California Gov. Moves to Align Medical and Recreational Marijuana Regulation

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California Governor Jerry Brown

Drug Policy Alliance | April 5, 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA — Late Tuesday afternoon, Governor Jerry Brown released his proposal to align medical marijuana regulations passed by the Legislature in 2015 and the 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act, both of which call for commercial licensing and regulation to begin in January 2018.

The Adult Use of Marijuana Act, Proposition 64, was passed by California voters in 2016 with more than 57 percent of the vote, legalizing marijuana for adults 21…

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Jeff Sessions Won’t Rule Out Using Mafia Law to Go After Legal Marijuana

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Phillip Smith | March 9, 2017

On conservative radio talker Hugh Hewitt’s program Thursday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to bad mouth marijuana and suggested he might use laws enacted to go after the Mafia against the legal marijuana industry.

“I think it’s a more dangerous drug than a lot of people realize. I don’t think we’re going to be a better community if marijuana is sold in every corner grocery store,” the attorney general told Hewitt.

The conservative talker then helpfully…

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Illinois State Treasurer Urges Trump to Let Banks Work with Marijuana Industry

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TJ Baker | January 24, 2017

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Monday sent a letter to President Trump asking for “clear guidance” in allowing banks to do business with the marijuana industry.

Illinois is one of 28 states that allows medical marijuana under a state-supervised program.

Federal law currently prohibits banks from processing money from customers working in the legal marijuana industry, making it difficult for marijuana related businesses to do…

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Report: Legal Marijuana Industry Has Created 123,00 Full-Time Jobs

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A woman examines cannabis products at a medical marijuana dispensary. (Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance)

NORML | January 12, 2017

SEATTLE, WA — The legal cannabis industry is responsible for the creation of an estimated 123,000 full-time jobs in the United States, according to data provided by the online content provider Leafly.com.

Authors analyzed state-by-state economic data to draw their extrapolations. They estimated some 58,000 full-time jobs in states where both the medical and social use…

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Thousands of Medical Marijuana Applications Leaked in Nevada

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TJ Baker | December 28, 2016

Personal data from thousands of people vying to work in Nevada‘s medical marijuana industry were leaked due to a glitch in the state’s website, which has now been taken offline until security can be restored.

The bug exposed the full 8-page application from nearly 12,000 applicants to anyone with the right web address, according to ZDnet, a tech blog run by CBS news.

The applications included the person’s full name, social security number, home address,…

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Reminder: Oregon Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Return to Patients Only Jan 1

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TJ Baker | December 27, 2016

As of January 1, 2017, Oregon’s medical marijuana dispensaries will no longer be able to sell to adults 21 or older without a valid medical marijuana card as the state’s early recreational marijuana sales end.

Adults 21 or older wishing to purchase marijuana for recreational use will only be able to do so from retail marijuana shops licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.  Currently, there are about 100 recreational pot shops licensed statewide.

Limited…

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Montana Court: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Can Immediately Begin Serving Patients

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NORML | December 15, 2016

HELENA, MT — Voter-initiated changes in law governing the operation of medical cannabis providers may take effect ahead of the measure’s June 30, 2017 implementation date, according to a court ruling.

Fifty-six percent of Montana voters approved I-182 on Election Day, which expands patients’ access to medical cannabis. However, a drafting error in the measure delays implementation of the new law until the end of June.

Last week, a Helena District Court Judge…

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Pennsylvania Department of Health Wants Public Input on Medical Marijuana Application Process

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Pennsylvania flag flying

Press Release | December 6, 2016

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy today encouraged individuals interested in applying for a medical marijuana grower/processor and/or dispensary permit to complete a brief survey on the department’s website.

“One of our primary focuses as we continue to develop this program is to make sure that patients with serious medical conditions have access to facilities to obtain medical marijuana.” said Secretary Murphy. “As we…

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Nevada Lawmaker Wants Recreational Marijuana Sales to Start ASAP

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Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom (D-Las Vegas)

Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom (D-Las Vegas)

Scott Gacek | December 3, 2016

LAS VEGAS, NV — Voters in Nevada legalized marijuana on election day by passing Question 2,  allowing adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana starting January 1, 2017.

But under the measure, a state regulated recreational cannabis market wouldn’t open until 2018, giving state officials time to craft the rules and regulations to oversee the newly created industry. So unless you’re a registered medical…

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Regulation Works: Marijuana Retailers Not Selling To Youth, Study Finds

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Paul Armentano | November 10, 2016

GOLDEN, CO — Licensed marijuana retailers are complying with regulations that forbid businesses from selling to minors, according to data published in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs.

A team of investigators from California, Colorado, and New Mexico assessed whether licensed retail cannabis facilities would sell to pseudo-underage buyers who failed to show proof of age.

Authors reported:

“Compliance with laws restricting marijuana sales to individuals…

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Study: Marijuana Retailers Not Selling To Youth

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Medical marijuana patients shopping at a cannabis dispensary. (Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance)

Medical marijuana patients shopping at a cannabis dispensary. (Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance)

Paul Armentano | November 3, 2016

Age restrictions in legal marijuana states are effectively keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, according to newly published data in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs.

A team of investigators from California, Colorado, and New Mexico assessed whether licensed retail cannabis facilities would sell to pseudo-underage buyers who failed to show proof of age.

Authors reported,…

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California: Medical Dispensary Sales Top $844 Million

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NORML | October 13, 2016

SACRAMENTO, CA — Medical marijuana dispensaries in California sold over $844 million worth of cannabis-related products between April 2015 and March 2016, according to an analysis of sales tax receipts obtained exclusively by Marijuana Business Daily.

Their analysis reports that there were 2,756 dispensaries operating during this time period, producing $844,482,174 in retail sales. This revenue total is greater than that of all other medical cannabis states combined.

Because…

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Michigan Governor Signs Measures Regulating Medical Cannabis Dispensing

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Michigan Governor Signs Measures Regulating Medical Cannabis Dispensing

LANSING, MI — Governor Rick Snyder has signed a package of legislation into law regulating the retail sale of medical cannabis and cannabis-infused products. The measures are ordered to take immediate effect.

The measures seek to clarify and expand various aspects of the state’s 2008 medical cannabis law. Specifically, the new law provides qualified patients for the first time with legal protections regarding the possession and use of non-smoked cannabis derived topical products and edibles, as well as cannabis-based extract products.

The…

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California Governor Signs Standards, Protections for Medical Marijuana Manufacturers

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California Governor Signs Standards, Protections for Medical Marijuana Manufacturers

SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 2679, which will establish key standards for medical cannabis manufacturers, help implement the landmark Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA), and end misguided raids on manufacturers.

“Last year, California took a historic step by regulating medical cannabis to protect patients, businesses, our communities, and the environment. But across the state, locally authorized medical cannabis manufacturers continue to be targeted by municipal law…

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Court: Budgetary Amendment Bars Federal Prosecution of State-Compliant Medical Marijuana Providers

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Court: Budgetary Amendment Bars Federal Prosecution of State-Compliant Medical Marijuana Providers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Federal officials are not permitted to engage in the criminal prosecution of those who are engaged in activity related to medical marijuana absent evidence that the defendants are in clear violation of state law, according to a unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The ruling broadly interprets a 2014 federal budgetary amendment prohibiting the US Justice Department from spending any funds “to prevent … states … from implementing their own state laws that authorize the…

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Federal Court of Appeals Upholds Ban on Prosecuting State-Compliant Medical Marijuana Businesses

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Federal Court of Appeals Upholds Ban on Prosecuting State-Compliant Medical Marijuana Businesses

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, covering nine western states, earlier this week ruled unanimously that the Department of Justice is barred by federal law from prosecuting medical marijuana businesses if those businesses are operating in compliance with state law.

This decision came in an appeal in which the court had consolidated ten different cases from California and Washington, in which the defendants — growers and dispensaries — had argued that their federal indictments should…

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The NORML Business Network: The “Better Business Bureau” for the Marijuana Industry

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The NORML Business Network: The “Better Business Bureau” for the Marijuana Industry

The Emerging Legal Marijuana industry

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition in New York this past week; a major B2B Expo held at the Jacob Javits Center with hundreds of exhibitors displaying their products and services intended to appeal to those hoping to enter the new legal marijuana industry emerging around the country. It was an impressive display of the myriad of choices available for those willing to take the dive into the increasingly competitive marijuana industry.

It is clearly a…

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Leading California Medical Marijuana Oil Maker Busted

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Leading California Medical Marijuana Oil Maker Busted

SANTA ROSA, CA — Police, including DEA agents, raided five properties associated with a well-known medical marijuana products manufacturer in Northern California’s Sonoma County Wednesday morning, detaining at least nine people and arresting one on suspicion of felony drug manufacture for his role in cannabis oil production.

Although medical marijuana has been legal in the state since voters approved it two decades ago, it was only last year that the legislature moved to bring state-wide regulation to the rapidly growing industry, and…

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Senate Appropriations Committee to Allow Banks to Provide Services to State-Legalized Marijuana Stores

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Senate Appropriations Committee to Allow Banks to Provide Services to State-Legalized Marijuana Stores

WASHINGTON, DC — The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 16 to 14 on Thursday to allow banks to provide financial services to marijuana businesses. Currently, because marijuana is illegal under federal law, both medical and non-medical marijuana businesses are unable to access banking services like any other business. Consequently, many marijuana businesses operate on a cash-only basis, leading to huge public safety issues as businesses become the target of robberies, and are forced to hire armed security to protect their…

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Feds Drop Lawsuit Against Harborside Health Center

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A five year old asset forfeiture lawsuit against Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, the country’s largest medical marijuana dispensary, has finally been dropped by federal prosecutors, city and state officials announced Tuesday.

Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan made the announcement in a press release Tuesday, which was quickly followed by a statement from Harborside and from California Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) praising the decision.

“As of today, Harborside Health Center is in the clear and will no longer have…

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Montana Supreme Court Upholds Legislative Changes to Medical Marijuana Law

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Montana Supreme Court Upholds Legislative Changes to Medical Marijuana Law

Lawmakers passed legislation in 2011 to roll back the state’s medical marijuana program, which voters initially approved in 2004. Those changes have been subject to legal challenges ever since.

HELENA, MT — The Supreme Court of Montana has upheld a number of legislative amendments to the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law.

Lawmakers passed legislation in 2011 to roll back the program, which voters initially approved in 2004. Those changes have been subject to legal challenges ever since.

Specifically, the Court upheld…

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Snoop Dogg Partners with Canadian Cannabis Company Tweed Inc.

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“Our team is proud to bring Snoop into the fold.” says Tweed Inc’s president Mark Zekulin.

Snoop Dogg made it official on his very own cannabis media site merryjane.com, he is partnering up with Tweed, Canada’s largest medical marijuana supplier.

Legalizing cannabis was one of the definite promises of PM Justin Trudeau. Who knows what the timeline for that will be, but you can bet that Tweed will be ready. The estimated recreational cannabis market in Canada is said to be $5 billion annually, partnering up with the grandfather of…

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Location of First New Hampshire Medical Grow Site Approved

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Location of First New Hampshire Medical Grow Site Approved

CONCORD, NH — Officials overseeing New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program have announced the approval of a location for the first registered medical marijuana growing facility, marking a sign of progress in an implementation that has experienced serious delays.

In a press release issued Thursday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that Sanctuary ATC, located in Rochester, is the first to receive approval to begin cultivating cannabis in the state:

The NH Department of Health and Human Services…

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New York’s Medical Marijuana Program is Already a Failure

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NEW YORK, NY — New York’s medical marijuana program officially launched this week, but has gotten off to a very slow start by all accounts.

Here’s a look at New York state’s medical marijuana program by the numbers:

  • 19.75 million – New York State’s population according to the 2014 census.
  • 174 doctors have registered with the state department of health to recommend medical marijuana to patients.
  • 71 patients have enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program.
  • 30 day supply of medical marijuana products may be purchased by…

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New York to Launch Medical Marijuana Program Tomorrow

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Significant Concerns About the Program – Including Low Physician Enrollment – Remain

NEW YORK, NY — The New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced Tuesday that New York’s medical marijuana program will officially open on Thursday, January 7th.

While the state has authorized 20 dispensaries to open statewide, only eight will open on Thursday, with the rest slated to open later in January, leaving huge areas of the state without access to a dispensary.

This marks the first time that patients in New York can legally purchase…

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Hawaii Awards Seed-to-Sale Tracking Contract to BioTrackTHC

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FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — The Hawaii Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance has selected BioTrackTHC as the winner apparent for its state contract for tracking the production, transportation and sale of medical marijuana.

“The development of a healthy and successful medical cannabis program is a top priority for Hawaii, and we are extremely proud to have been chosen to be a critical part of it,” said Patrick Vo, CEO, BioTrackTHC. “The islands of Hawaii are truly unique and we very much look forward to applying our…

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New York City’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary to Open in Union Square

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Manhattan Dispensary will be the First of Four Columbia Care Dispensaries to Open in New York State

NEW YORK, NY — Columbia Care LLC announced Tuesday that its first dispensary in New York State, located at 212 East 14th Street in Manhattan’s Union Square, will open to qualifying patients on Thursday, January 7, 2016.

As one of five companies licensed as a Registered Organization by the New York State Department of Health, Columbia Care will open three additional dispensaries throughout New York State later this month.  New York’s…

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New York’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Opening Thursday

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ALBANY, NY — Medical marijuana is finally coming to the Empire State.

The New York State Department of Health announced Tuesday that the state’s medical marijuana program will officially launch on Thursday, with several dispensaries opening throughout the state.

Once launched, the program will make approved forms of medical marijuana, which has been shown to help alleviate pain and enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from certain diseases, available with a physician’s certification at designated dispensaries across New…

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CA: Judge Tosses Claims of a Berkeley Marijuana Monopoly

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A federal judge has thrown out claims that the city of Berkeley and three dispensaries conspired to corner the market on medical marijuana.

Private dispenser Christopher Smith sued Berkeley, its city council and Medical Cannabis Commission, and dispensers Berkeley Patients Group, Berkeley Patients Care Collective and Cannabis Buyers Club of Berkeley under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act, known as RICO.

Smith said in a September 2015 complaint that the city imposed a three-dispensary cap and has…

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Award-Winning Pastry Chef Launches Marijuana Edible Company

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James Beard Foundation’s Best Pastry Chef in America Mindy Segal Announces Launch of Marijuana Edible Product line in Illinois.

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois medical marijuana patients will soon have a line of decadent chef-crafted products to choose from with the announcement of James Beard Award-Winning Chef Mindy Segal’s new edible line.  Segal, owner of Chicago’s acclaimed Hot Chocolate Restaurant, is the first high profile, award-winning celebrity chef to attach her personal brand to products in the cannabis industry.

Segal is…

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Illinois Medical Marijuana Sales (Finally) Begin Today

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The sale of medical cannabis to qualifying patients and caregivers will begin at eight dispensaries located throughout the state.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — After years of delays, the first eight dispensaries in Illinois will begin selling medical marijuana as early as next Monday after state officials gave growers the green light Friday to begin shipping cannabis to dispensaries.

The eight dispensaries are located in Marion, Mundelein, Canton, Quincy, Addison, North Aurora, Schaumburg and Ottawa.  According to Joseph Wright, Director of Illinois…

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Illinois Medical Marijuana Sales (Finally) Start Monday

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The sale of medical cannabis to qualifying patients and caregivers will begin on Monday, November 9, 2015 at eight dispensaries located throughout the state.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — After years of delays, the first eight dispensaries in Illinois will begin selling medical marijuana as early as next Monday after state officials gave growers the green light Friday to begin shipping cannabis to dispensaries.

The eight dispensaries are located in Marion, Mundelein, Canton, Quincy, Addison, North Aurora, Schaumburg and Ottawa.  According to Joseph…

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Montana Seeks Court Ruling to End Medical Marijuana Sales

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HELENA, MT — Montana is in the fifth year of a legal fight to severely restrict how medical marijuana is grown and distributed, even as attitudes in other parts of the nation appear to be shifting toward more tolerance for the drug.

Attorneys for the state argued Wednesday before the Montana Supreme Court to lift a judge’s injunction that prevents enforcement of a 2011 law that would ban commercial sales of medical marijuana and limit providers of the drug to a maximum of three patients.

The state also wants to lift District Judge James…

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Constitutionality of California’s New Medical Marijuana Law Challenged in Court

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Constitutionality of California’s New Medical Marijuana Law Challenged in Court

SAN JOSE, CA — California’s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, signed into law this month to regulate the state’s medical marijuana industry, violates the state’s constitution, a medical marijuana collective operator claims in court.

Governor Jerry Brown signed the law on Oct. 9, to establish a comprehensive legislative framework for the production, transportation and sale of medical marijuana in California.

The bipartisan group of legislators who drafted the laws says they will provide a licensing structure for the…

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Federal Court Ruling: Spending Limitation Approved in Congress Shields Medical Marijuana Patients and Providers Acting in Compliance With State Laws From Justice Dept. Actions

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Federal Court Ruling: Spending Limitation Approved in Congress Shields Medical Marijuana Patients and Providers Acting in Compliance With State Laws From Justice Dept. Actions

DOJ officials had said they did not believe the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment would affect individual cases; the sponsors of the amendment disputed that claim in letters to the attorney general and a request for an inspector general investigation

WASHINGTON, DC — A federal judge ruled Monday that a budget amendment approved by Congress prevents the Department of Justice from taking action against medical marijuana patients and providers who are operating in compliance with state laws.

Northern District of California Judge Charles Breyer said…

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Federal Ruling Protects Medical Marijuana Dispensaries That Follow State Law

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Federal Ruling Protects Medical Marijuana Dispensaries That Follow State Law

In Precedent-Setting Case, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer Rules Justice Department in Violation of Federal Law and Lifts Injunction Against Medical Marijuana Dispensary; Judge Cites Recent Congressional Reforms, as Support for Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Continues to Grow in Congress

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On Monday, a federal judge lifted an injunction against one of California’s oldest medical marijuana dispensaries.  The injunction can no longer be enforced in the wake of a congressional spending amendment passed by…

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Washington: Tacoma Collectives Win Temporary Reprieve – Daily Chronic

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TACOMA, WA – A dozen unlicensed medical marijuana shops won a temporary reprieve last week when a Washington state judge gave them time to prove they are operating legally in Tacoma.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson granted a temporary injunction despite the city’s argument that it had the right to shut down the pot shops immediately.

City officials said that only marijuana businesses licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board could operate in Tacoma, which planned to start closing unlicensed shops on Oct. 1.

The shops filed separate complaints seeking injunctive relief against the city. They are operating under a previous state law that allowed medical marijuana patients to form “collective gardens” to grow and sell cannabis.

A new law combines…

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Report Dispels Myths about Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

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Patient Advocates Release Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Fair Rules to Create Local Medical Cannabis Access

WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) released a white paper on the impact of medical cannabis dispensaries on patients, teen cannabis use, crime and communities titled “Where Will Patients Obtain Their Medicine?”.

Since legal medical cannabis dispensaries first emerged following the creation of California’s medical cannabis program in 1996, the location of medical cannabis dispensaries has been a contentious issue. Although critics have long suggested that medical cannabis dispensaries will worsen crime rates or otherwise undermine the communities that host them, empirical research shows that dispensaries bring economic development…

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Gov. Brown Signs Historic California Medical Marijuana Regulation Bills

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Under the new laws, businesses will be licensed to produce, test, and distribute medical marijuana, and a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation will be established to develop and enforce uniform state regulations

SACRAMENTO, CA — Gov. Jerry Brown signed three bills into law Friday that establish a statewide regulatory framework for California businesses that produce and distribute medical marijuana in the state. AB 243, AB 266, and SB 643 create standards for licensing businesses as well as testing, packaging, labeling, and tracking marijuana products, among other things.  

The bills establish a new agency within the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, which will oversee the system and work with other agencies that will be involved in licensing…

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California Governor Signs Medical Cannabis Regulation Bills

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Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act Will Establish State-Level Regulation in California

SACRAMENTO, CA — On Friday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the trio of bills known as the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act that will establish regulation of commercial medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and transportation, as well as create a state-level licensing system in California for the first time since the medical cannabis program was enacted in 1996.

The California legislature passed Assembly Bills 243 and 266 and Senate Bill 643 on September 11th, 2015, with overwhelming support in both the Assembly and the Senate.

“Governor Brown’s approval of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act ushers in a new era in California,’” said…

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Are You Prepared to Meet Maryland’s Medical Marijuana Regulatory Requirements?

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Nearly two and half years after the passage of Maryland’s medical cannabis law, the Maryland Cannabis Commission is now accepting applications for those seeking licenses to operate as a medical cannabis grower, processor or dispenser in Maryland. The deadline for applications is November 6th and the commission will issue 15 licenses for cultivation, up to 92 for dispensaries, and an unlimited number for processors.

ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET MARYLAND’S REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS?

Maryland has adopted the AHPA’s recommendations to regulators, which requires business to meet extensive staff training requirements, the most robust product safety protocols in the country and require local zoning sign-off.  Don’t go through the application process alone. Let PFC help you adequately…

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Oregon: Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Start Thursday

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PORTLAND, OR — Limited retail sales of marijuana to adults 21 or older will begin in Oregon on Thursday, October 1st, making Oregon the third US state to allow for the legal sale of marijuana to adults without a medical marijuana card.

With the early start to legal retail marijuana sales, Oregon will have the quickest start of lawful marijuana sales out of the four states that have approved legalization, doing so less than a year after voters approved Measure 91.

Under the voter-approved Measure 91, possession of marijuana by adults 21 or older became legal in Oregon on July 1.  But the law gave the Oregon Liquor Control Commission until January 1, 2016 to implement regulations on production, processing, and commercial sale of marijuana.

The Oregon legislature took the unusual…

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California Will Regulate Medical Marijuana

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California Will Regulate Medical Marijuana

SACRAMENTO, CA — After nearly 20 years of wrangling over what is and is not legal under California’s 1996 Proposition 215 medical marijuana law, the state legislature has passed a set of bills designed to bring order to the chaos.

If, as expected, Gov. Brown signs the bills into law, the medical marijuana status quo, rife with ambiguities, contradictions, and grey areas, will be transformed into a robust, strictly regulated medical marijuana industry. It won’t always be painless, and there will be winners and losers.

For starters, the…

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California Legislature Agrees to Last-Minute Medical Marijuana Bills

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California Legislature Agrees to Last-Minute Medical Marijuana Bills

SACRAMENTO, CA — California’s state assembly reached a bipartisan agreement on a “historic framework” to regulate the state’s medical marijuana industry, lawmakers announced Friday.

The bill, AB 266, will “ensure patient access, as well as protect the environment, public safety, and public health,” according to a press release.

It marks the first time in state history that framework for medical marijuana regulation has been agreed to by the state assembly, the state senate and the governor’s office.

California was the first…

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MD: ASA to Work with Regulators to Ensure Highest Level of Industry Compliance

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MD: ASA to Work with Regulators to Ensure Highest Level of Industry Compliance

BALTIMORE, MD — Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has been selected to provide training for compliance inspectors operating under the authority of the Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. The auditors are charged with ensuring members of the state’s new medical cannabis industry comply with all applicable regulations, which were finalized by the Commission in August. 

In addition to developing its own rigorous compliance protocols, Maryland has adopted the American Herbal Product Association’s (AHPA) Recommendations…

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DigiPath Labs Begins Generating Revenue as Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Open in Nevada

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LAS VEGAS, NV — DigiPath Labs, the cannabis testing subsidiary of DigiPath, Inc. (OTCQB: DIGP), today announced that its medical marijuana safety and potency testing services are generating revenue as medical marijuana dispensaries open in Nevada.

The company’s Las Vegas testing facility is now testing cannabis products for a growing number of cultivators, cannabis-infused product makers, and even other cannabis testing labs.

DigiPath“We’ve been working on our diversification strategy since April, 2014, and now our investments in cannabis…

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Illinois Registers First Medical Marijuana Dispensary

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Illinois Registers First Medical Marijuana Dispensary

SPRINGFIELD, IL — After years of delays, the first medical marijuana dispensary in Illinois has been registered by the state.  The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR), who is responsible for overseeing the state’s medical marijuana pilot program, announced the registration on Tuesday.

Harbory, which will be located in the southern part of the state in the city of Marion, was the first dispensary applicant in the state to successfully complete the registration and inspection processes, and is now licensed…

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Medical Marijuana and the Role of a Pharmacist: Top Tips to Read

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While marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, its medicinal uses can be traced back to years. And as this drug’s reputation shifts from that of an illicit drug to that of a therapeutic one, pharmacists need to gear up to provide the best possible advice to their patients.

If you are worried about counseling your patients on the use of this medicinal drug, read on for some tips.

Know the Basics

As a pharmacist, you need to know all there is to know about medical marijuana so that you can counsel patients in the right way. Here are some basics.

What Is It?

The terms medical marijuana or medical cannabis refer to using the unprocessed marijuana plant as a whole or using its extracts to treat diseases or alleviate symptoms.

What Makes Marijuana Medicine?

Marijuana contains chemical…

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First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens in Nevada

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Last Friday, Silver State Relief became the first medical dispensary to open in Nevada.

In the year 2000, voters overwhelmingly supported an initiative that made Nevada one of the earliest states to adopt a medical marijuana law. It took another 12 years for the legislature to create a law allowing regulated businesses to provide safe access to medical cannabis. A little over two years from the date the bill was signed into law, that system is finally rolling out.

Nevada’s medical marijuana program now serves over 9,300 patients across the state, and the opening of Nevada’s first regulated business represents an important milestone in the state’s system.

For many patients, it has been a long two years. The agency created and then adopted rules, businesses applied to operate in a…

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Nevada’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Finally Opens

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SPARKS, NV — Fifteen years after Nevadans voted to legalize it, medical marijuana was sold legally in the state for the first time Friday at a dispensary in a strip mall about 5 miles east of downtown Reno.

Dressed in polo shirts, tie-dyes and button-downs, about 75 people with medical marijuana cards lined up outside Silver State Relief, between a sub shop and pizza place in Sparks, to be among the first to buy as much as a half-ounce of pot for $195.

“It smells good in there,” said Dana Metz, 64, a retired General Motors worker who said he suffers from back pain, insomnia and anxiety. He was the first in line two hours before the doors opened just after 10 a.m.

“Like a kid in a candy store,” Metz said with a smile as he emerged with a package of pre-rolled cigarettes….

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