Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill aimed at allowing researchers to have access to the marijuana available commercially in states where legal recreational, and/or medical marijuana programs exist. This new legislation would mark a major shift from the current practice where researchers can only use the cannabis supplied by a federally licensed manufacturer in Mississippi.

The primary goal of the marijuana provision, which is found deeply embedded in an infrastructure bill detailed in a more than 2,000-page document, is to make it possible for marijuana products to be transported and distributed across state lines, including in states that don’t yet have state-legal marijuana markets in place.

The INVEST in America Act also contains provisions that would require states with marijuana programs to establish mechanisms for teaching residents to avoid driving while under the influence of marijuana.

The section on setting up highway safety education programs didn’t go down well with marijuana law reform advocates for a number of reasons. First, a congressional research team authored a report stating that there wasn’t any conclusive evidence that the consumption of marijuana resulted in impaired driving.

Secondly, marijuana policy reform advocates are opposed to the highway safety education provision because it implies that the legalization of marijuana results in an increase of impaired driving. If anything, marijuana is also consumed in states that haven’t enacted marijuana legalization measures, so any education efforts aimed at curbing or preventing impaired driving would also benefit the states where legal marijuana markets don’t exist.

During the debate of the bill on the floor of Congress, numerous amendments were suggested. Many of them were rejected or withdrawn, while others were adopted.

For example, an amendment that would provide funding for a pilot program enabling states to test for drugs in wastewater was included. The funds would also enable municipal authorities to design public health programs in accordance with the findings of the drugs tests done.

All in all, the provisions giving researchers access to commercially available marijuana in states with regulated cannabis markets was welcomed by marijuana policy reform advocates. For example, NORML said that it was hard to comprehend why scientists couldn’t access the marijuana available in state-legal dispensaries yet ordinary residents could walk in and buy these products. Scientific research needed to be conducted using the same products that people are consuming in order to get results which were applicable to the community, NORML argued.

The DEA has also taken steps to increase the number of suppliers of research-grade marijuana products. It now remains to be seen whether the Senate will maintain the pro-marijuana provisions in the transportation bill. Analysts say entities like Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) will be hoping that the law sails through so that researchers don’t have to go through endless hoops to get approval for their planned studies on marijuana.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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On Monday this week, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill which will promote social equity in Colorado’s marijuana industry. Under this law, the governor will also have the power to grant pardons to people convicted for marijuana possession before legalization took place. Previously, the governor was required to consult the judge and state prosecutors involved in each case before granting a pardon.

Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed this new bill during a ceremony held at one of the minority-owned businesses in Denver.

The new law is important because it provides a state-wide definition of what business is to be regarded as a social equity marijuana applicant. The businesses that qualify will enjoy an accelerator program which had been planned before the bill was drafted. Benefiting businesses will use existing marijuana facilities to grow their own businesses.

The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. James Coleman (D), sets out two additional categories through which businesses can be eligible for the social equity license. The purpose of these extra categories is to right the wrongs committed during the enforcement of the war on drugs.

The new law states that someone can qualify as a social equity applicant if;

• They lived in a place designated as an economically distressed community for at least 15 years which should fall between 1980 and 2010.
• The applicant, or a member of their immediate family, has ever been convicted or even arrested for a marijuana offense.
• The applicant’s income is less than or equal to a certain threshold which will be determined later once the program is rolled out.

The supporters of this new law say that these provisions will clear the air with respect to the requirements in different jurisdictions, such as Denver, where marijuana equity programs had been enacted.

The state Assembly hadn’t included the provision giving the governor authority to issue unilateral pardons. However, the state Senate amended the bill and included this provision. The governor is now free to begin issuing these pardons, and the pardons will come into effect after 90 days once the signature has been appended to the paperwork.

Gov. Jared Polis said during the signing ceremony that it was wrong for people with convictions for possessing amounts of marijuana which are now legal to possess and consume to continue being unable to get mortgages, apply for jobs, get loans or other forms of capital due their criminal records.

Another notable provision in this bill is that it amends the current law which barred people with marijuana convictions from applying for marijuana business licenses. Under the new law, people applying under the social equity program will be exempted from this restriction.

Industry experts say the progressive direction taken in Colorado is likely to be applauded by sector players, such as Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD).

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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