North America

Mon
25
Jan

California marijuana growers face new crop of local bans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - When the California Legislature passed the state's first comprehensive medical marijuana regulations in September, pot advocates hoped the move heralded a new era of trust in their often-tumultuous relationship with wary local officials and police.

So far, it hasn't turned out that way.

Facing what appears to be a rapidly closing window for action, dozens of cities and counties from across California are racing to enact new bans on marijuana-growing. Some apply only to commercial cultivation, both indoor and outdoor, but many would also prohibit personal pot gardens that have been legal — or at least overlooked — for 19 years.

Mon
25
Jan

This Latest Marijuana Study Could Blaze a Trail for Legalization

Researchers from the U.K. make an interesting find when it comes to the correlation between adolescent marijuana use and IQ score

The year may have only just begun, but 2016 is shaping up to arguably be the most important in marijuana's history.

Mon
25
Jan

Pharmaceuticals to Cure Marijuana Dependence and Abuse? You've Got to Be Kidding

Researchers looking for a drug to treat "marijuana dependence and abuse" may have found one, but the cure could be worse than the disease.

A team of scientists at Brown University conducted a pilot study to determine whether topiramate, an epilepsy drug marketed as Topamax, could be combined with motivational enhancement therapy (MET) to make MET more effective in reducing marijuana consumption.

Researchers seem to hope Topamax can be a silver bullet addiction cure. Scientists, including a member of the Brown team, have studied it as a potential treatment for alcohol and nicotine dependence and cocaine addiction, and now they are turning their sights on weed.

Mon
25
Jan

Can the cannabis 'nuns' of California save medical marijuana?

Sister Kate calls herself an “accidental nun.” At age 16, she tried marijuana for the first time inside a friend’s car during a cold Wisconsin winter. But that was when she was a “good mid-western Catholic girl,” and the drug did nothing for her.

Years later, after her first marriage had come and gone, after she moved to Atlanta to work for General Electric, Kate tried weed again (not to mention cocaine.) This time was different, she wrote on her blog: “I learned that weed goes better with wine, that weed is calming, that weed left me with no side effects. … I gave up the powder and partying, but kept the weed and the wine, in moderation, like medicine.”

Sun
24
Jan

Remember Nicotine Patches? Well Now You Can Get The Marijuana Version

Today’s smokers are always inventive, finding more and more ways to administer the ever lovable cannabis. 

At the Stoner’s Cookbook, we’ve tried them all, ranging from the traditional methods of smoking straight flower, to the highly condensed power hits of concentrated hash, dabs, rosin and shatter, and the humming body highs of dosing edible gummy bears, chocolates, cookies, and succulent candies. Yet this time, and as always, we wanted more… So we set out on a mission to find the newest and healthiest alternative to smoking the glorious goods.

Fri
22
Jan

Marijuana group wins free speech lawsuit against Iowa State

DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal judge ruled Friday that Iowa State University administrators violated the constitutional free speech rights of student members of a pro-marijuana group by barring them from using the university logos on T-shirts.

U.S. District Judge James Gritzner issued an order granting members of the ISU chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws a permanent injunction which means university administrators cannot use a trademark policy to prevent the organization from printing shirts depicting a marijuana leaf.

Fri
22
Jan

Former elite Canadian diver arrested for drug trafficking says he was delivering to medical ...

A former elite Canadian diver is facing charges after police pulled him over for speeding but discovered marijuana, shatter and hashish worth more than $100,000 in his car.

Police says Wegadesk Gorup-Paul, 28, was released with a requirement to appear in court March 9 when he will be charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, which comes with a maximum penalty of life in prison. 

Gorup-Paul competed internationally for Canada for a number of years before quitting diving in 2008.

In a phone interview with CBC News, Gorup-Paul claims he was working for a medical marijuana producer delivering the drugs to medical marijuana outlets on the Lower Mainland.

Fri
22
Jan

How a Banker Sees a Cannabis Account

In the aftermath of last month’s federal court setback for Colorado’s Fourth Corner Credit Union, banking officials and cannabis business owners in other states are searching for creative ways to open legal bank accounts. Leafly recently highlighted the success that small Washington state banks and credit unions have experienced by working within Justice Department, FDIC and NCUA policies.

Thu
21
Jan

Big Changes Come To Oregon's Cannabis Industry This Year

 

Oregon’s recreational marijuana industry hit a milestone this month.

About 90 days into the legal sale of recreational marijuana, Jan. 4 marked the first time people could officially apply for licenses to operate recreational businesses in Oregon. And more changes are on the way.

By the end of the year, Oregon’s cannabis industry will look a lot different from what we currently have.

When will new recreational retail marijuana stores be open?

Although the state is accepting business license applications, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission — which will oversee the state’s recreational marijuana business solely starting in January 2017 — doesn’t plan to approve any of the retail store applications until at least the fourth quarter of 2016.

Wed
20
Jan

Controlled Substance Classifications Vary Widely Around the Globe

Las Vegas—A new paper provides the first compendium of controlled substance classification systems around the world, revealing a broad spectrum of regulations but little consensus as to what works best.

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