August 17, 2020
Montana Will Vote On Two Marijuana Legalization Measures In November, State Confirms
Montana’s secretary of state announced on Thursday that marijuana activists collected more than enough signatures to qualify two legalization measures for the November ballot. One initiative, a statutory change, would create a system of legal cannabis access for adult-use. A separate constitutional amendment would ensure only those 21 and older can participate in the market. If the statutory measure is approved by voters, possessing up to an ounce of cannabis would be allowed, and people could cultivate up to four plants and four seedlings at home.
Learn more
TOP THINGS TO KNOW: The Food and Drug Administration is hiring a contractor to help test thousands of CBD-infused foods, drinks, oils, cosmetics and other products for cannabinoid content and contaminants such as pesticides and microbes. “These studies and the analytical information they obtain will not only be reported to Congress, but will also be used to guide the development of future policy.” Maine regulators announced that recreational marijuana sales can finally begin on October 9.
Learn more
Once again, a battle is brewing in Arizona over the legalization of marijuana. A lawsuit has recently been filed against Smart and Safe Arizona, aiming to halt the adult-use initiative on the ballot this November. The campaign has embraced fictitious information, fear tactics, and has garnered support from numerous local public officials and politicians. It seems those in opposition of marijuana legalization will stop at nothing to prevent a legitimate conversation about the facts surrounding adult-use marijuana in the United States.
Learn more
August 16, 2020
Parents of toddler with severe epilepsy seek legal review of cannabis oil guidelines
The parents of a toddler with severe epilepsy are seeking a landmark judicial review of rigid guidelines that effectively prevent the NHS from prescribing medical cannabis oil, a substance that they say has allowed their son to live a much healthier life, to thousands of sick children. Charlie Hughes, 3, has a rare form of epilepsy called West syndrome, which is resistant to most forms of treatment and can cause him to have up to 120 seizures a day, according to his parents, Alison and Matt Hughes. With regular full extract cannabis oil, however, he experiences no more than 20 less severe seizures a day.
Learn more
August 13, 2020
As Texas Hemp Farmers Prepare For Their First-Ever Harvest, Cannabis Regulation Remains Complicated
In Bergheim, Texas, just north of San Antonio, there’s a skunky smell in the air. “You know, that's a really good description. Skunky is a very typical terpene that is in most of these plants,” Austin Ruple said. He’s the president and co-owner of Pur IsoLabs — a hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) company that grows hemp and manufactures retail CBD products. Ruple stood next to a field of more than 300 hemp plants — a type of cannabis that’s rich in CBD, a legal compound that does not get users high.
Learn more
August 13, 2020
Marijuana legalization measure to appear on November ballot
The Montana Secretary of State certified that a measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana in the state has gathered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. If passed, the measure would legalize the possession and use of limited amounts of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The measure would also establish a 20% tax of non-medical marijuana.
Learn more
August 13, 2020
Official: S.D. industrial-hemp program should be up and running in time for 2021 growing season
Now that South Dakota’s proposed plan for allowing low-THC hemp is under review at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers and processors can get ready for a crop next year. State officials announced earlier this week they had submitted the plan to USDA. The federal process can take up to 60 days. During that time, USDA staff will look it over, as will the department’s legal office and a department undersecretary. Assuming the plan receives federal approval, the next step in South Dakota will be the state Department of Agriculture setting rules, such as fees for the various licenses.
Learn more
August 13, 2020
Where does Kamala Harris stand on marijuana?
US Senator Kamala Harris, chosen Tuesday to be former vice president Joe Biden’s running mate, has a track record on marijuana policy that has evolved significantly over the course of her career. Though she coauthored an official voter guide argument opposing a California cannabis legalization measure as a prosecutor in 2010 and laughed in the face of a reporter who asked her about the issue in 2014, she went on to sponsor legislation to federally deschedule marijuana in 2019.
Learn more
August 13, 2020
What proponents aren't telling you about Prop. 207, which would legalize pot in Arizona
The campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona calls its ballot measure “smart and safe.” It is neither. The misleading title, however, is only the most prominent example of the industry claiming to do one thing while their proposition does the opposite. Start with the first 13 words of Proposition 207’s summary: “This Act permits limited possession, transfer, cultivation, and use of marijuana (as defined) …”
Learn more
August 13, 2020
TEXAS PUNISHING PEOPLE, SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THEIR HEMP SCREW-UP
Though Texas lawmakers legalized production and sale of hemp in their last legislative session, they have now created a framework that essentially bans the sale of “smokable” products. Edible goods, tinctures, and topicals remain okay under the new program. But farmers and cannabis activists alike feel lawmakers violated the scope of the original legislation. This week hemp manufacturers and retailers filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of State Health Services over the new administrative rule, which went into effect August 2.
Learn more
