420 with CNW Archives - Page 128 of 297

FridayMar 04, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — California Bill Hopes to End Employment Discrimination Against Cannabis Users

A new bill introduced to the California Assembly seeks to bring an end to employment discrimination against cannabis consumption outside work. Assembly Member Bill Quirk (D–CA) introduced the AB 2188 bill on Feb. 15, 2022, to stop discrimination based on testing of cannabis metabolites, which can be found in a consumer’s body fluids weeks after consumption. According to Lauren Mendelsohn, an attorney from California-based Omar Figueroa, the bill would prevent employers from firing or refusing to hire based on a person's off-duty use or detection of cannabis metabolites found in work-mandated tests. However, the bill exempts employers who are obligated…

FridayMar 04, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — NCAA Committee Makes Recommendation to Increase THC Threshold for Drug Tests

The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports under the NCAA recently announced new recommendations which stipulate that student athletes wouldn’t automatically lose their eligibility to play after testing positive for cannabis. The committee increased the threshold for THC, which constituted a positive test to 150 nanograms (“ng”) per ml from 35 ng per ml. This increase aligns the NCAA’s policy with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s policy. Various discussions on the NCAA’s rules on marijuana have been held by members these past few months. This latest decision is consistent with moves made in different professional sports leagues as…

ThursdayMar 03, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — USDA Asks White House to Authorize Large Hemp Survey

Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) put out a notice seeking approval from the White House to carry out a survey. The agency plans to partner with the University of Kentucky to conduct this follow-up to the first hemp survey released earlier this year on Feb. 17, 2022. According to the notice, the survey is designed to collect data that will be used to forecast hemp activity as well as provide more information on production practices and costs. Stakeholders lack consistent knowledge and information to navigate risks within the sector. The main purpose of the survey is meant…

ThursdayMar 03, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Leafly Report Says US Cannabis Sector Employs About 500K

On Wednesday, Leafly released a new report showing almost half a million Americans worked full-time in the cannabis industry. Despite challenges related to the pandemic, figures from the report show that the industry is growing as states such as Connecticut, New Jersey and New York look to implement retail sales. Now in its sixth year of reporting, Leafly partnered with Whitney Economics, a firm that analyzes the cannabis economy. According to Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita, the company’s operations filled the gap that has led to a lack of federal reporting. Moreover, the company also aims to advocate for social equity…

WednesdayMar 02, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Supreme Court Requests Solicitor General for Brief on Medical Cannabis Worker’s Compensation Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court is requesting that the federal government give its opinion on whether federal law affords protections to employers that don’t cover medical cannabis costs for workers who have been injured on the job, even in states where its legal. State courts arrived at different conclusions on this during a discussion on cases concerning employees in Minnesota who sought worker’s compensation for medical marijuana expenses after they were hurt while on the job. This led the Supreme Court to request that the solicitor general weigh in on the matter, which is a significant development in cases that may…

WednesdayMar 02, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — NIDA to Fund Studies on Different Marijuana Regulation Models

Although many people consider cannabis to be a versatile alternative medicine, the reality is that there is barely any scientific research on its potential risks and benefits. Thanks to federal prohibition laws that consider cannabis a class I drug with no medical application, research into the plant has been outlawed for decades. However, there has been an increasing push for more cannabis research as more states legalize the plant for medical and recreational use. One of the country’s top federal agencies has thrown its weight behind this growing movement. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (“NIDA”) has increased its effort…

TuesdayMar 01, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Pew Study Shows Increase in Drug-Related Arrests While Incarcerations Reduce

A new study from the Pew Charitable Trust reveals that police have continued arresting people for illegal substances despite states adopting policies designed to reduce the number of incarcerations. The report expounds on drug policy and enforcement trends that have been developed between 2009 and 2019. In the past decade, state and federal policies have changed with more prosecutors dropping marijuana cases. The study highlights some of the positive outcomes, which include low incarceration rates, reduced cannabis-related arrests and reduced racial differences in overall drug enforcement. However, despite all these efforts, arrests of drug possession still number more than a…

TuesdayMar 01, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Advocate Informs Congress That Minority Marijuana Firms Need Federal Financial Assistance

During a House Financial Services Subcommittee hearing, Amber Littlejohn stated that minority-owned and small cannabis firms may not survive without federal relief. Littlejohn, the executive director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, stated that supporting the SAFE Banking Act as well as other measures would make state-legal cannabis companies eligible for federal financial assistance from the Small Business Administration. The subcommittee hearing, which was held last week, discussed consumer protections and financial institutions. Littlejohn then explained that minority marijuana businesses would probably not survive long enough to see federal legalization, especially without some relief from Congress. She added that social…

MondayFeb 28, 2022 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — California Growers Welcome Turnaround in Marijuana Pricing

Following the rise in the prices of bulk cannabis flower, growers in California now have a chance to celebrate the rebound as sales continue to grow. The drop in prices started more than a year ago with November recording the lowest number of sales. According to industry officials, the slump in prices could be attributed to high taxes, a flourishing underground market and a small number of brick-and-mortar retail outlets for cannabis products among others. These problems cut across the industry affecting small-sized businesses as well as large-scale brands. Several operators, however, have reported a turnaround with sales in January. According…

MondayFeb 28, 2022 4:20 am

420 with CNW — USDA Survey Reveals Hemp Market Reached $824M Valuation in 2021

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) revealed that the value of the hemp market in 2021 reached $824 million. The survey is the first federal study into the hemp sector, and the analysis is meant to be used as a benchmark for the sector’s economic impact. According to Hubert Hamer, an administrator for USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (“NASS”), the report would provide producers, state governments, regulators, processors and other key players with benchmarks on hemp production. The Hemp Acreage and Production Survey was undertaken in collaboration with the University of Kentucky and the National Association of State…