/15/18 was first published on gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/06/15/weekly-legislative-roundup-6-15-18/

Thursday, June 14, 2018

The RESPECT Resolution Seeks Restorative Justice

Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced The “RESPECT Resolution: Realizing Equitable & Sustainable Participation in Emerging Cannabis Trades” to elevate the importance of equity within the legal cannabis marketplace. The RESPECT Resolution seeks both economic and reparative justice, ensuring that disenfranchised communities will be able to benefit equally in the emerging legal and regulated industry.

“There’s no question that there is growing momentum – both within Congress and nationwide – for cannabis legalization. However, as we move into this new era, we must learn from the failed War on Drugs and ensure that entrepreneurs of color are included in this expanding industry. Due to unequal criminalization rates and disparities in access to capital, people of color are being locked out of the new and thriving legal cannabis trade,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “We need to address the systemic exclusion and discrimination at play. Otherwise, we will be prolonging and encouraging the injustices of the past – where brown men spend their lives in prison for cannabis, while white communities get rich off the industry. I encourage my colleagues to support the RESPECT Resolution, the first bill in Congress focused on building equity in the cannabis industry.”

As more and more states dial back the war on marijuana consumers, it is important that those who were impacted by this oppressive criminalization are able to see previous harms remedied and be provided the opportunity to participate in the benefits that come along with legalization and regulation.

It is absolutely crucial that future legalization efforts include avenues to expunge prior criminal convictions for actions which are now 100% legal. We sincerely appreciate Congresswoman Lee’s vision to facilitate those expungements at no cost to the individual. Currently, a complicated bureaucracy and unnecessary fees often prevent drug war victims from obtaining expungements and being able to fully participate in many aspects of civil society.

Send a message to your Representative now in support of The RESPECT Resolution.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/06/14/the-respect-resolution-seeks-restorative-justice/

The blog post The RESPECT Resolution Seeks Restorative Justice Read more on: gigglesndimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/06/14/the-respect-resolution-seeks-restorative-justice/

House Appropriations Committee Blocks Cannabis Banking Amendment

The House Appropriations Committee took up and defeated language known as the Safe Banking Amendment offered by Congressman Dave Joyce (R-OH) on Wednesday, June 13th.

If adopted, regulators would not be authorized to use federal funds to threaten sanctions against banks working with marijuana-related businesses and entrepreneurs.

The defeat of the Safe Banking Amendment was not a vote about marijuana, but rather it was about normalizing a nascent industry that serves hundreds-of-thousands of customers in the majority of US states where cannabis is currently regulated. Once these companies have an easier time conducting their day-to-day operations, then they should be willing to offer more consumer-friendly prices instead of inflating them at the point of sale to cover backend costs associated with operating as an all-cash business.

Currently, hundreds of state-legal, licensed, and regulated businesses do not have access to the banking industry and are unable to accept credit cards, deposit revenues, or write checks to meet payroll or pay taxes. This situation is untenable. No industry can operate safely, transparently, or effectively without access to banks or other financial institutions. Congress must move to change federal policy so that these growing number of state-compliant businesses, and their consumers, may operate in a manner that is similar to other legal commercial entities.

As an appropriations amendment, this funding restriction would have only been in place for one year.

There is pending bicameral legislation introduced by Representative Perlmutter (D-CO) and Senator Jeff Merkley that the banking amendment was based, known similarly as the SAFE Banking Act. You can click here to send a message to your lawmakers in support of that legislation.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/06/14/house-appropriations-committee-blocks-cannabis-banking-amendment/

The following blog post House Appropriations Committee Blocks Cannabis Banking Amendment is courtesy of Giggles N Dimples

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/06/14/house-appropriations-committee-blocks-cannabis-banking-amendment/

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Freedom Leaf’s State-by-State Guide to U.S. Cannabis Legalization

Since 2012, nine states and the District of Columbia have reformed their cannabis laws to allow adults to possess a personal amount of marijuana. In most of those places, adults can also cultivate a personal crop and purchase pot products in a manner similar to alcohol. Voter initiatives in eight states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon and Washington) brought about these long-sought nation-changing political reforms, and Vermont’s legislature legalized cannabis possession earlier this year. In November, voters can make Michigan the 10th state with legal marijuana. Here’s an overview of what’s happening in the states that now allow recreational use by adults.

Alaska

High prices (as much as $500 an ounce for flower) and a low tax rate have prevented consumers and the state from fully benefitting from commercial sales.

Ballot initiative: 2014
Possession maximum: one ounce in public and up to four ounces in a residence
Home-growing: six plants, three of which can be flowering (up to 25 in a residence)
Purchase maximum: one ounce
Taxes: $50 wholesale per oz. on flower and $15 per oz. on leaf and clones
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: not allowed

California

By allowing public use and home delivery (and already possessing a massive variety and inventory of high-quality cannabis products), California is currently the most cannabis consumer-friendly state in the country and perhaps the world. Commercial sales began in January.

Ballot initiative: 2016
Possession maximum: up to one ounce of flower, eight grams of concentrate and all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, three of which can be flowering
Purchase maximum: one ounce and eight grams of concentrate in edibles
Taxes: 15% excise, $9.25 wholesale per oz. on flower and $2.75 per oz. on leaf, and 7.25% sales tax
Public use: allowed (subject to local approval)
Home delivery: allowed
Equity program for minorities: only in Oakland

Colorado

With a windfall of tax revenue since sales began in 2014 (nearly $600 million), the Centennial State has shown how legalization can benefit state and local economies.

Ballot initiative: 2012
Possession maximum: one ounce and all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, three of which can be flowering
Purchase maximum: one ounce, eight grams of concentrate and 800 mg THC in edibles
Taxes: 15% excise and 15% sales tax
Public use: not allowed (except for in Denver)
Home delivery: not allowed yet (services may begin in late 2018)

District of Columbia

District voters ended penalties for cannabis possession and home cultivation for adults, but failed to create a system for taxed and regulated sales. This has led to a gifting economy around marijuana in the nation’s capital.

Ballot initiative: 2014
Possession maximum: two ounces
Home-growing: six plants, three of which can be flowering
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: not allowed

Maine

Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who vetoed regulation legislation last November and again in April, has held up commercial sales.

Ballot initiative: 2016
Possession maximum: 2.5 oz. and all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, three of which can be flowering
Purchase maximum: 2.5 oz.
Taxes: 21.5% wholesale excise tax and 10% sales tax
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: not allowed

Massachusetts

Retail stores are currently scheduled to begin operating on July 1.

Ballot initiative: 2016
Possession maximum: one ounce of flower (10 oz. in a residence), five grams of concentrate and all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, not more than 12 per residence
Purchase maximum: one ounce of flower and five grams of concentrate
Taxes: 10.75% excise tax and 6.25% sales tax, plus up to 3% local tax
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: not allowed
Equity program for minorities: yes

Nevada

Unlike Maine, Nevada rushed to sell recreational marijuana, licensing stores and processors just seven months after voters passed Question 2. In its first six months of legal sales, more than $30 million in tax revenue was raised.

Ballot initiative: 2016
Possession maximum: one ounce of flower, 3.5 grams of concentrate and all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, not more than 12 per residence, only for residents living 25 miles or more from a retail outlet
Purchase maximum: one ounce of flower and 3.5 grams of concentrate
Taxes: 10% retail excise and 15% wholesale
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: allowed

Oregon

The Beaver State has seen precipitous drops in wholesale and retail prices over the last six months, leading to a product surplus and some of the lowest costs to consumers ($4 grams, $50 ounces) in the country.

Ballot initiative: 2014
Possession maximum: one ounce of flower, five grams of concentrate, 16 oz. of cannabis-infused solids and 72 oz. . liquids
Home-growing: four plants and eight ounces of dried cannabis
Purchase maximum: one ounce of flower, five grams of concentrate and 16 oz. of solid edibles and 72 oz. of liquid edibles
Taxes: 17% state sales tax and up to 3% local sales tax
Public use: not allowed
Home delivery: allowed

Vermont

The state legislature became the first in the nation to end penalties for cannabis possession and home cultivation for adults in March, but failed to create a system for taxed and regulated sales.

State legislation: 2018 (effective July 1)
Possession maximum: one ounce; all cannabis produced by personal cultivation
Home-growing: six plants, two of which can be flowering
Public use: Not allowed
Home delivery: Not allowed

Washington

Due to higher tax rates, the Evergreen State has outstripped Colorado in revenue collected on cannabis, with $656 million since 2014. However, it’s the only state that allows recreational use, but not home cultivation.

Ballot initiative: 2012
Possession maximum: one ounce of flower, seven grams of concentrate, 16 oz. of solid edibles and 72 oz. liquid edibles
Home-growing: Not allowed for non-medical use
Purchase maximum: one ounce of flower, seven grams of concentrate, 16 oz. of solid edibles and 72 oz. of liquid edibles
Taxes: 37% excise and 6.5% state sales tax, plus local sales tax (3.6% in Seattle and Tacoma)
Public use: Not allowed
Home delivery: Not allowed