Author: News Room

“We shouldn’t equate black with illegal and we shouldn’t use the term ‘black market’ as a synonym for illegal market.” By Cat Packer, Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition As someone who identifies as Black and as an advocate for the end of marijuana criminalization and its harms, I’m constantly reminded of the relationship between racism, marijuana prohibition and policing. As such, when I hear the term “black market” used to describe illegal marijuana markets, I take issue with the normalization of black being used as a synonym for illegal. I first began to understand the relationship between racism and marijuana…

Until about a year and a half ago, I always said that I didn’t like “loud” music. I didn’t mind if the volume was turned up, but too much noise made me uneasy; I preferred lullaby baby music at all times of the day, or songs about fuckin’ bitches and getting money because who doesn’t like being brainwashed? And then I heard Soul Glo. I’m not entirely sure what it was about them that made me change my mind—perhaps the fact that they’re Black, but then again, the drummer TJ is white, so that couldn’t be it. Maybe it was…

The numbers are in: Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services today offered the first glimpse into just how well the Show-Me State’s first weekend of recreational cannabis sales went.On Friday, Feb. 3, Missouri’s 198 operating dispensaries combined to sell more than $3 million in recreational marijuana and nearly $2 million in medical cannabis. On Saturday, rec sales eclipsed $3.3 million and medical sales dipped to $1.3 million. Consumers in the Show-Me State scaled back on Sunday, buying close to $2.2 million in adult-use marijuana and about $900,000 in medical product.The weekend saw a grand total of $12.7 million in…

JAY-Z took the stage to highlight the significance of cannabis legalization, legacy operators, and the failures of the Drug War at the 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday.  Here’s what he had to say. The Grammy Awards gave us tons of trending moments over the weekend, and one of them stood out to members of the cannabis community specifically:  JAY-Z, the rapper-turned-exec behind legal cannabis brand Monogram, rapped for five straight minutes about the War on Drugs, plus the unlikely odds of his own legal weed ventures. Watch the full performance of “God Did” below. “God Did” live at the…

Hong Kong has banned CBD, adopting harsh criminal punishment aligned with China’s zero-tolerance policy which led to a ban on the mainland last year. The new policy, approved last October and which took effect Feb. 1, categorizes CBD as a “dangerous drug” – a designation that puts it at the same level as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Under the new law, the possession and consumption of CBD are punishable by seven years imprisonment and a fine of maximum 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,607). Manufacturing, importing, or exporting CBD can mean a life sentence. The government warned travelers not to…

A fourth Minnesota Senate committee has approved a bill to legalize marijuana, another step along its extended journey to the floor as a House companion also continues to advance. The Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee passed the legislation from Sen. Lindsey Port (D) in a 5-4 vote. The measure is expected to go through a total of 18 panels in the chamber. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D) said at the beginning of Monday’s hearing that Minnesota has “an opportunity to undo some of the harm that has been done and to create a system of regulation…

Although federal law explicitly prohibits all Americans who consume or possess marijuana from purchasing or possessing a firearm, a judge in Oklahoma late last week declared that ban unconstitutional.On February 3, U.S. District Judge Patrick Wyrick—an appointee of former President Trump—dismissed an indictment against a man named Jared Michael Harrison. Last May, police in Lawton, Oklahoma, pulled over Harrison’s car after he allegedly failed to stop at a red light. They found a loaded revolver and marijuana inside. Police officers also observed that Harrison wore an ankle monitor; he had been placed on probation for aggravated assault. Harrison further told the…

“If they ban these products, it’s going to push a lot of veterans back to the illicit market.” By Allison P. Erickson, The Texas Tribune LEANDER—Texas veterans are working to protect the state’s hemp market—and push to expand the state’s medical marijuana program—at the state Capitol during this year’s legislative session. The veterans and their supporters say they need access to the hemp product known as delta-8 to treat issues such as chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Delta-8 is widely available throughout Texas and, like marijuana, can create a feeling of euphoria. “So many veterans…

A new scientific review is challenging the idea that there’s a marijuana “hangover” effect the day after use, raising questions about policies that punish drivers and people in safety-sensitive positions for cannabis consumption that occurs weeks prior to drug tests being administered. Researchers at the University of Sydney reviewed 20 studies that looked at the effects of marijuana eight hours after use, focusing on performance assessments. Their findings are set to be published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. “Most studies didn’t detect ‘next day’ effects of cannabis use, and the few that did had significant limitations,” study author…

A federal judge has declared that the ban prohibiting people who use marijuana from possessing firearms is unconstitutional, saying that the federal government’s justification for upholding the law is “concerning.” The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on Friday dismissed an indictment against a man who was charged in Oklahoma in 2022 after police discovered marijuana and a handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop. In doing so, Judge Patrick Wyrick agreed with attorneys that the statute banning “unlawful” users of cannabis from possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment of the Constitution. This decision comes as…