Apr 19 2024

White House Press Secretary Says President Biden Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana

During today’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that it’s “very, very clear” that President Biden supports decriminalizing marijuana.

“Look, [on] decriminalization the president has been very, very clear he doesn’t believe that anyone should be in jail, or be prosecuted, just for using or possessing marijuana. He continues to say that. He believes that”, said Jean-Pierre, when asked “does the White House believe that it has done enough as it relates to the issue of marijuana?”

Jean-Pierre then goes on to say “As you know he asked the Secretary of HHS and the attorney general to initiate the administrative process to review how marijuana is being scheduled. HHS concluded their independent review that was guided by evidence and science, which is what we believe here in this administration. And now the scheduling review is with the Department of Justice.”
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Apr 19 2024

Jimmy John’s Selling Dime Bags for 4/20 At All 2,600+ Nationwide Locations

Jimmy John’s, a popular sandwich chain with a national footprint of over 2,600 stores, is celebrating 4/20 in a unique way.

The franchise says they’re offering a “Deliciously Dope Dime Bag” deal for just $10 at all of their over 2,600 locations across the United States. The deal includes a regular sized sub, chips, and a brownie for $10, a solid deal given that typically the sandwich itself is around $9-$10.

“Feeling extra munchy? Grab the Deliciously Dope Dime Bag, a limited time collection of a sandwich of smoked ham, jalapeño ranch, crispy jalapeños and, of course, extra herbs. Paired with Jimmy Chips®, a pickle spear and Fudge Chocolate Brownie”, Jimmy John’s says on their website.
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Apr 19 2024

US Congressmember Says Tomorrow is the “Last 4/20” With Marijuana in Schedule I

Congressmember Earl Blumenauer, co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, says this 4/20 will be the last with marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

“This is the last 4/20 celebration that cannabis will be on Schedule I”, says Congressmember Blumenauer, who has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 1996.

Blumenauer predicts that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will officially reschedule marijuana this year, with the law change in effect well before 4/20, 2025. His remarks were made today during a press briefing.
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Apr 19 2024

Marijuana Banking Act in U.S. House of Representatives Gains 115th Bipartisan Sponsor

Congressmember Jay Obernolte (R-CA) has become the 115th sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act.

The SAFE Banking Act was filed last April with 10 sponsors. In the year since, the measure has garnered 105 additional cosponsors, in addition to having an updated version of the measure filed in the Senate in September (which itself has 36 sponsors and has received approval through the Senate Banking Committee).

If passed into law, the SAFE Banking Act would alter federal law so that any financial institution (banks, credit unions, etc.) is explicitly allowed to provide banking services to marijuana businesses, so long as those businesses are following state law. The measure would also alter IRS law that prevents marijuana businesses from taking standard tax deductions since they are selling a federally illegal product.
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Apr 19 2024

North Carolina’s First-Ever Marijuana Store Opening Tomorrow

Tomorrow, on 4/20, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (ECBI) will open their marijuana superstore on tribal land, the first in North Carolina history.

Although the marijuana store will at first be available just to medical marijuana patients, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company says it will accept any valid medical marijuana card, even those from outside the state. The tribe also has an easy process setup so that any North Carolina resident (not just tribal members) with one of 18 medical conditions (listed at the bottom of this article) can quickly become a registered patient with the tribe, allowing them to access the store.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company, house at the previous home of a bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish, is located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort roughly three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh.
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Apr 18 2024

Oregon: Average Price Per Gram of Legal Marijuana Has Remained Below $4 for a Full Year, 62% Lower Than In 2016

The average price of legal marijuana has remained below $4 per gram for 12 straight months.

When legal recreational marijuana sales began in Oregon in October, 2016, the average price per gram was $10.50, while the average price per gram of marijuana concentrates was $40.17. By March, 2023, those prices dropped to $3.92 per gram for dried marijuana flower, and $16 per gram for concentrates.

Fast-forward 12 months, to March of this year, and prices remain almost the same. For concentrates, they actually are exactly the same; an average of $16 per gram (60% lower than in 2016). For dried flower, the price is almost identical at $3.96 (a drop of 62% from 2016).
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Apr 18 2024

Minnesota House Approves Bill to Speed Up Start of Recreational Marijuana Sales

The Minnesota House gave approval today to legislation that would allow legal recreational marijuana sales to begin sooner than initially expected.

safe banking act

Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz in May, with marijuana stores expected to open in 2025. Now, the state’s House of Representatives has voted 69 to 62 to pass legislation that would the Office of Cannabis Management to quickly begin issuing licenses for recreational marijuana sales this summer.

“A number of provisions in this bill are designed to expedite the process of setting up a good legitimate marketplace for cannabis to displace that illicit marketplace that’s out there,” says State Representative Zack Stephenson (D), the bill’s prime sponsor.
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Apr 18 2024

US Senate Majority Leader “Committed” to Including Marijuana Expungement Provision in Marijuana Banking Act

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he’s “committed” to including marijuana expungements in a marijuana banking act that’s already cleared a Senate committee with bipartisan support.

The SAFER Banking Act in the Senate would allow banks and other financial institutions such as credit unions to legally provide services to marijuana businesses that are following state law. The measure is sponsored by 36 senators, and in September it was given approval by the Senate Banking Committee with bipartisan support. Senate Leader Schumer said recently that the full Senate will vote on the measure in “the weeks and months ahead.”

Now, Senator Schumer says he’s committed to including the HOPE Act to allow marijuana expungements as part of the SAFER Banking Act prior to it receiving a floor vote.
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Apr 18 2024

Cannabidiol Inhibits Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Finds New Study

The marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) “inhibits epithelial ovarian cancer”, according to the results of a new study.

The study is being published in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Natural Products, with the abstract published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine. It was conducted by researchers from Harbin Medical University, the National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases and the Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, all in China, as well as the University of Calgary in Canada.

“Epithelial ovarian cancer is among the deadliest gynecological tumors worldwide”, notes the study’s researchers. “Studies have shown that cannabidiol has antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic, antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. However, its therapeutic value for epithelial ovarian tumors remains unclear. ”
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Apr 18 2024

United States Senator Files Marijuana Expungement Bill

Legislation to facilitate marijuana expungements including establishing a federal grant program for states and localities has been filed in the United States Senate.

The Harnessing Opportunity by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act was filed today by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The measure was filed roughly a year after the HOPE Act was filed in the House of Representatives by Congressmember Greg Murphy (R-NC) along with four bipartisan cosponsors.

“While cannabis has been regulated in our state since 2017, many Nevadans are still dealing with the effects of past low-level marijuana offenses”, says Senator Rosen. “Having a record for something that is now legal in our state threatens Nevadans’ ability to get a job, apply for housing, and contribute to our state’s economy.”
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