Lifestyle

It was a confusing news cycle, with Jersey City’s municipal prosecutor, Jake Hudnut, releasing a memo effectively decriminalizing marijuana locally and state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal declaring that action invalid. Now, AG Grewal has told all prosecutors to “adjourn” (postpone) marijuana prosecutions in municipal court until at least September 4, when his office will issue … Continue reading N.J. hits pause on low-level marijuana prosecutions

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Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) led a group of bipartisan lawmakers in introducing The Marijuana Data Collection Act. The act calls upon the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to collect and synthesize relevant data and to generate a formal report to Congress quantifying the impact of statewide marijuana legalization on matters specific to public health, safety, the economy, and criminal justice, among other issues.

A fiscal report issued by the state’s Auditor General estimates that taxing Pennsylvania’s existing retail cannabis market would yield $581 million in new annual revenue. "It is time for Pennsylvania to stop imagining the benefits of marijuana and realize them," it concludes.

Last November, the Minnesota Department of Health approved adding autism spectrum disorders and obstructive sleep apnea as qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program. Under state law, the additions take effect the following summer. Starting on July 1, 2018, patients with a doctor’s certification and either of those conditions could begin registering for the … Continue reading Minnesota patients with autism and sleep apnea now qualify for medical cannabis

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Earlier this year, the Hawaii Legislature overwhelmingly approved SB 2407, which would allow opioid and substance use disorders, and their symptoms, to be treated with medical cannabis if a physician recommends it. But last week, Gov. David Ige announced he intends to veto this compassionate bill. Medical cannabis can ease the devastating symptoms of opiate … Continue reading Hawaii governor considering medical cannabis/opioid bill

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The walls of marijuana prohibition have crumbled all around New Hampshire. It is now legal for adults in all three neighboring states to grow and possess cannabis, and retail sales will soon become a reality in Massachusetts, Maine, and Canada. Sadly, Gov. Chris Sununu continues to oppose legalization, in part because he continues to rely … Continue reading New Hampshire’s “drug czar” speaks against marijuana legalization

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House Bill 1258 passed both houses of the Colorado General Assembly and is now heading to the governor’s desk. If signed, the bill would allow approved retail cannabis stores to open a tasting room where on-site cannabis consumption is allowed. This is yet another big step forward in a state that has long been a … Continue reading Colorado Legislature Approves On-Site Consumption Lounges

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NORML chapters from around the country are combining traditional 4/20 events with a robust presence on social media that will include a call-to-action urging federal lawmakers to support HR 1227: The Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act.

Cannabis therapy is safe and effective among elderly patients diagnosed with chronic pain, according to clinical data published online ahead of print in the European Journal of Internal Medicine. "After six months of treatment, 93.7 percent of the respondents reported improvement in their condition," researchers reported.

San Francisco city officials announced plans yesterday to begin reviewing and automatically expunging thousands of past marijuana possession convictions.