420 with CNW Archives - Page 176 of 301

MondayApr 19, 2021 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Medical Cannabis Bill Awaits Floor Vote in Alabama House

Patients suffering from a variety of serious ailments in Alabama are a step closer to accessing medical cannabis after a House Committee made several amendments to a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the state. The legislation, which has already passed the Senate, would allow qualifying patients to purchase and possess up to 70 daily doses of medical cannabis. Additionally, the bill would establish an Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and task it with implementing industry legislations and issuing licenses. Senator Tim Melson, who sponsored the bill, stated that giving patients access to medical cannabis could reduce the number of…

MondayApr 19, 2021 4:20 am

420 with CNW — New York Company Says Device Can Identify Drivers Impaired by Cannabis

As more states across the United States decriminalize or legalize recreational and medicinal cannabis, concerns about cannabis impairment have been floated, with some of the opinion that the plant’s legalization will bring about increased dangerous driving. Various studies have been conducted on marijuana and driving while impaired. So far, it has been determined that knowing whether a driver’s ability has been impaired by cannabis is a distinctly different task than determining whether an individual has been driving with too much alcohol in their bloodstream. This is mainly because THC, which is the main active chemical in cannabis, can stay in…

FridayApr 16, 2021 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ailing MTA Employee Mulls $5 Million Suit Against New York for Denying Him Medical Cannabis

Although more than 30 states have legalized some form of cannabis, the drug still remains illegal at the federal level. So while people in states with legal cannabis markets can consume cannabis legally, they are still liable to federal repercussions in certain situations. This is especially true for individuals who are employed by federal organizations, which base their policies on federal regulations and consequently penalize employees who use cannabis. An ailing Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) worker found this out the hard way after the NYC Transit Authority suspended him and forced him to attend drug rehab classes for using medical…

FridayApr 16, 2021 4:20 am

420 with CNW — States Eyeing Marijuana Legalization in 2021

The past decade has been great for both recreational and medical cannabis, with more than 30 states legalizing some form of cannabis. The 2020 ballot saw five more states pass cannabis reform legislation, and 2021 is poised to be a good year for cannabis as well. Quite recently New York, New Mexico and Virginia passed legislation allowing recreational cannabis. Although it may seem like the wave of cannabis reform sweeping through the nation has reached its peak, the year is far from over. Lawmakers in several more states are still working on developing cannabis regulations and ending prohibition within their…

ThursdayApr 15, 2021 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Poll Finds Nearly Half of All Texans Empathize with Pandemic Marijuana Users

A survey conducted recently in the state of Texas has found that one in every five residents in the state have a more relaxed attitute toward the use of recreational cannabis. This comes at a time when several marijuana reform bills have been introduced during this legislative session in the state. The body that carried out the poll, Recovery.org, surveyed 3,000 residents in the state, with results revealing that 20% of those surveyed were more relaxed about using marijuana recreationally after experiencing a year of lockdown, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery.org stated that many individuals were able…

ThursdayApr 15, 2021 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Nevada Legislative Committee Approves Bill Allowing Marijuana Consumption Lounges

Last week, a legislation to permit on-site cannabis consumption lounges was approved in an Assembly committee in Nevada. Backed by Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager, the bill would establish two new categories for marijuana business licenses in Nevada. One of the categories would cater for independent marijuana consumption lounges and the other for retail marijuana consumption lounges. Under the social use legislation, existing retailers will be allowed to apply for retail consumption lounge licenses as well as sell products to individuals aged 21 or older, which could be ingested on-site. However, independent lounges will be required to have cannabis products…

WednesdayApr 14, 2021 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Why Cannabis Legalization in Virginia Could Trigger Federal Marijuana Policy Reform

At the moment, 36 states have legalized medical cannabis while 16 states allow recreational cannabis, showing that a majority of Americans support cannabis decriminalization. Although both New York and Virginia had legalized recreational cannabis by the end of March, it was the news that the Southern state had finally allowed adult-use marijuana that illustrated just how much the tide had changed in cannabis’ favor. With the Democratic Party in control of both the House and Senate and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gunning for federal legalization, the chances that we will soon see a federal cannabis legalization bill are pretty…

WednesdayApr 14, 2021 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Legislators in Washington Hear Drug Decriminalization Bill After Supreme Court Ruling

Legislators in Washington state are weighing their options after a Supreme Court ruling annulled the state’s law that criminalizes drug possession. Of the many initiatives that have been introduced in response to the court’s February decision, it appears that Senate Bill 5476 will most likely be advanced before the end of the legislative session on April 25. If the bill passes, it would represent a shift toward a public health approach to substance use and abuse and away from the punitive war on drugs. Under the bill, the possession of “smaller” personal use amounts of controlled substances by individuals aged…

TuesdayApr 13, 2021 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Texas Legislative Committee Unanimously Approves Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill

Last week, a Texas House committee voted in favor of a bill to expand the state’s medical cannabis program. One of a number of cannabis reform bills discussed by the legislature last week, the legislation was sponsored by House Public Health committee chair Stephanie Klick. The bill is designed to significantly expand Texas’ already-limited medical marijuana Compassionate Use Program (“TCUP”), adding a couple more conditions to the list of diseases that qualify patients for a medical marijuana prescription. Patients suffering from chronic pain and any type of cancer, as well as veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, will now be able…

TuesdayApr 13, 2021 4:20 am

420 with CNW — West Virginia Medical Cannabis Edibles Bill Appears Stalled

Although West Virginia passed a bill to legalize medical cannabis back in 2017, the state still hasn’t launched a medical marijuana industry. Now it seems like a bill that would have expanded the space to include cannabis edibles has stalled in a state health committee. Bill SB 590, which was introduced by Senators Mike Woelfel, Stephen Baldwin, Shelley Moore Capito, Ron Stollings, and Richard David Lindsay II would have allowed the state’s medical cannabis program to incorporate edibles, but it looks like its chances of moving forward are slim. On March 24, the Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of the…