Feb. 2022 - Northwest Leaf

Page 16

cannabis NEWS

politics

nwlEAF.COM

16

U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE FROM LOUISIANA SMOKES WEED IN TV ADVERTISEMENT DEMOCRATIC U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, Jr. recently smoked marijuana in a field in New Orleans while talking about Cannabis reform in his first campaign ad. The Washington Post calls it a “highly unusual spot.” Chambers is seated in an open field, where he fires up a blunt and takes multiple hits. In a voice-over, he rattles off statistics about the herb. These include facts such as Black people are four times as likely as whites to be arrested for its possession. “For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters,” Chambers said about the ad. “I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”

the south

southeast asia

AN ALABAMA BUSINESSMAN who calls himself a conservative Democrat said he’ll work to legalize marijuana if voters pick him as their next governor. Chad “Chig” Martin, 53, has qualified to run for the Democratic nomination in the May 24 primary. Martin said he believes marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol. He said he would like to see it legalized and taxed to boost Alabama’s economy and revenues. Chig is skeptical that Alabama’s medical marijuana industry, approved by the Legislature last year, will let businesses like his Honeysuckle Hemp compete fairly when licenses are issued. A medical Cannabis commission is still working to set up that program. P roducts won’t be available until next year. “I want to open up the free trade of Cannabis in the state of Alabama without regulations, not just allowing certain groups or companies to participate in this,” Martin said.

THAILAND PLANS to decriminalize marijuana, moving a step closer to legalizing adult use of the herb. It was the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize medical Cannabis. Cannabis use in food and cosmetics is also legal in Thailand, according to Bloomberg. In January, the Food and Drug Administration proposed to the narcotics bureau that marijuana be removed from its status as a controlled drug. It only needs Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to approve the change and it will then take effect. Adults will be able to access marijuana without fearing lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines, according to Withid Sariddeechaikool of Thailand’s FDA. Currently, possession of Cannabis in Thailand could garner up to 15 years in prison. The plant is considered a Category 5 narcotic drug under current Thai law.

ALABAMA GOV. CANDIDATE WANTS TO LEGALIZE POT

33% 70% 200

of computer programmers use Cannabis during work hours.

feb. 2022

is the amount prices for legal flower have fallen in California in the past year.

pounds of illegal weed were seized in a traffic stop near Lincoln, Neb. by the LCSO.

30k

additional signatures were submitted by organizers of an Ohio legalization ballot initiative after efforts fell short.

DECRIM IN THAILAND

34k

arrest records still haven’t been processed for expungement in California.

$1.5m

in sales were enjoyed by Montana dispensaries on January 1-2, the first two days of adult-use sales.

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA


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