420 with CNW Archives - Page 92 of 309

FridayMar 10, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Data Shows Increased Enforcement Against Illicit Marijuana Operations in California

Despite dozens of states legalizing cannabis use for either medical or recreational purposes, America’s illicit cannabis market is still going strong. Legal operators have struggled to compete with illicit sellers amid strict regulations and relatively high cannabis taxes that have made legal marijuana much more expensive than its illicit counterpart. By the end of 2021, illicit sales of cannabis had reached close to $8 billion annually, doubling the volume of sales from legal operators and forcing many of them to close shop. However, in California regulators are actively taking steps to reduce the illicit market’s stranglehold on the state’s cannabis…

FridayMar 10, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — DOJ Launches Application for Federal Cannabis Pardon Certificates

Last week the Justice Department (DOJ) released an application form for those who were eligible for President Joseph Biden's mass cannabis pardon to complete to prove that they received clemency. Biden issued an executive order in October pardoning those convicted of marijuana possession offenses in violation of federal law. Although the pardon was automatic, activists have pushed government representatives to create a form that can be used to request certificates proving coverage. This might be helpful for individuals whose previous convictions are, for instance, keeping them from finding employment or housing. Elizabeth Oyer, the pardon attorney, had stated in December…

ThursdayMar 09, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Two Cannabis Legalization Measures in Wyoming Fail to Make 2024 Ballot

Cannabis reform activists in Wyoming ran into a wall after two measures meant to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize cannabis possession failed to make it to the 2024 ballot. Wyoming NORML, one of the primary sponsors of the cannabis legalization measures, said last week that activists collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, the organizers did not gather enough petitions in two-thirds of Wyoming counties to meet the state’s required minimum percentage. The activists said that despite failing to get the measures on next year’s ballot, they will continue working with lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session to…

ThursdayMar 09, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — North Carolina Senate Approves Bill Legalizing Medical Cannabis

The North Carolina Senate has approved a bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state and sent it to the House. The legislation was first filed by Senate Rules and Operations Committee Chairman Bill Rabon last year and was cleared by the Senate before being blocked by House Republicans. Rabon refiled the bill in late January amid statements from a key chamber leader that the bill was “well-constructed” and addresses a lot of key concerns. The medical marijuana bill was approved by three separate committees and received initial approval on the Senate floor a day before advancing in a 36–10…

WednesdayMar 08, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Carriers Requested to Share Views on Cannabis Policy vs. Trucking

In light of the rising number of states that have legalized marijuana, the American Transportation Research Institute is seeking feedback from carriers on whether federal drug testing regulations for CDL holders should be altered. Currently, recreational cannabis is legal in more than 20 states, with Missouri and Maryland being the latest to legalize it. The survey, which was introduced on Feb. 15, 2023, seeks to learn more about the impact legalized marijuana has had on the workforce in the trucking sector. Motor carrier executives and employees who are familiar with the procedures for hiring, retaining and testing drivers for drugs…

WednesdayMar 08, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Virginia’s Recreational Marijuana Launch Stalls Indefinitely

Less than two years after Virginia set out to be the first southern state to legalize the sale of adult-use cannabis, the state’s anticipated start date of Jan. 1, 2024, has been essentially canceled. Governor Ralph Northam approved the legislation in April 2022, making it legal for Virginia residents to own and grow up to four cannabis plants. Additionally, it mandated that recreational sales start by Jan. 1, 2024. However, the law also mandated that the assembly later reenact several of the legislation's provisions, including specifications on regulation and market structures such as licensing. The chances of those laws passing…

TuesdayMar 07, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Research Suggests CBD May Curb Nicotine Cravings

Cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help cigarette smokers quit the habit by curbing nicotine cravings. Scientists at Washington State University recently published a study indicating that the cannabinoid reduced nicotine cravings by inhibiting an enzyme that is associated with nicotine processing. CBD is part of a class of compounds called cannabinoids that are produced by plants in the cannabis family. But unlike THC, the cannabinoid that gives cannabis its psychoactive effects, cannabidiol has no psychoactive properties. Research has instead revealed that CBD has potent medicinal properties that can be effective against a wide variety of medical conditions. This recent…

TuesdayMar 07, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Iowa Legislators File Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill

On Feb. 21, 2023, Iowa Democratic legislators introduced a bill that would permit adult-use cannabis for recreational purposes. The proposed legislation would make it legal for adults 21 years and older with valid identification to possess cannabis with up to 500 milligrams of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The legislation, which has yet to be formally brought to the House, also establishes a tax on authorized cannabis sales and lays the groundwork for regulated commercial marijuana sales. According to House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Iowans of all political persuasions have voiced their strong support for legalizing marijuana, and…

MondayMar 06, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Voters in Oklahoma to Decide Whether to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Voters in Oklahoma are on track to vote on legislation that would legalize recreational cannabis in the state. On March 7, 2023, Oklahomans will get the chance to vote for or against state question 820, which asks if voters would like to expand the state’s medical cannabis industry to include adult-use cannabis. If Oklahomans vote in favor of the measure, Oklahoma will become the 22nd state in the nation to put a stop to marijuana prohibition. The measure comes close to five years after Oklahoma residents turned out in record numbers to vote in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. Activists…

MondayMar 06, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Alaskan Supreme Court Announces Plan to Expunge Cannabis Possession Criminal Records

The Alaska Supreme Court has announced that it would expunge cannabis convictions from the records of hundreds of Alaskans. An order signed by five Supreme Court justices revealed that the court would remove the cannabis possession convictions of 750 residents from the online court case database. However, rather than completely expunge certain cannabis records, the court will simply shield them from public view. So while the general public would likely find it hard to see these records, the records will still be accessible for inspection at courthouses and via formal criminal background checks. Only Alaskans who were aged 21 and…