BREAKING: Brazil Supreme Court Authorizes Citizens To Grow Medicinal Cannabis

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June 15, 2022

BREAKING: Brazil Supreme Court Authorizes Citizens To Grow Medicinal Cannabis

The Sixth Panel of the Superior Court of Justice of Brazil authorized three people to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes, reported O Antagonista. “The Superior Court of Justice decided Tuesday, June 14 to grant two safe conducts that advance the regulation of artisanal marijuana cultivation in Brazil.”

The case should serve as a precedent for lower courts and the advance of cannabis legalization in the potentially huge market of 200 million people. The decision contemplates the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for personal use and allows marijuana cultivation only for medicinal purposes, with a prescription. In addition, this gives home growers a legal precedent that can evolve into more comprehensive legislation as in the case of Argentina, where hemp and medicinal cannabis production are already legally produced in the country.

Brazil Moves Toward Cannabis Legalization — Photo by Agustin Diaz Gargiulo via Unsplash

The use of medical marijuana was legalized in Brazil in 2015, but until now patients could only obtain imported medicinal cannabis products with strict authorization from ANVISA (National Sanitary Surveillance Agency). In 2019, Brazil became the third Latin American country to regulate the sale of medical marijuana products after Uruguay and Colombia.

Manufacturers have to import the semi-finished product and can only operate after receiving a special certificate from ANVISA. The importation of whole plants is still prohibited.

CBD products and those containing less than 0.2% THC can be prescribed normally. Products with 0.2% THC or more can only be prescribed for terminal patients or in cases where the patient is not responding to traditional treatments.

“Achieving cannabis regulation through (ANVISA) could imply that Brazil becomes a key player in the Latin American cannabis market, not only because of its geographic and climatic diversity but also because of how significant the market would be for the Brazilian population,” said Silvia Muñoz, former head of Government Affairs for LATAM at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute in the Czech Republic during an interview a few years ago.

Which Cannabis Companies Are Already In Business In Brazil?

MediPharm Labs Corp. confirmed in September 2021 a partnership with, XLR8 BRAZIL, a distributor based in Rio de Janeiro. This latest move will strengthen the company’s delivery services to the largest medical cannabis market in Latin America.

The two-year agreement would start from the authorization of the product. Pursuant to it, MedPharm Labs chose to provide a wide range of cannabis concentrate formats for the formulated products that XLR8 BRASIL will subsequently distribute.

“In our opinion, Brazil is destined to be a world power in terms of medical cannabis,” said Thiago Callado, CEO of XLRE.

Several months later, in November, the CBD company Panacea Life Sciences, Inc. confirmed that it was forming a partnership with MyPharma2Go to enter the growing cannabis market in Brazil.

Brazil “is the largest country in South America, with a population of more than 200 million people,” noted Nick Cavarra, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Panacea.
In 2022, ANVISA approved the cannabis-based drug, Cannabis Sativa Extract Ease Labs, which joins ten other drugs already approved by ANVISA in this category. Four of them are derived from the whole plant, while the other six contain only CBD.

Breaking News! Brazil Moves Toward Cannabis Legalization — Photo by Pedro Menezes via Unsplash

The American cannabis company Medical Marijuana, inc. launched its first pharmaceutical subsidiary, HM Pharma, in Brazil in May 2022. Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s subsidiary, HempMeds Brasil, was the first company to legally import products into Brazil in 2015 using the country’s compassionate use laws.

“HempMeds Brazil has imported more than 150 thousand prescription products to Brazil through the compassionate model since 2015, and we continue to grow at an average rate of 50% per year. Our market leadership reflects the quality of our products, customer care, and relationships with physicians,” said Matheus Patelli, CEO of HM Pharma.

Cannabis company Avicanna Inc. completed its first commercial export of 20 kg of full-spectrum high-CBD psychoactive cannabis extract to Brazil in 2021, through its majority-owned Colombian subsidiary Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S. Avicanna products were developed in Canada and manufactured in Colombia.

In 2022, the cannabis firm signed an exclusive license and supply agreement with a South American pharmaceutical company to market its proprietary products. According to information obtained exclusively by El Planteo, the pharmaceutical company that signed the agreement with Avicanna is based in Brazil. Avicanna can earn up to CA 1.3 million ($1.03 million) in license fees if certain short-term milestones are reached.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Why You Can’t Buy Edibles In New Jersey

Maria Loreto

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June 14, 2022

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There’s a simple reason why the Garden State doesn’t allow the sale of edibles. Here’s the scoop.

New Jersey rolled out legal weed sales on 4/20, racking up $24 million worth of cannabis sales in its first month after a record-breaking first day when consumers spent $2 million on weed. However, one thing they can’t get their hands on is edibles.

According to New Jersey state law, any cannabis product resembling food can’t be purchased. This strange ruling appears to be influenced by the news regarding cannabis edibles and children, with Jersey lawmakers believing these products could pose a risk for them.

Over the past year, there have been an increased number of reports of children consuming edibles, which often come in alluring, colorful packages, and contain anything from candy to cookies.

marijuana edibles — Photo by Kindel Media via Pexels

Jersey isn’t the first state to try to curb the issue. New York is currently preparing to launch their legal recreational cannabis industry, with laws intended to prevent children from consuming these products. In the state, edible packages will have to avoid cartoons, bright colors, and any types of fonts that may entice children.

Another factor that has influenced the state’s decision is the way in which edibles are made. In order to make legal edibles, commercial kitchens are needed, which require passing the state’s necessary health and safety standards, a system that’s yet to be set up by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC).

Edibles are some of the most popular ways of consuming marijuana, and while they’re a delicious and convenient way to consume weed, they also have a specific set of medical benefits. Edibles are capable of delivering strong therapeutic results, providing plenty of pain relief in ways that inhaled cannabis isn’t normally associated with. Edibles are also a great option for users who don’t want to inhale any smoke or can’t do so because of health concerns.

While the ban on edibles is a curious new turn for legal marijuana, it’s unlikely for Jersey to prohibit them for long. Once the industry finds its footing and customers start getting acquainted with products, lawmakers will likely have to address the issue and make new rules that protect children yet still deliver the products that people want. It will just take more time.

What Is Cannabis Ruderalis And How Did It Change Everything?

Cannabis

Terry Hacienda

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June 14, 2022

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What Is Cannabis Ruderalis And How Did It Change Everything?

Cannabis is getting all of the attention right now but, like C. ruderalis, there are other plants that have unique benefits to humanity that are being ignored in favor of what is most popular.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

There are a ton of varieties of cannabis, some that will never be popular enough to come across and others that are found in every dispensary. Yet, some strains that would never be popular can make their way into daily use. This happens because these strains have a special trait that only become useful when they’re combined with something we use in daily life—think of how much watermelon has changed since the Renaissance.

The same principle applies to cannabis—breeders have been focusing on specific cannabis traits for centuries, selectively breeding higher potency, more attractive smell, more attractive colorations, and even size. These new plants are technically genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but that term tends to carry a loaded connotation (since certain American companies create GMO plants that are resistant to pesticides and herbicides, ultimately lowering nutritional content and the rest of the not-so-great side effects we’re familiar with).

Cannabis that we know and love today is quite different from the cannabis of the ancient world (or even the 70s, just ask your parents)—it’s stronger, tastier, and all around a better quality plant.

Cannabis ruderalis is one of these varieties of cannabis that would have probably been lost to time if not for a special trait. C. ruderalis originated in the Volga River Valley in Russia (most likely) but was first identified in Siberia in 1924. C. ruderalis has also been found throughout North America and central and eastern Europe; it wasn’t ever a strain that people were interested in until the 1980s when seeds of C. ruderalis were sent to the Seed Bank in Amsterdam.

While growers observed C. ruderalis they noted a special characteristic: flowering based upon maturity rather than on light levels. C. ruderalis developed this trait naturally over millions of years of growing in northern regions where light levels throughout the year vary so drastically that plants must grow quickly or lose out on the energy available in those short summer months. C. ruderalis takes advantage of this by having an extremely quick grow cycle, blooming in just a few weeks, so as to spread its pollen and seeds before the cold winter hits again.

One fact that is a bit confusing is how botanists categorize cannabis. Normally, we think there are two main varieties of cannabis: sativa and indica. These two strains dominate the market and are known for their specific kinds of effects and potency, size, and colorations. C. ruderalis technically is a third strain of cannabis, one that has very low THC levels, doesn’t grow very large, and is generally not a potent strain although it has been smoked in the past. It’s not the only other strain of cannabis, either, even if we exclude hybrids, but the other strains are normally used for crafting hemp products since their fibers are quite resilient.

C. ruderalis has that specific trait that does not rely on photoperiods to produce flowers and even though these buds were not really useful in the cannabis sense of the word “use,” the fact that ruderalis contains this trait at all means that it could impart it to other strains. This comes at a cost, though, because when ruderalis is joined with other strains (whether indica, sativa, or a hybrid) it tends to have very unstable genes, so, unfortunately, the only way to get more autoflowers is by buying hybrid seeds from growers.

Once this unique trait was identified, growers spent decades trying to successfully combine C. ruderalis with C. Indica and C. Sativa until they were able to develop strains that were suddenly more resistant to pests as well as not reliant on a photoperiod. Now, growers are able to speed through the growth cycle in just 10 weeks.

C. ruderalis is a low-THC cannabis variety—does this qualify it has “hemp” in the eyes of regulators? Not necessarily, because C. ruderalis actually has slightly higher THC levels than what would qualify it for hem (which should be somewhere between 0.2 – 0.3% THC content, depending on the country).

cannabis crop — Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

At this point, C. ruderalis has only one main purpose, which is breeding with other varieties of cannabis. In fact, C. ruderalis is so useful that growers not only breed it with varieties of indica and sativa, but also with hybrids—it’s a difficult thing to do but as indoor growing becomes more widespread and easier to do, the ease of creating hybrids also increases. C. ruderalis has been bred to make all kinds of amazing plants: Mephisto Mondays, Gelato Auto, and Gorilla Glue have all been autoflowered, so expect to see a lot more interesting varieties come out soon.

And while C. ruderalis has had a short history in the Western eye (and in cannabis culture at large), it has been used as a medicinal herb to treat headaches and pains for centuries because it is one strain with a higher CBD content than a lot of other varieties. Currently, C. ruderalis is being used as a potential cancer treatment (obviously not to treat cancer itself but the side effects of cancer drugs), anxiety, and epilepsy. It is a fascinating strain with a long, unique history worth spending time reading about how impactful cannabis can be in medicine.

But let’s not forget that cannabis is just one medicinal plant out of thousands—we are made of the world and the world is made of us, so a lot of what exists in nature can be used to help our lives and our health. Cannabis is getting all of the attention right now but, like C. ruderalis, there are other plants that have unique benefits to humanity that are being ignored in favor of what is most popular.

It’s important that we remember that we live in a diverse world with a lot of really interesting plants that have the ability to change the way we live so be sure not to get too stuck in one way of thought! That’s our final word for the day.

If you liked this article and want to learn more, check out VIVOSUN growing guide.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Medical Marijuana Enrollment Is At All Time High — Here’s The Reason

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 14, 2022

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Medical Marijuana Enrollment Is At All Time High — Here’s The Reason

Researchers have identified chronic pain as the most commonly listed condition specified on medical cannabis applications.

By Maureen Meehan

Medical cannabis program enrollment jumped by over four times between 2016 and 2020, reaching nearly three million patients in 2020, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers, led by Kevin F. Boehnke, Ph.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, found that increased enrollment was clustered in states that had medical-only cannabis programs, while enrollment declined or stayed the same in the states with fully legal cannabis. At the moment, 37 U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana with Mississippi being the most recent. Eighteen states have legalized recreational cannabis.

medical marijuana — Photo by LPETTET/Getty Imagess

The new study also looked at the qualifying conditions that patients list on their application forms. Qualifying medical conditions vary from state to state. Some states have up to 30 conditions to qualify while others allow only several.

“Coherent U.S. cannabis policy would enhance research efforts to guide appropriate medical cannabis use,” the authors wrote. “Thoughtful regulatory and clinical strategies are needed to effectively manage this rapidly changing landscape,” was one of the study’s conclusions.

Chronic Pain Is The Reason

The researchers identified chronic pain as the most commonly listed condition specified on medical cannabis applications.

Most studies on cannabis use look at adult use overall, without separating out medical cannabis enrollment, said Boehnke, a chronic pain researcher at the University of Michigan. He said he wanted to fill that gap.

Boehnke kept asking himself, “How many people are using cannabis for pain? Why are people actually using [medical cannabis]?”

This question compelled Boehnke to undertake the multi-year investigation during which he assiduously gathered data from publicly available reports on state websites, meeting notes, state officials and documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.

His goal, Boehnke said, was to find out exactly how medical marijuana was faring in a time when laws and attitudes were rapidly shifting.

“These changing state policies have dramatic effects on how many people might be using cannabis for medical purposes or how they might be able to do so,” said Boehnke, who published a 2019 study on the issue as well.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Do You Qualify For COVID Oral Treatment? Here’s How To Find Out

News

Maria Loreto

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June 14, 2022

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Do You Qualify For COVID Oral Treatment? Here’s How To Find Out

As COVID cases increase across the country, it’s important to know that there’s an oral medicine that can effectively treat the disease.

Paxlovid is an oral COVID antiviral that treats the disease rapidly and prevents the onset of serious symptoms. Surprisingly, the government hasn’t done a great job of informing the public of its existence, resulting in a lot of people not knowing about it.

As COVID cases increase on a national level, it’s important for people to be aware of it, especially if they’re at a higher risk for complications. Here’s what you should know.

Paxlovid was made by Pfizer and it’s a combination of two compounds: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. One blocks a COVID enzyme that allows the virus to replicate while the other blocks our own enzymes that would prevent this from happening. These compounds are nothing new, having been used in HIV medicines.

23andme Survey Shows Who's Been More Affected By Long Covid — Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash

An important thing to know about this drug is the fact that it needs to be taken within 5 days of experiencing symptoms. In order for it to work, people must seek it out the minute they think they have COVID.

According to the CDC, the medication is approved for a variety of people, all of whom must be at least 12-years-old and weigh a minimum of 88 pounds. More specifically, it’s allowed for people with conditions like cancer, chronic diseases, diabetes, being overweight, smokers, and more.

It’s a highly accessible drug although it does need a prescription for people to be able to purchase it. The process of acquiring it works differently depending on your state, but some allow people to get a COVID test in a pharmacy and get their Paxlovid prescriptions right away or even facilitate home delivery of the medicine.

While Paxlovid is FDA approved and is considered safe, there are a few risks associated with it. It can interact with other medications, so it’s important to ask your doctor about any possible drug interactions and their risks. Side effects are rare but they include muscle aches, diarrhea, increased blood pressure and more.

Will Germany Legalize Recreational Cannabis In 2022? New Push In Motion

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 14, 2022

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Will Germany Legalize Recreational Cannabis In 2022? New Push In Motion

The push to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in licensed shops is part of a series of reforms proposed in last year’s coalition deal between three socially liberal parties in the government.

By Jelena Martinovic

Germany is inching toward legalizing recreational cannabis as the government seeks to have the process completed by the end of 2022, reported U.S.News.

Germany decriminalized medical cannabis in 2016 and in November 2021, leaders of the incoming parties stated they had a formal agreement to legalize marijuana.

Now, the Health Ministry plans to kick off with five expert hearings on various aspects of the issue on Tuesday. The hearings, which will be held by the end of the month will focus on the best ways to protect young people and consumers’ health, said drug czar Burkhard Blienert.

“Like many others, I have worked for years toward us in Germany finally ending the criminalization of cannabis consumers and beginning modern and health-oriented cannabis policy,” he said.

The governmental health department announced Monday that over 200 representatives from the medical, legal and other fields will participate, as well as various government officials and international experts.

The push to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in licensed shops is part of a series of reforms proposed in last year’s coalition deal between three socially liberal parties in the government led by Olaf Scholz, who took over from Angela Merkel as chancellor in December.

The plan also includes the examination of the ‘social effects” of the new legislation after four years.

The legislation is poised to be drafted in the second half of 2022, once the hearings with experts wrap up.

The German Health Minister, SPD-affiliated Karl Lauterbach said earlier that he wants to put cannabis reform on the summer legislative agenda.

Quoted in German media, Lauterbach said he’s “changed his mind about this in the past two years…I’ve always been an opponent of cannabis legalization, but I revised my opinion about a year ago.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Is It Safe To Use Cannabis With ADHD Medications?

Medical Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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June 13, 2022

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Is It Safe To Use Cannabis With ADHD Medications?

At the end of the day, the safety of cannabis is based on how it’s used, and when you put other meds in the mix, it may no longer have the same safety profile compared to its use alone.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs are extremely popular in high school and college campuses around the country.

These medications, such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta, have gained the reputation of being “study drugs”. While originally intended to treat the effects of ADHD, these medications are illegally making their way through campuses, and these dangerous, addicting drugs are in the hands of young adults even without prescriptions or an ADHD diagnosis.

Can CBD Be Used To Treat ADHD Symptoms? — Photo by Katja Kircher/Getty Images

Kids get these drugs from family members, friends, or black market dealers. Unknowingly, a great deal of them, as well as adults, find that there is recreational benefit to mixing ADHD drugs with marijuana. Combining ADHD drugs with weed can surely bring about a euphoric and blissful feeling, but at what cost?

Adderall

Adderall is the most widely used prescription drug for combating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This stimulant is notorious for its addictive properties, which has even been compared to meth.

After all, Adderall is essentially amphetamine, which is the chemical foundation for methamphetamine. Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and other chemicals yet it works in the brain in the same way meth does. It has been known to induce terrible side effects on its own including but not limited to:

Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Hostility
Aggression
Lightheadedness
Seizures
Changes in eyesight
Nausea
Stomach pain
Increased heart rate
Difficulty sleeping

And many more.

However, Adderall continues to be one of the most abused drugs in the United States. Many claim that Adderall makes them feel good, which it does so temporarily because it increases the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the central nervous system. Adderall can also cause the body to produce abnormally high levels of dopamine, which is responsible for the feel-good reward mechanism in the brain, causing people to easily get addicted to it.

Adderall is an upper, while marijuana is a downer. Unfortunately, mixing these two is never recommended yet this hasn’t stopped people from doing so, in a combination sometimes called weederall.

Ritalin

Ritalin is another popular ADHD drug that works similarly to Adderall. It’s also a central nervous system stimulant. However, it has unfortunate side effects, which include:

Paranoia
Numbness in toes or fingers
Hostility
Paranoia
Aggression
Hallucinations
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Excessive sweating
Increased heart rate
Mood swings

And much more. The same is true for Concerta or other ADHD medications.

prescription drugs — Photo by James Yarema via Unsplash

A Dangerous Cocktail

Consuming marijuana does have interactions with other drugs in the human body, and ADHD medications are no exception. It’s known that these drugs stay in the system anywhere from up to 24 hours long, so one would have to stay off limits from the drug for up to 3 days for it to be completely eliminated and be safe enough to consume weed.

Some users may find that while they are able to make use of the cognitive benefits offered by ADHD medications, marijuana is effective in tapering out the side effects of the drug such as irritability or insomnia. It can even provide a blissful, euphoric high but the risks simply outweigh the rewards. But no matter how safe some people claim it to be, there is always a huge risk involved when combining marijuana with other substances.

One is a stimulant, the other is a depressant. While there is a dearth of studies examining the dangers between Adderall and weed, the data we have on each of these medications is sufficient to advice against it.

This is what can happen when you mix both marijuana and ADHD drugs at the same time:

Extreme stimulation: The heart rate can increase to dangerous levels, which is bad enough for people who already have existing heart conditions. While some people’s cardiovascular systems can handle it, this can be a devastating occurrence for others and it can lead to permanent heart problems or even death.

Arrythmia: Irregular heart rate and arrythmia can occur as a result of mixing the two drugs. One can easily overdose on Adderall when you add marijuana to the mix.

Existing mental health problems can worsen: For anyone who already struggles with ADHD, schizophrenia, anxiety, or just about any other mental disorder, mixing the two can result in delusions and hallucinations — not the fun kind.

prescription drugs cannabis — Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

Marijuana is a medicine that works best alone in the human body. We have endocannabinoid receptors that bind to the molecules in the plant, working their healing properties when we consume THC, CBD, or a combination of both in any way. Whether you mix it with other relaxants or stimulants such as ADHD drugs, it can cause unwanted effects on the human body — even at supposedly safe dosages — that can lead to death. So just because your friend is having a great time mixing marijuana with ADHD drugs doesn’t mean that it would have the same effect on you.

These days, there’s so much hype about marijuana because it’s widely used and considered among the world’s safest medical and recreational drugs. At the end of the day, its safety is based on how it’s used, and when you put other meds in the mix, it may no longer have the same safety profile compared to its use alone.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Binge Drinking Linked With Higher Odds Of Developing This Disease

Maria Loreto

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June 13, 2022

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Binge Drinking Linked With Higher Odds Of Developing This Disease

A new study shows that the way in which drinks are consumed is more important than the number of drinks that are consumed on a weekly basis.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH), bring drinking is defined as consuming over 5 or 4 drinks within a two-hour span, increasing their blood alcohol levels past 0.08%.

But if that sounds like an average Friday night to you, listen up. A new study, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas and published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, reveals that moderate drinkers who participate in binge drinking are more likely to develop alcohol problems when compared to drinkers that consume the same amount of alcohol but don’t binge it.

This Drinking Habit Could Be Good For Your Health — Photo by Stanislav Ivanitskiy via Unsplash

Researchers analyzed a national sample of U.S. adults, finding that moderate drinkers that participated in binge drinking were five times more likely to experience multiple alcohol problems within a decade. The data was gathered via surveys from over a thousand people aged 30 and older, and taken on two separate occasions, with there being a 9-year gap in between.

Researchers were surprised to find that most cases of binge drinking occurred in people who were average or moderate drinkers, thus escaping public health scrutiny.

“An individual whose total consumption is seven drinks on Saturday night presents a greater risk profile than someone whose total consumption is a daily drink with dinner, even though their average drinking level is the same,” explained Dr. Charles Holahan, lead author of the study.

The study highlights the problem with binge drinking and shows that the number of drinks in a week overall isn’t as impactful as the manner in which the drink is consumed. A lot of people may think that because they consume less than a certain amount of drinks a week, they’re safe from the negative impact of alcohol, without accounting for how they consume them.

NIH stats demonstrate that while teens and young adults are decreasing their binge drinking patterns, older adults and women’s numbers are increasing. Ten-percent of adults over the age of 65 have reported binge drinking over the past month. In the case of women, the situation is more concerning, with one in four having engaged in binge drinking over the past month, resulting in an average of three binge episodes a month.

Lawmakers Discuss Cannabis Bill That Would Have It All — Banking, Research, Veterans

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 13, 2022

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Lawmakers Discuss Cannabis Bill That Would Have It All — Banking, Research, Veterans

Could the tactic of slipping other issues into bills that lawmakers want to pass turn the tide for cannabis legalization? Perhaps.

By Nina Zdinjak

Will there be an omnibus cannabis legalization bill enacted this year in the U.S.? According to recent discussions, anything is possible.

On the heels of a recent discussion between Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and GOP House Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on possible bipartisan cannabis reform steps that can be taken ahead of the finalization of a comprehensive legalization bill, Marijuana Moment revealed that it has been considered much more than just banking and expungements reforms.

marijuana legalization — Photo by RODNAE Productions via Pexels

During a preliminary conversation that took place Thursday at an International Cannabis Bar Association conference, Schumer and Joyce discussed combining two already existing bipartisan bills — the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, from Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), and the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act. The HOPE Act, sponsored by Joyce and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), would help states expunge criminal records for people with convictions for non-violent cannabis offenses by setting up a State Expungement Opportunity Grant Program.

Other important proposals such as those that cover veterans’ medical marijuana access, research expansion, cannabis industry access to Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, and broader drug sentencing, were also considered, as multiple sources told the outlet.

What’s more, those four concerns — financial services, research, medical marijuana for veterans, and expungements — are only a part of the issues being discussed. An anonymous source said a final compromise has not yet been reached and that hypothetical talks are ongoing.

Something For Everyone – SBA Loans, EQUAL Act

As for a proposal to allow marijuana companies to access SBA loans and services, pushed by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in a letter urging the appropriations committee to allow this, was also discussed. A congressional source told Marijuana Moment that Rosen spoke with Schumer about her efforts to push for the proposal.

To complicate matters and make the potential omnibus bill even more compelling to both parties, talks about a non-cannabis proposal was thrown into the mix. Namely, the EQUAL Act to eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, which has been considered to have aggravated racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The measure was already approved in the House as a standalone and has notable bipartisan support in the Senate.

“These talks are very serious,” a source involved in criminal justice reform said. “I would say this is one of the most serious bipartisan, bicameral conversations that we’ve seen occur in our time in this space.”

Perlmutter stressed the importance of the SAFE Banking Act becoming law this year. “As I’ve said before, I continue to pursue every possible avenue to get SAFE Banking signed into law this year. That effort includes ongoing conversations with senators who want to advance cannabis reforms,” Perlmutter told Marijuana Moment last Friday. “There are a number of bipartisan cannabis bills on the table, many of which could pass the Senate today if given the chance. I plan to continue working to ensure the SAFE Banking Act and/or other necessary cannabis reforms get across the finish line this year.”

Could this tactic of slipping other issues into bills that lawmakers want to pass turn the tide for cannabis legalization? Perhaps.

There is a risk of complicating any forthcoming legalization law, which is already complex as each state has its own trials and tribulations with their programs as they learn from their own and each other’s mistakes. Only time will tell.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Major GOP Players Battle For And Against Cannabis In 2022

Tom Gaffey

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June 13, 2022

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Major GOP Players Battle For And Against Cannabis In 2022

With the current state of uncertainty in the country and in the GOP, November elections may provide some answers as to which direction cannabis legalization is headed in this country.

The 2022 midterm elections are in full swing, and there is nothing that causes friction and clashes on issues quite like an election season. This year, the pile of political issues seems to grow by the day, and each new issue has conservatives and liberals more and more at odds.

There are even a few issues that are creating a fork in the road among conservatives this election season. As major GOP players emerge in 2022, politicians both seasoned and new are taking vastly different stances on cannabis legalization. These differing stances also seem to represent two different futures of the GOP. The midterm elections may help shed light on which type of Republican party voters are looking for moving forward, and also how the conservative base really feels about cannabis legalization.

One of the most notable GOP candidates when it comes to the future of cannabis and the GOP is Rep. Nancy Mace. Mace has made headlines for many reasons, but most notably for being a conservative who is sponsoring cannabis legalization legislation. The States Reform Act is a bill that would decriminalize cannabis.

Mace faces Katie Arrington in this Tuesday’s primary. Cannabis policy is not the only thing these two clash on. Arrington is backed by former President Trump, while Mace “blamed Trump for the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, ” according to Politico. In fact, Trump has gone so far as to call Mace “nasty, disloyal, and bad for the Republican Party,” according to the article.

While Arrington has Trump’s backing, Mace and her cannabis bill have their own backing. “Mace already has one of the most powerful conservative groups in the world in her corner: Charles Koch’s Americans for Prosperity,” according to Forbes. Mase also has the backing of Nikki Baley, a possible presidential candidate, and Trump adversary. The Mace and Arrington battle is just one of many races where GOP candidates have two very different visions of the future, and each have powerful conservatives forces behind them.

While South Carolina is a classic example of how the GOP is having an internal battle, there are other conservative states where cannabis is coming to the surface in politics. South Dakota, for example, may have its own day of reckoning with cannabis in November.

South Dakota voters approved a ballot measure to legalize cannabis in 2020, but the current Governor, Kristi Noem (who is up for re-election), shut it down shortly after. While Noem supported legalizing medical cannabis, this year she vetoed further legislation that would remove marijuana-related offenses from a person’s background check. “Even with the legalization of medical cannabis, there must remain consequences for using illegal drugs at a time when the use and possession of marijuana, even for alleged medical purposes, was illegal,” according to her official statement. Noem is also rumored to have her own 2024 presidential ambitions.

Noem will not only face re-election in November, but another ballot initiative. That’s right, there is a new (and improved) cannabis legalization bill on this year’s ballot. That means in November South Dakota voters will be able to definitively voice their opinions on cannabis, and how its legislation has been handled in their state.

Cannabis is just one issue in a year where major American rights are on the table. Still, as certain GOP candidates draw lines in the sand and align themselves on either side of this issue, it will be interesting to see how each state votes. With the current state of uncertainty in the country and in the GOP, November elections may provide some answers as to which direction cannabis legalization is headed in this country.

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