Cannabis Catalyst PAC

It's time for Congress to listen to the American people.

Excellent breakdown of the legal and legislative roadblocks to homegrown cannabis.
https://buff.ly/2LKiSir

California lawmakers pass bill to erase old pot convictions

Last week, California passed a bill to erase old cannabis convictions which took place 1975 and 2016. Now is the time to continue efforts to reduce the negative side effects of cannabis prohibition.

apnews.com SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A bill requiring California prosecutors to erase or reduce tens of thousands of ma*****na criminal convictions was approved by the state Legislature on Wednes

Florida's US Senate Candidates Clash On Medical Ma*****na | Ma*****na Moment

In this year’s close U.S. Senate race in Florida, ma*****na is playing a mostly sidelined role so far as voters in the key swing state decide between incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is term-limited out of his current job.

ma*****namoment.net In this year’s close U.S. Senate race in Florida, ma*****na is playing a mostly sidelined role so far as voters in the key swing state decide between incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is term-limited out of his current job. But among the two candidates, the ...

Carney signs bill expunging some pot convictions - Delaware State News

Last week, Deleware's Gov. John Carney signed a bill expunging some cannabis convictions which took place before cannabis was decriminalized state-wide in 2015.

delawarestatenews.net DOVER — Mandatory expungements for some individuals convicted of possessing or using small amounts of ma*****na before the state decriminalized pot in 2015 became law Wednesday with Gov. John Carney’s signature. But, the measure only applies in instances where the ma*****na charge is a person’...

New York Governor Announces Ma*****na Legalization Listening Sessions | Ma*****na Moment

Starting this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will hold a series of “listening sessions” about ma*****na legalization.

The move is the latest in an intensified evolution of the cannabis policy debate in New York and for Cuomo’s position on the issue personally.

ma*****namoment.net New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that state officials will hold a series of “listening sessions” about ma*****na legalization starting next week. The move is the latest in an intensified evolution of the cannabis policy debate in New York and for Cuomo’s position on the issue personall...

Ma*****na Should Be Added to Nafta, Mexico’s Fox Says

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox suggested this week that cannabis should be treated like any other produce and be added to NAFTA.

bloomberg.com Cannabis should be added to the North American Free Trade Agreement just like any other form of produce, says former Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Inside The Trump Administration’s Secret War On W**d

ICYMI: Despite claiming to support states rights on cannabis, Buzzfeed reported that the White House has secretly amassed a committee of federal agencies from across the government to combat public support for ma*****na and cast state legalization measures in a negative light, while attempting to portray the drug as a national threat.

buzzfeednews.com The Ma*****na Policy Coordination Committee wants to counteract positive ma*****na messages and identify problems with state legalization initiatives, according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.

Ma*****na is not really legal in California if residents don't have a reasonable way to buy it

Cannabis may be "legal", but if the ease of access is still limited, are we really turning away from the illegal cannabis market?

latimes.com The more California cities prohibit legitimate ma*****na businesses, the more likely medical and recreational pot consumers will rely on unlicensed sellers.

Cannabis is no longer just a fringe issue. Those wishing to be elected to office must address the growing support for legal cannabis. In Nevada, cannabis has become the central issue for U.S. Senate race. https://buff.ly/2MgVePv

North Dakotans voted to approve medical cannabis two years ago, and now they will get the chance to decide on full ma*****na legalization this November. https://buff.ly/2vMj8Z0

5 Reasons Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Are Essential in the Cannabis Industry Business

As the legal cannabis industry emerges, it is important to remember that high barriers of entry, like licensing costs, prevent many from inclusion in the industry. A diverse cannabis industry is not only good for consumers, but entrepreneurs as well.

entrepreneur.com Inclusion is not just a catch phrase, it's a managing philosophy.

UN Launches First-Ever Full Review Of Ma*****na's Status Under International Law | Ma*****na Moment

For the first time ever, the United Nations has decided to launch a review of whether cannabis is properly classified under international drug treaties.

ma*****namoment.net For the first time ever, the United Nations (UN) is launching an in-depth review of whether ma*****na is properly classified under international drug treaties. In a related development, the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound in ma*****na that is i...

What are Republicans smoking? How the GOP came to love ma*****na

"Already, politicians are beginning to see the benefits of supporting the cannabis industry through campaign fundraising. Rohrabacher, who is facing his toughest re-election campaign in three decades and is seen as one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House, has been rewarded for his pro-weed stance. The congressman has gained $5,000 checks from companies and organizations including W**dmaps, Scotts Miracle-Gro and the National Cannabis Industry Association. Since 2016, Rohrabacher has received more than $80,000 in ma*****na industry money."

newsweek.com Die-hard conservatives are suddenly high on the legalization of cannabis. Is it about the potential health benefits, or simply hooking more voters?

BREAKING: Wells Fargo has closed a Florida political candidates bank account due to her receiving donations from lobbyists for medical ma*****na.

With this action, Wells Fargo is the first bank to discontinue their work with a political candidate who receives donations from the cannabis industry.

https://buff.ly/2MocAKl

Cannabis may be legal in numerous states, but the barrier of entry into the legal cannabis industry is still astronomical. Massachusetts is leading the way in helping individuals who have been hurt by the war on drugs find their place in the legal cannabis market.
https://buff.ly/2MynsVD

'I don't think I look like a stoner': the women changing the face of the cannabis industry

Ending cannabis prohibition is not just about criminal justice and medical reform. It is also about entrepreneurs. Check out this article about women changing the face of the cannabis industry.

theguardian.com US cannabis laws are slackening, and a number of enterprising women are tapping into female interest in the drug through magazines, cooking, health and fashion. Candice Pires reports

Workplace Deaths Drop After States Legalize Medical Ma*****na | Ma*****na Moment

"Analyzing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1992 to 2015, a team of researchers found that workplace deaths declined by about 34 percent five years after a state legalized medical cannabis. The trend was most pronounced among workers between the ages of 25 and 44."

ma*****namoment.net Workers appear to be safer in states that have legalized medical ma*****na, according to a new study. The research, scheduled to be published in the International Journal of Drug Policy in October, is the first of its kind to explore the relationship between medical cannabis laws and workplace fatal...

Analysis | Congress is about to legalize cannabis. Just not the kind that gets you high.

After a decades-long campaign, lawmakers are poised to fully legalize h**p. It is time to push forward and end cannabis prohibition.

washingtonpost.com Congress is poised to legalize h**p. But can it live up to decades of hype?

Denver 'Having Success' Regulating Legal Ma*****na, Mayor Says

"Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (D) campaigned against Colorado's ma*****na legalization measure in 2012. But he now admits that in the years since voters ignored his advice and ended prohibition anyway, the city has been able to effectively regulate the cannabis industry in a way that creates jobs and generates tax revenue."

forbes.com Denver's efforts to regulate the legal ma*****na industry are going well, a new official city analysis finds.

Trump's Trade Wars Hit Cannabis Businesses Hard | Cannabis Now

The current tariffs are harming more than just traditional business. The trade wars have hit the cannabis industry hard.

cannabisnow.com In a fast and furious exchange of retaliatory tariffs, Donald Trump and China’s president Xi Jinping appear to have initiated a trade war this week. The cannabis sector is particularly vulnerable, according to industry insiders.

New data suggests that the ban of legal cannabis sales in Washington, D.C. has driven up arrests, with cannabis-related arrests tripling since 2015. Other key takeaways:

- For every 10 people arrested for a cannabis violation, nine were black.
- Even with legal consumption, distribution arrests have increased by 83% since 2016.
https://buff.ly/2niYRpc

Lawmakers In U.S. Territory Vote To Legalize Ma*****na

, Lawmakers in US Territory vote to legalize cannabis.

Tom Angell reports that "It will also be the first to legalize a system of regulated cannabis production and sales through an act of lawmakers rather via a ballot measure."

forbes.com The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is on its way to become the first U.S. jurisdiction to legalize recreational ma*****na production and sales through an act of lawmakers. And it doesn't even have a medical cannabis program yet.

Americans Say Ma*****na, Va**ng Less Harmful Than To***co

A new poll by Gallup suggests that the majority of Americans consider ma*****na and va**ng to be less harmful then ci******es.

Do you think ending cannabis prohibition could reduce ni****ne addiction?

news.gallup.com When asked about six to***co or smoking products, Americans say they use ci******es most regularly and also consider them most harmful to users. Ma*****na, the second most regularly used substance, is viewed as the least harmful.

Positive policing changes after cannabis legalization: Clearance rates improve for burglaries, vehicle thefts

Washington State University researchers have found that cannabis legalization in Colorado and Washington has not hurt police effectiveness. In fact, clearance rates (number of cases solved) for certain crimes have improved.

sciencedaily.com Researchers have found that ma*****na legalization in Colorado and Washington has not hurt police effectiveness. In fact, clearance rates for certain crimes have improved.

Why all sides in Congress can get behind Rep. Gabbard’s new cannabis legislation

"The legislation itself takes no position on cannabis reform and instead, seeks to encourage research on existing and future state legalization programs so that policymakers can better understand the impact of those state laws."

brookings.edu A new bill introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) would charge the National Academy of Sciences with collecting comprehensive data on cannabis legalization every two years. This bill can appeal to both pro- and anti-cannabis reform advocates.

Georgia becomes the first former Soviet country to legalize ma*****na consumption

BREAKING: The former Soviet country Georgia has legalized cannabis following a decision of the Constitutional Court and is now on the way to completely ending harmful prohibitionist policies.

"In a Monday ruling, the nation’s constitutional court ruled that punishing an individual for using cannabis restricts an individual’s freedom as the plant can only potentially cause harm to the user, Radio Free Europe reported. The court ruled that punishing a person for using pot will only be allowed if their actions put a third party at risk."

newsweek.com Legalization campaigner Zurab Japaridze, who filed the suit with the top court, hailed the decision as making Georgia “a freer country.”

A new study found that cannabis consumers prefer to buy their products from the legal cannabis market, up to a certain price point. It is time to end prohibition and open the legal cannabis market. https://buff.ly/2AgjJqt

New Jersey to stop prosecuting ma*****na cases, temporarily

New Jersey's top law enforcement official has instructed prosecutors statewide to hold off on pursuing convictions for ma*****na-related crimes until the fall.

cnn.com

Yet Another Study Finds Ma*****na Reduces Opioid Use

Another study, conducted by the University of California-San Diego and Weill Cornell Medical College, has found that cannabis reduced opioid use by almost 30%.

greenentrepreneur.com More people are turning to cannabis for pain relief. And that's saving lives.

New legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), would require multiple federal agencies to work together to study "the effects of State legalized ma*****na programs on the economy, public health, criminal justice and employment."
https://buff.ly/2LHqLch

Mexico’s President-elect Signals Support for Drug Decriminalization | Ma*****na

Mexico's new President-elect López Obrador’s has signaled his support for drug decriminalization.

Sánchez Cordero, who is being considered for a position in López Obrador’s cabinet told the Mexican publication Milenio, "The world war against drugs has failed...Legislating on the basis of more punishment and constant confrontation does not contribute to peace.”

ma*****na.com Shortly after Andrés Manuel López Obrador won Mexico's presidential race by a landslide on July 1, 2018, his campaign promise to talk about legalizing drugs came up almost immediately. “In terms of legalizing drugs, why not talk about it?” López Obrador said in May at a campaign rally. “The...

Red States Are Embracing Cannabis Legalization, Expanding Access | Leafly

"The steady march toward legalization by red states—and in particular, by citizen voters—is yet another sign that the partisan divide on cannabis is disappearing. While Republican voters might side with legalization for slightly different reasons than their Democratic neighbors, the gap between them is closing. Rather than cling to Drug War era propaganda, elected officials would do well to respond to their constituents’ evolving views."

https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/red-states-are-embracing-cannabis-legalization-expanding-access

leafly.com North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah move ahead while Maine overrides Gov. LePage's veto.

Congress Could Vote On These Ma*****na Amendments Next Week (Unless GOP Blocks Them Again) | Ma*****na Moment

"The U.S. House of Representatives could vote next week on amendments that would let ma*****na businesses access banks and allow the city of Washington, D.C. to spend its own money on legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis sales.

That’s if Republican leaders don’t block their colleagues from even being able to consider the measures on the floor."

https://www.ma*****namoment.net/congress-could-vote-on-these-ma*****na-amendments-next-week-unless-gop-blocks-them-again/

ma*****namoment.net The U.S. House of Representatives could vote next week on amendments that would let ma*****na businesses access banks and allow the city of Washington, D.C. to spend its own money on legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis sales. That’s if Republican leaders don’t block their colleagues ...

Defying Congress, Jeff Sessions Keeps Blocking Medical Ma*****na Research

"Since the DEA announced in August 2016 that it would end the federal monopoly on producing cannabis for scientific research in the United States, growers, investors, researchers, applicants, and even members of Congress have sought to understand why a relatively simple licensing review process has stretched on for nearly two years. The answer is pretty straightforward: Attorney General Jeff Sessions, for reasons he has not publicly disclosed, decided to intervene in a process that has historically not involved the attorney general in order to stop the DEA from issuing licenses to growers."

https://reason.com/blog/2018/07/05/jeff-sessions-continues-to-sabotage-much

reason.com Two years after accepting applications, the DEA has yet to grant licenses to growers.

Senate Committee Slams Ma*****na's Federal Classification, Saying Schedule I Blocks Research

"The Committee is concerned that restrictions associated with Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act effectively limit the amount and type of research that can be conducted on certain Schedule 1 drugs, especially ma*****na or its component chemicals and certain synthetic drugs," the Senate Appropriations Committee wrote in a new report under the headline, "Barriers to Research."

forbes.com A powerful Senate committee issued a report saying that ma*****na's classification in Schedule I blocks research on its effects.

Recreational ma*****na now legal in Vermont

As of Sunday, recreational cannabis is now legal in Vermont! The Vermont legislature has become the first state legislature to pass legalization. It is time for other states to follow their example and end prohibition.

usatoday.com Recreational use of ma*****na is legal now in Vermont -- within boundaries of some clear and not-so-clear rules

Is Canada's ma*****na the new Bitcoin? Stocks have surged after legalization

While Canadians have to wait until October for cannabis legalization, stocks are already surging in response to the legislative decision. Ending cannabis prohibition is not only good for patients, but for business and communities as well.

newsweek.com "I believe the incredible tailwinds blowing at legal ma*****na’s back make it so the opportunity here is much like the one internet stocks offered in 1994 … or the one bitcoin offered in 2015."