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US Government goes Back on Plan to Expand Cannabis Research
The US government said earlier this year that they wanted to grow more grass for the purpose of expanding research into the plant. Yahoo Finance reports that the government appears to have gone back on its word to expand cannabis research. Earlier this year, we found out that the cannabis that the government grows for research purposes is of the lowest possible quality cannabis. Looking at a picture of it, you can barely tell that it even is cannabis, and not just grass clippings. The issue with this is not simply aesthetic; conducting research with such low quality cannabis is sure to yield inaccurate results as far as cannabis’ ability to treat certain diseases. Another possible side effect is the possibility that this low quality cannabis will show more negative effects than the higher quality cannabis that is consumed by the general public. One of the reasons the government gives for cannabis prohibition is that there is not enough research to show that it's safe. It’s incredibly difficult to research cannabis because it's a Schedule I drug, with no accepted medical value. If this seems incredibly contradictory, you would be correct. It’s designed this way to keep cannabis on Schedule I. Last year, the Obama administration promised to undo some of the restrictions, thus making it possible to expand cannabis research. Surprise, surprise, Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department seems intent to undo this. The DEA only requested to grow 978 pounds, or 384,460 grams, next year. This is actually less than they requested for this year, which was 472,000 grams, according to Forbes. This doesn’t bode well for legalization. By refusing to expand cannabis research, the US government can continue to claim that there is not enough research to show that cannabis is safe and effective. With medical cannabis protections set to expire next week, this is making people very nervous indeed. Source: Yahoo Finance Do you think the government will ever expand cannabis research? Share in the comments!
DEA Approves Synthetic Cannabis for Schedule II, Cannabis is Still Schedule I
This week the DEA made the outrageous pronouncement that the synthetic cannabis drug Syndros is safer than cannabis itself. This should clear up any doubt that the DEA is more interested in protecting the interests of large pharmaceutical corporations than protecting the public. Meanwhile, Syndros has jumped through the last hoop in its journey to the market, and will soon be available to the public. The DEA said in its report that since Syndros only contained the synthetic cannabinoid dronabinol aka delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol aka delta-9-THC, and not THC, it has medical value. THC currently has no accepted medical value and would therefore remain Schedule I. That doesn’t seem very objective, if you ask me.The DEA received comments that rightfully addressed concerns about pharmaceutical companies profiting off of synthetic cannabis, while keeping cannabis on Schedule I and they basically laughed it off. From the report: The DEA notes that FDA-approved products of oral solutions containing dronabinol have an approved medical use, whereas marijuana does not have an approved medical use and therefore remains in schedule I. Regarding the comments related to pharmaceutical companies and the approval of FDA drugs, these comments are outside the scope of this rulemaking because they do not relate to the factors determinative of control of a substance or the criteria for placement of a substance in a particular schedule. It should be noted that Insys, the company behind the synthetic cannabis drug Syndros, spent half a million to defeat legalization in Arizona. The company is also responsible for Fentanyl, a dangerous and extremely addictive drug that is responsible for many overdoses and deaths. The US government is claiming that fake weed is better than real weed now. When has this ever been the case? Do people prefer Sunny D over fresh squeezed orange juice? Source: Vice News Image Source: AZCentral Got anything to add? Do you think the DEA is being objective? Share in the comments!
Weed is Headed to the NYSE
For the first time ever cannabis is headed to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This is a big deal for those who have been interested in investing in the cannabis industry. The fund, which is called Alternative Agroscience ETF, will begin trading on December 26th of this year. Alternative Agroscience ETF will primarily focus on the growing, production and distribution of legal cannabis. The stock will also include fertilizers and pharmaceutical companies that manufacture cannabinoid drugs. This is an important landmark for the burgeoning cannabis industry too, which despite its successes, still struggles in some financial areas because of its federal status. Despite this, the cannabis industry has flourished, and is estimated to bring in 20 billion to the US economy by 2020. Forbes recently estimated that the industry could grow larger than the manufacturing industry by 2020. As of this point 29 states and Washington DC have some form of legalized cannabis, with more expected to join next year. There’s no telling how much this industry could grow, especially now that it's entered the NYSE. This is just one more sign that cannabis has entered the mainstream. ETF began trading in the Canadian stock exchange earlier this year and is already worth 216 million dollars. Now that it’s entering the NYSE, where the big players play, who knows how big this thing could get. If Alternative Agroscience ETF becomes one of the most valuable stocks on the market, will that eventually lead to legalization? Source: Investopedia Image Source: financialtribune.com Will you be investing in cannabis at the NYSE? Tell us in the comments!
New Yorkers with PTSD now Qualify for Medical Pot
If you are one of the thousands of New Yorkers who suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome aka PTSD, then you have some good news: you can now obtain medical cannabis in your state. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new provision into law that expands the list of ailments that can be legally treated with cannabis to include PTSD. Among the other things included in the provisions are paid leave provided to veterans who are employees of the state, which will allow them to seek health services, and waiving exam fees for veterans who were honorably discharged. Governor Cuomo made his decision as a way to honor veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD. “Many of our veterans are suffering from PTSD and the medical community has determined that marijuana can be a helpful treatment,’ Cuomo said. “If there are veterans that are suffering and we can make a treatment available, we want to." As long as it’s recommended by their doctor, these new provisions will allow as many as up to 20 thousand New Yorkers to seek the treatment they need. Of course, this new exception doesn’t only help veterans. It will also help people such as police, firemen, and first responders, and other people in occupations that are frequently exposed to trauma. In addition to them, this will help victims of assault such as rape survivors and victims of other violent crimes. PTSD is an extremely debilitating condition, as anyone who has suffered from it can tell you. Allowing people with PTSD to treat themselves with a medicine as beneficial as cannabis will enable them to live normal lives. Each day 22 veterans commit suicide. Hopefully this will at least put a partial dent in that number. Source: wgntv.com Image Source: wpixtv.com Are you one of the thousands of New Yorkers suffering from PTSD? How do you feel about this? Tell us in the comments!
Medical Cannabis is Legal in Poland now
Three days ago Poland became the latest country to legalize medical cannabis. They join other European countries like Germany, Greece, and Italy. Polish pharmacists will now be allowed to offer patients cannabis, as long as it has been recorded with the Office for Registration of Medical Products, according to the new regulations. The motion passed Polish parliament with an overwhelming 440-2 voting in favor for legalization. A spokesman for the Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber (PPC) said in an interview with Radio Poland, that pharmacists are ready to begin making the drugs. “Given the fact that there are nearly 15,000 pharmacies in Poland, an overwhelming majority is authorised to make prescription drugs – that’s around 90 percent,” the spokesperson said. The new law will go into effect next October. Raw flower and other forms of cannabis will be available to patients with qualifying illnesses like epilepsy, chronic, pain, nausea, and multiple sclerosis. The PPC estimates that around 300 thousand people will end up qualifying to use medical cannabis under the new law. Polish doctors will have the freedom to prescribe cannabis to any patients with illnesses or conditions that have been shown to improve through using cannabis. In addition to legalizing medical cannabis, the bill will also create “the Polish Institute of Cannabis” which will help educate physicians and the public on the benefits of cannabis. Though full, aka recreational, legalization would certainly be preferable, the Polish are definitely going in the right direction by educating their citizens. Nice job Poland! Source: Radio Poland Image Source: National Geographic Will Poland go recreational after this? Tell us in the comments!
Growing Need For Employees: Filling Positions in the Marijuana Industry
In the last five years, the number of states that have legalized adult-use marijuana has jumped from zero to eight. Despite mixed signals from the current federal administration, more and more states are lining up to follow suit. Add to that the states that have legalized medical marijuana (now a majority of the United States), and you’ve got the makings of a booming job industry. After all, legalization of medical and recreational marijuana leads to a sharp rise in demand, and with that demand comes a growing need for employees. Earlier this year, Forbes reported that by 2020, the legal cannabis industry is projected to create more jobs in the United States than manufacturing, utilities, or government industries. With over 250,000 job openings on the way, it should come as no surprise that the marijuana industry has an acute need for employees. But what types of positions are available for someone looking to enter the legal marijuana market and industry? In general, cannabis industry jobs are divided into two categories: plant-touching and ancillary companies. The overall variety of jobs is immense, ranging from growing and manufacturing to customer service, marketing, and financing just to name a few. Growers work on the agricultural side, growing and harvesting the plants that ultimately make their way into dispensaries. Depending on the location of their companies, growers may have indoor cultivation centers, outdoor fields, or a mix of the two. It is the job of the grower to understand the prime conditions for growing different strains of cannabis; heat, lighting, humidity, and airflow are just a few of the factors to optimize. The grower must perform a constant juggling act to provide the best possible growing environment for each cannabis strain, while ensuring a healthy harvest overall. Trimmers have the tedious but necessary job of cutting leaves off the harvested bud of the marijuana plant to make sure it looks neat and does not have any stray stems or growths. When it comes off of the cannabis plant, the buds usually have leaves sprouting from around and under the smokable flower. In addition to removing the unwanted stems and leaves, trimmers will often take on the separate task of manicuring the bud, ensuring that it has a sculpted and aesthetically-pleasing shape and appearance. Transportation and security are two areas that many outsiders wouldn’t consider but are integral careers in the cannabis industry. Federal prohibition means that most dispensaries have a cash-only policy and that there is still a profitable black market for marijuana products. Thus, plant-touching facilities, especially dispensaries, require security to prevent and protect from potential robberies. Armed guards are often needed throughout the transportation process too as operators move infused products or large quantities of cash. In addition to these needs, many large retail dispensaries also invest in security personnel for legal reasons. Where available, marijuana is only legal to adults ages 21 and older or to card-carrying medical marijuana patients. These laws are strict, and those without proper identification are not even allowed inside dispensaries, so it is not uncommon to see a security guard checking IDs before allowing customers inside. Budtenders work at retail dispensaries and interact directly with customers interested in purchasing marijuana products. They are well-versed in the genetic history and production of the strains of cannabis available at their store as well as the wide variety of other cannabis products like edibles, vape oils, topicals, and tinctures. More often than not, budtenders based their recommendations on personal experiences with these products, emerging scientific findings, and testimonials from past customers. Of course, as with any business or industry, there are plenty of positions available for the usual professional services such as marketers, accountants, attorneys, and general managers. In addition, a myriad of technology startups are emerging to solve industry problems from staffing to customer acquisition and loyalty. Conveniently, you do not need to be an experienced marijuana user (or a user at all) in order to work in the industry - and equally conveniently, it is very often seen as acceptable if you are. While regular job sites may not be the most helpful in finding matches for potential canna-business employees or employers, there are websites devoted to matching job-seekers with quality cannabis companies, and vice versa. Leafbuyer is one such site that is focused on filling positions within the marijuana industry. The website features a jobs board where businesses can post job openings and those seeking employment can search and apply for freelance, part-time, full-time positions. The cannabis industry is now the fastest growing industry in America. In fact, the growth is larger and faster than even the dot-com era, so if you’re looking for a change of career, a change of pace, or just a change of workplace environment, consider employment in the fast-growing marijuana industry. Written by: Daphne Eccleston
Watch Doctor Oz Own "Fox and Friends" on Medical Cannabis
A great thing happened yesterday. The famous Doctor Oz, known for his views on holistic medicine and nutrition, completely owned the dunces who host Fox News’ often incomprehensible morning show Fox and Friends. For those who aren’t familiar with the bile that is “Fox and Friends”, they are your basic morning show anchored by two dumb Republican middle aged dudes and your typical replaceable Fox News blond woman, to be rotated out as soon as she shows any natural signs of aging. They talk a lot about the outrages of American society such as poor people, gay people, and liberals. They also talk about cannabis at times. This is the show where 5 years ago, Steve Doocy (or douchey, if you prefer) unironically used the phrase “getting potted up” when commenting about Colorado and Washington legalizing cannabis. Here’s the clip for context, or if you just need a good laugh. Doctor Oz was on the show to talk about Ivanka Trump. The conversation turned to how unfair the Trumps had been treated by the media (that’s debatable). Doctor Oz then brought up the opioid epidemic, which Trump has said is one of his top priorities. The hosts acted like this was the end of the segment, but Oz wasn’t done. “Can I ask you one thing,” he interjected quickly. “I talked about the opioid epidemic, but the real story is the hypocrisy around medical marijuana,” he finished. Doocy was visibly pissed at this, but said nothing, while slightly curling his fist. Oz then brought up data showing that cannabis could be used as an exit drug to get people off of opiates, and more research needs to be done. Doocy sarcastically replied “Hadn’t heard that before” and ended the segment. I’m willing to bet we won’t see Doctor Oz on “Fox and Friends” anytime again soon. You can watch the video below. Source: Washington Post Image Source: Politico Did Doctor Oz completely own those idiots, or what? Share in the comments!
Senate Does Something Right For Once, Decides To Protect Medical Cannabis
The Senate did something right for once (two things if you count failing to repeal Obamacare). They decided to go against Jeff Sessions by renewing the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer (formerly Rohrabacher-Farr) amendment. Months ago, Sessions asked the Senate Appropriations Committee to give him the funds to allow his Justice Department to go after state medical cannabis providers and users, under the guise of enforcing federal law. The Rohrbacher-Blumenauer amendment disallows federal funds from going toward prosecuting people in compliance with their state’s medical cannabis laws. The Senate Appropriations Committee decided to renew the amendment while voting on the Justice Department budget for the fiscal year 2018. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said before the vote, “It is more humane to regulate medical marijuana than to criminalize it. I don’t want them spending money pursuing medical marijuana patients who are following state law… We have more important things for the Justice Department to do than tracking down doctors or others, epileptics, who are using medical marijuana legally in their state.” This does not look good for Sessions. The AG recently became the target of disparaging remarks by Trump in a recent interview, where he said that he would have never appointed the former Senator from Alabama, had he known he would recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Now, Sessions is being snubbed by his former colleagues, which some are speculating indicates that he is on his way out, either through termination or resignation. This does not mean that the fight is over. It’s far from over. If the Democrats lose more seats in the Senate, then the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment will be in danger again. For now though, patients using medical cannabis can rest a little easier tonight. Source: Massroots Image Source: cyverse.org Got anything to add? Share with us in the comments below!
Oregon Decriminalizes Cocaine, Heroin, And Other Drugs
Last week Oregon lawmakers voted on a bill that would decriminalize possession of drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Let me be clear: this does not mean that all drugs are legal in Oregon now. In this case decriminalization means that possession is downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor. Offenders will be encouraged to seek treatment, rather than spend time in jail. This would also only apply to first time offenders. You can’t get caught with an eightball over and over again and expect leniency. The sponsors of the bill hope that this will help deal with the state’s problem with mass incarceration, by treating addiction as a disease rather than a criminal issue. State senator Jackie Winters (R-Salem) co-chair of the Public Safety Committee who also voted in support of the bill had this to say, “We are trying to move policy towards treatment rather than prison beds. “We can’t continue on the path of building more prisons when often the underlying root cause of the crime is substance use.” Supporters hope that the bill will also help address racial disparities in the state’s criminal justice system. Oregon’s bill still needs to be signed into law, but when it is, the state will join others such as Colorado, California and Delaware. As someone who has had my own struggles with addiction, I applaud Oregon’s move. The drug war is a failure. Jail sentences don’t work. Probation doesn’t work. As a matter of fact, I strongly believe that probation turned me into an alcoholic (more on that later). There is tons of data out there that shows addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. It’s time we treat it as such. Source: Washington Post Image Source: Rave Jungle What are your thoughts? Is Oregon making the right move? Share in the comments below!
Yes, Weed Dealers Should Get Reparations
Yesterday an article on High Snobiety entitled “Should Weed Dealers Receive Reparations When Marijuana is Legalized” made the rounds on social media. Like the title suggests, the article asks whether people who have been caught selling cannabis should receive reparations in the form of either having their records expunged, or receiving financial compensation. The answer is: yes, of course they should. Many people’s lives have been ruined by the War on Drugs. Many communities, especially poor and minority communities have been torn apart. Families have been separated. Many children grew up with a parent in prison. The Drug War was supposed to make us safer. It did not. Instead we got police pulling us over and searching us because they thought they smelled cannabis. We got parents getting their kids taken away by CPS for giving them non psychoactive CBD oil. Students lost their financial aid for getting caught selling a couple bags. One of the main points that the article brings up is that convicted felons are not allowed to apply for a license to open a dispensary because of their criminal record. It just so happens that many weed dealers are convicted felons. This is why it would be a good idea to expunge their records. Convicted felons have a terribly difficult time finding a job upon being released from prison. Former weed dealers have a valuable skill in an up and coming market. They should be allowed to use that skill. Who knows how to sell weed better than weed dealers? If they were allowed to open their own businesses, that would certainly help keep them from reoffending, right? Reparations in the form of financial compensation could go far in helping former weed dealers start any kind of business, not just a dispensary. Having their charges expunged would allow these people to use their potential in a growing market that they know well. They may even become successful and financially secure. Wouldn’t it be better for the community than having these people be a “drain on society”, as they’re often called. Oregon just decriminalized drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin. They didn’t do it because they want people to start using those drugs. Oregon lawmakers passed this bill because they see now that the War on Drugs was a huge mistake and they are trying to rectify the situation. I think their experiment will be a success. I look forward to the day when the rest of the country catches up. This country destroyed countless people’s lives because of cannabis prohibition and the failed Drug War. The least we could do is help them get back on their feet. Source: High Snobiety Image Source: inverse.com What do you think? Should weed dealers get reparations? Share in the comments!
AG Sessions Makes Bogus Claim That Cannabis Causes Violence
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is being a lot more open mouthed about his intentions toward legal cannabis now that he has been confirmed. Sessions more or less declared war on cannabis yesterday, linking cannabis legalization to violence. This claim is complete nonsense, or what the Trump administration would probably refer to as an alternative fact. There is absolutely no evidence that cannabis legalization has led to an increase in violent crime. Last night in a statement AG Sessions said, “I believe it’s an unhealthy practice, and current levels of THC in marijuana are very high compared to what they were a few years ago, and we’re seeing real violence around that.” So, what he’s saying there is that more potent cannabis is causing people to be more violent. He’s basically calling people who use cannabis violent thugs. There are some studies that claim that cannabis does cause violent behavior, but they admit that they can’t prove a causal relation between cannabis use and violent behavior. If you don’t know anything about scientific research, correlation does not equal causation. It’s like how people say that washing your car will make it rain. Even though it may seem like the rain was caused by you washing your car, you can’t claim that as a fact because you have no proof of a causal link. You know what does make you violent? Alcohol. There is also tons of research that shows a causal link between violence and alcohol. The two are practically synonymous with each other. Sessions also went on to say, “Experts are telling me there’s more violence around marijuana than one would think and there’s big money involved." He made the claim that legal marijuana sales are linked to violence. A cursory Google search yielded quite different results. A study back in 2014 revealed that cannabis legalization may have decreased crime instead. Drug cartels have been hit extremely hard by cannabis legalization, and there has been a definite decrease in cartel related violence. As far as Sessions’ comment about “a lot of big money involved” is concerned, sure cannabis is a billion dollar industry. The cannabis industry also has no lobbying power in Congress. The alcohol and pharmaceutical industry do have a and there is definitely big money involved. Recreational cannabis has led to a decrease in use of both alcohol and prescription pills. Sessions also recently rescinded Obama’s order to phase out private prisons, so there is likely a connection there. You know what you will happen if he decides to enforce federal laws and things go back to the way they were? I can tell you that there will probably be a sharp increase in violence, and definitely incarceration. All of which will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable people in America: the poor. Fortunately, it seems that the rest of the country doesn’t agree. A growing majority of Americans want legalization, and they strongly oppose enforcing federal prohibition in legal states. This is going to be a long fight, but I think that ultimately we will win. Source: Forbes Image Source: Business Insider What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below!
We May Soon Get Weed Emojis
When it comes to texting, there is no shortage of emojis, you know those fun little emoticons that seem to accompany every text message, social media post, and are sometimes even on emails from my professors. Except that there are no emojis for stoners. Whenever I need to use a weed emoji (which happens more than you might think), I have to use the leaf emoji, or a cloud emoji to indicate a cloud of smoke, or this angry looking guy blowing smoke out of his nose. Usually my point gets across, but it sure would be nice to have some weed emojis. One company is looking to change that. Make way for Kushmoji, soon to be the only emoji app especially for stoners! The app will offer every emoji that a stoner could possibly want, including the various faces that we make when we’re high, bongs, pot leaves, and even munchie foods. Kushmoji founder Ben Tyson is also partnering with various cannabis brands such as dispensaries, grow farms, makers of edibles, and even vape companies to have their products featured his app. According to the official Kushmoji site, some of the companies that they will be partnering with include: Leafs By Snoop, Infusiasm, Mary Jane’s Medicinals, and Incredibles, just to name a few. Tyson is doing something both innovative, and wonderful for businesses in the cannabis industry. Since cannabis is still prohibited ‘under federal law, it can be exceedingly difficult for these businesses to advertise and do other business. Kushmoji will certainly help them gain the exposure that they need to tap into the booming cannabis industry. The app is currently in development. They are running beta tests as we speak. You can get an invite by going here. I just requested mine. Hopefully I hear back! Source: Civilized Image Source: Huffington Post How excited are you for weed emojis? Share in the comments!
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