Here’s how you can adapt your cannabis use to minimize its impact on the planet, reducing the amount of waste you create, and providing support to the right businesses.
It’s Earth Day, which means the spotlight is on our planet, (hopefully) encouraging us all to pay a little extra attention to the issues that are affecting it. The tradition began in 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated and over 20 million people mobilized to call for greater protections to our planet.
Cannabis isn’t normally associated with environmental dangers; on the contrary, it’s an activity that’s long been associated with the good things that come from the earth. Now that we’re all more aware of the threat of global warming, a large percentage of society is looking for ways to help out the environment in any way possible, whether it’s recycling or reducing waste.
When it comes to cannabis, there are a few things conscious consumers can do in order to be more mindful of the environment and to truly know where their product is coming from. Here’s how to use marijuana in ways that are environmentally conscious.
Avoid baggies and recycle bottles
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Packaging is an issue with most consumer products. When it comes to cannabis, one of the perks of legalization is the increased use of glass containers and the disregard of plastic, one of the most difficult elements for the earth to process. Whenever possible, go for glass containers, since these can be washed and repurposed. Once you’re done with them, make sure to recycle them in your nearest dispensary or by ensuring that your community recycles glass and dropping them in your recycling bin.
Cannabis remains federally illegal, meaning that organic certification isn’t available. Still. certifications like Clean Green and Sun+Earth are some of the equivalents to organic certification and were developed by growers and activists who want to farm and grow products in ways that are least harmful to the environment.
One of the biggest issues with black market weed is the fact that there’s no regulation process behind the growth of this product, which at times can contain synthetic pesticides and can harm wildlife and water supplies. Legal marijuana businesses often have to enroll in energy saving programs, which lower their energy usage, and have to limit the amount of toxic elements that they use. This is better for the planet; supporting these programs is one of the most straightforward ways of making these kinds of businesses thrive.
Stakeholders not currently operating under a NYDAM research partnership agreement will need to wait a bit longer before they may lawfully enter New York’s cannabinoid hemp market.
On March 31, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the much-anticipated “Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act“ (the “MRTA”). You can find our ongoing coverage of all things MRTA here. What isn’t obvious from the title of this new law, however, is that it includes provisions that may change how the state will eventually regulate its hemp industry.
The MRTA is the first state law that proposes to centralize the regulation of cannabis operators, including hemp and marijuana stakeholders. As we previously discussed, the MRTA tasked the Cannabis Control Board (the “CCB”) with implementing rules and regulations for “cannabinoid hemp” and marijuana which will eventually be administered by the Office of Cannabis Management (the “OCM”).
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This is significant because just a year ago, the state enacted A08977, which instructed the New York’s State Department of Health (the “DOH”) to develop the state’s “Cannabinoid Hemp Program” (the “Program”) which was designed to regulate the processing, manufacturing, and sale of hemp extract and cannabinoid hemp products (finished hemp-derived products used for human consumption, except cosmetics) in the state.
Launched in November 2020, the Program requires processors, manufacturers and retailers of these cannabinoid hemp products to first obtain a license from the DOH, and establishes quality control standards in the form of proposed rules (the “Rule”). Although the DOH is accepting applications for cannabinoid hemp processor, retail licenses, and distributor permits, the state agency has yet to adopt and publish the Rule in the New York State Register. This means that no state hemp processor, distributor, or retailer is formally operating under these new regulations — the only lawful and formally regulated operations in the state are currently limited to activities pursuant to research partnership agreements with the Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “NYDAM”).
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Nevertheless, the MRTA provides that existing rules, regulations, and determination made by the DOH that pertain to cannabinoid hemp at the time the CCB and the OCM take over the regulation of these products would remain in place until this new regulatory body adopts or repeals them. Therefore, it remains to be seen if the DOH will opt to finalize the rule making process or if it will defer to the CCB and the OCM in deciding whether to adopt the Rule in its current form, or a version of it, in the months to come.
What is apparent from reading the MRTA is that Article 5, which contains provisions governing the regulation of cannabinoid hemp products and hemp extract, generally aligns with the Rule in that it contains similar definitions and mandates that cannabinoid hemp processors and retailers secure a license to lawfully enter this market.
That said, Article 5 also contains language that suggests the CCB may impose additional requirements on the hemp industry. For example, the MRTA stipulates that wholesale activities will not be authorized without obtaining an appropriate registration or permit. It also provides that the CCB may issue “special use permits,” which are temporary permits for carrying on any activities related to cannabinoid hemp, hemp extract and products derived from hemp that are licensed by the agency.
So, while it’s impossible to determine to what extent the MRTA and its upcoming regulations will impact the hemp industry, one thing is certain: stakeholders not currently operating under a NYDAM research partnership agreement will need to wait a bit longer before they may lawfully enter New York’s cannabinoid hemp market.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki answered various cannabis legalization questions on the unofficial cannabis holiday 4/20, refusing to make clear whether or not President Joe Biden would sign a bill to legalize cannabis on the federal level.
When asked if Biden would sign the bill to halt federal cannabis prohibition if Congress approved it, Psaki said that he supports states’ rights to do so.
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Unclear Response
“The president supports leaving decisions regarding legalization for recreational use up to the states, rescheduling cannabis as a Schedule II drug so researchers can study its positive and negative impacts and, at the federal level, he supports decriminalizing marijuana use and automatically expunging any prior criminal records,” she said. “He also supports legalizing medicinal marijuana so that’s his point of view on the issue.”
The question came back more directly and precisely in an effort to find out what would Biden actually do if the bill reaches his desk, upon which Psaki alluded that he wouldn’t be prone to approving it, further stating that, “I just have outlined what his position is, which isn’t the same as what the House and Senate have proposed, but they have not yet passed a bill.”
“I am going to put this bill on the floor soon. It hasn’t been introduced yet,” Schumer said, noting he has been working with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) on the measure’s draft. “Once it is introduced, it will go on the floor,” Schumer said.
SAFE Banking Act And Request For More Research
In regards to the SAFE Banking Act, which was approved Monday for the fourth time by the U.S. House of Representatives, Psaki noted she is not familiar with the president’s stance on it and would need to follow up with the answer, reported the outlet.
Psaki pointed out that although Biden supports decriminalization and legalizing medical cannabis, he demands more research on the affects of recreational use legalization.
“He’ll look at the research once that’s concluded,” Psaki said. “Of course we understand the movement that’s happening toward it. I’m speaking for what his position is and what long consistently has been his position. He wants to decriminalize, but again, he’ll look at the research of the positive and negative impacts.”
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Analyst Optimistic About Legalization
Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at Cowen, said in a Monday note that it doesn’t matter what the president thinks about cannabis; if it reaches his desk, he’ll sign, reported Forbes.
“We believe there is too much focus on President Biden. It does not matter how he views legalization,” Seiberg wrote. “He will sign into law whatever cannabis bill that the Democratic Congress sends him. Legalization may not be Biden’s priority, but he will not be an obstacle to it becoming law.”
Seiberg recognized the challenge of getting the 10 Republican votes needed for the victory. “It is why the industry’s lobby efforts are critical. Legalization is unstoppable once there are 10 Senate GOP votes.”
Cowen is, however, enthusiastic about overcoming these difficulties and seeing the bill approved in Congress.
Schumer shares the optimism: “Hopefully, the next time this unofficial holiday 420 rolls around, our country will have made progress in addressing the massive over-criminalization of marijuana in a meaningful and comprehensive way.”
Aside from the many negative impacts of illegal grow operations (banned insecticides, illegal diversion of stream water, unchecked chemical runoff), legal operations can also pack a devastating environmental punch.
With both 420 and Earth Day (4/22) being celebrated this week, there’s an opportunity to take a good, hard look at the environmental impacts of the cannabis industry as well as legislative responses to those challenges.
Resource use and extraction, air and water quality, and waste management are just a few of the environmental issues confronting indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse cultivation operations. Worth a staggering $61 billion, the cannabis industry is profiting heavily from its current practices, so it stands to reason that legislators are looking to heightened restrictions, green incentives, and higher permitting and licensing fees to offset some of the environmental costs of production and manufacturing.
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Aside from the many negative impacts of illegal grow operations, including the use of banned insecticides, illegal diversion of stream water, and unchecked chemical runoff, legal operations can still pack a devastating environmental punch. Soil degradation increased load on water and energy infrastructure systems, and carbon and volatile organic compound emissions from terpenes all have scientists, activists, and lawmakers scrambling to make sure the cannabis market’s booming profits don’t come at the expense of planetary health.
The Puget Sound Clear Air Agency in Washington State has imposed a requirement that recreational marijuana producers and processors comply with air quality regulations after they have obtained licensing. This involves paying a fee for a Notice of Construction permit that details odor control equipment and solvent usage information, as well as submitting a plan view of the facility, a schematic drawing of the HVAC system, and an environmental checklist among other requirements.
In California, state government-run Water Boards require permitted growers to register water rights and follow strict guidelines that include prohibitions on diverting surface water from April through October and irrigating with stored water during the dry season. Any non-consumer wastes produced in cannabis operations manufacturing vape cartridges and pens in the state are required to be managed by electronics recyclers, which puts California ahead of most states in this particular practice.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection prohibits “the emission into the outdoor atmosphere of any malodorous contaminants”, which has shut down more than one processing hemp drying operation in the state while encouraging others to upgrade their generators and air scrubbers to keep business running. Other states such as New Jersey have regulated certain areas as protected lands, such as shellfish habitat, wetlands, and riparian zones, which require special permits or authorization in order to be used for cannabis cultivation.
In Colorado, Boulder has city codes that require marijuana businesses to utilize renewable energy to offset 100% of their electricity consumption as part of Boulder’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. In addition, several local governments in Colorado, in conjunction with the state, have prepared a “Cannabis Environmental Best Practices Guide”, but as long as adherence to measures such as these remains elective or wildly variable from state to state, both illegal and legal marijuana operations will continue to stymy efforts to ensure that that the cannabis boom is not a bust for the environment.
If it passes, perhaps more Republican attitudes are going progressive. If it doesn’t, there’s little chance that anything more substantial would either.
We’re about to learn the cold hard truth about the Senate’s power to pass a comprehensive marijuana bill in 2021. Any smidgen of hope that the nation will see marijuana legalization at the national level this year is ultimately contingent on the survival of a modest cannabis banking bill.
The House of Representatives just passed a cannabis-related measure known as the SAFE Banking Act in a vote of 321-101. Now, before you get too excited, you should know that this proposal isn’t really a call to reform marijuana laws. All it would do is give banks permission to do business with the cannabis industry. It allows cannabis operations at the state level to be considered legitimate businesses among their communities. It wouldn’t legalize anything; it doesn’t change the federal government’s stance on the herb; it does nothing except prevent federal law enforcement from harassing banks that accept deposits from pot companies. (Note:Since legalization began in the U.S., no harassment of this kind has been reported.)
This isn’t the first time the SAFE Banking Act has passed the House. It did once before in 2019 before being squashed by a Republican-dominated Senate. But things are different now, right? The Democrats have majority rule in the upper chamber this time around — they are calling the shots — so it stands to reason that this marijuana banking bill should pass with flying colors.
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Let’s hope so, because if this modest bill fails to make it through the Senate, there’s no chance that much larger legislation calling for the end of federal pot prohibition will land on the steps of the White House.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said recently that he would like to see the SAFE Banking Act pass as part of comprehensive marijuana to change the national pot laws. All this time, Schumer has been preaching a need to end prohibition — through legalization or decriminalization, whichever is easier for President Joe Biden to swallow — and expunge the criminal records of people with pot convictions. His goal seems to be putting states at ease when passing their pot laws without setting up federal regulations that would allow Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco to hijack the industry. It’s conceivable that Schumer’s proposal, which is set to be introduced “soon,” already contains a version of SAFE Banking.
But if Schumer does allow the House version to go up for a vote, cannabis advocates will finally see the true clout of the Democratic Senate on its quest to change pot laws. Schumer might also hold off until his bill is ready.
If moved to the Senate floor for a vote, the SAFE Banking Act would be susceptible to the filibuster — an old Senate rule that requires a 60-vote supermajority. We would see then just how much bipartisan support this measure really has. It’s possible that it could pass without issue. After all, the bill would also make it easier for hemp farmers to do business with banks, something that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell might be onboard with at this juncture.
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However, it seems unlikely that he’ll want to join hands to help further the Democratic agenda. Republicans are still sore about the 2020 election and how the Democrats have been leaning on budget reconciliation methods to pass the Biden agenda without their input.
So, revenge is coming.
A betting man (or woman) should watch the progress of the SAFE Banking Act closely as it marches to the Senate. What happens from this point forward could indicate just how well the prospect of federal marijuana legalization is postured. If it passes, perhaps more Republican attitudes are going progressive. If it doesn’t, there’s little chance that anything more substantial would either. Unfortunately, this could be both the beginning and the end of the Democrat’s push to legalize marijuana.
It is neither a Sativa, Indica, or hybrid. The only aspect that counts when a plant is being termed a sinsemilla is that it must be feminized and unpollinated.
Times have truly changed. In the 1970s almost every cannabis farmer, as well as users, could explain something about sinsemilla.
Now, less than a quarter of cannabis consumers worldwide can give a direct answer to this question, most especially the current generation of users. They have most likely not heard the word before.
Most times, the few that have an answer say “sinsemilla is a strain of cannabis,” but they’re wrong.
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Sinsemilla defined
Sinsemilla, abbreviated sensi, is the fusion of duo Spanish terms sin and semilla which means without and seeds, respectively.
Simply put, sinsemilla means the absence of seeds.
Sinsemilla is a seedless cannabis flower obtained from unfertilized feminine plants. It’s also the most potent form of marijuana, because it possesses a very high concentration of THC.
It is neither a Sativa, Indica, or hybrid. The only aspect that counts when a plant is being termed a sinsemilla is that it must be feminized and unpollinated.
Current cannabis users do not realize how lucky they are to be born when marijuana is being legalized for both recreational and medical uses in different countries worldwide. The legalization of weed has made only premium products available in markets. Dispensaries in these countries sell only the best sinsemilla cannabis.
In the past choices revolved around buying either seedless cannabis which was more expensive and rare, than buying cannabis with seeds. Now, the only struggle is buying the sinsemilla weed with the right flavor and aroma suitable to the user.
You can hardly hear anyone around calling the seedless cannabis ‘sinsemilla’ because it is the norm now. It is that potent— THC-filled— cannabis bud everyone smokes to get that extra intense feeling and effects that come with the “high.”
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels
History of sinsemilla
Sinsemilla came into the spotlight during the 1970s when local production of marijuana started in the USA, although it has been around for several thousands of years before then.
It was gathered that the first set of farmers that commercially cultivated the sinsemilla plants indoors were Mexican. When it was tried and seen to be far better than seeded cannabis, it started getting exported to various countries worldwide to be cultivated. It was popularized as the best thing in town and was sold at very high prices compared to its counterpart bearing seeds.
Is sinsemilla hard to find?
Back in the 1970s to 1980s, this cannabis bud was rare because growers were not yet experienced and knowledgeable enough to grow these entirely female population of cannabis.
Presently, it is everywhere.
The steps to gain the best yield from seedless cannabis have been made in a straightforward pattern. Growers use a controlled greenhouse system with advanced genetic techniques and other hydroponic techniques to make sure they always have a supply ready for the ever-growing demands.
Most importantly, growers have learned about the advantages of growing marijuana/cannabis indoors to prevent accidental fertilization by other male cannabis plants found outdoors.
Cultivation technique of seedless cannabis
Cannabis farmers changed their farming techniques when they discovered that the customers were demanding more and more sinsemilla. Sinsemilla is grown indoors in a greenhouse facility with the aid of superior hydroponic techniques.
To reiterate, outdoor cultivation of sinsemilla increases the chances of a male plant fertilizing a female plant— if this happens, the plant is no longer sinsemilla, but rather a seeded cannabis plant.
The improved technology in greenhouse facilities has also improved the cultivation of cannabis indoors. The greenhouse has proven to be the perfect medium through which all-female plants can be monitored throughout cultivation to the moment they are harvested for sales.
It should be noted that the cultivation of Sinsemilla is done annually.
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How potent is sinsemilla?
Very potent.
However, before I go further on this, I’d like to state that all forms of cannabis generally have heightened potency now— Compared to the previous generation where the potency was lost in various plants due to improper storage facilities and techniques.
Researchers at a University discovered that weed today is over 50% more potent than older weed.
The potency of a cannabis plant depends on its THC content. The THC content gets degraded once there is bad storage. The lower the THC content gets, the less potent the cannabis becomes.
The THC content also increased to over 30% if the conditions in the greenhouse used are optimal— the hydroponic technique also increases the THC content of a cannabis plant.
Why is sinsemilla more potent?
Here are some of the reasons for the increased level of potency in sinsemilla.
Feminine marijuana plants are carefully selected plants which when unfertilized survive longer and continue their flowering period producing flowers for a month longer than fertilized cannabis plants. During this period, a lot occurs at the buds; they become larger and more developed— without seeds present.
Also, the plant can convert the excess energy meant for seed production into the production of more THC, terpenes, and other cannabinoids that make the sinsemilla plant a gold standard.
That is, the mature seedless cannabis flowers have an increased level of resins, making them more psychoactive due to the absence of pollination.
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Effects Of Sinsemilla
The effects induced by a sinsemilla plant depend on how potent the plant is; the level of high induced by the plant often varies.
Some of the effects of this magical plant include:
Elation
Increased perception of colors
Hunger; increased appetite
Increased awareness of textures, as well as sounds
Euphoria
Hallucinations
Increased sociability
And so many more
Bottom line
Fortunately for cannabis users, the evolution and improvement of sinsemilla has saved us from being stuck with only stemmy and seedy dark brown grass produced from seeded cannabis.
Farmers currently enjoy high yields and increased ROIs due to the improved growing technology while users also enjoy a better and more intense “high” from using sinsemilla. Not to mention, consumers are saved from the stress of picking through the buds of seeded cannabis trying to remove the seeds by hand.
Unlike before when it was very hard to get, sinsemilla is now everywhere.
Willie Nelson signed a petition asking President Biden’s administration to recognize 420 as a national week-long holiday.
Willie Nelson is once again batting for marijuana, asking President Joe Biden to recognize the holiday in a week-long celebration, starting April 20 and concluding April 29, which just happens to be the singer’s birthday.
Nelson, along with his Luck Reunion concert team, started a petition that gained some online traction. The petition explained that there should be an entire week dedicated to celebrate marijuana, with 420 serving as the kickoff to the “High Holidays.”
The petition is written with a humorous angle, referring to Nelson as one of the patron saints of cannabis, but it does mention the importance of starting a dialogue regarding cannabis and aiding in eliminating the negative and often mistaken perceptions associated with the plant.
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“The fine people of Luck, Texas, and supporters of the great Willie Nelson, on behalf of cannabis users around the nation, are writing today to ask you to consider declaring the 9 days spanning April 20 to April 29 an official national holiday: the ‘High Holidays,'” reads the petition. “We believe that recognition of the “High Holidays” opens the door to much needed dialogue supporting the many benefits of cannabis while helping to remove the unjustified stigmas currently surrounding this amazing plant.”
Starting today, Luck and Willie Nelson are presenting “Luck Summit: Planting the Seed,” billed as the first annual cannabis convention. The goal of the summit, this year hosted virtually, is to “destigmatize, educate, and promote cannabis culture in an informative and entertaining way.” The event will highlight cannabis advocates who discuss the political, scientific and ethical benefits of marijuana, along with commenting on the state of the industry and marijuana community.
Nelson is a larger than life figure in pop culture, especially when analyzed through the lens of cannabis. The musician and activist has long held ties with cannabis, fighting for it during times when it wasn’t embraced by the majority of the population.
The petition concludes with some of Nelson’s words: “I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?”
As cannabis legalization continues to sweep the U.S, beliefs and behaviors surrounding 420, once considered a “stoner holiday,” are shifting to become much more mainstream and inclusive.
One in four Americans currently consume cannabis, reporting they’ve tried some form of cannabis within the past twelve months. That’s a significant increase since 2018* when just 16% of U.S. adults reported current consumption, representing a 56% increase in just two years. What’s more, 23% of current cannabis consumers say they tried cannabis for the first time over the past year, suggesting the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with expanded state legalization, has rapidly accelerated cannabis acceptance and adoption in America.
These findings are part of a national study conducted by global public opinion and data company YouGov in partnership with Sunnyside, the national retail dispensary brand of Cresco Labs. The study, conducted in March 2021, examined cannabis use, attitudes, and purchase behaviors of nearly 5,000 Americans representative of the U.S. population.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels
Key findings from the study indicate that cannabis is attracting new consumers from a variety of demographics:
44% of cannabis-using parents with children under 18 tried it for the first time in the past year.
43% of Seniors (65+) who use cannabis tried it for the first time in the past year.
Men and women are using cannabis equally as often during the year, month, week, or day.
62% of women believe that the 420 is no longer only for “stoners” / heavy cannabis consumers.
62% of parents who consume cannabis believe celebrating 420 has become more acceptable.
“We were curious to learn how current conditions have impacted consumer attitudes and cannabis consumption behaviors ahead of what we expect to be an unprecedented 420 celebration,” said Cris Rivera, SVP of Retail Marketing & Customer Experience at Cresco Labs. “Whether it’s the stressors of a global pandemic or increased accessibility due to expanded state decriminalization, cannabis has become the leading CPG category for exploration as people flock to dispensaries to discover the range of novel formats and modern products available to them.”
Earlier this month, New Mexico became the 17th state to enact legislation to regulate cannabis for adult use, on the heels of adult-use legalization announcements from New York, New Jersey and Virginia. A total of 37 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical cannabis programs.
As cannabis legalization continues to sweep the U.S, beliefs and behaviors surrounding 420, once considered a “stoner holiday,” are shifting to become much more mainstream and inclusive. In fact, according to the YouGov study, 44% of cannabis consumers believe 420 should be recognized as a national holiday.
Photo by GRAS GRÜN via Unsplash
How will America celebrate 420 this year?
57% of cannabis consumers view 420 as a national day of rest, relaxation, and wellness.
50% of people 21-54 will try or will consider trying a new product on 420 this year.
60% of young cannabis consumers (21-34) plan to try out a new form of cannabis on 420.
57% of cannabis consuming parents with children under 18 plan to try a new form of cannabis on 420.
46% of men plan to try a new product on 420, while 25% of men plan to shop deals.
20% of women are planning a day of wellness.
53% of cannabis consumers plan to celebrate 420 with others this year, either in person or virtually.
“As one of America’s leading retailers of medical and adult-use cannabis products, we are on a mission to normalize and professionalize the shopping experience so consumers feel comfortable and confident adding cannabis to their everyday wellness,” said Rivera. “We believe that 420 should be a mainstream and inclusive holiday, and this data set shows that people all over America are planning to embrace it in new ways this year.”
The filibuster is an old Senate rule that demands a 60-vote supermajority to pass controversial issues. Therefore, Chuck Schumer’s long-awaited pot bill probably won’t get the votes it needs to advance to the House.
Ever since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was handed the keys to the Capitol Hill kingdom, he’s been moving and shaking, trying to find ways to pass a heaping helping of the Democratic agenda. The party was forced to lean on budget reconciliation to pass a sizable COVID-relief bill without Republican support.
They were also recently given the green light by the parliamentarian to flex this tactic again in a way that will allow them to pass more legislation before midterms sans Republican interference. Because of the 50-50 split in the Senate and the slim majority in the House, Democrats understand they will be hard-pressed to get anything approved this year without Senate Republicans ripping it to pieces with the filibuster.
Democrats have toyed with eliminating the filibuster to take the Hill, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has threatened to bring all Senate business to a screeching halt if they mess with it at all. Furthermore, McConnell says that any legislation Democrats pass once the filibuster has been removed will just end up repealed once Republicans are back in power — and that could be 2022. This means Schumer has to be careful with how he proceeds, or else he could blow a chance to pass issues like a minimum wage hike, gun reform and marijuana legalization.
Senator Schumer recently announced that he would introduce a comprehensive marijuana legalization plan that would immediately hit the floor for a vote. The news got cannabis advocates all hot and bothered with the prospect that the collapse of pot prohibition in the US was finally on the horizon. But before a cannabis bill can move forward, the Democrats will need either plenty of Republican support (which they do not have) or a way to sidestep the filibuster.
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The filibuster is an old Senate rule that demands a 60-vote supermajority to pass controversial issues. Therefore, Schumer’s long-awaited pot bill probably won’t get the votes it needs to advance to the House. And if it can’t get that far, well, it’s probably a dead issue. Even if Democrats moved to end the filibuster to further their agenda, it would take the support of the entire Democratic caucus to get it done. And key Democrats are adamant about keeping the rule in place.
“I have said it before and will say it again to remove any shred of doubt: There is no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster,” US Sen. Joe Manchin said in an article for the Washington Post. “The time has come to end these political games, and to usher a new era of bipartisanship where we find common ground on the major policy debates facing our nation.”
But getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on anything, much less marijuana is going to be tough. McConnell isn’t about it, and his influence could easily ensure that talks concerning legalization don’t get very far.
Marijuana advocates keep asking when they will see Schumer’s marijuana bill. Although Democrats act like passing it is going to be relatively easy, the reason we haven’t seen any legislation yet, presumably, is because they are still trying to figure out how to keep it alive once it is introduced. They’re going to hit a wall with the GOP filibuster, no doubt. And a marijuana bill can’t pass by way of budget reconciliation.
So far, Democrats are keeping a lid on their secret fears regarding their dedication to furthering the marijuana movement. For now, the stableness of the filibuster almost ensures that legal marijuana is going to be a huge failure in 2021.
Whether you plan to celebrate with a small group of friends or pop an edible for a cozy night on the couch, be safe. And remember, don’t drive!
It’s hard to believe that around this time last year, many of us were only beginning to adjust to the stay-at-home lifestyle forced upon us as the pandemic took hold. This year, things are looking brighter, with 91% of Americans overwhelmingly supporting marijuana legalization, according to a Pew Research poll.
Because this April 20 looks a lot brighter than last, many of us will be using the opportunity to celebrate with a high. Here are four ways to keep it safe.
Swap a joint for an edible
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While plenty of people will go “old school” with a joint, cannabis edibles have been a popular go-to this year, with little signs of slowing. During a time when consumers are aiming to protect their lungs, edible sales have doubled, with gummies as the frontrunner representing over half the edible market. Brownies, cookies and chocolates are also popular. You can join the trend by simply swapping a beer for a cannabis infused beverage.
As the industry reaches $20 billion, there are increasing ways to bring cannabis into everyday celebrations. Make up for all of 2020’s un-celebrated birthdays on 420 this year with a shameless box of donuts and a free Birthjay, a festive pre-rolled joint topped with a candle wick for a proper birthday wish. Birthjays come empty, leaving it to you to decide how to fill them, and a cake stake so your joint doesn’t get covered in icing. The company is working with DK’s Donuts, the Los Angeles pastry legends known for their wacky combinations, like a croissant & donut hybrid or waffle & donut hybrids. Outside of California, you can still order Birthjays on the company website or through Amazon.
Be smart if gathering with friends
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Now that the 50% of Americans have had at least one COVID vaccine, music and other festivals are announcing dates and people are itching to gather. COVID has increased the popularity of marijuana with sales to first time customers showing a significant increase. Unlike last year, you can have a 420 socially distanced party celebrating the high holiday. But if you decide to go this route, there are safer ways of approaching it to avoid spreading germs.
First, make sure you are CDC appropriate. Offer a variety of ways to consume and if you are going to puff puff pass, be smart. Glass bowls and bongs are a hotbed for germs, containing more bacteria than a public toilet seat. So just like we wear face masks or lean in for an elbow bump instead of a handshake, we should be thinking about some sort of alternative.
The practice of sharing a joint among friends has been a common social activity for as long as we have consumed cannabis. If you happen to find yourself in a smoke circle anytime soon, bring your own personal MouthPeace to be safe. The Moose Labs MouthPeace is a physician-backed germ-preventing device designed to fit joints, vape pens, or glass pieces. Not only does the MouthPeace create a sanitary barrier, but it also protects your lungs.
Register to vote
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This is a big year for marijuana legalization. At this point in time, roughly 43% of the U.S. population lives in a state where recreational marijuana is legal, and within the past two months, four states legalized marijuana for recreational use. If you want your voice to be heard on the matter, the time is now or never as nationwide legalization becomes more of a possibility.
Overall, no matter if you plan to celebrate with a close group of friends or pop an edible for a cozy night on the couch, keep your hopes high. Who knows, maybe this time next year we’ll be lighting our joints in honor of federal legalization!
