420 with CNW – The American Bar Association Asks Congress to Pass Legislation Allowing States to Enact Their Own Cannabis Laws

The American Bar Association-ABA passed a resolution on Monday calling on Congress to let states pass and implement their own marijuana laws. The resolution also wants marijuana to be rescheduled or descheduled by the federal government.

This resolution was adopted during this year’s annual general meeting of the ABA held in San Francisco. While the proponents of the resolution waived their time to talk about that resolution, the resolution was passed without any audible opposition to it.

The ABA emphasized that it didn’t favor or disagree with marijuana legalization, but their chief concern was the untenable contradictions between the federal marijuana laws and the marijuana policies of the states that have opted to legalize the drug for medical and/or recreational use.

The members specifically refer to the complications that state-legal marijuana businesses face on a daily basis, such as being targets because of operating in cash alone. The companies also pay very high federal taxes since the tax-deductible expenses that other businesses enjoy aren’t applicable to marijuana businesses.

The association of 411,000 members therefore urged Congress to pass a law that exempts any marijuana cultivation, processing, manufacture, distribution, and use from the Controlled Substances Act as long as such activity complies with state law.

The resolution of ABA also points out that the spending riders and the guidance memos written by the Department of Justice are not enough to address the regulatory uncertainty. For example, the spending riders have to be revisited each year, and it isn’t clear for how long they will keep being approved. A clear example is the uncertainty surrounding the spending rider covering recreational marijuana. The marijuana industry doesn’t know whether the Senate will endorse that DOJ spending rider, so uncertainty remains.

The American Bar Association also wants the federal government to support marijuana research so that states and the federal government make science-based decisions on the drug. ABA points out that while the DEA called for applications from organizations and companies which could provide research-grade marijuana, no action has been taken three years after the applications were submitted.

The resolution indicates that while the body of knowledge about marijuana, such as its medicinal properties, has grown from the time marijuana was placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), no step has been taken to adjust the scheduling of the drug and yet other substances, such as alcohol, have been removed. Consequently, the revision of the scheduling of marijuana is overdue, according to the ABA.

Analysts are convinced that industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) fully agree with the resolution passed by the American Bar Association, but they also wonder how long it will take lawmakers to finally act on this matter.

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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 – 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.

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420 with CNW – NYC Council Passes Two Cannabis Reform Resolutions

On Tuesday this week, the New York City Council passed two cannabis-related resolutions as part of a package of marijuana laws that the progressive-minded caucus of the chamber wants to see enacted.

One of those resolutions calls on the Administration of Children’s Services (ACS) to adopt a new policy to the effect that finding someone using or in possession of marijuana shouldn’t in itself mean that a child is in danger and should be removed from that person.

Child custody issues constitute one of the most serious yet overlooked consequences of cannabis consumption, even in places where the drug has been legalized for either recreational or medical use.

The City Council’s resolution details how there is a racial disparity in the way marijuana possession arrests are done, and also points out that the ACS doesn’t immediately conclude that a child is at risk of harm just because a parent or caregiver takes alcohol. This same principle should apply in the case of marijuana consumption, the council argues.

The second measure is addressed to the state legislature. It requests the lawmakers to enact legislation mandating the Department of Health in New York State to formulate hospital drugs testing guidelines or regulations for pregnant women and those giving birth. Those regulations should include provisions on informing hospital patients about their rights if matters of drug testing and drug use are to be discussed.

The current practice is that as soon as a pregnant woman tests positive for any drug, including cannabis, the hospital reports this to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. On the basis of that report, ACS launches an investigation into the matter.

The NYC Council notes in its resolution that while it isn’t clear how hospitals enforce their drug testing policies, people of color and those from impoverished communities seem to be particularly targeted.

Additionally, the resolution notes that there is still limited research regarding the effects of marijuana use during pregnancy. However, even that limited research doesn’t show that cannabis use is on its own a risk factor for serious neonatal problems.

The lack of clarity on the drug testing policies of hospitals means that pregnant women often volunteer information about their drug use not knowing that such information could result in child welfare issues.

Having a clear drug testing policy would encourage women to be free about disclosing their drug use habits since they will not have any fear that child welfare cases will be instituted simply because those women tested positive for marijuana, the councilors reason.

These resolutions show how keen the city council is to see marijuana reform implemented. Earlier in April, they also passed a resolution to put an end to pre-employment marijuana testing. This takes effect next year.

It remains to be seen whether the state legislature will act upon the well-intentioned resolution on hospital drug testing, but pundits believe that the entire cannabis industry, including industry players like ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF), will be rooting for a positive outcome so that women stop being unfairly victimized for using cannabis.

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420 with CNW – Marijuana Legalization Results in Fewer Illegal Grows in National Forests, Study Finds

New research shows that as marijuana started being legalized for recreational purposes in different states across the U.S., the reported cases of illicit grow sites within protected lands started falling.

The research findings, released in Ecological Economics, specifically point out that illegal grows on national forests saw a major decline in the Pacific Northwest after cannabis legalization started.

USDA’s Forest Service analyzed the available data on the illegal marijuana grow sites discovered and reported between 2004 and 2016. This data was in regard to 111 national forests. The researchers considered several factors, such as the retail price of pot, state laws, risks of being discovered running an illegal grow site, and many others.

The researchers then used that data to create six different simulations of what would happen to the number of illegal grows if marijuana policies changed.

For example, one simulation seeks to see how the number of these illegal grows would change if all the state laws legalizing both medical and recreational cannabis were revoked. Another simulation explores what would happen assuming that all the taxes on the legal marijuana on the market were waived/eliminated.

The researchers found that policies legalizing some form of marijuana are linked to a reduction in the number of reported cases of illegal grow sites within national forests.

The predictive models of the research also show that if the existing medical and recreational marijuana laws in different states were to be revoked, then the rate at which illegal grow sites would be discovered is likely to grow by double digit percentages while expanding the number of states with laws legalizing marijuana would reduce such grows by at least a fifth, as per the available 2017 data.

For example, if all the 23 states that had enacted medical cannabis laws by 2016 enacted recreational marijuana legalization laws as well, then the illegal grows within those areas would reduce by at least 35 percent and as high as 51 percent.

While the researchers found that marijuana decriminalization didn’t have any effect on illegal grows, they discovered that imposing harsher penalties on those convicted on charges related to illegal marijuana cultivation activities had an effect of reducing the number of illegal grows. Increasing law enforcement personnel in the national forests only had a negligible effect on the stats, according to the research.

The study concludes that of the two ways (legalization and increased enforcement) to reduce illegal grows in forests, legalization offers a more cost-effective way to preserve the forests from the attendant problems, such as the use of strong rodenticides, which come with the illegal grow sites.

Analysts think industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) aren’t surprised by the findings of this research since the cannabis industry has always asserted that legalization can stamp out the black market and its risks.

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420 with CNW – Colorado Governor Unveils Online Tool to Track Cannabis Achievements

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) launched an online tool on Monday that will enable members of the public to keep track of what the state government is doing to attain its goals, which include taking the marijuana industry to greater heights.

The goals have been categorized into six groups. These are marijuana, education and workforce, criminal justice, tax reform and economic development, and energy and renewables.

The online tool, called “the governor’s dashboard,” outlines targets or priorities for each of those six areas. For example, under the cannabis category, the governor undertakes to operationalize the home delivery of marijuana in accordance with the law he signed last month. He also promises to see marijuana companies listed on stock exchanges, as well as working for a 20 percent increase in the number of financial institutions serving cannabis companies. Gov. Polis also wants to establish the state as a national leader in research, production and processing of industrial hemp.

Speaking at the launch of the dashboard, the governor revealed that he is happy to avail that platform since it will ensure accountability and transparency on all matters affecting Coloradans.

The agriculture department will do a lot to facilitate the attainment of the goals on hemp. A three-year development plan for this sector shows that the governor wants to see the indoor production of hemp increase to 10 million square feet from the current 7.67 million square feet. The plan also states that outdoor cultivation should increase to more than 60,000 square feet from the current 21,000 square feet.

To attain these lofty goals, the state plans to submit a plan for the regulation of hemp to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval so that large scale production can begin. The state will also support farmer-owned cooperatives in addition to other interventions to encourage industrial hemp value addition.

Polis has always believed that the marijuana industry is yet to reach its full economic potential in Colorado and he has done what he can to promote the industry. For example, he signed bills to allow social consumption sites and regulate home delivery of marijuana products.

Last month, the state government released a report showing that more than a billion dollars had so far been collected by the state as cannabis taxes, fees and other collections. It is therefore expected that the working group formed to steer the state towards attaining all the goals listed on the dashboard will not have any excuses for not doing the work assigned to them.

Industry analysts can only guess how far players like ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) would be if all the markets they operated in were as proactive as Colorado.

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420 with CNW – New York Marijuana Decriminalization Expands as Full Legalization Fails

As plans to legalize marijuana fully appear to have hit a dead end in the New York State legislature, the lawmakers have agreed to expand the decriminalization of the drug in addition to providing for the automatic expungement of low-level cannabis possession convictions across the state.

On Thursday, Senators agreed to treat the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis as an infraction punishable by a $50 fine instead of regarding it as a crime. This measure marks a huge change in a state where thousands of residents have been caught on the wrong side of the law and been incarcerated.

The agreement on the expungement measure comes as a compromise deal after it became apparent that there wouldn’t be enough support to pass a full legalization measure. While legalization has failed, cannabis industry advocates still regard this approved measure as a step forward for the industry.

The bill passed with a 39-23 vote in the Senate as the legislative session dragged beyond its expected end on Wednesday.

Gov. Cuomo, who a couple of years ago called marijuana a “getaway drug” was all praises for the decriminalization measure. He said the measure will give relief to the thousands snared by the state’s criminal justice system because of marijuana.

This isn’t the first time that the State of New York is decriminalizing marijuana possession. In 1977, the state decriminalized the possession of a maximum of 25 grams. The new bill more than doubles that possession limit.

It should be noted that under the new law, the possession of more than 2 ounces of marijuana is still a crime and nothing has changed regarding smoking cannabis in public. It is still forbidden.

All the same, this limited measure is still a victory because New York has been notorious for its restrictive marijuana laws. For example, under the medical marijuana program which was legalized in 2014, smoking medical marijuana isn’t allowed.

Many Senators who spoke during the hearing on the measure were disappointed that the bill didn’t seek to fully legalize marijuana. They cited the fact that medical marijuana has been legal for years as proof that cannabis has some value, so they couldn’t understand why it still remained illegal in the state.

The legislators are also debating a proposal tabled by State Senator Diane Savino to expand the medical cannabis program from its “current overly restrictive design” to something more accommodative.

Republicans, who are now the minority in both legislative chambers in New York State, made futile attempts to block the decriminalization measure, calling it “harmful to people.” It isn’t yet clear how industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) will react to the current cannabis news coming out of Albany.

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420 with CNW – Church of England Starts Investing in Marijuana

If you were wondering how fast marijuana could become a mainstream substance, the Church of England has just provided further proof that this once heavily stigmatized plant is getting the recognition and acceptance that it deserves. The Church of England has instructed its number crunchers to start making investments in medical marijuana companies.

In the past, the Church Commissioners for England (the entity which manages the $16 billion investment portfolio of the Church of England) rigidly adhered to their self-imposed policy of not holding stocks in cannabis companies.

The new policy allows the Church of England to hold stocks of medical marijuana companies. Recreational cannabis is still a no-no and any company which obtains more than 10 percent of its revenue from the sale of recreational cannabis is off-limits for the Church of England.

Edward Mason, the head of responsible investment at the Church Commissioners for England confirmed that they “make a distinction between recreational and medicinal cannabis” and are content with marijuana being used for medical purposes. Mason concluded by saying that the Commissioners for England are happy to invest in medicine.

The Church Commissioners for England have a huge reputation for their “ethical” investment decisions. They will only invest in companies which meet their strict definition of what constitutes Christian values. Consequently, the group will never invest in industries of questionable moral character, such as pornography, gambling and tobacco. Marijuana, or at least its medical side, is now acceptable to the group.

The decision by the Commissioners for England to start investing in medicinal cannabis is a huge step forward in the eyes of patients using medical marijuana because it helps to put a dent in the wall of stigma which those patients have to deal with on a daily basis.

Many people regard anyone using cannabis as stoner, even if the person is consuming medical cannabis purely for therapeutic purposes rather than for the recreational purposes. This stigma has compelled patients to resort to hiding while they are taking medical marijuana, and others have restricted themselves to more discreet modes of administration, such as edibles and suppositories.

Medical marijuana patients therefore hope that the step taken by the Church of England is followed by all the other religious denominations. In this way, medical marijuana will get the broad acceptance which it deserves as a form of medicine.

Both laypeople and cannabis industry analysts wonder how the more favorable direction taken by the Commissioners for England regarding medical marijuana will impact the future plans of industry participants like Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF).

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420 with CNW – Top 4 Documentaries That Will Teach You About Marijuana

One of the best ways to learn about any subject of interest is by seeking out materials, such as documentaries, sitcoms, movies and other shows. This article summarizes some of the most acclaimed documentaries which will help you to delve into the different aspects (on both sides of the divide) of the cannabis industry.

Documentary #1: Weed the People (2018)

You are likely to watch this documentary with rapt attention for the entire 97 minutes that it runs. The documentary will evoke your emotions and overwhelm you as you follow the story of a group of parents and their kids suffering from cancer. You will feel the frustration of these parents as the pace at which cannabis laws change is too slow at this time when lives are at stake. You will experience the hope and relief as the parents resolve to break the law and try cannabis treatments for their kids, and you will experience the elation that the parents feel when cannabis treatments produce visible changes in the very sick kids.

Documentary #2: 420: The Documentary (2013)

In brief, 420: The Documentary primarily tells the story of how negative propaganda was used to malign marijuana, thereby resulting in the criminalization of a plant which would have benefited lots of people.

In this documentary, you will see footage from a lot of 420 civil disobedience events from around the world, and you will follow the stories of young people who had to endure prison (and even gunshots) because of their desire to consume marijuana.

There are testimonies of law enforcement officers who now regret taking part in enforcing the misguided anti-marijuana laws. Watch this documentary and learn how propaganda warped people’s views about cannabis.

Documentary #3: American Drug War 2: Cannabis Destiny (2013)

This documentary clearly brings out the fact that the biggest victims of the war on drugs are kids. The documentary follows a 2-year old kid during his battle with brain cancer. This little child is subjected to everything that conventional medicine has to offer from surgery to chemo and radiation. Nothing helps, and the parents are told to expect the worst.

Out of desperation, the parents take matters into their own hands and start researching alternative treatments for cancer. As luck would have it, they learn about an ancient treatment made from marijuana and they start injecting this concoction into the feeding tube of their son without letting the doctors in on their secret. The doctors are amazed by the “miraculous” transformation in the condition of the boy. This documentary will open your eyes to the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.

Documentary #4: Lynching Charlie Lynch (2011)

If you can now walk into a medical cannabis dispensary and buy anything you need for you symptoms, look up at the heavens and thank people like Charlie Lynch for taking the heat and pioneering medical cannabis treatments in our modern world.

The documentary shows what happened from 2006 when Charlie Lynch opened his medical cannabis dispensary in California. He followed all legal requirements of the state and was even admitted to the chamber of commerce.

However, the DEA didn’t give a hoot about all the steps he went through to abide by the existing state laws, and they raided his dispensary on numerous occasions. Eventually, he was arrested on several charges including selling marijuana to minors. In the blink of an eye, this highly respected member of the medical community acquired the label of a drug dealer. Watch this documentary and learn the hell that the early believers in medical cannabis went through.

The four documentaries above are presented in no particular order of precedence, and each will add something to your understanding of this often-polarizing subject of marijuana. Do you think any pivotal documentary was omitted? ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) hope that such documentaries will tell the true story of marijuana and people can form their own opinions instead of relying on the untruths which are often spread far and wide about cannabis.

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420 with CNW – Poll Shows 60 Percent of Illinoisans Want Recreational Cannabis Treated Like Alcohol

As the legislative session draws to an end in Illinois, an opinion poll conducted shows that the majority of Illinoisans (60 percent) want recreational marijuana to be treated just like alcohol. This poll comes barely two weeks after another poll, sponsored by those opposed to cannabis legalization, showed that support for recreational marijuana legalization was waning.

This latest poll was sponsored by Gov. J. B. Pritzker and it was conducted by the Global Strategy Group. The pollsters asked 802 registered voters in the state whether they were in support of, or opposed to legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana in the same way as alcohol. The poll started on April 29 and ended on May 1.

In general, 60 percent of the respondents expressed their support for legalizing, taxing and regulating recreational cannabis like alcohol while 35 percent opposed it.

When the findings were broken down by location, the Chicago area showed the greatest support when compared to downstate areas.

Two weeks earlier, Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy had been commissioned by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (an organization opposed to cannabis legalization) to conduct a poll on the views of Illinoisans towards recreational cannabis legalization.

That poll found that only 41 percent of the people in Illinois supported legalization. The poll was conducted on May 7 and 8. However, this poll came under intense criticism because of some of the questions it posed.

For example, the pollsters asked voters whether all forms of cannabis use should be made illegal. This question was criticized because medical marijuana has been legal in the state and there is no plan to alter its status in Illinois.

However, the poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group had the twist of not just asking voters about cannabis legalization but also asking them to compare recreational marijuana regulation to alcohol.

Alcohol is widely available and no limits are imposed on how much alcohol adults can buy or consume. The poll therefore wanted to find out whether recreational cannabis should also have minimal restrictions.

A lot of resources have been injected into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana by its supporters. Opponents have also gone all out to thwart the attempts to legalize recreational cannabis.

The sponsors of the legalization bill told a senate committee that the industry is likely to bring in sales of about $500 million when the industry matures in five to six years. The bill also provides for the automatic expungement of marijuana convictions (without subjecting the affected people to a lengthy application process).

ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) hope that Gov. Pritzker’s intention to see recreational marijuana legalized by the end of this legislative session sees the light of day.

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420 with CNW – New Zealand Releases Details of Cannabis Legalization Referendum

The government in New Zealand has released details of how a referendum will be conducted in 2020 on the legalization of recreational marijuana. The plan was released by Andrew Little, the Justice Minister, in a press release.

The three parties which make up the current government agreed on the basic elements of the plan through which recreational marijuana use will be regulated, taxed and commercialized for adults 20 and above. The outcome of the vote will be binding, so voters shouldn’t have any fears that the government will not implement the decision of the people.

In the proposal, people will be allowed to grow a limited number of cannabis plants and licenses will be issued to places where recreational consumption can be done outside the privacy of people’s homes. Marijuana advertising will be highly restricted as well.

For the voters to make a decision, the referendum question needs to be as clear as possible so that if approval is given, voters know what legalization model they have voted for. This will prevent the lack of clarity on how to implement the decision of voters as is playing out in Britain after voters approved Britain’s exit from the EU but how to implement that decision has proved to be more divisive than the referendum on Brexit.

Andrew Little revealed that the cabinet decided to hold the referendum on full legalization because simply decriminalizing recreational cannabis would not provide the public health safeguards the country needs in order to protect the youth and help those who are addicted.

The minister also outlined the primary and the secondary objectives of the legalization bill which will be formulated so that voters decide based on the contents of that draft bill. These objectives include disempowering the illegal cannabis trade, ensuring cannabis product safety through the control of THC concentrations, and fiscal sustainability.

The legalization plan outlines the timelines for different activities which will be done in the run up to the referendum in 2020. These activities include inter-party consultation, receiving and analyzing feedback from stakeholders about the legalization model and voter education about the entire legalization plan after all the relevant documents have been printed and disseminated widely across the country.

If recreational marijuana is finally legalized through the referendum, New Zealand will be the first country in the world to legalize adult-use marijuana through a referendum. Uruguay and Canada took a legislative route.

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) applaud the government in New Zealand for taking the time to formulate a detailed plan through which the people will be asked to make an informed decision about recreational cannabis. All that is left is to implement the plan and respect the decision made by the voters.

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