NATIONAL NEWS

POSSESSION CASES

President Joe Biden in October pardoned all prior federal offenses of “simple possession” of marijuana. Biden also wants the government to look at rescheduling or descheduling weed.

Biden requested a review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law from Attorney General Merrick Garland. The president also included Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in that request.

“As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden wrote. “Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit.

“Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” the President wrote. “And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.”

midwest

MISSOURI MEDICAL MARIJUANA POURS BIG BUCKS INTO LEGALIZATION

The campaign to legalize adult-use marijuana in the Show-Me State is getting big bucks from the medical marijuana industry, reports the Missouri Independent.

Legal Missouri 2022 – the political action committee supporting a Cannabis legalization proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot as Amendment 3 – has raised nearly $700,000 in large donations since Oct. 1.

The money came from companies in the medical marijuana industry. Amendment 3 gives these firms first dibs on any lucrative adult-use retail licenses issued by the state to grow and sell Cannabis.

THE NEWS IN BRIEF HOUSE GOP OPPOSES LEGALIZATION

A MAJOR GOP HOUSE CAUCUS in October released a “Family Policy Agenda” opposing federal marijuana legalization. The agenda tries to link pot use to suicide and violence. But the strident Cannabis criticism is leading to pushback even within the group, as staff for two members of the caucus said the lawmakers disagree with the prohibitionist rhetoric.

The 156-member Republican Study Committee (RSC) unveiled the agenda. It details 10 ideological principles and more than 80 legislative recommendations as its agenda. The stated goal is “to guide conservatives’ work to restore the American family.”

The committee includes nearly three-quarters of House GOP members.

VERMONT STARTS 21+ MARIJUANA SALES

VERMONT DISPENSARIES began selling Cannabis for adult use on October 1. But only three shops were ready to do so on opening weekend, reports the Associated Press.

Flora Cannabis in Middlebury, Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland and CeresMed in Burlington all opened to adult-use customers. The state licensed a fourth business to sell adult-use weed, but that shop wasn’t ready to do so yet.

A total of about 50 retailers prequalified for licensing.

This comes about two years after legalization took effect without the governor’s signature. At that time, Vermont was the 11th state to legalize. But it was just the second state to legalize through the Legislature, rather than through popular vote.

HEALTH PANEL SAYS JAPAN SHOULD ALLOW MEDICAL CANNABIS

A HEALTH MINISTRY PANEL in October recommended Japan allow the importation and use of medical marijuana products.

The recommendation is based on medical needs, and to modernize Japan’s drug laws to conform with international standards, according to the committee. The panel wants to change the policy for Cannabis medicines when safety and effectiveness are confirmed.

Japan has harsh laws against non-medicinal use of marijuana. It should consider approving the import, manufacture and use of Cannabis medicines, subject to the same approval process as pharmaceuticals, the health ministry panel said.

MARIJUANA CULTURE IS QUICKLY BECOMING MAINSTREAM CULTURE

Americans broadly agree that the country’s marijuana laws need an update. According to polling conducted by Morning Consult/Politico just days before President Biden’s Oct. 6 marijuana pardons, 6 in 10 American voters said weed should be legal in the U.S.

That number rises to about 7 in 10 among voters under 45 (70 percent), Democrats (71 percent) and Black voters (72 percent). Even among the groups least likely to support legalizing marijuana – Republicans (47 percent) and voters 65 or over (45 percent) – almost half of respondents agreed. There’s no real divide across regions, either.

Public opinion has changed drastically on this issue in the past two decades. But getting skittish lawmakers to catch up with national savvy has not been easy when it comes to marijuana culture.

“Current laws ... do not reflect this sweeping bipartisan, universal support,” Five Thirty Eight reports. ”The legalization of marijuana puts a spotlight on the divide between Americans and politicians, namely Republican members of Congress.”

eAST coAST

NEW YORK ALLOWS PATIENTS TO GROW

Starting in October, New York medical marijuana patients are legally able to grow their own Cannabis at home. Lawmakers approved the legislation in late September. Advocates say it allows more access to those who have chronic conditions or other ailments that qualify – especially low-income patients.

Patients can legally grow up to three mature female plants and three immature female plants. But the rules allow no more than 12 total plants per household.

“It is a big step forward for medical patients,” said Lyla Hunt. Hunt is the deputy director of public health for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. ”We’ve seen real extreme interest from patients and designated caregivers to have the ability to cultivate Cannabis at home.”

19

states have legalized Cannabis for adult use.

38

states have legalized medical marijuana.

9k 17k 60%

pounds of untaxed marijuana were seized in one Oregon raid in October. pounds of untaxed marijuana were seized by Oklahoma authorities in another October raid.

of marijuana arrests in Virginia (where marijuana is legal for adult use) are of Black people, who make up 20% of the population.

$494m

worth of medical marijuana was bought by Missouri patients during the first two years of legal medicinal sales.