That’s what a U.S. Court of Appeals determined in a case involving a security guard and a Colorado Cannabis company.
However, as noted in the article, many Colorado companies are exceeding federal requirements, and the legislature passed a sunset bill earlier this year that included a provision dictating companies comply with federal labor rules.
South Dakota is trying again to get ballot measures on the ballot addressing medical and adult-use cannabis – but this time they have some financial backing.
Cannabis opportunities on reservations?Democratic presidential hopeful and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, makes the argument that Indian tribes have the right to legalize cannabis without federal interference, and:
“A number of Tribal Nations view cannabis as an important opportunity for economic development,” she said.
Give us a hugIs the federal government embracing the reality of cannabis legalization? Okay, that might be a step too far, but it appears the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s position is evolving. The agency wants to fund studies that look at regulations, industry marketing and reasons for medical cannabis use.
Colorado helps others legalize the responsible wayThe National Foundation for Women Legislators hosted a Marijuana Policy Summit in Colorado last week, touring cannabis dispensaries and discussing CBD, licensing, potency, revenue and health and safety. About 30 elected women whose states or municipalities are considering legalization, or have already legalized cannabis, attended the summit.
Medical refugees. That’s the term now given to people who move to other states to access legal cannabis for medical reasons. Groups, such as Colorado-based American Medical Refugees, help families hoping to connect with those in similar situations and find resources.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs last week ushered in industry leaders and advocates to testify about the challenges cannabis companies face trying to get basic banking services in states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal. Those testifying urged lawmakers to change federal laws so the industry could access traditional financial services.
While the hearing was the first-of-its-kind in the GOP-controlled Senate, passing federal legislation still remains an uphill battle. Except for the committee chairman, U.S Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, none of the other GOP committee members attended the hearing. He urged lawmakers to change federal laws to give the budding industry access to traditional financial services.
Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the American Bankers Association and Jim Nussle President and CEO of the Credit Union National Association, co-authored an Op-Ed calling on Congress to pass marijuana banking legislation.
With the STATES Act and SAFE Banking Act, the cannabis lobby is on track to break a new record.
U.S Sen. Cory Gardner continues to urge the federal government to pass the SAFE Banking Act and the STATES Act:
Because of laws passed during Colorado’s recent legislative session, the Colorado Board of Health is “preparing to usher in one of the most expansive sets of MMJ rules that Colorado has seen in over a decade.”
With the recent action by Illinois, more than 20% of the country now allows legal recreational marijuana. “Illinois’ new governor, J.B. Pritzker, delivered on a top campaign promise Tuesday by signing legislation that makes his state the 11th to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use and the second to approve it through the Legislature rather than the ballot box. The bill, HB 1438, goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.”
Check out the full story at CBS News »
Nearly 800,000 marijuana convictions will be expunged from people’s records in Illinois. »
Cannabidiol can help stem the tide of antibiotic resistance. “Antibiotic, or antimicrobial, resistance is where bugs such as bacteria can survive drugs created to kill them, making infections difficult, or impossible, to treat. Scientists in Australia found cannabidiol — the non-psychoactive ingredient marijuana — killed all the strainns of bacteria they tested in a lab, including some which are highly resistant to existing antibiotics.
Read the entire article here »
And maybe food, too…Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has exerted some pressure on the head of the FDA to develop regulations on hemp-derived CBD.
“While the 2018 Farm Bill included my provision to remove hemp, and its derivatives like CBD, from the list of controlled substances, CBD food and dietary supplement products remain in a gray area without clarification from the FDA,” he said in a press release.
Well, Oregon is working on that very problem where a flood of legal cannabis and optimal growing conditions have seen prices plummet. Oregon signed two bills into law last week, “one aimed at curbing excess production and the other seeking to establish new markets to funnel excess (cannabis) into.”
The first one is easy, but the second one has that pesky legal problem of it being illegal to transport cannabis over state lines. Oregonians are optimistic about the end of that problem, but it presumes overcoming some fairly high hurdles. More »
It looks like two federal legislators from Oregon are attempting to do something about that second problem. More »
“It is unlawful for any employer in this State to fail or refuse to hire a prospective employee because the prospective employee submitted to a screening test and the results of the screening test indicate the presence of marijuana,” states the law, signed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on June 5.
This is from a report by CNN, which also cites the New York City Council passing a similar bill two months ago. As legalization continues throughout the country, will other states follow suit? Time will tell, although there are some exceptions to this policy.
The law does not apply to firefighters, EMTs, employees who operate a motor vehicle, or those who, in the determination of the employer, could adversely affect others’ safety. That’s probably for the best.
Last week, in a standing room only, boiling hot room, Gov. Jared Polis signed six pro-cannabis bills into law.
Up first, a new law that opens up Colorado’s cannabis industry to outside investors for the first time. The measure was vetoed last year by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Two stories below, that coincidentally quote Chuck Smith and Colorado Leads, shed some light on the new law.
“If everything goes as expected, Colorado legal cannabis industry is about to get a major windfall,” wrote Forbes.
Read More »
“The law is expected to bring new cash flow into Colorado as well as marijuana products from companies that previously were unable to do business in the state,: wrote Marijuana Business Daily.
Article Here »
Polis also signed social consumption legislation that creates a new license for cannabis retailers to sell marijuana products that could be consumed in a designated hospitality zone. Authorized medical cannabis shops will be able to deliver marijuana to patients starting in January 2020 under another bill. Recreational cannabis dispensaries will be able to make deliveries to adults 21 and older starting in January 2021. The social use and delivery proposals require that local communities opt in before businesses will be allowed to offer those services.
Read More »