Low-level marijuana possession violations will no longer be prosecuted in Jefferson County (population: 771,000), according to statements made by County Attorney Mike O’Connell. He cited research identifying racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests as a reason for instituting the change in policy. “For me to truly be a minister of justice, I cannot sit [read more]
State lawmakers have moved forward a measure to permit the use of certain medical cannabis preparations by authorized patients while on school grounds. Members of the Assembly voted last week in favor of the legislation, Senate Bill 223. It now awaits a concurrence vote from the Senate, which approved a prior version of [read more]
By Phillip Smith After passage of the 2018 federal farm bill legalized hemp production, states scrambled to pass their own laws legalizing hemp and CBD. But in doing so, they may have inadvertently signed a death warrant for the enforcement of marijuana prohibition. Forty-seven states have now legalized hemp, but [read more]
A history of cannabis use is associated with fewer complications among patients hospitalized for ulcerative colitis (UC), according to data published in the journal Medicine. Investigators from the John Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore and the Digestive Disease Institute in Cleveland compared the prevalence of UC complications during hospitalization in [read more]
Legislation takes effect Friday expanding protections for state-qualified medical cannabis patients. House Bill 2612, which was signed into law in March, will go into effect on Friday, August 30. It strengthens patient protections by explicitly stipulating that registered cannabis consumers may not be denied public assistance, access to firearms, or certain types [read more]
The Cannabis Certification Council (CCC), Cannabis Sustainability Work Group and partners are pleased to announce the inaugural Cannabis Sustainability Awards to be held at the fourth annual Cannabis Sustainability Symposium on Oct. 4, 2019 in Denver. The Cannabis Sustainability Awards are a new and unique opportunity for cannabis businesses to be internationally [read more]
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has released The Medical Cannabis Patient’s Guide for U.S. Travel in conjunction with the start of Labor Day weekend. This guide will help traveling patients understand the laws regarding access to cannabis in the states and territories that extend reciprocity to patients from other jurisdictions or permit [read more]
Legislation reducing marijuana possession penalties and facilitating the expungement of past cannabis convictions took effect on Thursday. Assembly Bill 8420-A reduces the penalty for minor marijuana possession violations (up to one ounce) to a $50 fine. It also amends penalties for offenses involving the possession of more than one ounce but [read more]
According to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday, the Drug Enforcement Administration has filed a notice in the Federal Register of its intention to promulgate regulations that govern the growing of cannabis for scientific and medical research under DEA registration. This announcement comes just days before a court deadline [read more]
Remarks made today by the United States Surgeon General highlighting “the importance of protecting our nation from the health risks of marijuana use in adolescents and during pregnancy” fail to acknowledge the role that a regulated market can play in mitigating the use of cannabis by potentially high-risk populations. States NORML’s Executive Director [read more]
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