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!
Strong sales during the pandemic’s peak provide optimism for a holiday season featuring many vaccinated consumers in what could be the final months of the pandemic.
The high holy day of pot is almost here and ready to shake off the rust from last year.
April 20, the most celebrated day in cannabis, is usually marked with copious amounts of pot. Last year, the online marketplace I Heart Jane saw a 35% sales increase the week of 420 versus a typical sales week.
Data from Headset shows cannabis sales spike around 420 in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Beverages (54%), topicals (41%) and concentrates (41%) were the highest growers during the period.
“Attention to the 420 holiday is another example of how the cannabis industry has arrived, with 420 driving sales just like any other type of retail environment holiday, from Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day,” said Choice Consolidation Corp. (NEO: CDXX-UN.NE) CEO Joe Caltabiano.
Strong sales during the pandemic’s peak provide optimism for a holiday season featuring many vaccinated consumers in what could be the final months of the pandemic.
Continued Growth Expected As COVID-19 Declines, Cannabis Interest Rises: “As we continue to see strength in the market and more new customers becoming familiar with our products, we predict another record-setting 420,” said Jeff Yapp, CEO of Golden Leaf Hldgs Ltd (OTC:GLDFF). The company owns and operates Oregon’s Chalice Farms dispensary brand.
Manifestseven Holdings (OTC:MNFSF) Director and CEO Sturges Karban expects continued growth this 420. Karban, whose company owns Weden dispensaries in California, said the last year validated the resilience of cannabis.
“If anything, the past year has proven to consumers, operators, regulators and legislators alike that demand for this product can compete even with pressures on disposable income,” said Karban.
Bryan Lloyd, VP, retail operations at the multistate operator Jushi Holdings Inc. (OTC:JUSHF), said the company’s BEYOND/HELLO dispensaries typically see an uptick in sales in the days leading up to 420 and on the holiday itself.
“This year, 420 has a real chance to go mainstream,” said Lloyd. Jushi has a footprint in Pennsylvania, Illinois, California and Virginia through BEYOND/HELLO. The company plans to double its store count in 2021.
Different Approaches To Safe Cannabis Operations: Some stores shifted to a new normal of operations during the pandemic. Others remain focused on returning to old operations — with personal protective equipment.
Photo by nattrass/Getty Images
Chalice Farms had three priorities over the past year: “staff safety, customer safety and keeping our stores open,” Yapp said.
COVID-19 precautions remain in place at the company’s seven locations, he said.
“Our safety procedures that were implemented last year have become standard practices and we’re looking forward to a safe, exciting celebration for our community.”
Some of the protocols include limiting the number of customers in the store and an emphasis on online ordering.
Karban said Weden keeps employees up to date with quarterly COVID-19 guideline updates.
Internal checks include a safety buddy system of sorts.
“All of our teams have a usually self-designated person who helps enforce safety and health procedures, guidelines and compliance within his or her own teams,” he said.
Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images
Weden hopes to provide a quality shopping experience this 420.
“We want the 420 experience at the store and in delivery to be an escape from a year of lockdown restrictions and quarantines and give them a truly normal and quality retail experience, even with masks and safety measures included,” Karban said.
Other parameters in place include a strict adherence to PPE mandates. The company also aims to have a fully vaccinated workforce, so customers feel a higher comfort level at stores.
Lloyd said that BEYOND/HELLO locations are approaching 420 from a “revitalized digital perspective” while capping customers in-store, completing frequent sanitizing and ensuring social distancing remains in place.
The company hopes its recently launched online experience, in-store pickup and delivery options help service customers efficiently while keeping everyone safe.
“Now more than ever, consumers are looking for safe and streamlined online shopping experiences,” said Lloyd, “which is why we offer cutting-edge digital technologies that deliver the kind of flexibility customers want.”
The new laws that legalize marijuana growing and sales leave small growers in the black market. That is great for them, until it is a disaster.
Disclaimer:The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.
An excellent article in Forbes about the pending legalization of marijuana in New York points out a common failing in various state legalization laws.
I have been very critical of most state legalization policies because of their excessive taxes and “regulations” that raise costs and barriers to entry that make legal products more expensive than black market products.
After real decriminalization that stops arresting marijuana users, even if they aren’t white, the primary objective of legalization should be to take marijuana out of the black market with hard drugs. The Dutch call this the “separation of the markets.” If someone in the Netherlands wants cannabis, they don’t have to go to a poly-drug street dealer; they just go to the nearest “coffeeshop.”
Unfortunately, as the Forbes article points out, the new laws that legalize marijuana growing and sales leave small growers in the black market. That is great for them, until it is a disaster.
Aside from the fact that I have lots of friends who are growers, it is counterproductive to leave these good people behind in the black market. First and foremost, these people are not a social or public health and safety problem. On the contrary.
Of course, small growers cannot supply the mass market, just as homebrewers cannot replace the other Bud. The solution is to create a category for “small” growers who would pay a small licensing fee and comply with reasonable standards for public health and safety. They could create grower cooperatives with their own “brands” that could be sold at “farmers markets”. They might then be able to broaden their markets. They would be subject to the same income taxes as lettuce growers.
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Just as the beer and wine businesses were allowed to create craft bars, restaurants, and even resorts around their products, cannabis entrepreneurs should be able to do the same.
Unfortunately, under New Jersey’s new laws, you can buy it, but you can’t even grow one plant for yourself, much less as a small business without dealing with a bureaucracy.
Other states place excessive requirements for permits for retail marijuana sales. Absurdly, some are planning high taxes on retail marijuana sales to pay a sort of “reparations” to minority marijuana users, because their communities have been victimized by the laws the same politicians supported until they belatedly read the polls.
And let’s be blunt. These people will need legal protection because the Prohibitionist propaganda machine has not been turned off. Small growers will continue to be major targets for the narcs. It’s a lot easier to kick down a door in a no-knock raid at a small grow-op than go after a hard drugs dealer.
Allowing drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth to be produced and sold legally would create an inevitable financial boon for state and local governments. But that doesn’t mean it’s the smart move.
It’s hard in this day and age not to support the legalization of marijuana. In fact, most do. The latest Quinnipiac poll shows that 69% of Americans believe the herb should be given a spot on the ranks of legitimate commerce, just like alcohol and tobacco.
They’ve heard the tales about how cannabis has therapeutic benefits, it’s safer than alcohol, it creates tens of thousands of new jobs and provides a huge boon to struggling economies. Now they’re learning about social justice, and how part of eliminating racism in the United States is through cannabis reform. After all, cannabis wouldn’t have been outlawed in the first place if not for a frightened nation of bigots. Failing to support the legalization of cannabis in 2021 means, well, that you might not be a good person. And nobody wants that label. They’re all scared the cancel culture will come for them next.
So it’s full steam ahead for legal weed. The Democratic-controlled Congress is even talking about trying to push a bill through this year that will legalize the leaf nationwide. If that happens, more states could pass similar laws, giving way to the likelihood that marijuana, a plant that has been mostly associated with the downtrodden of society, will be grown and sold legitimately. This is what cannabis advocates have been fighting for since the early days of High Times Magazine. But there are still enough naysayers out there that think this legalization business is a bad idea. They believe the nation has been scammed into believing that weed is safe, and they are convinced that the efforts to eliminate prohibition in the US aren’t going to stop there.
“This has been a very, very savvy and coordinated campaign,” former New York Times reporter and award-winning novelist Alex Berenson told Fox Nation’s Tucker Carlson Today. “Not just about cannabis but really about all illegal drugs, that’s been going on for 25 years now that has won. It has won on cannabis and they are pushing psychedelics.”
If you recognize Berenson’s name, it’s because he published a controversial book entitled Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, And Violence, which critics called a “brilliant antidote to all the false narrative about pot.” The book suggests that the nation would be better to support decriminalization as opposed to legalization, since it does away with the arrests and incarcerations without creating a huge market for retail sales. “For the marijuana lobby, which now includes for-profit companies, decriminalization isn’t a satisfactory compromise. Advocates want cannabis on equal footing with alcohol and tobacco,” the book reads.
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Cannabis advocates have called Berenson’s document “Reefer Madness,” but is it really? He’s not wrong: marijuana is winning and now advocates are making the same moves with respect to psychedelics. That’s all true. Last year, Oregon became the first state to legalize psychedelic mushrooms. While I’m not personally against it, rest assured, more states are going to pursue similar changes to their drug laws in the near future. Berenson is also correct about how the cannabis community is gunning for full-blown legalization, as opposed to decriminalization.
Sure, they’ll wholeheartedly support policies that call for eliminating criminal penalties — a win is a win — but they will not stop until full legalization is realized. All one has to do is look at the course of marijuana legalization to see this is true. Nearly every state that has legalized weed for adults 21 and over started out with a “medical marijuana” program. The pro-cannabis narrative usually begins with “compassionate use” for the seriously ill and then transforms into a spiel about legalizing weed like alcohol. Yet, if the real objective of the national drug advocacy groups is putting a stop to the hundreds of thousands of marijuana-related arrests every year and freeing drug offenders, then decriminalization and expungement policies should be sufficient. And it works.
After all, if you look at Portugal, a country that decriminalized the possession of ALL illegal drugs nearly 20 years ago, they no longer have issues with prison overcrowding due to drug offenses. They also don’t have a legal means for users to buy drugs and government officials are not even entertaining the notion. The result is one of the most respected and talked about drug reform actions in history. Portugal now experiences fewer drug overdoses, more people are seeking treatment, AIDS cases are lower and above all else, nobody is going to jail for drugs. It works.
But the United States isn’t going in that direction.
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Nope, we will soon live in a world where marijuana dispensaries are as common as liquor stores and pharmacies. In many states, that is already the reality. Once the federal government lifts its ban on cannabis, however, watch out! More states will follow the path of pot reform and the cannabis industry will continue to grow into a mighty force to be reckoned with. Bet on it. Still, echoing Berenson’s predictions, other drug warriors believe that legalization efforts won’t end with pot.
“If you think legalization ends with marijuana, I have a bridge (and a bunch of coke) to sell you,” Kevin Sabet, PhD, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and author of the upcoming book Smokescreen: What The Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know, wrote in a recent Tweet.
Sabet’s message was in response to a Twitter thread showing how the Drug User Liberation Front, a Canadian drug reform organization, has been handing out complimentary heroin, cocaine and meth in Vancouver. They are doing this because the drugs have been tested for fentanyl and other harsh cutting agents that can prove fatal for drug users and are therefore safer than the stuff found on the black market. It’s a campaign that could arguably save some lives.
While an admirable charge, Sabet believes that campaigns like the Liberation Front and the American legalization trend could collide, working together to establish taxed and regulated markets for hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. It’s not a stretch. After all, a lot of the same arguments in favor of marijuana legalization (and psychedelics) could work for these substances as well. We could soon hear advocates giving America a sales pitch such as:
“Drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth purchased on the legitimate market would be safer (and there would be fewer overdoses) because of government oversight; legal drugs would help chip away at the black market and eliminate violence; these substances would be harder for kids to get their hands on. And… just think about all of the tax revenue the United States could generate with a fully legal cocaine market. “
Well, duh!
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The legalization of any feel-good substance in the United States is bound to become the next billion dollar industry. Right now, the illicit drug market in the US is worth in upwards of $150 billion. It would grow immensely, too, once the population was led to believe that it is socially acceptable to use hard drugs in a manner similar to beer. Don’t laugh, that’s precisely what years of cannabis advocacy has done for marijuana. Now, it’s on the fringe of being normalized. So, sure, allowing drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth to be produced and sold legally would create an inevitable financial boon for state and local governments. But that doesn’t mean it’s the smart move.
Decriminalizing these drugs, though, is something the country should think about. It would ensure that no one ends up with a criminal record or spending years in prison because of minor drug offenses. It also wouldn’t encourage more Americans to use drugs. But then again, there is the question of personal freedom. Some argue that it’s unconstitutional for Uncle Sam to tell the people what they can or cannot put into their bodies. Perhaps it’s time the country adopts a live-and-let-live philosophy, and let intelligence, education and overall common sense sort it all out. That’s what the US has done with booze – a substance that kills 95,000 Americans every year.
The question is: Where’s the line? So far, marijuana legalization hasn’t shown any hard signs of contributing to the degradation of society. Of course, there is conflicting evidence out there, and depending on which side you stand, you can argue for or against it ad nauseam. But how far is the United States willing to go with the legalization of drugs? Will it stop at marijuana? Psilocybin? Or is Sabet right, and we’re headed for a time when there will be a convincing argument being made for why America would be better off with legal meth. Where do we go from here?
The cannabis community and the DEA have long been at odds over the unjust War on Drugs, and it’s rare that any appointment to this agency provides a glimmer of hope.
President Biden nominated Anne Milgram as head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the White House announced on Monday, April 12.
If confirmed, Milgram will report directly to Biden’s pick for Attorney General (AG), Merrick Garland, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 10. Both Garland and Milgram have mostly refrained from commenting on cannabis legalization in public, but they have not actively attacked cannabis, which is a step up from Trump-era appointees including former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who in 2018 rescinded the Cole Memo after years of publicly criticizing any form of cannabis reform.
Photo by Don MacKinnon / Stringer via Getty Images
The DEA, created in 1973 under President Nixon, is a federal law enforcement agency serving under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with implementing and enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. The agency is responsible for coordinating and pursuing U.S. drug investigations and plays a major role in determining how substances are scheduled. It is no surprise that the DEA — the agency at the helm of the War on Drugs — has long been at odds with cannabis legalization and reform. It is a welcome surprise, however, to have a leader of the agency who might change its tune.
BACKGROUND ON MILGRAM
From 2007 to 2010, Anne Milgram served as the Attorney General of New Jersey. She was just 36 when she took the job. In a widely viewed 2013 Ted Talk titled “Why Smart Statistics are the Key to Fighting Crime,” Milgram discussed her data-driven approach as New Jersey’s top law enforcement officer:
“It turns out that most big criminal justice agencies like my own didn’t track the things that matter,” she says in her talk. “We didn’t share data, or use analytics, to make better decisions and reduce crime.” Under her leadership, the New Jersey AG’s office gathered and analyzed years of case data. “What we found was not good,” she said. “We were doing most low-level drug offenses right up the street. [The] reason we are incarcerating low-level, non-violent people, and we’re releasing high-risk, dangerous people, is that we don’t have an objective measure of risk.”
During her tenure as New Jersey AG, Milgram overhauled the Camden, N.J. police department using data, innovating thinking, and a fervent belief that a community knows best what it needs to be safe. She most recently discussed her data-centered work in a June 2020 CNN Op Ed, written shortly after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin brutally killed George Floyd and while the nation erupted over a debate about how to revolutionize community safety.
Since 2010 , Milgram — who lives in New York, the latest state to legalize a recreational adult use marijuana market — has been a professor at NYU’s School of Law, where she leads the criminal justice innovation lab. Many of her projects focus on keeping the wrong people out of jail. Until her appointment, she had also been busy co-hosting podcast CAFÉ Insider (café.com) with Preet Bharara, on which the duo debates politically charged legal issues.
In a 2019 series Ceiling Smashers, Market Watch wrote that Milgram says her personal mission is to create paths for less crime and less incarceration, which means re-thinking public safety. “There’s no system that is more old-school and broken and problematic than the criminal justice system,” she said. “There are amazing people in it, but as a system it doesn’t run the way it should run.”
Photo by Eric Kayne/Stringer/Getty Images
MILGRAM, THE DEA, AND CANNABIS
Anne Milgram has not said much on the record about cannabis. In 2009, she weighed in on a New Jersey bill to legalize medical marijuana. She called the bill “workable,” which in 2009, three years before any state legalized adult-use cannabis, means a little more than it would today. In the last 11 years, Milgram has not added much to discourse on cannabis legalization. However, Milgram’s reverence for and reliance upon data could indicate that she will be a welcome leader of the DEA for cannabis stakeholders because the data on the DEA shows, to borrow a phrase from Milgram, “a system that doesn’t run the way it should run.”
Here’s some data, as summarized by GLLG attorney Daniel Shortt in the Fresh Toast:
“The drug problem in the US has not improved and is much worse today than when the DEA was formed. In 1973, 1.1 out of 100,000 deaths in the US were attributed to unintentional drug overdoses. In 2018, the CDC reported that 19.1 out of 100,000 were attributed to unintentional overdoses. Drug War Facts reports that in 1973 there were 328,670 arrests for drugs out of 9,027,700 total, meaning that 3.6% of all arrests were for drugs. In 2018 there were an estimated 1,654,282 arrests for drugs out of 10,310,960 [total,] accounting for 6% of all arrests.”
Not one of these overdose deaths has been caused by cannabis. However, Pew Research Center reports that 40% of all drug arrests were related to cannabis. If Milgram’s personal mission is to reduce crime and incarceration, she could make an immediate impact by focusing the DEA’s resources away from cannabis-related crime and redirecting that focus on the manufacture and distribution of deadly opioids.
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Also important for the cannabis community, as reported by Marijuana Moment, if confirmed, Milgram will pick up the mantle on several lawsuits from cannabis and psychedelic advocates and patients. Most notably, a coalition of scientists and veterans sued the DEA in 2020, arguing that the legal basis the DEA has used to continue categorizing marijuana as Schedule I is unconstitutional.
BOTTOM LINE
The cannabis community and the DEA have long been at odds over the unjust War on Drugs, and it’s rare that any appointment to this agency provides a glimmer of hope.
The most promising aspect of Milgram’s appointment for those looking to a future with federally legal cannabis markets is not necessarily that she once called New Jersey’s MMJ program “workable.” It is that she has demonstrated a level-headed use of science and logic over historical status quo in policing and other areas. Let’s hope she brings the same to the DEA.
Green Light Law Group will be watching Milgram’s Senate confirmation hearing (not yet scheduled at the time of this post) and will report back on any relevant commentary after she responds to inevitable questions on marijuana.
Steph Barnhart isGreen Light Law Group’s Legal and Marketing Assistant and studied journalism at Concordia College.Steph is not an attorney. You can contact Steph at steph@gl-lg.com or 503-488-5424.
Smoking marijuana with friends on 4/20 is a time-honored tradition. But now that we’re social distancing, here’s what you can do instead.
This year’s 4/20 will be different. Most of the country will spend the day indoors, complying with social distancing regulations and avoiding meet-ups with their fellow marijuana loving friends. Like all 4/20s, however, the date will require some preparation ahead of time.
“In the best interest of public health and safety, NORML encourages cannabis consumers not to congregate either outdoors or indoors in groups this 4/20.” says Erik Altieri, executive director of NORML.
Since we’re facing unprecedented times, it’s important for everyone who expects to celebrate 4/20 to purchase the necessary elements ahead of time, whether you’re preparing edibles or sticking to some flower.
When it comes to having a safe 4/20, it’s important to be more careful than usual. Emma Snowdon-Jones, a consultant for CBD brand Black Dahlia, recommends cleaning all marijuana equipment before and after each use, avoiding sharing joints or bongs with the people you’re quarantining with and utilizing delivery services that minimize risk of exposure.
Photo by Tobias Tullius via Unsplash
Remember to plan in advance, that way you’re not scrambling for weed when everyone else is having the same idea. Here are 5 things you can do to celebrate this year’s 4/20:
Do something meaningful
Organizations like Friends in Weed have been developed in order to help and protect workers in Colorado who are keeping the weed industry functioning. For 4/20, they developed 420Help, a weekend event where every dollar raised will be donated to healthcare workers, first responders and other people affected by the pandemic throughout the state of Colorado.
You could also make donations of money, masks, or products that might provide relief, such as Black Dahlia, which will be donating CBD confections to health workers and first responders. Organizations in need of donations during this time include the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the CDC Foundation.
Something interesting and fun you can try out is learning how to roll joints. While there are hundreds of tutorials out there (and this helpful guide we published), Tony Greenhand just released a series on Quibi called Let’s Roll. The series is made up of super short episodes features crazy joints and celebrities. It will get you super pumped for the art of joint-making.
Take advantage of the offers and buy some products
Different sellers of marijuana and CBD are offering some deals due to April 20th. Verra Health is offering discounts between the dates of April 20 until the 30th, with the code CBD420. Lightshade dispensary is also offering 25% off of all their products throughout the month of April.
Dispensaries in LA and Chicago, cities that have deemed marijuana dispensaries as essential businesses, are providing discounts throughout the month of April. Deals vary depending on the dispensary, like Illinois’ Sunnyside, that’s offering 10% off on offers over 250$. In LA, it’s easier to get marijuana delivered with apps like Eaze, which is providing a 20$ discount for first time costumers when they use the code ‘DO420LA.’
If the doom and gloom of the pandemic is bringing you down, you can try dancing it out with different 4/20 themed parties. Many of these are concerts for a cause, like 4/20 for a cause, which will raise money for different associations battling the pandemic in Colorado. Others are simply for the fun of it, like the party hosted by dispensary Lightshade or the 4/20 world record meetup. This latter will be conducted through Zoom. You can get an RSVP here.
Many consumers are snatching up CBD products that may not be all they’re cracked up to be.
If it weren’t for cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, the marijuana industry would be on the streets begging for nickels rather than enjoying the fruits of a business sector earning $22 billion last year. But things are always perfect, here are the 4 biggest problems with CBD products.
It seems that America has fully embraced the concept of this non-intoxicating cannabinoid in hopes that it will do everything its proponents say it will, from alleviating pain, anxiety and perhaps even depression. But due to the company this marketplace keeps — not to mention its lack of federal oversight — a lot of consumers are snatching up CBD products that may not be all they’re cracked up to be. These are just a few of the most common problems with CBD.
Dosage Is Sometimes Lower Than Advertised
Consumers should be able to trust the labels of the products they use, but when it comes to CBD, it is harder. Since these products are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration like other drugs, cannabis companies are basically responsible for putting their own standards in place.
Photo by Christin Hume via Unsplash
Admittedly, some do a relatively good job manufacturing high-quality products. Still, others have no qualms whatsoever about cutting corners in pursuit of a stronger bottom line. And the proof is in the products. In fact, a recent analysis from Mile High Labs in Colorado found that some products being sold all across the United States are consumer rip offs. For example: While the advertised dosage might read 500 milligrams, the actual dose could be closer to 300 milligrams. But then again, the dosage debacle could go in the opposite direction.
Dosage Is Sometimes Higher Than Advertised
The same examination, which was commissioned by CBS News, found that as easy as it is for the consumer to get CBD with a lower than advertised dosage, they could also be buying products that contain more than what the label reads.
In some cases, the lab results found products with 10% over the advertised dosage. But some took it to the next level. At least one sample was found to have 210% more CBD than what it was supposed to. Some medical experts say consuming too much CBD could actually pose some health risks. It could make the user drowsy and even cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to one toxicologist.
Some CBD Contains Dangerous Synthetic Marijuana
Consumers new to the CBD scene should know that counterfeit products are a real concern. A recent report from the Associated Press shows that some CBD vapes and edibles are being made with dangerous synthetic marijuana known as K2 or Spice. The AP commissioned laboratory analysis found that 10 of the 30 CBD vapes they examined contained some kind of synthetic additives.
What’s more, some of these products didn’t have any CBD in them at all. Unfortunately, a number of people have been admitted to the hospital after using these bogus products. How do you keep from becoming a statistic? The best advice for avoiding dangerous synthetic marijuana disguised as CBD is to avoid buying it from truck stops, convenience stores and smoke shops. The U.S. Hemp Authority has a list of certified CBD producers across the country that adhere to strict standards. Check it out before you buy.
Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/Getty Images
CBD Could Have Enough THC Content To Fail A Drug Test
Laboratory tests have shown some products contain enough THC, the marijuana component that gets the user high, to cause someone to fail a drug test. There have been several reports over the past year or so of people unexpectedly getting flagged for drug use at work after consuming CBD products. This is a problem that actually stems from a lack of federal oversight, as well.
It is just another reason to always purchase CBD from a reputable dealer as opposed to a neighborhood convenience store. If you want to use CBD for medicine, then the products should be obtained from companies that have CBD’s therapeutic qualities in mind. Otherwise, it’s just a crapshoot as to whether the CBD you are using is legit or a ticket to unemployment.
