420 with CNW – Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Protect Federal Workers Who Use Marijuana

A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress last week (March 12) seeks to shield federal employees from being fired once they test positive for marijuana.

The bill, introduced by Reps. Don Young (R-AK) and Charlie Crist (D-FL), is intended to clarify that federal workers who consume cannabis in states where it is legal cannot be held liable under federal law for testing positive for the substance.

Currently, federal employees can be summarily fired or denied a job if they test positive for THC. This blanket action happens regardless of state law.

Crist explains that the existing policy and law disproportionately impacts veterans because many of them have taken to medical marijuana in order to deal with various issues, such as PTSD and chronic pain. For such veterans, medical cannabis provides an alternative to harmful and addictive opioids.

Crist also notes that one third of the federal workforce is made up of veterans, and the law is unfair to this section of federal employees because they didn’t ask to suffer from the conditions that led them to use medical marijuana.

The bill wants to address the legal conflict that often puts veterans and other employees (or prospective employees) in a difficult position in which they have to choose between using medical cannabis and retaining their employment. No one should be forced to make that choice if medical cannabis is legal in the state where the person lives or works.

However, the bill doesn’t try to stop employers from conducting drugs tests and acting on the results if a person is suspected to have been intoxicated while on the job. Federal employees who require top secret clearance are also exempted from the protections outlined in this bill.

The previous version of this bill didn’t provide protections to individuals who used cannabis in conformity with the policies of Indian tribes. This present version includes such people.

The present bill also used the term “personnel action” when describing the protections offered. The inclusion of the term “personnel action” was intended to clarify that the bill should not be interpreted to mean that federal employees were protected from criminal action resulting from their use of marijuana.

It is hoped that this bill will be enacted so that talented individuals aren’t denied federal employment opportunities. Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) wish the sponsors of the bill success since their intention of protecting veterans and other federal employees is a good cause.

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420 with CNW – Iowa Poll Shows Widespread Support for Expanding Medical Cannabis Program

A recent poll sponsored by Mediacom and Des Moines Register has found that more than three-quarters (78 percent) of Iowans want to see the medical cannabis program expanded in order to ease access to this new program.

Iowan adults voiced their support for suggestions that more qualifying conditions should be included in the law that established the medical cannabis program. The proposed expansion would also include increasing the number of shops from which medical marijuana can be bought.

Iowa’s medical cannabis program was launched last year in December with just five dispensaries and one manufacturer allowed to operate within the state. The dispensaries sell cannabis oils, capsules and creams. So far, only 1,200 Iowa patients have received the nod to use medical cannabis in the state.

The Iowa Poll also showed a record level of support for the legalization of recreational cannabis. The poll conducted early this month found that there was an equal proportion of Iowans who wanted to see an end to prohibition and those who opposed it.

The figures stood at 48 percent in favor of legalization while another 48 percent didn’t want recreational cannabis allowed in the state. Four percent of the participants in the poll were not sure whether prohibition should be ended or not.

The Iowa Poll has been tracking the sentiments of Iowans about cannabis legalization since 2010. This year’s poll shows a huge jump in support from the 39 percent who expressed support for legalization last year to the 48 percent expressing the same sentiment this year.

This poll results have come out at a time when Iowa lawmakers are considering proposals to expand the medical cannabis program.

One of the changes that is being considered by the senate committee is a proposal to allow medical professionals to recommend the use of medical cannabis for any condition that they think can be alleviated or treated using marijuana. This would be a major change from the current position where the medical marijuana law provides a list of the conditions for which a patient can apply for a medical marijuana card.

Another change that is being considered is to allow nurse practitioners to certify patients as well. Under the current law, only physicians can certify patients who wish to join the medical cannabis program.

The sole manufacturer (MedPharm) has also been lobbying to have the legislators lift the three percent THC cap on medical cannabis products. This restriction may be harder to change since legislators are wary of “opening the door” to cannabis addiction and abuse if THC levels are allowed to get higher.

Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF) applaud the legislators in Iowa for being willing to modify the medical cannabis program so soon after its launch.

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420 with CNW – North Dakota Considers Amendments to Improve Access to Medical Marijuana

As North Dakota inches closer to making medical marijuana available to residents, a number of proposals have been brought before the legislature in order to make it easier for patients to access the drug once it becomes available.

One of the most important proposals being considered seeks to include physician assistants among the medical professionals that can certify patients who need medical marijuana cards. The current law only permits advanced practice nurses and physicians to certify patients.

Adding physician assistants to this list would give patients a wider scope of professionals that they can contact for a recommendation.

Another major change that is proposed entails removing the requirement compelling doctors to assert that the patient being recommended will benefit from consuming medical cannabis. This certification requirement has been a major stumbling block in the way of patients who want a recommendation because doctors were uneasy about committing to the efficacy of a drug for a given health condition in the absence of sufficient research backing up the suitability of treating such a condition using medical marijuana.

If the change is adopted, doctors will only be required to state that medical cannabis may help the patient having a qualifying condition. It is hoped that more patients will be able to get recommendations once this change is made.

State statistics show that just about 100 patients had secured medical cannabis cards from October last year when applications started being received. This dismal number was largely due to the reluctance of doctors to certify patients based on the guidelines set in the law passed in 2016.

There is another proposal to include cannabis edibles among the different forms of cannabis that patients can access. This addition is likely to be a welcome one, especially for patients who are uneasy about smoking marijuana. Edibles are more discreet.

While lawmakers are considering proposals to expand the list of qualifying conditions, some advocates are campaigning for a different approach to this matter. They say that it is more sustainable to give the Department of Health the authority to add to the list of qualifying conditions as more research becomes available instead of having to amend the law whenever additional conditions need to be included on that list.

The call of the advocates seems reasonable, because it allows the list of qualifying conditions to grow continuously without the lengthy procedures of the legislative process.

All in all, it is good that the legislature is fine tuning the law so that the beneficiaries (patients) aren’t subjected to any avoidable inconveniences. Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQB: SNNVF) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) welcome these changes that will ease access to medical cannabis.

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420 with CNW – Minnesota Legislators Introduce Marijuana Legalization Bill

Three legislators in Minnesota have introduced a bill that is intended to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in the state. Two senators (Scott Jensen and Melisa Franzen) and House Rep. Mike Freiberg are the brains behind this bill that was introduced on Monday this week.

The bill seeks to allow adults over 21 years of age to possess, grow and consume cannabis within the state. The state would also set up mechanisms through which the industry can be regulated in order to ensure that all activities conform to set standards during the cultivation, processing and marketing of marijuana. Special attention would also be devoted to preventing teens from accessing cannabis.

Frieberg released a statement in which he said that the prohibitionist laws of Minnesota were outdated and caused more problems rather than fixing the problem of drug abuse. He added that creating a regulated market would get rid of the criminals currently selling the drug and regulated sales would also bring revenue to the state while reducing the potential harm of marijuana to consumers.

Rep. Frieberg also said that it was time to start having a debate on marijuana in the state in order to come up with an appropriate model that will end cannabis prohibition.

In the bill, the Department of Health would be responsible for regulating cannabis dispensaries in the state. The department would also make sure that cannabis regulators establish a system that oversees the entire cannabis value chain from the time a seed is planted to the time the finished product is sold.

The bill will also allow the state to expunge certain cannabis arrests from the criminal records of those who qualify for such a reprieve. Under the bill, approximately $10 million from the cannabis tax revenue will be spent n the impoverished communities that have been affected the most by the prohibitionist laws. Millions of dollars would also be directed towards mental health programs each year in addition to funding education campaigns on drug use by teens.

The Marijuana Policy Project estimates that Minnesota can earn about $200 million to $300 million from marijuana taxes each year.

Currently, 10 states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana while 33 states have legalized medical marijuana. Minnesota therefore will have a large pool from which to draw experiences when finalizing its marijuana law.

However, it may be a while before a final law is passed since the Senate’s Majority Leader (Paul Gazelka) said that the most that can happen during this legislative session is to have an informational hearing.

All the same, cannabis industry players like Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPWRF) and Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQB: SNNVF) hope that the discussions will be objective and culminate in a decision that is in the best interest of Minnesotans.

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