Sep 18, 2017 | MMJ News
A last trump customarily refers to the final trumpet call that signals the end of an era. The Los Angeles Times is concerned the days of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment might be drawing as abruptly to a close. That amendment to the federal spending bill prevents the Justice Department interfering with medical marijuana businesses ‘that comply with their state’s laws’, but this could fall away.
Rohrabacher-Blumenauer requires annual verification when the federal spending bill comes up for consideration. This has consistently happened since 2014. Senate already approved it this July. This approval has, however, no force unless Congress concurs too and that may not happen this time.
Congress has an instrument called the House Rules Committee, which balances in favor of the majority party. Since Congress does not have unlimited time for discussions, the Rules Committee determines the ‘rules’ governing debate over a specific measure. On September 6, the committee decided to exclude the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment from the federal spending bill debate. (more…)
Jul 29, 2017 | MMJ News
A few weeks ago we posed the question whether Congress was about to change a clause in the omnibus spending bill regarding medical marijuana. This has historically shielded MMJ from federal oppression in states that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical cannabis. At the time, the situation appeared to be on a knife-edge. Thankfully, sanity has prevailed one more time.
The Huffington Post reports how Jeff Sessions, 84th Attorney General of the United States had been pressing the Senate Appropriations Committee to change the status quo. In May 2017, he wrote a personal letter to congressional leaders to repeal the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, thereby putting persons with dread diseases at risk of arrest for taking marijuana to ease their pain.
The Attorney-General previously wrote, “I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of a historic drug epidemic and a potentially long-term uptick in violent crime.” We will pass on whether people reposing on a sick bed are capable of such things, and continue with events that unfolded in Senate on Thursday, July 28, 2017. (more…)
Jul 5, 2017 | MMJ News
In 2003, Reps. Maurice Hinchey, Dana Rohrabacher, and Sam Farr produced a piece of legislation aimed at preventing the Justice Department spending money to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana (MMJ) programs. After failing six times, it finally became law in 2014 as part of an omnibus spending bill. The full text thus incorporated read:
“None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”
The medical marijuana lobby hailed this as a victory for MMJ, and proof the battle was over finally. But, was it? The text was time-based, just like the omnibus spending bill that required refreshment every year. (more…)
Apr 13, 2017 | Marijuana Legalization, MMJ News
We are delighted we finally appear to making progress with reconciling the 2015 Medical Marijuana Regulation Safety Act, and the 2016 AUMA Proposition 64. This time, Gov. Brown is drawing a clearer line between the two marijuana industries. We agree this is a counter to any future federal interference. In simplified form for sake of brevity, here are Gov. Jerry’s main thoughts.
- The Teamsters Union proposal is set aside in favor of multiple licensing
- Hence businesses can apply to grow, manufacture, distribute, and sell
- However testing facilities will not be considered for these other licenses
- And medical and marijuana businesses may not operate on same premises
While these are the main thrusts to the draft language, could the devil lie in the detail as contained in California Norml’s more comprehensive piece? It remains to be seen what consumers are going to make of this, and how powerfully business, political and union interests lobby for or against it. (more…)
Mar 20, 2016 | Marijuana Legalization, MMJ News
As the medical marijuana industry emerges from the shadows, new entrants are learning a new lingo and methods that previously cloaked activities from the unconverted. Nowadays pretty much everyone know that ‘bud’ refers to marijuana flowers. As growers became more sophisticated, they adopted the tomato-growing habit of nipping out the tender side buds to produce one larger, more potent one. With dispensary operations becoming more prevalent the bar tenders of marijuana, or ‘bud tenders’ play an important role, particularly for the novice clients/patients.
Nowadays you are likely to encounter an intelligent bud tender across the counter in a marijuana dispensary, not a stoned punk as stereotypes might have some imagine. These are among the most favored positions in the industry. This is especially true for a young generation keen to polish their marijuana knowledge at places like the Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA, that punts itself as America’s first and premier cannabis college.
Bud tender positions are popular because they are one of few roles where it’s possible to meet and greet medical marijuana customers directly, and exchange hot tips (of the intellectual kind) for enhancing the experience. As in the case of some fast food restaurants, the habit developed of putting out tipping jars for happy customers to fill. This also opened up the possibility in law enforcement minds that some sales could end up as ‘tips’ thereby avoiding sales tax, and they banned the practice.
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Mar 5, 2016 | Marijuana Legalization, MMJ News
HelloMD is the medical marijuana equivalent of the ‘find a handyman sites’ that used to proliferate the Internet. For a fee, it connects patients to medical marijuana service providers, while providing a host of related free information to ensure user retention. HelloMD published a survey aimed at dispelling the impression that medical cannabis patients are little more that potheads, and it thinks it proved the point.
The Core Finding of the Medical Marijuana Patient Survey
The report states under its conclusions that, “… the prevailing perception of a medical marijuana patient is a masquerading recreational user (a stoner)” is unfounded. “78% of those using cannabis for health and wellness are above the age of 25 … these people are highly educated working professionals. Many are parents. They could be your friends, your colleagues, or your neighbors.
“All of them have legitimate health issues … our research and analysis show a much larger portion be genuinely seeking an alternative to traditional medication for improved health and wellness”. Here’s a key table lifted from the report that is of intense interest to those either trading in, or thinking of entering the lucrative medical marijuana market.
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