President Joe Biden announced he will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, the White House announced Thursday.
The pardons will also apply to anyone in Washington DC convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a senior administration official told reporters.
“No one should be in jail just for using marijuana,” Biden said.
More than 6,500 individuals with prior convictions for simple weed possession will be impacted by the pardons and thousands more will be pardoned under D.C. law.
“As I said when I ran for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden said.
“It’s legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” he continued. “And that’s before you address the racial disparities around who suffers the consequences. While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.”
Biden also called on all governors to follow his example and said that he would ask the attorney general and the Department of Health and Human Services to review marijuana’s classification under federal law as a schedule one drug, the same classification as heroin and LSD.
A majority of U.S. voters support federal marijuana legalization, a new Morning Consult/Politico survey shows.
The poll, conducted from Sep. 30 to Oct. 2, 2022, asked a representative sample of 2,005 registered voters if they would like to see cannabis legalized on the federal level. The results were as expected and in line with other surveys conducted over the last several years.
Key Highlights
Three in five voters (or 60%) agree recreational cannabis use should be legal versus 27% against it. The remaining 13% are undecided.
Federal cannabis reform is supported by 71% of Democrats, 61% of independents and some 47% of Republicans. It is important to note that, at the same time, 41% of Republicans are against it, compared to only 16% of Democrats and 24% of independents.
As many as 72% of Black and 67% of Hispanic voters favor legalizing weed, compared to 58% of white voters.
The most support (71%) for legalization comes from voters aged 35-44, followed by the 18-34 age group with 69%.
One of the most recent cannabis-related surveys by Rasmussen Reports revealed that the majority of Americans don’t think cannabis is dangerous.
While the Rasmussen Reports poll focused mostly on people’s perception of marijuana, another from an April YouGov survey looked at how many Americans would like to see cannabis legal. The results revealed that 60% wanted legalization and 27% did not.
All this data confirms the results of a 2021 Gallup poll, which showed as high as 68% support for cannabis legalization.
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How Close Is Federal Reform?
In July, long-awaited U.S. Senate legislation that would decriminalize and deschedule cannabis on the federal level and promote social equity was unveiled. Known as the Cannabis Administration And Opportunity Act (CAOA), by Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden and Cory Booker, the bill proposes comprehensive marijuana reform.
Since then, however, CAOA has come under criticism. It’s too complex, critics say, and many cannabis industry experts such as Cantor Fitzgerald’s Pablo Zuanic and Emily Paxhia, co-founder of cannabis investment fund Poseidon Asset Management agree that chances of the bill passing the Senate are slim.
“There is too much packed into CAOA for this to get through,” Paxhia recently told Benzinga. “This was a Hail Mary bill put forth by Schumer and the supporting democrats.”
In the meantime, Sen. Wyden noted how challenging it will be to get CAOA passed the Senate.
“A 50-50 majority in the Senate will make passing our bill a difficult feat, but I hope we can, at minimum, pass some key reforms this Congress,” Wyden told The American Prospect.
Biden Still Not There
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden repeatedly said he wanted to see marijuana decriminalization as well as automatic expungement of prior cannabis convictions. After nearly two years in the Oval Office, the President has granted clemency to dozens of individuals with non-violent federal drug convictions and commuted the sentences of 75 people who were serving time at home because of the pandemic. He also issued three pardons.
The Biden Administration has been avoiding meaningful steps while dodging questions on marijuana decriminalization for months. It seems likely he’ll continue to remain silent on the issue, at least until after the midterms.
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There’s Still Hope For One Bill
Fortunately, though, many experts believe that at least one piece of legislation has the potential to pass the Senate. Sponsors of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), recently discussed the urgency of cannabis reform this session, reiterating the public safety imperative of providing the industry access to the traditional financial system.
The banking reform bill, which the House passed for the sixth time in July as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, has never been voted on in the Senate.
Cantor’s Zuanic recently met with lawmakers in the nation’s capital and said congressional leaders are ready to pass banking legislation for the cannabis industry in the upcoming elections.
He noted that the passage of “SAFE Plus” is likely during the Congressional lame-duck period between the November midterms and the swearing-in of the new Congress in January 2023.
The SAFE Banking Plus’Act is an updated version of a bill that contains provisions to protect financial institutions that provide services to state-legal cannabis businesses. It also contains some equity components.
“We think that talk of a SAFE Plus (bill) is something that should be taken seriously,” Zuanic told investors in a Zoom call. “It’s not just a jingle. It’s not a pipe dream. It’s something that’s ongoing. There are discussions at high levels in the Senate between co-sponsors of the SAFE Banking bill on the Republican side with Senate leadership.”
A new study published in the medical journal Neuropharmacology reveals that low-dose THC plus specific types of therapy can work to help people manage PTSD symptoms.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental condition that affects some people after they have experienced or witness an event that is shocking, traumatizing, or dangerous.
While most people can recover from the intense emotions that come with facing a traumatic situation, other people struggle with recovery and thus develop PTSD. It’s more common for war veterans and anyone who has served in the military to have PTSD because of the many different types of traumas that the role exposes you to such as deployment to war zones, accidents in training, seeing and hearing gun shots, bombs, and so much more. However, regular civilians can also suffer from PTSD after experiencing mental, physical, or sexual assault, a serious accident, miscarriages, domestic abuse, and much more.
PTSD is one of the more difficult conditions to treat especially when the traumatic event experienced is severe. This painful memory becomes deeply embedded in the brain, making it difficult to forget. There are varying degrees of PTSD though: some with mild conditions can get better right away after a few sessions of psychotherapy, while others will need medication, psychotherapy, and a lot of time to feel much better.
Thankfully, there is hope for traumatized individuals in the form of marijuana.
A new study published in the medical journal Neuropharmacology reveals that low-dose THC plus specific types of therapy can work to help people manage PTSD symptoms. The researchers from Wayne State University utilized double-blind trials on 51 individuals who were either given doses of 7.5mg of THC, or a placebo pill. They were then made to undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a medical procedure that analyzes even minimal changes in the brain’s blood flow, enabling the researchers to assess the mental state of participants.
They were given emotional regulation tasks after they were given THC or the pills. These tasks included making them face triggering images, which were done repeatedly, so that the participants could analyze the images and give them the opportunity to regulate their emotions. This process is referred to as cognitive reappraisal.
“Cognitive reappraisal is one therapeutic emotion regulation strategy that has been widely studied among individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, and numerous differences in brain activation patterns have been shown between individuals with and without PTSD during tasks of cognitive reappraisal,” they wrote.
The researchers found that those given THC were successfully able to manage any negative emotions. THC was also found to activate parts of the brain among which are normally known to be deactivated in people who have PTSD. “THC may prove to be a beneficial pharmacological adjunct to cognitive reappraisal therapy in the treatment of PTSD,” wrote the study authors.
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Other Studies
There have been many other studies documenting the efficacy of cannabinoids for treating PTSD.
In a 2021 study, the FDA regulated a study for the first time to analyze the benefits of inhaled cannabis among people with this condition. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study was peer-reviewed. Participants were given either 11% CBD, 9% THC, or a blend with both 8% THC and CBD.
“This study served as the first randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing the therapeutic potential of varying ratios of THC and CBD for treating symptoms of PTSD,” explains the study’s lead author, Dr. Marcel O. Bonn-Miller. They specifically found that those who consumed 9% THC experienced the most significant improvements though they note that more research is needed to determine the most effective doses. “It would help to determine the minimally-effective doses of THC needed to safely treat individuals suffering from PTSD,” said Bonn-Miller. “It will also mitigate risks of cannabis dependence in this vulnerable population,” he adds.
Then in 2020, an observational study which was published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research analyzed 150 PTSD patients over the course of a year. The researchers wanted to examine the difference among people who medicated with cannabis and those who did not. The study did not make use of controls though patients were analyzed every 3 months using self-administered tests that helped researchers understand the frequency of cannabis use and consumption methods.
The researchers discovered that patients who medicated with cannabis demonstrated a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms throughout the year. They were also more than twice as much likely to no longer meet the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Why Cannabis Works
It’s extremely common for people with PTSD to turn to substances such as alcohol and drugs to distract them from the nightmares and negative emotions. However, other booze and other drugs can only make it worse. On the other hand, cannabis and CBD products are the safest substances to medicate with for PTSD.
The human body’s endocannabinoid system helps to regulate bodily processes including those that are imbalanced due to trauma. These include the hormones responsible for sleep, memory, and fear. Consuming THC and CBD interact with your very own healing endocannabinoid system, thus influencing processes that can help you recover from PTSD. Many people can already access PTSD in states that have made it a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. Determining how much to take to help mitigate your symptoms may require some trial and error process since everyone reacts differently.
More research is ongoing to determine how we can maximize the cannabis plant to recover from PTSD. In the meantime, you can reach out to a marijuana-informed doctor to learn more about using cannabis for managing PTSD symptoms.
“I don’t think that with the drug epidemic that we have across this state… that adding and giving more access to that does anything to benefit Arkansas, so I certainly wouldn’t be supportive of [marijuana],” Sanders toldreporters this week.
Jerry Cox, Family Council Action Committee’s executive director, said on Tuesday that Arkansas “does not need another drug problem.”
The anti-marijuana campaign will feature social media graphics and videos. The organizers are also planning a two-week city tour around the state, reported KARK.
If approved, the measure would allow adults 21 and over to possess and use marijuana without a medical use card.
Responsible Growth Arkansas, the group behind Issue 4, is firm in its push to legalize the plant.
“Recent polling shows statewide support is nearly twice as high as the opposition,” Responsible Growth spokesperson Eddie Armstrong said. “We plan to continue getting the message out and ask people to make their own choices at the ballot box in November.”
The Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College’s recent survey showed that 59% of likely voters in Arkansas are in favor of the ballot measure, with just 29% opposed and 13% undecided.
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Gov Says No On Marijuana Legalization, Supreme Court To Decide On Whether The Vote Will Count
Meanwhile, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), and John Boozman (R-AR) are among the conservative voices asking voters to oppose the initiative.
“This November, I’m voting NO on Issue 4 to legalize recreational marijuana in Arkansas, and I hope you’ll join me,” Hutchinson said, linking to a website for an anti-legalization advocacy group called “Safe and Secure Communities.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who is running for governor, has the same stance on the issue.
“I don’t think that with the drug epidemic that we have across this state, frankly across the country, that adding and giving more access to that does anything to benefit Arkansas, so I certainly wouldn’t be supportive of that [marijuana],” she told reporters this week.
Safe and Secure Communities recently filed a motion in the Arkansas Supreme Court arguing that a proposed constitutional amendment to present to voters was “misleading, fraudulent, and illegal” under state law because the ballot measure’s title did not preserve the state’s medical THC limit.
Over the past year, Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, has criticized the War on Drugs and has asked countries all over the world to rethink their stance on these substances.
Colombia appears to be the next country on its way to marijuana legalization. On Tuesday, lawmakers approved a bill to legalize and regulate marijuana all across the country, earning almost unanimous support. It’s a first step towards legalization.
The proposed ruling would set the groundwork for legal cannabis sales, ensuring that revenue is distributed across municipalities and can support issues like public health and education.
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The proposal includes a breakdown of how cannabis legalization would work and impact the country. In Spanish, the bill explains several things, making it clear that the legal use of the drug is meant for people that are of age and promoting a message that echoes what Colombia’s president has been saying ever since he was elected, which is to remove the criminal aspect associated with the drug and to focus on harm reduction and public health.
“With this legislative act, we will promote strategies that benefit farming and we will implement tools to battle marijuana’s illegal trafficking, betting on public health and social growth,” reads the bill.
Over the past year, Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, has criticized the War on Drugs and has asked countries all over the world to rethink their stance on these substances.
“The War on Drugs has lasted 40 years. If we do not correct the course, and this continues another 40 years, the United States will see 2.8 million die of overdoses,” said Petro when addressing the United Nations. “You will see millions of African Americans be imprisoned in their private prisons.”
“I propose to you, as President of one of the most beautiful and bloodied countries on Earth, to end the War on Drugs and thus allow our people to live in peace.”
Previously, Petro had informally talked about legalizing marijuana and seeing what benefits that could provide for the country. “Let’s see if by exporting cannabis we make a few dollars because in part of the world the drug is legal,” said Petro in a translation per Noticias RCN. “Why can’t the farmers from Cauca plant cannabis?,” he said, referencing a region in Colombia known for its prolific farming.
Petro has yet to make any statements or shows of support for the bill that was approved on Tuesday.
The marijuana market is growing on native lands, which are exempt from the state’s rules and regulations.
Marijuana stores are popping up in unexpected places. In NY, native lands are selling weed with tribal members have taken matters into their own hands, creating a functioning marijuana business that’s exempt from the state’s law. This means that marijuana shops are popping up in unorthodox locations, including gas stations, which are coming up with deals like handing out a joint per every 10 gallons of gas sold.
The New York Times reports that this phenomenon is occurring in different locations with different tribes getting a jump on the legal cannabis market, even though state dispensary applications are in the process of earning approval.
New York state legalized marijuana in March 2021, creating a state of confusion as they geared up for a functioning legal market. Some tribes have taken the green light of legalization to create marijuana markets of their own, which are then supported by their tribal governments, which have created rules and regulations to support the nascent business.
These tribes are located in different areas of the state, from the Canadian border to smaller tribes on Long Island. Businesses that have popped up in gas stations tend to operate in the back of the building and have become a source of income for tribal governments, free of the state’s influence, at least for the time being.
“Because we don’t need a license from the state, because we don’t have to have permission to enter in the industry from the state, we are a true, authentic Native American cannabis business,” said Chenae Bullock, a member of the Shinnecock tribe and manager of Little Beach Harvest the tribe’s leading marijuana business. “This business is going to not only provide jobs, and establish careers in an industry, but also have business-to-business with other tribal members.”
Unlike other marijuana businesses that have gotten a headstart on cannabis, marijuana businesses on tribal lands are not subject to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). “What’s happening on tribal lands right now, it’s outside our purview,” said Chris Alexander, director of the OCM.
While many have criticized the slow pace of the OCM, taking months to start accepting applications for dispensaries, Alexander disagrees and says that he’s proud of the progress the organization has made and how quickly they’ve been in taking in applications.
In addition to the sales decline, wholesale prices seem to be dipping to record lows, which is why a group of Colorado growers is asking the state to stop issuing cultivation licenses.
With sinking weed prices, cultivators want to halt new licenses. Colorado cannabis companies blame oversupply and are demanding change.
Medical marijuana (MMJ) sales in Colorado have significantly declined. So far this year, total sales have reached more than $1 billion, yet MMJsales for July reached just over $18 million, “the lowest monthly figure ever recorded since January 2014,” whenretail sales were legalized in Colorado.
In addition to the sales decline, wholesale prices seem to be dipping to record lows, which is why a group of Colorado growers is asking the state to stop issuing cultivation licenses, reports Westword.
According to the data from the Colorado Department of Revenue, the price per pound of all commercial cannabis reached a record low in September. The coalition of thirty cannabis cultivators and dispensary ownership groups in Colorado says oversupply is the main culprit.
“For the first time since legalization was implemented, marijuana sales and the revenue generated from marijuana taxes will be substantially lower than the previous calendar year,” the coalition wrote in a Sep. 15 memo. “The problem is further exacerbated by the country’s broader economic situation, with record-high inflation driving down sales of consumer goods. Despite a decrease in demand, the supply of marijuana continues to increase, with new licenses being issued and additional cultivation capacity being authorized to current licensees.”
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Similar Scenario In Michigan
The Great Lakes State seems to be facing the same issue. As a result, its largest cannabis operators recently launched an offensive meant to keep competitors from getting into the market.
Responding to demands from lobbyists for some of the state’s big growers, the Legislative Service Bureau drafted new legislation to prohibit the Michigan Regulatory Agency from issuing any new cultivation licenses.
The draft legislation effectively calls for a moratorium on licenses for an undetermined period of time.
The legislation should be presented after the November election.
Prices for recreational weed in Michigan dramatically dropped. In August, the average price of $1869 per pound fell 3.9% sequentially and 47.5% from year-over-year.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.
A cannabis label might easily include any desirable qualities in addition to the suggested basic appellation standards, just like a wine label can specify the location and method of production on a product’s label.
Within the past year, there have been different ideas to scale up the cannabis industry. One of the popular strategies was for growers considering identifying geographic locations where cannabis is widely grown. The growers said they got their idea from appellation and terroir designations in agriculture and winemaking.
Terroir is a phrase used to describe the climate, soil, and other environmental factors that affect the production of product batches in numerous sectors, including those that grow hops, coffee, maple syrup, and chocolate. It is widely used by the wine industry, which produces a lot of wine in Northern California. On the other hand, an appellation is a geographical area designated explicitly by law as where wine grapes were cultivated.
Integrating Terroir Into the Cannabis Industry
Terroir defines geographical locations, environmental features, circumstances, and influences that impact a plant’s genotype. These elements include soil type and farming methods to elevation and the surrounding area.
The French appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) classification, a wine regulation and appellation system in France, is based on terroir’s concept. The basis for the AOC classification is that the grapes exhibit distinctive characteristics unique to that region and its environs.
According to a viticulture and plant physiology professor at the University of California, Mark A. Matthews, the concept of terroir is a myth. In the professor’s book, Terroir and Other Myths of Wine Growing, he noted that climate and geographic characteristics could affect plant growth and produce. Mathews further explained that the term terroir is not precise in its definition and is mainly based on traditional beliefs.
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Some of the natural factors that make up terroir are species growing on, in, and around plant plots, soil type, geomorphology, or the natural terrain of the surrounding places such as mountains, valleys, or water sources; climate; and geomorphology.
Integrating Appellation Into the Cannabis Industry
As previously mentioned, an appellation is a geographical area legally recognized and protected to indicate the precise spot where the grapes for a wine were cultivated. However, there are limitations besides geographic ones, such as those governing the permitted grape varieties, maximum grape yields, and alcohol content. Before an appellation name may be legally printed on a wine bottle label, other quality requirements must also be met. The country where the wine was produced determines the regulations that apply to appellations.
For example, the United States uses the American Viticultural Area (AVA). An official appellation is provided by an AVA, which is a certified wine grape-producing region in the United States that benefits both wineries and customers.
Since grapes cultivated in a particular region can have highly different characteristics, wineries want to inform clients about the geographic origin of their wines. Well-informed customers look for specific wines from particular AVAs and wines from those AVAs in general. A special bottle of wine from a famous AVA might fetch high prices and attract a large following of devoted consumers.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a division of the U.S. Treasury, establishes the borders of an AVA at the request of wineries and grape farmers. At least 85% of the grapes used to manufacture the wine must have been cultivated in the AVA if the AVA is listed on the bottle label. The wine must have been produced and entirely completed in the AVA’s state of origin.
Even more burdensome regulations apply to some particular states. For example, California mandates that all grapes used to produce wine come from the state and that the wine be completed entirely there. 95% of the grapes in a Washington wine must be cultivated in Washington, according to state law.
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Relationship Between Terroir, Appellations, and Cannabis
The idea of using “terroir” to identify the provenance and environmental effects of a particular batch of cannabis has been discussed several times. Terroir, in the classic sense, would not apply since cannabis is frequently grown in highly controlled environs or using commercial growth medium, fertilizer, additives, etc… In contrast, terroir is focused mainly on the natural surroundings where wine is made.
Furthermore, because there are no N-P-K fertilizer treatments or pH adjustments made to the water or soil while growing grapes, it is impossible to apply the terroir and wine grape cultivation concepts to the production of cannabis. The soil still has its original makeup. The terroir of a particular region would be extolled without fertilizer, amendments, or pH adjustments, which is not ideal for the growth of high-quality cannabis.
Cannabis is manufactured and sold at the state level because it is federally prohibited, making it a regionally produced and controlled item. Many cannabis plants are grown inside, but other areas like Northern California’s Emerald Triangle are already well-known for their prolific outdoor cannabis production. As former hemp producers ready their products for adult-use sales, the Hudson Valley area of New York may become increasingly significant.
The proposed appellation’s boundary, facility acreage, the kinds of structures used for cultivation (if any), and a “description and evidence of the legacy, history, reputation, and economic importance of cannabis production in the area” are some of the details that California companies’ petitions for appellations must include, per the final CDFA regulations.
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Additionally, following CDFA requirements, requests for California appellations contain details regarding “geographical attributes,” including regional temperatures, altitudes, and more. According to the laws, petitioners must offer “strong proof that the geographical region is different compared to places beyond the proposed border and other relevant locations which grow cannabis for sale into the marketplace.”
Bottom Line
Appellations may play a significant role in evaluation and categorization when cannabis gets legalized on a federal level. A cannabis label might easily include any desirable qualities in addition to the suggested basic appellation standards, just like a wine label can specify the location and method of production on a product’s label. Growers in Humboldt County who cultivate indoors and outdoors can also specify the precise microclimate and whether they do it indoors, outside, or in a greenhouse.
There is no international system of naming cannabis products. The name of a product is up to the breeder and the marketing agency in charge of promoting the product.
Cannabis products are named the same way everything else in the world is named. Some names are unusual, some fascinating, some silly, and others logical. Most of these names have a tale behind them.
There are also cannabis strains that are named after the other older strains in the generation. A perfect example of this can be found in the naming system of the Kush varieties. Strains like Sputnik and Pre-98 Bubba Kush were named after unforgettable events in history.
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And finally, we have names that give an idea of the taste or flavor of the product, for example, Sweet Dreams or California Orange, etc.
Nowadays, the naming system of cannabis products is not enlightening, and some even leave you confused. Very little effort is put into naming these products. Breeders focus on developing the product with little thought going into how it is named. Every year, at least 20 new products are developed, with new names added to the already confusing pile of names.
Past System Of Naming Cannabis
In the 60s and 70s, marijuana started getting exported across major countries of the world. The modern cannabis was called landrace strains and their seeds were also ferried across cities to be transplanted in different regions.
Back then, strains were named based on the original geographical location. For example; Durban Poison from Durban, Colombian Gold from Colombia, Panama Red from Panama, and several others that originated from Afghanistan, Central America, Mexico, and Jamaica.
When breeders began to cross-breed these strains, the genetic diversity of cannabis was born.
The cross-breeding of these strains was done to satisfy the consumer’s hunger for better effects, new flavors, and aromas, and just to satisfy a farmer’s curiosity.
Some breeds were developed coincidentally.
Although many of these breeds are extinct now, their vacuum has been filled up by newer hybrids that we’ve created over the years.
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Current Naming System Of Cannabis
There is no international system of naming cannabis products. The name of a product is up to the breeder and the marketing agency in charge of promoting the product.
The most common method being used by breeders in the country now is that a name is crafted by combining the names of the parent strains. A good example of this is the Triple G strain, the names of its parents — Gorilla Glue and Gelato 33 were cleverly combined into Triple G.
Some strains are named after some people as a way of honoring them. For example, the strain Ringo’s gift was named after one of the best CBD-Strain breeders named Ringo. Another example is Jack Herer which was named after the famous cannabis activist.
Like the early methods of naming strains, breeders still use the effects of a strain to name it. An example being Blue Dream. When a customer sees a product named blue dream, the first thing he makes of it is that it may induce a dreamy sedative state when used.
More often than not, breeders name a product after its morphology. For example, Purple Kush was named after its intense purple-colored leaves. The White Widow on the other hand was named after the abundant white trichomes present on its flowers.
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A few strains have been named after celebrities and other icons for their market reach. A small sampling includes Khalifa Kush, named after rapper Wiz Khalifa, and Margaret Cho-G, named after comedienne Margaret Cho.
But like I mentioned earlier, a larger percentage of the names of products found in the market is random and meaningless in a way. These names have very little usefulness to the consumer.
Some breeders have claimed that these random names have hidden stories behind them, but regardless, these names hold no significance to the consumer.
Prospective Naming System Of Cannabis
The naming system of cannabis products needs to evolve globally. As more states adopt the use of cannabis legally, there will be an increase in the number of newly developed strains. The cannabis industry will be more mature if the names of the products are consistent and regulated.
Or better still, the names of cannabis strains will be specific to the breeder. For example, the cultivation of widely produced OG Kush will be limited to just one breeder, prohibiting other growers from using the name. This way, products will easily be traced to the producers with just their name.
Another way this can be done would be for a producer to attach their name as a prefix to the product’s name. This has been observed in states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis products. An example is Emerald Jane’s Blue Dream and Artizen Blue Dream.
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Some of the other ways the naming system can be better regulated in the future include:
Abolish the names of all strains
Have a recognized system for naming cannabis strains. This could either be dependent on their effects, usefulness, or cannabinoid content.
Each state must have a regulated naming system
Last Words
The name of a cannabis strain must be consistent enough to guarantee the same effects whenever products with the same name are purchased. Having a regulated system of naming cannabis strains takes the pressure off marketing and PR strategists that most consumers feel are coming up with meaningless names.
Always confirm the source of a product before you consume it in any form. Also, do not forget to always procure your weed from respectable dispensaries. This way you’re sure the product is what the name inscribed says it is.
One of the measures would allow veterans to legally possess and use marijuana under federal law, as recommended by doctors in accordance with state law.
Recently, Senators filed another pair of marijuana amendments to a large-scale defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Cannabis-related amendments proposed for the Senate version of the NDAA include legalizing medical cannabis for military veterans and pressuring the VA to provide federal home loan benefits to veterans in the cannabis industry.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced an amendment that mirrors the language of a standalone bill, the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act “that he’s sponsoring,” reported Marijuana Moment.
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What If These Measures Come Into Law?
One of the measures would allow veterans to legally possess and use marijuana under federal law, as recommended by doctors in accordance with state law. VA doctors would also be allowed to issue such recommendations for the first time.
Additionally, it would require the VA to study marijuana’s therapeutic potential for pain and reducing opioid misuse. The text said that Congress must provide as many funds as “necessary to carry out” the investigation.
In addition, Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) separately filed an amendment to NDAA that simply expresses “the sense of Congress” that veterans “should not be denied access to Department of Veterans Affairs home loans on the basis of income derived from State-legalized cannabis activities.”
However, “many veterans continue to be denied access to home loans on the basis of income derived from State-legalized cannabis activities,” the amendment stated.
Related to the above, the senators said the VA “should improve communication with eligible lending institutions to reduce confusion among lenders and borrowers on this matter.”
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Measures Recently Filed
Last week, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) filed measures that would prevent the denial of federal security clearances for people over cannabis use at any time, while the other would limit the protection only to people who admit to past use prior to entering national security vetting.
According to one of the senator’s amendments, the “use of cannabis by an individual shall not be determinative to adjudications of the individual’s eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position.”
The other one, which Wyden is sponsoring with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), focuses on past cannabis use.
