NATIONAL NEWS

POLITICS

SENATE DEMS TO INTRODUCE FEDERAL LEGALIZATION BILL

NORTH DAKOTA ACTIVISTS SUBMIT LEGALIZATION SIGNATURES

Senate Democrats plan to introduce a bill to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The legislation faces long odds in the evenly divided chamber due to the opposition of Senate Republicans. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer worked with Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Ron Wyden of Oregon on the measure. The senators circulated a draft of the bill last year and made tweaks after feedback from Senate committees. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the list of drugs covered by the federal Controlled Substances Act. States, unfortunately, can still maintain and create prohibitions on the production and distribution of marijuana. The legislation faces a steep climb in the Senate, The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the list of drugs. where 60 votes are required to pass most meaningful bills. Most Republicans and a few Democrats, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jon Tester, have opposed decriminalizing marijuana.

HEALTH & SCIENCE

TRUCKING STUDY: LEGAL MARIJUANA MEANS SAFER ROADS

It’s the first study ever on the impact of Cannabis legalization upon the trucking industry. And, guess what? It’s good news. A group of researchers from the University of Tennessee, University of Arkansas and Iowa State University found adult-use marijuana legalization actually reduced heavy truck accidents by 11% in the eight states studied. Six of the eight saw a decrease in truck accidents; just two saw increases. (The study is a preprint, meaning it hasn’t undergone peer review yet.) “We’re not saying definitively that legalization will reduce trucking accidents, but there is some evidence that legalization across the board doesn’t necessarily increase accidents,” said Iowa State University Assistant Professor Jonathan Phares. “There are reasons why accidents could decrease as a result of legalization.”

LEGALIZATION

The group behind a North Dakota marijuana legalization initiative reported submitting 25,672 signatures on July 11, to qualify for the November 2022 ballot. For the initiative to qualify, 15,582 of the signatures must be valid, reports Ballotpedia. “This signature drive showed us that, from Williston to Grand Forks, people all across our state are ready for responsible Cannabis policy reform,” said New Approach North Dakota Chairman Dave Owen. “We’re looking forward to all of our hard work paying off when we receive the official word that we’re on the ballot.” Along with North Dakota, campaigns also submitted signatures for legalization initiatives on the November ballot in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

MIDWEST

THC EDIBLES AND DRINKS BECOME LEGAL IN MINNESOTA

Minnesota is a real oddity in the world of Cannabis. The North Star State on July 1 became the only state to allow adult-use THC-infused edibles and drinks – without legalizing marijuana itself. State residents 21 and older are now able to legally purchase edibles and beverages that contain THC, with the new law permitting the products to contain up to 5mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving and 50mg per package. A 5mg THC edible can cause a high feeling for first-time users, but people accustomed to marijuana often require a larger dose to feel the effect. In most states where adult-use marijuana is legal, 10mg is considered a ”serving.” Weed devotees and medical marijuana patients, however, often prefer much higher doses – even measured in the hundreds of milligrams. State residents 21 and older are now able to legally purchase edibles and beverages that contain THC. THC products in Minnesota must be derived from legally-certified hemp, which contains trace amounts of the psychoactive compound, according to the law. But THC will produce the same effect whether it’s derived from hemp or marijuana.

WEIRD

MAN LEAVES COURTHOUSE AFTER WEED CHARGES, GETS BUSTED AGAIN WITH 70 LBS

Yves Duboc tried leaving a Massachusetts courthouse in July with 70 pounds of marijuana after appearing in court for Cannabis offenses. Duboc, 43, of Biddeford, Maine, appeared in Newburyport District Court for driving without a license and illegal marijuana possession on June 29. Authorities released Yves under the condition that he didn’t drive until he got his Maine driver’s license. That license was already suspended. As he left the courthouse, a Massachusetts State Police trooper watched him get into a Toyota SUV with a Florida license plate and drive off. The trooper promptly pulled Duboc over and arrested him for driving without a license, according to state police. After handcuffing Duboc and putting him in the back of the police cruiser, the trooper searched the SUV. While searching, the trooper found a total of 70 pounds of marijuana and 20 pounds of marijuana extract.

Troopers reportedly found 70 pounds of marijuana and 20 pounds of extract in the car.

1.5

tons of marijuana was burned by Colombian police in July; the smoke enshrouded Medellin.

6

out of 10 americans want legal cannabis says new poll.

85% 4k

of Texans support Cannabis decriminalization.

pounds of medical Cannabis were bought by Arkansas patients.

8k

square feet is the size of California’s biggest Cannabis dispensary in Sacramento.

13k $1.3b

people were arrested for marijuana by the state of Pennsylvania in 2021.

was generated by the medical Cannabis industry in 2020.