The COVID-19 Delta variant has resulted in rising cases all over the country. Here’s something that could protect you from it.
The COVID-19 Delta variant is prompting a nationwide surge of the virus. Despite vaccinations and case numbers that had greatly improved, the Delta variant is highly contagious and we’re all experiencing a little bit of deja vu. According to a former FDA commissioner, having the right face mask could protect you from it.
In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the FDA, said that quality face masks are key in protecting us from the Delta variant.
“Delta is so contagious that when we talk about masks, I don’t think we should just talk about masks,” he said. “I think we should be talking about high-quality masks. Quality of mask is going to make a difference with a variant that spreads more aggressively like Delta does, where people are more contagious and exude more virus, and trying to get N95 masks into the hands of vulnerable individuals in places where this is really epidemic, I think is going to be important.”
Gottlieb was so emphatic on the benefits of high quality masks that he suggests that even people who are fully vaccinated should consider wearing them. “It could be something that we start talking about getting better quality masks into the hands of people, because I think it’s going to be hard to mandate these things right now,” he said.
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The Delta variant is extremely contagious and results in serious infections. Gottlieb believes that in the near future, all people in the U.S. will fall within these three categories: they’ll be vaccinated, they’ll be protected due to a previous infection or they’ll catch the Delta variant. “And for most people who get this Delta variant, it’s going to be the most serious virus that they get in their lifetime in terms of the risk of putting them in the hospital.”
COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at protecting people from the different strains of COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Cases of breakthrough COVID-19 are very rare, but even if they occur, the disease is likely to be mild. So, for everyone who’s yet to be vaccinated, what are you waiting for? Get to it.
For hemp to actually be legal, it must fall below a 0.3% THC threshold, which means farmers must understand specific strains and genetics to avoid the destruction of entire crops that do not meet this criterion.
Research and Markets estimates that the global industrial hemp market will reach $17.4 billion by 2027, up from $5.6 billion in 2020.
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A Short History of Hemp
As a people, we have been using hemp for more than 10,000 years. There were traces of it found in Asia as early as 8000 B.C.
The forefathers of this country used hemp. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp. The first 4 presidents grew their own hemp. Benjamin Franklin was a hemp farmer in Kentucky.
Hemp is excellent for revitalizing and improving the soil. It has always been a rotation crop of choice — even for farmers who weren’t farming for hemp on a regular basis.
England considered it a high crime should any of the original U.S. colonies refuse to grow hemp as a staple crop for the crown. People used hemp to pay their taxes. They used it as living currency. During World War II, it was even said that farming for hemp was a patriotic duty!
Every Good Story Begins With a Dilemma
By the 1930s and ’40s, those who stood to lose the most from the manufacturing of hemp and marijuana launched flagrant propaganda and rampant smear campaigns. Families like the DuPonts and Rockefellers feared competition against their own industrial products, refusing to compete against the farmers who relied on it for a living.
The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 soon came along and essentially blocked the right to farm it altogether. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 labeled it as a controlled substance.
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It wasn’t until the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the 2018 Farm Bill that federal interest in hemp farming would be reignited, providing this country with new opportunities for health, sustainability and infrastructure.
Although marijuana is still illegal at the national level, various states have permitted card-carrying citizens to obtain it for medical use, and a number permit it for recreational use. Hemp, on the other hand, is federally approved and backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will establish the legal obligations for farmers going forward.
Major Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana
That hemp and marijuana are the same things is a common misconception. While both the hemp and marijuana plants are considered cannabis, hemp won’t get you high. The sister plants are related, but marijuana is known to have higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content and a more psychoactive effect on users than its hemp counterpart.
For hemp to actually be legal, it must fall below a 0.3% THC threshold, which means farmers must understand specific strains and genetics to avoid the destruction of entire crops that do not meet this criterion.
While farmers won’t be charged with criminal negligence if their crops fall below the maximum restriction of 1%, this could be devastating, especially when it could mean a loss of an entire crop and millions of dollars.
For this reason, it’s imperative that farmers track key data:
Seed variety and genetics
Plant information, location and harvest data
Moisture levels, temperatures and dry times
CBD and THC presence
Photo by BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific via Unsplash
Although CBD, one of many cannabinoids found in both hemp and marijuana plants, is the current focus for many consumers, one must understand that it is found in both marijuana and hemp plants and that it also must fall below the 0.3% threshold to be considered legal and sold without a prescription.
CBD is a derivative of the flower byproduct and used in many different food and beauty products on the market. Hemp-derived CBD is non-psychotropic and is known to relieve pain, anxiety and nausea in its users. It’s also found in many FDA-approved drugs for seizures and epilepsy.
The 2018 Farm Bill is the first piece of federal legislation to officially remove hemp and CBD from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule I controlled-substance designation, legally reinstating it for industrial and agricultural purposes.
What Exactly Did the 2018 Farm Bill Do for Hemp?
The 2018 Farm Bill, otherwise known as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, diminished existing bans on the sale, transport and possession of hemp-derived products. Congress explicitly approved the transport of hemp-derived products for commercial use and lifted pre-existing limitations put into place by previous bills that criminalized it.
The Marijuana Tax Act 0f 1937, for example, had placed a tax on all cannabis sales, including hemp, which was projected to become a billion-dollar commodity by Popular Mechanics Magazine. While the country would see a temporary lift of this ban during WWII, it was reinstated after the war ended.
Similarly, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified hemp as an illegal Schedule I drug. It allowed farmers who wanted to grow hemp to register, apply and be approved by the DEA. The irony of this act was that only 1 farmer ever received approval under the strict regulations for production and operations. Instead, most farmers faced imprisonment, hefty fines and other penalties.
The 2018 Farm Bill ultimately removes the roadblocks that have kept an entire industry from blossoming. It authorizes federal agencies to provide funding for research and removes banking restrictions that many companies still face when establishing their legal businesses, processing sales or obtaining loans that could push their enterprises to the next level.
It also authorizes institutions to provide crop insurance to businesses that farm hemp. As a result, those same businesses now can take deductions that once were forbidden.
According to Generation Hemp Inc. (OTCQ: GENH), “Industrial hemp has the power to change this world.” That’s why they’ve made it a mission to do just that. Generation Hemp helps businesses scale hemp processing operations, put excess biomass to use and develop products that lead to a better tomorrow.
To find out more about the hemp industry and what Generation Hemp is doing for hemp businesses everywhere, visit their website.
Sunshine, weed and free time make for a great combination. Here are 5 activities you can do while high this summer.
Summer is a great time for the outdoors. While the heat can get overbearing, summertime usually brings along a lot of relaxation. While people are still working and carrying out their day-to-day activities, workdays are shorter and people are looking for ways to get their bodies to the sun as soon as possible. It’s all made better with a little weed.
All seasons pair well with marijuana, but summer is particularly great. Weed is a great pairing for social and outdoor activities, making it the perfect addition for time spent sharing with friends or for engaging with the world in a way that’s deeper and more rewarding. Here are 5 summer activities you can do while high:
Go on a hike
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Hiking is not for everyone. While some people love to surround themselves with nature as they sweat and climb, others prefer their workouts to have a higher pace. Weed can make a big difference for everyone involved, making the hikes more engaging while helping you appreciate the nature aspect.
While smoking on the beach is usually not very pleasant (too hot!), there are other forms of cannabis worth exploring, especially if you prepare ahead of time. The use of cannabis can help you have a better time with your friends or even relax more if you’re spending the day alone.
Watch a movie while blasting the AC
Photo by JESHOOTS-com via Pixabay
A big part of summer is that time when you finally manage to escape the heat and you’re welcomed by a strong burst of air conditioning. Adding in some weed and a great movie in the mix is sure to be an experience just as good as any day spent outside.
Weed makes visual experiences better and emotional ones deeper, which is why watching a movie while high can feel much stronger than if you were to watch it sober. The same applies to a visit to a museum or an art gallery. While you might annoy your friend or whoever you’re with your deep musings, you will for sure be having a great time.
Have a picnic at the park
Photo by Nils Stahl via Unsplash
Picnics are great, but high picnics are the best. Plan for a day alone or with friends spent at the park of your choosing, sharing a joint and eating delicious finger food. The more you plan it, the better, giving you the chance to bring speakers, a better selection of food, and more.
Ready or not, cannabis is growing increasingly popular and very difficult to avoid when visiting another city.
2020 was an atypical year. While it put a hard stop on most things, it was also an election year, opening the door to a lot of change. One of these changes was marijuana legalization, something that is increasingly becoming harder to ignore as more and more demographics embrace it.
While a lot of policies and parties were in contention during last year’s election, it was surprising that the one thing that most states agreed upon was cannabis. The legalization of the plant was expanded and supported by a variety of states, and the change is noticeable everywhere you go, especially if you’re in a city that has enforced some kind of marijuana program. This is great news for some travelers, and not so great for others.
“I didn’t expect to be in a family-friendly hotel in Chandler, Ariz., and get a vague waft of marijuana in the room,” traveler Judi Durand told the New York Times. “People are getting bolder with it. “It’s not very fair.”
In 2021, lawmakers filed forms to legalize cannabis in 31 states, including New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia, which have passed these bills and plan to enforce them soon. States like Louisiana have decriminalized the drug, abruptly challenging many people’s perceptions. While cannabis advocates have known and expected these changes for a long time, the opposition and those who remained isolated from legal cannabis conversations have not.
Cannabis attractions are still in the works, but compared to a few years ago, the improvement is marked. There’s an audience for activities like cultivation tours, cannabis-themed spas, and a growing number of dispensary spaces.
Whether you’re for or against marijuana, it’s a reality that you’ll soon be smelling weed on your next trip, if you’re not doing so already. While the laws are just starting to reflect this change on a federal level, it’s one that’s spent years in the making.
“I do think that, in terms of our approach to marijuana, I worry when we don’t let science guide our process in policy-making.”
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on Sunday that he does not think there is value to incarcerating people for marijuana use and that science should be our guide in policymaking.
“When it comes to decriminalization, I don’t think that there is value to individuals or to society to lock people up for marijuana use. I don’t think that serves anybody well,” Murthy told host Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Photo by Caspar Benson/Getty Images
Dash asked Murthy if he supported, from a health perspective, the draft bill unveiled last week by Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to legalize cannabis at the federal level. Murthy replied that, when discussing marijuana, science should be at the forefront.
“I do think that, in terms of our approach to marijuana, I worry when we don’t let science guide our process in policy-making,” Murthy said.
“And we know the science tells us that there are some benefits to marijuana from a medical perspective but there are also some harms that we have to consider—and we have to put those together as we think about the right policy.”
Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General who also served under President Obama, said he is concerned about the effort to change cannabis laws getting ahead of the science.
“And as Surgeon General that’s my role, is to work with policymakers who work with members in the community and the general public to help people understand what science tells us and where there are gaps, to help fill those gaps with research and with honest inquiry,” he said.
In 2015, during his first term as Surgeon General under Obama, Murthy appeared to be open-minded about the possibility that cannabis could be beneficial as a treatment for various conditions. At the time, Murthy said in a television interview that “preliminary data showing that for certain medical conditions and symptoms, that marijuana can be helpful,” and that such information will likely drive legislation governing marijuana use.
President Biden?
Very shortly after the marijuana legalization draft bill was made public last Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated that President Joe Biden was still opposed to the reform although she added that the president would be “encouraged” by efforts to advance incremental reform such as decriminalizing possession, in that he pledged to do that while on the campaign trail.
Cannabis companies have never had a stable relationship with social media. The tense status has made cannabis a bit scrappier regarding social marketing, coded language and geotagging.
However, all too often, brands still face shadow bans, suspensions and account deletions. Pot-focused social media platforms and advertising options have come online but haven’t gained traction like powerful platforms to date.
Photo by Digitalpfade via Pixabay
A recent wave of suspensions, deletions and warnings came about on Instagram, with brands, marketers and journalists reporting similar issues. Depending on the source, the reason for the actions varies.
With the issue ongoing, cannabis social media experts offered tips on avoiding the issue and recovering an account.
Social Media Shut Down my Cannabis Business Account. Now, What Do I Do?
In late June, Cannaclusive found their account suspended by Instagram, a Facebook, Inc. Common Stock (NASDAQ: FB) company.
Director of National Projects and Social Media, Kassia Graham, said this was the first time the company had an issue since launching in 2017.
Graham thinks the ban may be the result of a popular post. She said the content, a 4/20-themed guide for finding brands through the company’s Inclusivebase tool, did not include sales links. She added that the ban might also have been because the company tagged accounts that previously had run-ins with Instagram.
“I just don’t get it,” Graham said of the rationale.
After several days of appeals and campaigning, Cannaclusive had their account restored. Since then, the company has posted a guide for other brands that find themselves in the same spot. Tips include:
Backup followers using a third-party tool
Download and backup data
Have a file of all company documents, including business license, invoices, utility bills and other documents
Submit a daily report about the account in violation
Launch a “Bring us back campaign” similar to #FreeThePlant
Since the ban, Cannaclusive has continued using Instagram. They are also exploring additional ways to leverage their reach through existing newsletter and website efforts. Others have followed similar steps to restore their accounts.
Photo by ROBIN WORRALL via Unsplash
Alice Moon is a cannabis marketing professional. In 2016, Instagram shut down her account of over 14,000 followers. She had her current account suspended again this summer. This time, she was advised by a colleague to wait 48 hours then submit an appeal. Instagram restored her account two hours after submitting the request.
How To Best Avoid A Social Media Ban For Cannabis
No clear solution exists beyond remaining as compliant as possible.
Moon believes her latest run-in was caused by verbiage, specifically “cannabis social media” in her headline. She’s since taken the title out and has refrained from posting cannabis content.
She and others agreed that cannabis companies remain compliant on social media by framing themselves as a lifestyle brand. Burns said that accounts looking to use social media as a conversion tool should instead consider forming emotional connections with followers.
Brett Fink, Managing Partner at GRTR has worked with various cannabis brands in the space. Before entering the market, he worked on special projects for Snap Inc (NYSE: SNAP).
He advised brands to look at social media differently. “If you look at other brands that haven’t been pulled down, it basically is just a landing page for them,” he noted.
He touched on the importance of stories and reels as well. “Ephemerality is key to this because the stories are the things that don’t get flagged as much because they are basically a private page.”
Photo by Minty via rawpixel.com
Moon suggests cannabis companies keep links out of their biographies, remove any location information and never use prominent cannabis hashtags.
“That is what their algorithm is picking up,” she cautioned.
Rather than sales and marketing material, Grasslands CMO Burns suggested focusing on behind-the-scenes looks and company values. He recommends focusing on Linktree, blogs, web content and experiential activations as more concrete ways of attracting and converting business.
“Social media is a very valuable tool, but it’s not the end-all, be-all,” he said adding that he found a remedy through Facebook company verification. Once verified, his company linked their Instagram to the account. The company also set up a Facebook advertiser account but never launched any ads, a practice that often gets cannabis bans shut down.
The high cost of Biogen’s newly approved and controversial treatment will be compounded by a misguided Medicare policy that incentivizes doctors to prescribe the priciest medicines.
Disclaimer:The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.
It is easy to understand why everyone is desperate for anything that will help with Alzheimer’s Disease. Patients and their families dread its relentless onslaught. Consequently, there was tremendous pressure for the FDA to approve Aduhelm (aducanumab), by Biogen and Eisai.
However, its approval was met with widespread criticism because it is both expensive, with an expected annual price tag of $56,000, but of limited effectiveness.
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Aducanumab is taken as an infusion administered in a doctor’s office for one hour every four weeks. That might be difficult for a patients suffering from agitation who might not understand why they are there.
The high cost of Biogen’s newly approved and controversial treatment will be compounded by a misguided Medicare policy that incentivizes doctors to prescribe the priciest medicines.
But they also acknowledged that the “Alzheimer’s Society has never funded research into cannabis and dementia risk, or into cannabis as a potential treatment for dementia symptoms. This is because we have not received any high-quality applications from researchers intending to investigate these issues.”
Photo by Nicole De Khors via Burst
The obvious question is “why?” Why has the medical establishment failed to support research on cannabinoid medicine when clearly nothing else has worked?
Also, cannabinoid medicines are of low toxicity. However, according to Dementia Care Central, “Patients taking aducanumab have experienced swelling and bleeding in the brain, a side effect called ‘amyloid-related imaging abnormalities’ (ARIA). Headache, balance problems leading to falls, stomach issues including diarrhea, and disorientation are also possible side effects.
“The swelling or bleeding that comes from ARIA can be monitored via brain scans for people taking aducanumab. The drugmaker recommends MRI scans that detect ARIA before the 7th and 12th infusions, as the problems typically develop in the first 12 to 16 weeks of treatment and are asymptomatic (meaning a person can’t feel them happening). During trials, ARIA was detected in 41% of people taking aducanumab, compared to 10% of those in the control group who did not take the drug.”
Maybe medical cannabis could at least help with the side effects of the FDA-approved pharmaceutical. Ending marijuana prohibition might also help with the other problems associated with aging, like extreme cynicism from having been lied to all our lives.
“Be open-minded. A lot of times, that means not only open-minded about where the product could go, but open-minded about the kind of people you need at the time.”
A couple years ago, Carol Bartz, former CEO of Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) and Yahoo, joined seed-to-sale cannabis company Caliva – now owned by TPCO Holding Corp (OTC:GRAMF),after investing in it alongside NFL legend Joe Montana – found here talking about cannabis and football.
Surprisingly, the 70-year-old tech industry superstar was very open about her cannabis use, disclosing her predilection not only for the super trendy, non-psychoactive CBD, but also for THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that makes people feel “high.”
“I do consider myself a progressive, kind of experimental, person,” Bartz told me during a recent conversation, as she discussed her first experience with medical cannabis, which she described as “crazy good.”
Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images
Bartz has a computer science degree and programmed her first computer in 1968. At the time, her friends kept asking why she was doing something that took so much time and didn’t provide any credit toward her degree.
Despite her friends’ skepticism, Bartz carried on. She remembers vividly the first time she ever finished writing a program. “Wow! This is going to change everybody’s lives!” she thought at the time.
But beware, for being progressive is not the same as being stupid, Bartz warned. She brought up a story to illustrate her progressive thinking.
It happened approximately 35 years ago, when she was working at Sun Microsystems. One of her employees brought up a beer company with what was supposed to be a great recipe had a plan to outsource its production to Bartz’s home state, Minnesota, and asked her if she wanted to invest in it. “It turns out it was Pete’s Wicked Ale, which was behind Sam Adams, the second biggest artisanal beer-maker in the U.S…. I made lots of money.
“This is yet another example like what I see in Caliva… It’s different and it’s got a great team,” she said.
Extrapolating Lessons From Tech
As readers can tell by now, Bartz has decades of experience in building and investing in innovative businesses. I wondered if she had learned anything from her early days in programming in the late 60s that could apply to the cannabis industry today.
Bartz responded with a saying of hers:
What this means, is “to move forward, your can’t be afraid to fail. But if you fail, try to figure it out as fast as you can, and then hopefully move a half a step forward and keep doing that. People who are too structured and are afraid to try something new and fail, won’t make it in a new environment like this. You have to have some ‘cojones’ — you have to be able to get out there and try.”
She ended up with another saying, laughing again, showing her characteristic humor and good mood: “if you don’t try you definitely won’t do it.”
‘Fail. Fast Forward.’
I was hooked with that “Fail. Fast Forward.” philosophy of Bartz’s. Having failed and flashed forward many times, what kind of advice could she share?
Photo by Christina Winter via Unsplash
“Just when you think that everything that’s going to be done is done – boom! Out comes something else. Look at what’s happening with the cure for cancer and some very specialized targeted medicines… I think the same thing will happen in the cannabis industry, where there will be not just different strains and potencies, but different [molecular] combinations that really do different things for the body,” she said, calling for the re-scheduling of cannabis – and a change in its federally illegal status, so that it can be properly studied and tested.
Be open-minded. A lot of times, that means not only open-minded about where the product could go, but open-minded about the kind of people you need at the time. For instance, in the beginning, you might need agro technology [expertise] more than you need extraction technology [expertise]… What happens is companies can get in a rut, and they are the ones that work on the new ideas. I mean look at Apple: Apple was in a rut for a while, actually for quite a long while, it just wasn’t an interesting company. Then a new leader comes in and… blows it open
So, the lesson here is you need to be adaptable, adjustable, and smart enough to make some really hard decisions.
While the best way to treat bloating is to prevent it, there are a few effective ways that can help your stomach overcome the uncomfortable feeling.
Bloating is something we’ve all been through and it’s pretty terrible. It can strike at any time and for a variety of reasons, like eating the wrong food or getting your period.
Bloating happens from time to time, but it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence. It usually occurs when there’s too much gas in your digestive system or when the muscles in that area move in unexpected ways. While the best way to treat bloating is to prevent it, there are a few effective ways that can help your stomach overcome the uncomfortable feeling.
Here are 5 ways to quickly prevent bloating:
Eat celery, bananas, or ginger.
Photo by Lotte Löhr via Unsplash
While it may be difficult to eat more when feeling bloated, celery has often been used as a digestive aid and diuretic. The vegetable has a lot of water content, 95% of it, and is high in potassium, which can help control water retention, something that’s often linked to bloating. Celery is also filled with fiber, which is great for your digestive system. Other foods that have been related to reduced bloating include bananas and ginger.
Some form of cardio workout is also recommended since this can help relieve bloating, even if what you want to do is to sit down with your pants unbuttoned. Any cardio movement can be beneficial, from walking to stretching to practicing some yoga poses.
Take a PMS pill
Photo by Teddy Rawpixel via rawpixel.com
If you’re someone who usually gets bloated when your period comes around, there are PMS pills and supplements you can take. Midol’s bloat relief caplets contain a diuretic that helps you get rid of that too-full feeling.
Probiotics are good bacteria, keeping your gut feeling normal and in good shape. By taking some probiotics you can give your stomach a soft reboot, detoxifying the flora in your digestive system. Probiotics are particularly helpful if you’ve been experiencing bloating often, even after eating meals that are not all that filling or when you’re not on your period.
Rule out allergies and intolerances
Photo by congerdesign via Pixabay
Lastly, one thing that can help you feel better and give you some peace of mind is to rule out allergies and other food intolerances that may be responsible for the bloating you’re experiencing. Having food allergies and intolerances can result in bloating and excessive gas. Some of the most common intolerances include lactose, fructose, eggs and wheat and gluten.
This bill is a huge step forward and ultimately lays the foundation for federal recreational cannabis use.
By Andrew Smith
On Wednesday, a draft bill was released to end America’s federal cannabis prohibition and remove “marijuana” from the Controlled Substances Act. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is titled the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act and was introduced as a discussion draft intended to foster debate among the members of Congress.
The official purpose of the bill is “to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, to provide for reinvestment in certain persons adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, to provide for expungement of certain cannabis offenses, and for other purposes.”
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The bill specifies that states will still be able to continue making their own laws regarding marijuana, just like with alcohol. The bill would also allow cannabis companies in the United States to apply for loans and to list on stock exchanges.
A final version of the bill will be drafted later this year. If passed in something like its current form, marijuana would be taxed and regulated like tobacco and alcohol. According to the draft, federal excise taxes on marijuana products would start at 10% (double what the MORE Act proposed), and then increase to a hefty 25% within five years of the passage of the bill. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau would collect and enforce taxes on cannabis products, while the Food and Drug Administration would be the regulatory agency charged with regulating the labeling, marketing, and manufacture of cannabis products.
The bill also includes provisions for certain social justice measures. The bill calls for the expungement of nonviolent federal cannabis convictions, and those already serving sentences for nonviolent federal cannabis crimes would be able to petition for resentencing. In addition, the bill stipulates that a grant program, known as the Community Reinvestment Grant Program, would be carried out by the Director of the Cannabis Justice Office (a position and an office that would be created if the bill becomes law) that would administer services in communities that have been adversely impaired by the War on Drugs. These programs include literacy programs, legal aid for civil and criminal cases, youth mentoring programs, and health education programs.
Photo by Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Gaining enough support for the passage of the bill will be a challenge. The bill would need at least 60 votes to end a filibuster and pass through the Senate. That means that the bill would need the support of at least ten Republicans, which could be difficult considering that not even all Democrats are on board with ending the federal prohibition on marijuana. In addition, and in keeping with his disappointing perspective on cannabis, President Biden has restated that he does not support legalizing recreational cannabis use.
This bill is a huge step forward and ultimately lays the foundation for federal recreational cannabis use. The federal government has lagged far behind individual states when it comes to cannabis legalization, and this bill is the first substantial effort to change federal marijuana policies. We will be following the evolution of the bill and the corresponding debate very closely in the future.
