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Showing posts from June, 2019

UK Court Convicts CBD Flower Retailer

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BD Testers reports …..John King, owner of Mushroom Headshop & CBD Hemp Botanicals in Preston found that out for himself when he received that dreaded knock at the door. When he opened it he was shocked to see police officers there who arrested him for selling   CBD flowers. The report is also available to read at  UK Cannabis Social clubs website First UK conviction for CBD flower sales King was arrested, taken to court, and prosecuted. He was then found guilty and given a criminal conviction for selling   CBD flowers . As King warned in a Facebook post (which has since been deleted), “So there has been a conviction today in court. I was found guilty of possession of intent to supply class B drugs; the hemp flower is, in fact, illegal.” The fact that hemp is totally medicinal and offers no psychoactive effects seems to be irrelevant to the powers that be across the pond. With that said, CBD is actually legal in the UK and is sold openly in different forms across the country

Maine Governor Signs Recreational Marijuana Regulatory Framework Into Effect

Maine residents approved legal recreational marijuana back in 2016, but have been waiting on the government to approve a regulatory framework for the industry. Happily, the end of that wait is now in sight. Governor Janet Mills has signed into effect a law establishing cannabis industry guidelines that is set to take effect in September. That means the state’s first marijuana sales could take place as soon as early 2020.  “The rule development demonstrates what can be accomplished when state government works with lawmakers, industry stakeholders and the public to accomplish a shared goal,” said Mills. “With this law, we are one step closer to honoring the will of Maine voters.” The initial regulatory framework is restrictive for out of state cannabis companies hoping to expand into Maine’s new industry. A person who has lived in the state for four years will need to have at least 51 percent ownership for a company to be eligible for a license, a clause that will remain in effect unt

House Bill Would Permit Interstate Cannabis Commerce

Two lawmakers from Oregon introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress on Thursday that would allow for the interstate commerce of cannabis between states with legal pot. Under the measure from Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, federal agencies would be prohibited from interfering with cannabis trade between states that have specifically authorized such transfers. If successful, the bill would allow for the implementation of an Oregon state measure authorizing the export of marijuana to other states with legal cannabis. That bill, which was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown earlier this week, is seen as a way to deal with the state’s ongoing glut of legal marijuana. Protecting States’ Rights Wyden said in a press release on Thursday that the new federal bill, the State Cannabis Commerce Act , aims to preserve states’ rights while Congress struggles with the broader issue of marijuana legalization at the national level. “As more and more states legalize can

Bid For Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative Launched in Idaho

Cannabis activists in Idaho have launched a bid to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana in the state and will soon be collecting signatures to put a voter initiative on the ballot for the 2020 election. The legalization initiative was filed with the Idaho Secretary of State on Tuesday by members of the Idaho Cannabis Coalition. Once the initiative has been reviewed by the Secretary of State, activists will have until the end of April to gather the more than 55,000 signatures necessary for the initiative to qualify for the 2020 ballot. If the initiative is successful, patients with a qualifying serious medical condition would be allowed to possess up to four ounces of cannabis for medicinal use. It would also establish a system to regulate the production and sale of medical marijuana and protect medicinal cannabis users from discrimination in employment, housing, and education. “It’s a pretty carefully thought-out regulatory system both for patients and providers,” said James Piot

Lawyer Heading Up Regulate Florida Wants Cannabis Legally Accessible To Eveybody Over 21

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The Miami New Times reports that Florida lawyer Mike Minardi, who heads   Regulate Florida, is just one of 26 active petition drives affected by the new law. Here’s the report Regulate Florida is petitioning to make marijuana legally accessible to anybody age 21 and over — and regulated like alcohol. The group has gathered more than 70,000 signatures, almost enough for judicial review through the Florida Supreme Court, a required step before reaching the 766,200 signatures required to place the initiative on the ballot. Mike Minardi of Regulate Florida speaks on a panel during Saturday’s Marijuana Hemp and Health Expo at the Doubletree Hotel by Miami International Airport. Cannabis attorney Scherill Murray Powell is in the background. Carlos Miller Minardi, an attorney, says the bill does not affect any of the signatures that were already turned in. He also says that because the group has signed contracts with petition gatherers, he expects to continue operating under th

Canadian Company Exports Medicinal Cannabis Oil to UK

Canadian firm Tilray, Inc. has exported its first bulk shipment of medicinal cannabis oil to the United Kingdom, according to a press release from the company. The shipment comes after a controversy over another Tilray product led the U.K. government to approve the use of medical cannabis therapies for some seriously ill patients. The medicine exported to the UK is an oral solution with both THC and CBD as active ingredients. The medication is used to treat pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis-associated spasticity. Tilray produces the cannabis oil in Canada at a Good Manufacuting Practices (GMP) certified facility and has already completed bulk shipments of the drug to other European nations including Germany, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta. Catherine Jacobson, Tilray’s vice president of medical and regulatory affairs, said that importing the cannabis oil into the U.K. will create a more reliable and accessible source of medicine for patients. “This bu

Lighting Up Florida’s Medical Marijuana PEOPLE: The Front Lines

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CLR is pleased to announce we have a new correspondent reporting regularly from the front lines  in Florida. We rarely see informed and investigative articles either from the Florida press or law firms so we’re very pleased indeed to have Heather onboard to guide us through the complexities of what’s happening in the state. In this, her first article for CLR, she highlights for us who’s who and what’s what with regard to medical cannabis in the state. If you intend to work in Florida we’d suggest her work is a must read to start understanding what’s happening there.   Lighting Up Florida’s Medical Marijuana PEOPLE: The Front Lines For those of you in the dark about Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program, I will be lighting up the dim corners of Florida: The Nation’s Fastest-Growing Medical Marijuana Market , according to The Miami New Times on May 2, 2019.   First and foremost, I’ll highlight the patient perspective, patients like myself who are legally registered State of Florid

Governor of Illinois Signs Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Illinois just became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into effect on Tuesday that will automatically expunge and pardon the records of 800,000 state residents with a record of non-violent small scale cannabis possession.  “Today Illinois is demonstrating everything that can be accomplished when we set aside our comfort with the status quo and instead govern with the belief that our best days are ahead,” said Governor Pritzker at a press conference. “With this legislation our state is once again a leader.”  January 1 is the start date for the bill, which establishes that people who live in Illinois can possess up to 30 grams of cannabis. The limit is half that for visitors to the state. Adults 21 years old and up will be able to purchase at licensed dispensaries. Until January 1, marijuana possession remains illegal in the state. “We got here because we had a governor who fully supported it, and knew we had to do it w

Two Plead Guilty to Using United States Postal Service to Traffic Marijuana

Two men, one of whom is a Baltimore mail carrier, have pleaded guilty to smuggling marijuana into the city through the U.S. Postal Service. Both men face decades in federal prison as punishment for their convictions, according to a report in local media. Michael Gray pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana this week and could spend up to 20 years in prison for his role in the smuggling operation. William McRae, an employee of the Postal Service, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and faces incarceration of up to 40 years. Investigators discovered that since early 2017, more than 200 packages deemed to be suspicious had all been shipped from California to the 21223 ZIP code in Baltimore. The parcels had all been sent to addresses that were on McRae’s carrier route, according to court documents. On November 17, 2017, investigators learned that eight Priority Mail packages were on their way

Raid of Massive Illegal Cannabis Grow Site in California Took Four Days to Complete

Police in Santa Barbara County, California raided a massive illegal cannabis cultivation site last week, with deputies finding so many illicit plants the enforcement operation took four days to complete. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday that 350,000 cannabis plants had been destroyed and 20 tons of processed cannabis had been seized from the site. A two-month investigation into the cultivation operation culminated on June 17 with search warrants being served in northern Santa Barbara County near Buellton and two other sites, one in Santa Maria and another in neighboring San Luis Obispo County, according to Kelley Hoover, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. “The cultivation area itself was located on a property of approximately 187 acres of agricultural land, with just over 60 acres of it being used for the commercial cultivation of cannabis,” Hoover said . “From the initial investigation, it appeared the site was used to continually

University of Maryland Launching Master’s Program on Medical Cannabis

The University of Maryland is launching a master’s degree program to instruct students on the science and regulation of medical marijuana. The new Master of Science (MS) in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics will “provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to support patients and the medical cannabis industry, add to existing research in the field, and develop well-informed medical cannabis policy,” according to a press release from the university. The new degree is the first graduate program in the United States dedicated to the study of the medicinal use of cannabis . The two-year program will be based at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland and is designed for health care practitioners, scientists, regulators, dispensary owners, and other cannabis industry professionals. “The MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics is an incredibly unique program,” said Dr. Leah Sera , an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Sci

Lawsuit: Integrity vs Juniper Biolabs

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The media outlet reports… Here’s the introduction Integrity also filed for a temporary restraining order, which is scheduled for a hearing on Monday. Integrity is asking the court to stop Juniper Biolabs from selling any of the product. The damages represent the revenue that was promised. When the two companies entered into the agreement, Integrity’s owner was told that Bend’s Juniper Analytics Inc. was a partner in the lab, said Matt Goldberg, a Portland attorney hired by Integrity. That relationship and the price Juniper promised were two key reasons Integrity chose the firm, Goldberg said. The two companies signed an agreement in January, but by May, the deal unraveled. Full story at  https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/7248362-151/cannabis-lab-sued-after-hemp-deal-sours   https://www.bizapedia.com/or/juniper-biolabs-inc.html https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-ward-bb4b994a/ The post Lawsuit: Integrity vs Juniper Biolabs appeared first on CBD Oil Vape Liquid Spray -

Louisville Public Safety Committee Advances Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance

The capital of Kentucky, a state that lacks even a barebones medical marijuana program, has passed out of committee an ordinance regulating possession of small amounts of marijuana the lowest priority for law enforcement. The public safety committee of Louisville’s metro council voted for an ordinance on Wednesday that redirects city police from pursuing small time marijuana possession. Notable exceptions to the ordinance include marijuana being sold, possessed by minors, used while driving, or related to violence. “This is a pretty moderate law actually that’s intended to eliminate a large amount of unnecessary people going through the criminal justice system,” councilperson Brandon Coan told a local NBC affiliate. “When you think about equity and justice, my personal opinion is that this should have happened a long time ago,” said councilperson Green. State law defines possession of up to three ounces of marijuana a Class B misdemeanor, punishable with up to 45 days in jail. If

House Votes to Protect States With Legal Marijuana From Feds

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure on Thursday that protects states with legal marijuana from interference from the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies. The amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill prohibits the Justice Department from spending funds to prevent the states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia from enacting laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, and cultivation of marijuana. The bipartisan measure was sponsored by Democrats Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C. and Republican Rep. Tom McClintock of California. The House approved the measure on Thursday afternoon by a vote of 267 to 165. With a voice vote on Wednesday, the House passed a similar measure that prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with Native American tribes that implement their own cannabis laws on tribal lands. In a letter to fellow r

New York Legislators Vote to Pass Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

Unable to pass an anticipated bill to legalize marijuana in the state, New York’s state Senate and Assembly passed a bill on Thursday night to decriminalize the drug. Under the new regulation, small scale cannabis possession charges would be roughly equivalent to getting a parking ticket; $50 for under an ounce and $200 for under two ounces. The bill was passed mere hours before the end of the Senate’s 2019 session, and passed the state Assembly on Friday morning shortly before that body recessed for the year. Its sponsor was Democrat Senator from the Bronx Jamaal Bailey, who said small scale marijuana possession charges can derail individuals’ lives, “limiting their access to housing, access to education, affecting their ability to obtain employment.” A collective moan could almost be heard coming out of the Empire State after Senator Liz Krueger announced on Wednesday that the more comprehensive legalization bill was DOA. The bill was a stated priority of Governor Andrew Cuomo,

Prosecutor Issues Warning About Cannabis Edibles That Look Like Normal Candy

California Officials Launch Campaign to Combat Illicit Cannabis Market

California cannabis regulators launched a new campaign on Friday that aims to combat the illicit marijuana market by educating consumers about the risks of unlicensed operators. Lori Ajax, the Chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), said in a press release that the statewide “Get #weedwise” public information program will encourage consumers to only purchase cannabis products from licensed businesses and serve as a warning to unlicensed companies to submit to regulation. “This public education campaign is the first to focus on educating consumers about the differences between cannabis purchased from licensed retailers and that from illegal businesses,” said Ajax . What’s in Your Weed? Through the campaign, the BCC hopes to remind consumers that cannabis products that are purchased through licensed dispensaries have been lab tested for purity, safety, and potency. “What’s in your weed shouldn’t be a mystery. Shop licensed cannabis retailers only,” reads one ad in the new pr

Law Firm, Drummond Woodsum Report On Maine Legislature, New Rules Adopted

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The firm writes, ” As of 5:30 this morning, the adult use marijuana rules had been approved by the Maine State Legislature and were headed to the Governor’s desk for her signature. The rules will go into effect in 90 days, assuming the Governor signs the bill today. Our best guess is that license applications will become available in October/November 2019, and Drummond Woodsum’s Regulated Substances Group will continue to send updates.   Additionally, on June 18, 2019, the Governor signed into law an emergency bill increasing the amount of marijuana and marijuana products that a caregiver may wholesale to other caregivers and dispensaries from 30% of annual yield to 75% of annual yield. We will be sending information about additional developments relevant to the hemp and marijuana markets next week.” Also read the Press Herald Report It brings Maine one major step closer to its first legal recreational sales, which regulators estimate could occur in March 2020 – after the stat

Study Finds Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Increasing in United States

Researchers have found that the number of women in the United States who use cannabis during pregnancy is increasing, according to a study published this week in the medical journal JAMA . Cannabis use during the first trimester of pregnancy was especially prevalent, researchers determined. To conduct the study, researchers used self-reported data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health from 2002 through 2017. The percentage of pregnant women who had used cannabis the month prior to completing the survey increased from 3.4 percent in 2002 to 7 percent in 2017. Past-month marijuana usage by women during the first trimester of pregnancy increased from 5.7 percent to 12.1 percent. The researchers performing the study analyzed data from women 12 to 44 years old who responded to the survey. The respondents included 4,400 pregnant women and 133,900 women who were not pregnant at the time they participated in the survey. The study determined that women were using cannabis during pr