NATIONAL NEWS

MOST LIBERALS SUPPORT LEGALIZATION; MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVES OPPOSE

IT seems obvious, on the face of it. Those who tend towards the liberal end of the political spectrum have always also tended to favor marijuana legalization. And those who lean conservative have tended to oppose weed.

But more and more, with the mainstreaming of Cannabis, we hear “both sides” arguments, and they have increasing merit. The bottom line is, though, that those who are most conservative in the American political landscape – still, after all these years – oppose marijuana.

Most folks know there’s growing bipartisan support for legalization in the USA. And a newly released survey from the Pew Research Center shows broad consensus across ideological lines that patients should be able to legally access marijuana for medical purposes. But when it comes to adult-use, “recreational” legalization, that coalition doesn’t entirely hold. MOST FOLKS The poll, simply stated, shows Democrats are more KNOW THERE’S likely to support full Cannabis legalization than RepubliGROWING cans. To take examples from each end of the ideological BIPARTISAN spectrum, 91% of those classified as the Progressive Left SUPPORT FOR support legalization. Meanwhile, just 33% of “Faith and LEGALIZATION Flag” conservatives – thus farthest to the right – want weed IN THE USA. to be legal.

WEIRD

SUPER BOWL CHAMP ARRESTED FOR POT

Police arrested Nigel Bradham, a linebacker on the Philadelphia Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII, in Florida on November 13. Troopers said they found more than three pounds of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop, reports the Philly Voice.

They charged Bradham, 32, with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of a firearm during a felony, according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

He posted $1,000 bail and police released him from Leon County jail November 14. The current free agent told a judge he intended to hire an attorney, but court records didn’t yet list one assigned to the case, reports WCTV.

Florida Highway Patrol officers stopped the NFL veteran because the tag on his 2021 Chevrolet Corvette didn’t match records. Officers claimed there was a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

Bradham claimed to be a Florida medical marijuana patient, troopers said, however he was unable to produce identification to prove that.

Bradham’s name then didn’t come up after cops conducted a state registry search, reports TMZ. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but adult-use Cannabis remains against the law.

midWEST

POT SHOP OPENS 400 FT. FROM CHICAGO’S WRIGLEY FIELD

Anew Cannabis dispensary in Chicago opened just 400 feet from the legendary baseball venue, Wrigley Field, reports Fox 32.

Sunnyside Wrigleyville is located at 3524 N. Clark Street. According to shop owner Cresco Labs, it’s the closest dispensary to a national sports stadium in the United States.

The ganja shop will have an impressive 21 checkout counters. Cresco said this allows employees to service thousands on “high traffic days when baseball games, concerts and other large-scale city events take place next door.”

Longtime Chicago barflies will recognize the envied location: the former home of the John Barleycorn bar.

With top shelf flower going for $20 a gram and upwards of $50 an eighth (3.5 grams), shoppers should be ready to drop a few bucks.

The dispensary’s presence at such a prime retail location comes at least partially as the result of recent re-zoning by Chicago officials. Rules which prevented pot shops downtown were relaxed.

THE GANJA SHOP WILL HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE 21 CHECKOUT COUNTERS. STUDY: LEGALIZATION DIDN’T INCREASE TRAFFIC INJURIES IN CANADA

Marijuana legalization did not result in increased traffic injuries in Canada, a new study has found.

In a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers sought to investigate claims that establishing Cannabis legalization in October 2018 would make roads less safe, as prohibitionists frequently claim. But analyzing Ontario and Alberta data from 2015 to 2019, they could find no evidence at all to support that.

“Implementation of the Cannabis Act was not associated with evidence of significant post-legalization changes in traffic-injury [emergency department] visits in Ontario or Alberta among all drivers or youth drivers, in particular,” the study states.

The evidence doesn’t support claims that legalization might increase both marijuana-impaired driving and traffic injuries, said lead author Russ Callaghan.

THE SOUTH

MISSISSIPPI GOV. ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ WITH THC IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA

While voters approved a pretty good medical marijuana law in 2020, a year later, Governor Tate Reeves says he wants lawmakers to make yet more changes in a proposal to create a medicinal Cannabis program in the state. Voters approved a business-friendly medical marijuana program a year ago, but the State Supreme Court struck down the measure on a technicality. State lawmakers then drafted a measure creating a medical marijuana program and moved it through the legislature. The GOP governor said in November that he wants tighter limits on the amount of Cannabis patients could buy. He also wants to reduce the content of THC, the compound that produces a high and also has medical benefits. Reeves described the THC levels in current drafts of the bill as “higher than I am comfortable with,” without specifying actual amounts.

14

grams of Cannabis would get you just a $100 fine in a decriminalization bill introduced in Wisconsin.

51

pounds of illegal weed were discovered on a Cali man by Louisiana Highway Patrol officers.

68

percent of Americans believe Cannabis should be legal, according to Gallup, similar to last year’s results.

$150

is the cost of the “Puff, Puff, Pass” Tour from Las Vegas Cannabis Tours, a 2.5 hr jaunt to creative local dispensaries.

$30k

in marijuana products were seized in local stores by police serving search warrants in Hendersonville, Ky.

67k

pounds of MMJ have been sold under Arkansas’ program since May 2019.