Marijuana Politics

Santa Clara Urged to Reconsider Adult-Use Cannabis Ban
Lawmakers have urged Santa Clara County officials to reverse their decision to ban recreational cannabis users from buying marijuana during the COVID-19 crisis. The country issued a new stay-at-home order last week, which...
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Minnesota Cannabis Program Audit Highlights Shortcomings
A new audit has exposed several weaknesses in the Minnesota Department of Health’s management of the state’s medical cannabis program. Internal controls were rated “generally not adequate” in a number of areas, sparking...
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South Dakota Tribe Poised for Cannabis Legalization Vote
The Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota will vote this week on whether to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes. Tribal leaders believe the Oglala Sioux would gain a significant economic benefit by attracting...
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New Jersey Cannabis Legalization Campaign Launched
Cannabis advocates in New Jersey have formed a coalition that will campaign for a “yes” vote in the recreational marijuana legalization ballot later this year. Garden State voters will decide on the issue of legalization...
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Marijuana Dispensaries Struggle with Staff Shortages
Medical cannabis dispensaries cannot hire enough staff to meet demand as the offices that process fingerprints for criminal record checks have been deemed non-essential. Storeowners say they are struggling with staff shortages...
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Health Canada to Begin Testing Cannabis Vapes
Health Canada announced this week that it is gearing up to start testing the health effects of inhaling substances emitted from cannabis vape products. The agency is expanding capacity at the labs it uses to conduct research...
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Cannabis Found to Combat Deadly Superbug
A chemical compound found in cannabis could save thousands of lives by destroying the feared MRSA superbug, according to Canadian researchers. The disease is resistant to many forms of antibiotic and scientists have previously...
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UK Medical Cannabis Conference Attracts NICE Director
The UK Centre for Medical Cannabis has persuaded several senior healthcare executives to present keynote lectures at an upcoming conference on cannabinoid research. It will be the first time that representatives of the NHS,...
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Nevada Cannabis Sales Plummet Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Marijuana sales in Nevada have decreased by more than 50% since the coronavirus lockdown began, according to a local trade body. The Nevada Dispensary Association attributed the decline to a lack of tourists and an inability...
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Missouri Group Puts Legalization Campaign On Ice
Efforts to place a marijuana legalization proposal on the November ballot in Missouri have been scuppered by the coronavirus outbreak. Campaign group Missourians for a New Approach was trying to secure the required 170,000...
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Cannabis Researcher Gains $3.9m Federal Grant
A researcher at UCLA has received a $3.9 million federal grant to study whether cannabis can be used to replace opioids for pain management. Ziva Cooper, research director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, will receive...
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Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Steps Down
Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Kay Doyle is to step down next month in order to work in the private sector. Doyle began a three-year term in September 2017 after completing a stint as primary counsel to the state’s...
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Nebraska Coalition Seeks Medical Marijuana Legalization
Medical marijuana advocates in Nebraska have ramped up efforts to place a legalization referendum on the November ballot. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has teamed up with a new group called ADOPT (Adopt a Decrease in Oppressive...
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Colorado Cannabis Sector Reports Soaring Sales
Colorado cannabis stores set a new annual record by selling $1.74 billion worth of marijuana in 2019. That represented an impressive 12.3% increase on sales of $1.55 billion generated in 2018, quelling fears that the industry...
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Australia Begins Exporting Cannabis to the UK
A firm in Perth has completed the first ever export of medical cannabis oils from Australia to the UK. The UK Home Office announced last month that licensed wholesalers could start importing larger quantities of medical cannabis...
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Coronavirus Outbreak Could Delay Maine Marijuana Launch
The launch of Maine’s new recreational cannabis industry could be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the world. The state’s first cannabis stores were supposed to open this month, but the launch...
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Bermuda Increases Limits on Medical Cannabis Imports
Bermuda will allow patients to import up to 2,000 grams of medical cannabis per year in order to treat a number of conditions. The Supreme Court of Bermuda ruled in favour of allowing the medical use of cannabis in November...
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Marijuana Legalization Boosts Hotel Revenues in Denver
The hotel trade in Denver saw revenue shoot up by $130 million after Colorado decided to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014, according to a new study. John O’Neill, professor of hospitality management at Penn State...
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Lebanon Plans to Legalize Medicinal Cannabis
Lebanon hopes to gain an economic boost by legalizing medical cannabis and exporting it around the world. The Middle Eastern nation defaulted for the first time earlier this month after racking up a bigger debt than it can...
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Alabama Marijuana Bill Clears Key Hurdle
A bill seeking to permit medical marijuana sales in Alabama has cleared its first hurdle by passing through the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 165 would set up a medical marijuana program for the state under legislation titled...
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