May 2020 - CannabisNewsWire

FridayMay 29, 2020 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Are Hemp Masks the Answer to Sustainable Personal Protection Amid this Pandemic?

The novel coronavirus first appeared late last year in Wuhan, China, and in a little over five months, has brought the entire globe to its knees. With more than 5.5 million confirmed infections and at least 350,000 lives lost, the virus has thrown the world into disarray, with most governments issuing lockdown and stay at home orders to curb its spread. Unfortunately, experts say we may be stuck dealing with the pandemic for up to two years and that even with a vaccine, it may never go away. The pandemic has placed a massive strain on supply chains, leading to…

FridayMay 29, 2020 4:20 am

420 with CNW – Oklahoma Could Soon Pioneer Marijuana Breathalyzer Use

In the coming months, Oklahoma may be pioneering a pilot program that will greatly influence how driving laws are enforced in regard to cannabis use. The state is currently working on the implementation of a program to conduct marijuana breathalyzer tests which will allow the police to accurately determine who’s driving while high. Last week, Oklahoma’s legislature passed legislation requiring the Department of Public Safety to dedicate $300,000 to pay for the marijuana breathalyzer test kits. The agency will be tasked with coming up with new rules and regulations for the pilot program. One issue that has stood in the…

ThursdayMay 28, 2020 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Argentina Legalized and Gives Away Free Medical Marijuana

Cannabis has been prohibited for decades, but in the past few years, attitudes have started shifting. The U.S. has been one of the pioneer countries, with numerous states allowing either recreational use, medical use or both, and generating billions of dollars in sales. Canada hasn’t done so bad either, with the world’s largest cannabis company, Canopy Growth situated in Smith Falls, Ontario. However, one country that seems to have made quite progressive marijuana reforms while staying relatively under the radar is Argentina. In 2009, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling, the Arriola decision, declaring that personal use of small…

ThursdayMay 28, 2020 4:20 am

420 with CNW – Long Lines as Recreational Pot Shops Reopen in Massachusetts

When governments issued lockdown and social distancing orders to curb the spread of the coronavirus, most states with legal marijuana programs deemed cannabis an essential service, allowing both recreational pot shops and medical marijuana dispensaries to continue operating. In Massachusetts, however, only medical marijuana shops were deemed essential, forcing residents who wanted to indulge in recreational pot during the lockdown to turn elsewhere. With the state slowly reopening, recreational marijuana retailers have been allowed to reopen since they were forced to shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. With customers now able to order in advance and pick…

WednesdayMay 27, 2020 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Jamaica Allows Online Medical Cannabis Purchases as COVID-19 Fight Intensifies

The coronavirus pandemic has shown just how essential the cannabis industry is, with numerous territories allowing medical and recreational pot shops to continue operating during the lockdown and granting them certain permissions to keep transactions between staff and employees smooth and safe. The Jamaican government, for instance, recently announced that it will be allowing medical marijuana patients to make cannabis purchases online for pickup at ‘herb houses’ to maintain social distancing and help combat the spread of the coronavirus. The interim rule change was made by the country’s Cannabis Licensing Authority [CLA] in coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce,…

WednesdayMay 27, 2020 4:20 am

420 with CNW – Utah Treasurer and AG Back Cashless Marijuana Transactions

Federal prohibition has been a massive thorn in the state legal marijuana industry’s side for years, and the coronavirus pandemic has made this abundantly clear. Despite cannabis being declared an essential service by most states with legal cannabis programs, businesses in the sector have been subject to federal restrictions that have made it nearly impossible to operate safely in these trying times. Aside from being denied access to relief funds dispensed by the federal government, marijuana businesses do not have access to the banking system, forcing them to operate on a cash only basis. This not only puts them at…

TuesdayMay 26, 2020 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – Italian Supreme Court Confirms Personal Marijuana Cultivation is Legal

In a landmark decision that triggered anger from the country’s conservatives and calls for further legalization from cannabis advocates, Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled that small scale domestic cannabis cultivation is legal. On December 19, the Court of Cassation was called on by the Supreme Court to give a clear interpretation of the Consolidated Law, the legal framework for dealing with drugs in the country. However, its interpretation of the law, stating that personal cultivation of small amounts of cannabis is legal, went under the radar until after Christmas. Since 2014, Italy’s law has provided a distinction between softer and…

TuesdayMay 26, 2020 4:20 am

420 with CNW – Illinois Unveils $31 Million Program to Address Harms of Marijuana Prohibition

For a long time, the federal government has outlawed cannabis, and it is no question that certain communities have suffered most from its decades’ long law war on marijuana. Aside from creating new job opportunities and producing tax revenue from sales, advocates for legalizing marijuana have argued that legalizing it would be the first step in stopping this unfair persecution. Indeed, several states that have legalized cannabis within their borders have directed substantial funds towards repairing the damage the war on drugs has had on certain communities. Illinois, for instance, has had a very lucrative legal cannabis scene, and a…

FridayMay 22, 2020 4:20 pm

420 with CNW – How Tech Can Keep Marijuana Afloat During the Pandemic

A little over four months after the coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China, it has infected at least 5 million individuals, claimed over 300,000 lives and brought the world economy to a standstill. As the world takes steps to curb the spread of the virus, technology has proven crucial, allowing governments and businesses to keep operating from home and helping workers and customers stay safe. And as experts say we may be grappling with the coronavirus for at least two more years, the role of technology in our daily lives is even more important. Cannabis was lucky enough to…

FridayMay 22, 2020 4:20 am

420 with CNW – D.C. Mayor Seems to be Setting the Stage for Marijuana Sales

On May 17, the mayor of Washington D.C. released a budget plan for the 2021 fiscal year, and it may have positive implications for the city’s medical marijuana program. Based on language included in the plan, it looks like the local government is preparing to implement regulations for medical marijuana sales as soon as Congress Okays it. Although low level possession and home cultivation has been legal for adults over 21 since a ballot measure was passed in 2014, the local government has been unable to add a legal sales component due to Congressional interference. In the budget plan for…