Even the smallest political developments can have big implications for legal cannabis markets in the United States and around the world. Influential news breaks constantly in our rapidly evolving cannabis industry, and here we bring you a handful of progressive stories we’re following this week.
NATIONAL UPDATES
ARIZONA – Cannabis policy in Arizona made big progress last month thanks to a new ruling by the state Supreme Court. Until recently, testing positive for a non-impairing cannabis metabolite could have lead a licensed medical cannabis patient in Arizona to face DUI-drug charges. Fortunately, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that testing positive for Carboxy-THC — the only cannabis metabolite tested for by the Arizona Department of Public Safety — is not a legal basis for a DUI-drug charge. According to the Eastern Arizona Courier, “more than 40,000 Arizonans who have been issued medical marijuana cards previously had to risk getting a possible DUI-drug for simply using their doctor-recommended medication.” That means more than 40,000 Arizonans are now free to medicate with more dignity and live with a lot less stress. Read the full story…
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – In the last week of April, Virginia Representative Morgan Griffith introduced a Congressional bill that would move marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II controlled substance. Legalizing cannabis at the Federal level would have an incredible impact on the ability of our industry to grow and progress – and considering that the “Legitimate Use of Medicinal Marijuana Act” is only four pages long, we’re hopeful the 113th Congress will have time to give our cause the attention it deserves. Read the full story…
FLORIDA – Florida Governor Rick Scott announced plans to approve medical cannabis legislation after the “Charlotte’s Web bill” (SB1030) passed the Florida House and Senate during the last week of April. Although the bill is markedly conservative in comparison to medical cannabis laws in many other states, legalizing only low-THC high-CBD cannabis for use by patients suffering from specified medical conditions, its passing signifies great progress for the larger effort to legalize cannabis for medicinal use in Florida. Floridians will have the chance to vote ‘YES’ on Amendment 2, The Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, when it appears on the state ballot in November. Read the full story…
NEW YORK – New medical cannabis legislation has just been introduced in New York, and advocates are optimistic that their conservative revisions could increase the chances of legalizing medical cannabis through the state legislature this spring. Read the full story…
MISSOURI – Lawmakers in Missouri approved a cannabis extract bill in the last week of April. HB2238 allows the Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for research purposes and allows the use of hemp extract to treat certain individuals with epilepsy. The passing of HB2238 marks significant progress for those leading more far-reaching cannabis legalization efforts in the state. Show-Me Cannabis, an organization working to advance a public dialogue about the benefits of ending cannabis prohibition in Missouri, hopes to see a cannabis legalization measure on the ballot within the next two years. Read the full story…
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
TORONTO, ONTARIO – The Global Marijuana March took place in cities across the world on the first Saturday in May, but Toronto is known for hosting the largest of all GMM events. Participants in Toronto celebrated the event’s 16th anniversary this year, and with that – its 16th year without an event-related arrest. Hundreds of rally-goers turned out to protest new mandatory minimums for cannabis possession and unfavorable changes to Health Canada’s medical cannabis program. Read the full story…
RECREATIONAL UPDATE
COLORADO – The Colorado Symphony Orchestra recently announced plans to host a ‘bring your own cannabis’ summer event series, pairing classical music with nuanced recreational activities. “Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series,” sponsored by cannabis industry businesses, is sure to diversify the CSO’s audience and give Colorado’s cannabis culture the chance to shape a new vision of high society. Read the full story…
CANNABIS AND SCOTUS
Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens made headlines across the international media sphere after publicly announcing his support for cannabis legalization in late April. Stevens told NPR’s Scott Simon that he thinks the Federal government should legalize marijuana, and that statement holds big weight coming from a man once responsible for decoding the United States’ Constitution. Read the full story…
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