Christie this week reaffirmed his public commitment to making N.J. a national leader in fighting drug addiction. [photo] Governor Christie speaks about drug addiction at a Walgreens in East Brunswick on Dec. 22, 2016.(Photo: Nicholas Pugliese/STATE HOUSE BUREAU) Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday visited a Walgreens in East Brunswick to highlight initiatives the company is undertaking to promote the safe disposal of unused prescriptions drugs and expand access to a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. His final public appearance before Christmas came on the heels of a related event Wednesday evening where Christie and former Gov. Jim McGreevey led a candlelight vigil on the State House steps in memory of people who have died from or are struggling with addiction. [continues 642 words]
S.C. legislators are gearing up for another fight over a bill that would allow the legal use of medical marijuana in the Palmetto State. A half-dozen lawmakers Tuesday made their first order of business on the session's opening day the unveiling of the S.C. Compassionate Care Act. The bill would allow South Carolinians with "debilitating medical conditions" to use medical pot, when approved by a doctor. Last year, bipartisan efforts to legalize medical marijuana died in House and Senate committees. That effort was opposed by law enforcement officials, who said they feared that legalizing medical marijuana would lead to more pot being available in the state for non-medical uses. [continues 305 words]
Californians may have voted overwhelmingly on Nov. 8 to legalize marijuana, but Americans also elected Donald Trump, whose position on legalization has been a bit -- hazy. That's a potential problem because marijuana is regulated under federal law, giving Trump and his administration veto power over whether California and the seven other states that have voted to legalize cannabis can really do so. So where does the president-elect stand on pot? He has said he supports individuals' right to use medical marijuana "100%," which is good news for the 29 states that allow medicinal use of pot. As for adult recreational use, which Californians approved through Proposition 64, it's hard to say what he believes because his statements have been all over the map, shifting from audience to audience. [continues 667 words]
TUMWATER, Wash. - Behind the covered windows of a nondescript two-story building near the Olympia Regional Airport, hundreds of marijuana plants were flowering recently in the purple haze of 40 LED lights. It was part of a high-stakes experiment in energy conservation - an undertaking subsidized by the local electric company. With cannabis cultivation poised to become a big business in some parts of the country, power companies and government officials hope it will grow into a green industry. The plants here, destined for sale in the form of dried flowers, joints or edible items, were just a few weeks from harvest and exuding the potent aroma of a stash room for the Grateful Dead. But the energy-efficient LED lights were the focus of attention. [continues 1251 words]
SIERRA VISTA - If examples from Washington and Colorado are any indication, should Arizona voters pass Prop 205 this November and legalize recreational marijuana use for adults, there should be little to no federal interference with state law, even in areas with a high number of federal law enforcement agents, such as Cochise County. Just don't try to drive through a U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint with your state sanctioned weed, said Vic Brabble, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman for Arizona. [continues 1491 words]
There are only a few days left before voters' last chance to stop California's spiraling plunge into the marijuana morass now plaguing several states by voting no on Prop. 64. Supporters point out that responsible people can use marijuana without ill effect while ignoring it's the irresponsible that pose the threat. Further, they argue that marijuana DUIs are not as prevalent as alcohol users. I'm struggling to see the difference in that one. Proponents argue that tax revenue reaching more than a billion dollars, along with savings to the justice system of tens of millions, will be a boon to California. This ignores the fact that so many regulations being created will create new enforcement issues that will need to be addressed. A further argument is that this financial windfall will "fund youth prevention programs, marijuana research, better drugged driving tests, environmental remediation and grants to impacted communities." The irony is that Prop. 64 will exacerbate these needs. [continues 83 words]
Here's a sobering fact: One in four teens involved in a fatal collision tests positive for marijuana. It's a devastating, preventable loss. Young drivers, inexperienced by definition, are already at significantly higher risk for motor vehicle collision than any other age group. When they smoke pot, the risk doubles. Twenty-one per cent of teens have gotten behind the wheel within an hour of using drugs, according to data compiled by Parachute, a national charity dedicated to injury prevention. In fact, drug use has overtaken alcohol as a factor in fatal collisions - and young drivers are no exception. [continues 469 words]
Provincial officials head to Colorado to study weed industry Alberta's Justice Minister and Solicitor General is Colorado-bound to see how the state has handled legal weed. Kathleen Ganley said with marijuana's legalization in Canada imminent, it's prudent to look at best practices and lessons learned from a place that's pioneered the way. "The federal government will set the tone, if you will, or set the broad strokes for how restrictive the model is going to be and a whole number of other things, but then provinces will have to step in because some of it will be in provincial jurisdiction ... and of course our policing partners, as well, will have a large role to play, and municipalities probably as well ," Ganley said. "We're looking to all move together. [continues 274 words]
Why the celebrity licensing model is not just the gold standard for a cannabis brand, it's a necessity Cedella Marley's voice has a comforting, familiar lilt, the sound of the Jamaican heritage she shares with her late father. Some 35 years after Bob Marley's death, the Marley family has moved into the cannabis business with Seattle-based Privateer Holdings to launch Marley Natural, a line of hemp body products, elegant black walnut accessories and smartly packaged smokeables. Their biggest target market? Canada - once the recreational market opens up. [continues 2529 words]
On Aug. 22, the Tahoe Daily Tribune ran a story about Incline Village prohibitionist Jason Guinasso. (The piece previously appeared in the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza.) The article carried this quote from Guinasso: "At the end of the day, when we just committed to the biggest tax increase toward education, now we're legalizing marijuana to contribute to a lack of performance and addiction? ... It impacts our ability to educate." The article also reported, "He [Guinasso] cites a study from Duke University that tells how a person's IQ drops 8 percentage points by using marijuana." [continues 245 words]
"Santa Rosa wants this industry here. I think this is probably going to be the New Age Amsterdam." - - Larry Schaeffer, owner of Cherry Kola Farms near Penngrove, a medical cannabis collective Really? Says who? I don't mean to be rude. But who in the world made the decision that Santa Rosa wanted to become the new Amsterdam? Even Amsterdam doesn't even want to be Amsterdam - or at least the Amsterdam perceived by hordes of party-minded tourists. Contrary to popular belief, the Dutch never legalized marijuana. They've just basically tolerated it for years and only for possession of small amounts (5 grams or less) sold in official "cannabis cafes." But the government in recent years has been tightening the rules for these cafes, forcing many to shut down. And forget about growing it. It's illegal. You won't go to prison but try to grow as few as five plants and you could end up facing heavy fines and eviction. [continues 1139 words]
Controversy continued to swirl Friday over a ballot title rewrite for a state question aimed at legalizing medical marijuana. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Thursday released his rewritten version of the ballot title for State Question 788. On Friday, the attorney general's office received several calls thanking the office for the quick turnaround time on the revision and questioning "our rewrite," said Lincoln Ferguson, a Pruitt spokesman. The ballot title summarizes a state question for voters. The revision includes: "This measure legalizes the licensed use, sale, and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma. There are no qualifying medical conditions identified." [continues 874 words]
Justin Calvino raked a hand beneath a shimmering marijuana plant, combing through chips of century-old apple trees and manure from his stable of miniature horses. Come fall, the rich soil on his North Mendocino coast pot farm coupled with other factors like characteristic foggy mornings will yield high-grade sativa buds dripping with mind-altering potency - as well as notes of chocolate and lime. It's a unique product for discriminating palates and one Calvino hopes to market to consumers across California through a legally defined and protected geographical identification system similar to what's used in the wine industry. [continues 1442 words]
In November, voters in as many as 12 states will see a marijuana legalization initiative on their ballots. Marijuana is already legal for recreational use in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C. Another 25 states have legalized medical marijuana, including Hawaii. The era of marijuana prohibition is rapidly coming to a close. Unfortunately, lawmakers lack easy answers to tough questions facing the marijuana industry. Legalization presents challenges on a number of fronts, including distribution, taxation, consumption, security and public health. [continues 861 words]
Re "Regulate potency in pot before legalizing it" (Forum, Aug. 21): Any attempt to regulate the potency - the THC level - of cannabis will just keep the black market thriving and the drug cartels profiting. Environmental disasters due to rogue growers will not be curtailed. The author says he researched his story, but he compares cannabis to alcohol and opiates? Marijuana is nowhere near as addicting, and no one has ever died from excessive cannabis intake. Decades of research point to a variety of medical uses for this unique compound, including pain relief, relief from PTSD, nausea and vomiting, as well as appetite stimulation, and benefits for asthma, glaucoma and as a sleep aid. The much revered Rick Simpson Oil used as a cure for cancer contains a high level of THC. I do agree with Sam Quinones that "legalizing marijuana needs to happen," but not with his concept of regulating the THC level. Jeff Ball, Sacramento [end]
State Assemblyman Jim Wood's Cottage Cannabis Farmers Bill cleared one of its last hurdles Wednesday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for a final signature, after which it would become law. Assembly Bill 2516 would establish a new medical marijuana cultivator license category for what Wood calls, "microfarmers." The new license, or specialty cottage cultivator license, would be available to farmers with 2,500 square feet or less of total canopy size for mixed-light cultivation, up to 25 mature marijuana plants for outdoor cultivation, or 500 square feet or less of total canopy size for indoor cultivation, per parcel. [continues 124 words]
If Californians legalize marijuana under Proposition 64 in November, legal cannabis sales in the state likely will climb by $1.6 billion within the first year of implementation, according to a report released Tuesday. That would put the state's medical and recreational market on track to hit $6.5 billion in revenue by 2020 up from $2.8 billion in 2015, industry research firms Arcview Group and New Frontier state in the report. And the researchers argue it would serve as a "watershed moment" for the industry in and outside the United States. [continues 868 words]
Humboldt County's proposed excise tax for medical marijuana farms has created a rift between local growers. Several farmers have come out against the tax model, calling it premature, hasty and partial to larger farms. Other cultivators say they are supportive of it and feel that the time is ripe to pay their fair share in society to bring in badly needed revenue for county schools, roads and mental health services among others. But the recently created Humboldt County Cannabis Chamber of Commerce argues the tax measure as written "misses the mark" on those funding goals. [continues 631 words]
In November, California will consider whether to legalize recreational marijuana, and voters seem ready to approve the idea. But the question of legalization is out of date, and is derived from the mistaken idea that all pot is created equal and that most of it is fairly weak. A question we ought to ask ourselves is just as important if legalization is to succeed: What kind of marijuana should we legalize? The hyper-potent mutant strains that pass for marijuana today have little relation to naturally grown pot associated with Northern California hippie growers of the 1970s. Levels of THC tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical that creates the high in pot now reach 20 to 30 percent, which is seven to 15 times the potency of a few decades ago. [continues 736 words]
EDITOR: Santa Rosa is a destination for tourism, dining, wine tasting, boutique breweries, cycling, and the list goes on. Job growth and increasing real estate values are all the more reason not to encourage an industry such as the production of cannabis to be a part of our local economy ("SR aims to be epicenter of legal pot industry," Aug. 14). It brings with it health and safety hazards and environmental concerns. The industry also encourages low-wage earners and has low-density employment. [continues 59 words]
