Author: CannabisNewsWire (CNW)

About CannabisNewsWire CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge. To receive SMS text alerts from CannabisNewsWire, text “CANNABIS” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

420 with CNW – Florida Legislator Files Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

Rep. Shevrin Jones (D) has filed a bill in the Florida Assembly seeking to decriminalize the possession of up to 20grams of marijuana. This bill comes at a time when campaigners who wish to have marijuana legalized through a ballot measure have collected and submitted the number of voter signatures required before the Supreme Court of the state can review the language of their petition.

In a press release, Jones said that he was pleased to file this bill as a way to fix the broken criminal justice system of the state. The existing marijuana laws have disproportionately affected people of color who end up losing their student financial aid, access to housing loans, denial of job opportunities and so many other collateral effects of having a marijuana possession conviction on one’s criminal record. Jones adds that he is proud to introduce this law which will put an end to more Floridians being adversely affected by these laws which are implemented in a selective manner.

The bill also makes the possession of less than 600miligrams of THC a non-criminal offense that is punishable by a fine rather than jail time.

Marijuana law reform advocacy groups, such as NORML, have welcomed this new bill saying that Florida has a reputation of having some of the most draconian marijuana laws in the country, so any measure that pegs back those punitive policies will provide much needed relief. NORML pledged to support the legislator in any way they can to ensure that the draft legislation passes in both legislative chambers of the state.

Meanwhile, it isn’t yet clear whether marijuana will be legalized in Florida since attempts to do so legislatively failed and the push to refer the matter to voters is still in its infancy.

However, some jurisdictions within the state have taken matters into their own hands and they are initiating local laws decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession. Cocoa Beach for example approved a measure in May to decriminalize the possession of less than 20grams of cannabis. Tallahassee is also likely to do the same if the efforts of one local lawmaker spearheading a decriminalization drive achieve the desired outcome.

As all this is going on, the state police has admitted that the legalization of industrial hemp has made it harder to prosecute marijuana possession cases. Police officers have therefore been advised to be extra vigilant so that they don’t prosecute people for marijuana-related crimes when those people had hemp, a plant that looks like marijuana but doesn’t cause any psychoactive effects.

Industry analysts believe that cannabis industry players like Grapefruit Boulevard Investments Inc. (OTCQB: IGNG) and Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) could be wondering when the federal government will reform its marijuana policies so that the fragmented reforms being seen in different states can come to an end.

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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420 with CNW – Colorado Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Medical Marijuana as Alternative to Opioids

Across the U.S., more than 130 people die each day due to overdosing on opioids. Colorado has permitted medical marijuana to be used as a way to combat this crisis, at least within its borders. This makes Colorado the third state in the country to give doctors permission to discuss medical marijuana with their patients who need opioids to deal with their acute or post-operative pain.

The other states that have this provision are Illinois and New York. Two other states (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) have allowed patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder to consider medical marijuana as a treatment option.

Rep. Edie Hooton, the Colorado lawmaker who co-sponsored the bill to legalize the use of medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids, said that the law was designed to give doctors the legal protection that they needed in order to discuss medical marijuana freely with their patients. He added that the passing of the bill on Friday now makes it normal for doctors to have this conversation.

While the supporters of this new law say that it will help to curb the opioid crisis in the state, there is insufficient scientific research to support this assertion. One of the studies which is cited to prove that medical marijuana can curb the opioid crisis is a study which was published in JAMA in 2014.

That research found that there was a 25 percent drop in the number of people dying from opioid overdoses in the states where medical marijuana is legal. The data analyzed covered the years between 1999 and 2010.

However, other studies done on the subject have come up with opposite conclusions, with a recent study which expanded the timeframe to 2017 revealing that opioid overdoses increased by almost 23 percent in the states with legal medical marijuana.

As the scientific community works round the clock to build consensus on how useful medical marijuana may be in stemming the tide of deaths associated with opioids, state lawmakers have gone ahead to enact policies and laws permitting the use of marijuana as an alternative to prescription meds for pain. These lawmakers believe that giving patients more options will empower them to choose what they believe will work for them instead of being forced to use opioids, thereby exposing themselves to the well-documented harmful side effects of these drugs.

For example, the state of Illinois launched its Opioid Alternative Pilot Program in January this year in order to gather data on how patients manage their pain if they are allowed to use medical marijuana instead of opioids. So far, 2,000 patients have signed up.

The entire cannabis industry believes that industry players, such as Geyser Brands Inc. (TSX.V: GYSR) and Golden Developing Solutions Inc. (OTC: DVLP), hope that the patient data collected will provide proof that medical marijuana can play a part in taming the opioid crisis.

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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420 with CNW – New Mexico Cannabis Legalization Working Group Schedules First Meeting

The working group created by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Grisham (D) announced on Friday that it would be holding its first public meeting on August 14. During that meeting, several issues connected to plans to legalize recreational marijuana in the state will be discussed.

Individual residents and groups are free to comment either in advance or during the actual meeting on the topics lined up for the day. During that meeting, the Department of Health will address the people present about the medical cannabis program in the state while the Department of Regulation and Licensing will deliver a presentation about the current status of cannabis regulation.

The committee members will then discuss various issues, such as recreational marijuana marketing, the option of creating state-operated marijuana shops, how licensing should be done and whether a marijuana control division should be created by the state.

The website of the working group has a landing page for almost all the items lined up for discussion during this maiden meeting. On those pages, visitors will find the specific goals that the committee has for that area, the questions that the committee plans to answer on that topic, details about how that particular aspect was going to be legalized under the bill which was put before lawmakers, and how other states have legislated on that matter.

At the bottom of each of those pages, online visitors will find a form that they can use to share their opinion on that specific aspect of marijuana legalization.

For example, on the matter of whether the state should directly run a marijuana retail network, the working group posed a question regarding what risks, if any, the state employees will face by participating in what the federal government calls “drug trafficking.” The committee also posed a question on how else a fair distribution of marijuana shops can be ensured if the state isn’t to be involved in retail sales.

Once an item on the list is discussed extensively, the members of the working group will finally take a vote on the matter and move onto the next item on the agenda. The members of the working committee are also free to suggest policy proposals for discussion by the entire group following a method that will be explained during the meeting on August 14.

Another meeting of this committee will be held on August 27 to handle other matters connected to cannabis legalization.

It should be remembered that Gov. Grisham made a campaign promise to legalize recreational marijuana and she formed the working group after a legalization bill failed to pass in the state senate. The findings of the working group will form the basis of a new legalization bill which will be tabled before lawmakers early next year.

Analysts believe that industry players like ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) will be hoping that the method of using a working group will result in a legalization bill which is widely acceptable to the lawmakers on different sides of this topic.

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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420 with CNW – Texas State Police Memo Instructs Officers to Stop Cannabis Possession Arrests

An interoffice memo sent to all Department of Public Safety officers in Texas instructs the members of the largest law enforcement agency in the state to stop arresting suspects on marijuana possession charges. This communication marks the most recent twist in the confusion surrounding marijuana law enforcement after lawmakers passed a law legalizing industrial hemp.

The memo instead advises police officers to write a citation asking a suspect to appear in court in order to respond to the criminal charges against him or her. Individuals who receive these citations are still liable to serve a maximum custodial sentence of one year as well as a $4,000 fine for marijuana misdemeanor charges.

The memo adds that department personnel should continue enforcing marijuana laws, but they will only cite and release the suspects.

The interoffice memo, written on July 10, came barely a week before the top Republican leaders in the state (the governor, lieutenant governor and assembly leader) wrote a letter castigating the prosecutors who had either dropped or put marijuana possession cases on hold because of the law legalizing hemp.

In the memo, Randall Prince (deputy director in charge of law enforcement operations, DPS) emphasizes that HB 1325 didn’t decriminalize marijuana, but the change in the law enforcement approach was needed since only a laboratory analysis can prove that a substance is hemp or marijuana.

The difficulty of proving that a substance is hemp and not marijuana is responsible for the decision of many prosecutors to drop marijuana possession cases since the crime labs of the state don’t have the required testing equipment.

However, the DPS memo states that while police officers may be unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that someone was found in possession of marijuana, it is still possible to find probable cause to institute charges against an individual. The legal burden to prove probable cause is lower than the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt, and that is why the memo asks officers to issue citations.

That notwithstanding, prosecutors in Tarrant County have decided to send seized samples to a private lab for analysis so that the pending felony cases can proceed. One of the three samples tested was found to have 13 percent THC while another had 15 percent THC. These substances were therefore confirmed to be marijuana while the third sample only contained 0.2 percent THC, which ruled it out as being marijuana.

It isn’t immediately clear how the new directive in the memo will affect marijuana prosecutions given the fact that some exceptions were made in the instructions provided. For example, the cite and release policy directive can only apply if the person suspected to have marijuana is found within the county in which he or she resides. Individuals found outside their counties, such as during traffic stops, will still be arrested.

Secondly, the cite and release policy can only apply in counties where mechanisms are in place to enforce such a measure. For example, a court system should be in place to handle such cases. However, most counties lack the processes needed to enforce the cite and release policy, so the prosecutors in those areas are unlikely to implement this directive.

Commentators wonder what kind of discussions could be taking place in the corridors of industry players like Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS) about the marijuana law enforcement chaos in Texas.

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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420 with CNW – Seven Oklahoma Marijuana Dispensaries Sue Facebook

It seems that Facebook is unable to decide whether it loathes or loves marijuana. At about this time last year, the social media giant was reported to be silently banning companies that were either advocating for marijuana or selling marijuana products. In October last year, Facebook seemed to have softened its stance when it announced that it would start allowing verified legal cannabis companies to use its platform for marketing or advocacy purposes.

However, all that doesn’t seem to have become a reality since many cannabis companies still complain that their content is flagged. Now seven Oklahoma medical marijuana dispensaries have decided enough is enough and have sued Facebook on the matter.

Danna Malone and her dispensary Ye Olde Apothecary Shoppe were the first to go to court alleging that Facebook, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the COO Sheryl Sandberg and Peter Thiel (executive team member) had placed the dispensary in what they called “Facebook jail” and prevented the legal business from posting about its shops and products.

This first lawsuit was filed in May this year. On July 18, six other medical cannabis dispensaries joined Ye Olde Apothecary Shoppe as plaintiffs in this particular case. The complaints of the additional dispensaries were similar to those of Danna Malone.

When a profile or page is taken to “Facebook jail,” that particular profile or page is temporarily disabled by the platform as a result of a perceived violation of any of the Facebook standards. The seven medical marijuana dispensaries in Oklahoma that assert that Facebook put them in “Facebook jail” want the social media giant to be compelled by court to stop blocking these businesses from promoting their shops on this platform.

The companies are also demanding for a total of $75,000 as damages for the economic losses that they have suffered as a result of Facebook’s actions.

Additionally, the plaintiffs are requesting court to compel the defendants to meet the legal fees of the plaintiffs if the seven dispensaries decide to engage an attorney to argue their case.

The petition of the plaintiffs states that “Facebook has an arbitrary, discriminatory and subjective policy which is archaic and doesn’t apply uniformly to all.” The seven dispensaries also claim that the implementation of that policy appears to be random and there is no one at the platform who can be contacted if someone or a business has a concern.

The plaintiffs say the people at Facebook “hide behind their keyboards” while deciding the punishments they should mete out upon those they feel have contravened one of their subjectively defined community standards.

The lawsuit states that on the surface, it appears that Facebook isn’t sanctioning companies in states, such as California, Washington and Oregon, which have legalized recreational marijuana.

Industry watchers believe that this case will be followed closely by cannabis industry players like Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) since it could open the floodgate of lawsuits by marijuana companies that feel aggrieved with the platform in different jurisdictions.

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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420 with CNW – Medical Marijuana Could Be on Louisiana Dispensary Shelves as Early as Next Week

Early this week, officials from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) announced that medical marijuana products could soon be available in licensed dispensaries as soon as next week. This news brings a sigh of relief to patients who have waited through endless delays since 2015 when voters approved a measure to legalize medical cannabis.

Mike Strain, the LDAF Commissioner, revealed that his department had received the first batch of medical marijuana products that were ready for distribution to the licensed medical cannabis dispensaries within the state. Those samples would be tested to ascertain their potency, homogeneity and presence of contaminants.

If those samples pass the lab tests, then the department would give the manufacturers the green light to distribute their products to the places where patients with recommendations can access them.

GB Sciences, a company that was subcontracted by Louisiana State University, has provided the samples to be tested by the state. Strain revealed that the testing process would take approximately seven days and the products would be available if no issues are found during the tests. If any problem is found, the availability of the products would be delayed until those issues were resolved.

Some of the products that were randomly selected from the stores of GB Sciences for the purpose of testing by the regulator include inhalers and cannabis oil drops. The products were made in different formulations of THC and CBD. For example, some products are high in CBD while others are high in THC and low in CBD.

These products will be available to patients with debilitating conditions as long as those patients have been certified by the state to use medical marijuana as a form of treatment.

Louisiana passed strict rules under which the medical cannabis program would be implemented. For example, only two cultivation and manufacturing licenses were issued. Louisiana State University and Southern University were the recipients of those licenses. However, these two institutions could subcontract partners to help them execute their activities, and that is why GB Sciences had a chance to process the products which are undergoing testing.

Southern University partnered with Advanced Biometrics and they are soon planting their maiden medical cannabis crop. They expect the products from this crop to be ready for the market in about five months since it takes that long to grow and process a cannabis crop.

Marijuana industry watchers believe that industry actors like VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) will be pleased that the long wait is showing signs of coming to an end and Louisiana patients will soon benefit from medical marijuana.

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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420 with CNW – Utah Medical Cannabis Program Stays on Course as State Dismisses Protests

Utah selected eight firms towards the end of last month to undergo background checks prior to being granted licenses to grow medical marijuana as the state moves to implement a voter decision during the 2018 midterms. However, six companies that weren’t successful during the application process protested to the state’s Division of Purchasing. The division has responded by dismissing those protests, thereby paving the way for the state to stay on course in its bid to implement the medical marijuana program.

The companies that protested to the Division of Purchasing are North Star Holdings, Pure UT, Wild West Holding, Tintic United Bioscience, JLPR, and Total Health Sciences. These companies were unhappy that Utah had only selected eight companies yet the law provides for a maximum of ten growers.

However, the Division of Purchasing argued that it took the decision to select only eight cultivators in order to avert the possibility of over-supply in the medical cannabis market. They added that the law allows the division to select any number of cultivators as long as the legal cap isn’t exceeded.

Chris Hughes, the director of Utah’s Division of Purchasing, announced on Wednesday that the companies whose appeals had been dismissed could escalate their protest to the Utah Procurement Policy Board and even go to court if they weren’t satisfied with the decisions made.

Meanwhile, several county attorneys are putting pressure on Utah to abandon its plans of having a state-run medical cannabis dispensary system. They say that the current design of the system will put the employees of the state at the risk of prosecution under the existing drug laws of the federal government.

Troy Rawlings (DA Davis County) and Sim Gill (DA Salt Lake County) insist that using the local dispensaries as points where medical marijuana can be picked up would, in effect, turn the county’s medical department workers into drug traffickers in the eyes of the federal government.

Under Utah’s medical marijuana law, seven private medical marijuana pharmacies will be licensed while a “central fill pharmacy” will be run by the state to supply the private pharmacies with the products they put on their shelves. This “fill pharmacy” function will be implemented through the 13 local health departments.

State officials acknowledge the concerns of the DAs and a meeting has been planned for later this month in order to discuss any alternatives that could sidestep the risks that the district attorneys point out.

Industry analysts believe that the whole industry, including players like Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW) and Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF), will be hoping that the program in Utah doesn’t run into any hurdles that take implementation beyond the planned 2020 launch date.

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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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420 with CNW – Federal Court Orders DEA to Explain Cannabis Research Block

A federal court has ordered the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to file a written response to a lawsuit filed by a research company seeking for an explanation about the status of the applications submitted to the DEA by entities that expressed interest in growing research-grade marijuana.

In 2016, the DEA called for applications from interested parties that wished to be licensed to grow marijuana for research purposes in order to supplement what was available from the only licensed facility at Mississippi University.

To date, the DEA doesn’t appear to have taken any action regarding the processing of those applications which were submitted years ago.

Researchers from the Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI) therefore went to court to compel the DEA to explain why additional manufacturers of research-grade cannabis haven’t been licensed since 2016 and yet the products currently available from Mississippi University are woefully inadequate in terms of quality and quantity.

In fact, research done on the products from Mississippi found that qualitatively, the marijuana availed to researchers by the licensed grower was closer to industrial hemp that being similar to the marijuana available at licensed dispensaries in states where cannabis is legal.

SRI, one of the entities which submitted an application to grow marijuana for research purposes, now wants the courts of law to resolve the matter of the DEA dragging its feet on making a decision on the applications submitted.

The D.C. Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals seems to agree with the research group and has written an order to the DEA asking the agency to submit a response, in less than 7,800 words, to the petition filed by SRI. The court has given the federal agency 30 days within which to submit their response.

In a press statement, SRI contends that the actions or inactions of the DEA are counter to the spirit of the Controlled Substances Act, and harms the interests of SRI as well as the veterans who would benefit from the research that SRI wants to conduct on the therapeutic effects of marijuana on people suffering from PTSD.

SRI further argues that everyone, including the federal government, agrees that independent marijuana research is needed, so there is no reason why the DEA continues to stonewall companies which are interested in conducting this needed research.

Attorney General William Barr took office in February with the promise that he would look into the status of the applications before the DEA from entities that wished to grow and manufacture marijuana products for research purposes. However, he too has done nothing on the matter, just like his predecessor Jeff Sessions.

Industry analysts believe that the entire marijuana industry, including players like The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF), will be following this lawsuit closely since the outcome could make it easier for reliable research to be done on the medicinal effects of cannabis, or any other area of interest on this plant.

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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420 with CNW – Florida Activists Notch First Victory in Campaign to Put Cannabis Legalization on the 2020 Ballot

An effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida registered its first victory on Monday when reform activists announced that they had collected a sufficient number of signatures in order to trigger a process through which the state’s Supreme Court would review the language of their petition.

If the court approves the petition’s language, Regulate Florida, the group behind the legalization effort, will face its biggest hurdle yet. At least 766, 200 voter signatures will need to be collected in order to put cannabis legalization on the state ballot next year. This required number of signatures is approximately ten times what the group had to collect in order to get the Supreme Court to review the measure’s language.

The activists observe that it is very expensive to collect signatures in support of such an initiative. For example, it costs about $2 to print, collect and validate each petition. The reform advocates have not yet received any financial backing from John Morgan, the personal injury attorney who bankrolled the effort to legalize medical cannabis in the state in 2016. Morgan had also financed a failed attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in the state in 2014.

The personal injury attorney seems to have opted to put his money behind an initiative to increase the minimum wage in the state. He is reported to have said that he is doubtful that Florida is ready for recreational marijuana even if recent polls show that 65 percent of adults in the state want to see an end to marijuana prohibition.

However, the activists are confident that Florida voters will do what the lawmakers have failed to do on several occasions. For example, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana stalled even before a hearing had been scheduled in the state legislature.

Regulate Florida has also adopted another tactic to make the recreational marijuana initiate more attractive. They are positioning this effort as a measure which will make the medical marijuana program more patient-friendly since patients will be allowed to grow a limited number of marijuana plants for their medical needs. Home cultivation wasn’t allowed under the law through which the medical marijuana program was legalized.

The activists are now calling for volunteers to help in the signature collection process, and they are also appealing for donations to fund the signature collectors who aren’t volunteers. Analysts believe that the cannabis industry, including TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FRA: TH8) and Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF), will be rooting for the reform advocates since the wall of prohibition needs to be pegged back in as many states as possible if the industry is to reach its full potential.

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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420 with CNW – Colorado Nurses to Launch Cannabis Information Hotline

A medical marijuana patient and a registered nurse in Colorado are teaming up to start a hotline to answer the questions that potential medical marijuana users have about the drug. If all goes according to plan, this hotline will be launched in September.

Katherine Golden, the registered nurse in this duo, admits that she was skeptical about the medical benefits of marijuana until a family member was diagnosed with cancer and she felt compelled to look for peer-reviewed research on the benefits of marijuana for cancer patients. What she found astounded her and she wondered how all that information was unavailable to members of the medical community.

Her findings were so convincing that she switched careers and started working in a medical marijuana clinic in Boulder.

Jennifer Axcell has been taking medical marijuana to deal with the pain she has been having since she was involved in a car accident thirteen years ago. The medical marijuana proved to be more helpful than the prescription meds she was initially given by her doctor.

Jennifer Axcell met Katherine Golden at Holos Health, a medical marijuana dispensary in Boulder, and they soon bonded. That bond grew as they both strongly felt that there was a need to share information about medical marijuana.

They therefore became unofficial information ambassadors within the medical cannabis community, and the idea of starting the hotline, Leaf411, was born.

Golden feels that the hotline will be invaluable since nurses are highly trusted by members of the community. This view was confirmed by a Gallop poll which found that nurses were the most trusted professionals. 85 percent of the adult Americans who were surveyed by Gallop in December 2018 said that the ethical standards of nurses were high or very high. In contrast, members of Congress had a dismal 8 percent rating for being ethical.

Golden hopes to use the respectability and reputation of nursing to provide reliable information to people who want to learn about medical marijuana.

To that end, she and Axcell have applied for funding from the Colorado state government. They hope to benefit from part of the millions of dollars of cannabis tax revenue earmarked for public health and education.

The pair is also contacting different medical marijuana companies for funding since these entities stand to benefit the most when their potential clients are informed about medical marijuana. Golden feels that a budtender shouldn’t be the first person that a patient approaches for information on medical marijuana.

Golden and Axcell are also hoping to enlist at least four registered nurses with medical marijuana experience to be on the phone for 12 hours each day. They hasten to add that Leaf411 will not be an emergency line, so it will only be available during normal business hours.

Advocates believe that the entire industry, including Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Sproutly Canada Inc. (CSE: SPR) (OTCQB: SRUTF) (FRA: 38G), will be thrilled that members of the medical professional are jumping into the fray to educate their peers and members of the public about medical cannabis.

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.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
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Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com