420 with CNW — NCAA Panel Seeks to Get Cannabis Off Banned Substances List

College athletes may soon earn a reprieve against anti-cannabis policies that prevent athletes from consuming cannabis and penalize those who do. Much like the federal government, most sports organizations have banned cannabis consumption among their respective athletes. However, the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports is urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association to remove marijuana from its drug testing protocols and list of banned substances.

After decades of federal criminalization and millions of lives changed, a wave of cannabis reform is sweeping across America, leaving dozens of states with either medical or recreational cannabis markets, sometimes both. America’s state-legal cannabis industry is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country, responsible for employing hundreds of thousands of people and providing states with billions of dollars in tax revenue.

However, marijuana is still controlled at the federal level and is classified as a Schedule I drug with no medical applications. This is despite the fact that numerous studies have found cannabis to be effective against several medical conditions and more than 30 states allow medical marijuana use. This means that certain classes of employees, including professional athletes, can be penalized for using cannabis as per state regulations. For example, American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson recently lost her spot in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for cannabis before the race.

If the NCAA panel is successful, drug testing will be limited to substances that can enhance performance, which cannabis cannot. The NCAA panel said in a recent statement that its committee would collect input on the move to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances over the summer before taking action in the fall.

At a meeting in mid-June, the committee requested that the NCAA pause cannabis testing among athletes until the matter is finally put to rest. According to committee members, the association should approach cannabis as it did alcohol and eliminate punitive measures for cannabis use in exchange for education on the health risks posed by using the drug.

If the NCAA agrees, this wouldn’t be the first time it has stepped back on some of its punitive cannabis policies. In 2022, the association increased the maximum threshold of THC, the main psychoactive agent in cannabis, and recommended a restructuring of the penalty structure for athletes who fail THC tests via the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

The National Football League (NFL) has also stopped testing its players for cannabis during the off-season while the MLB announced in 2019 that it would remove cannabis from its list of “drugs of abuse.”

Companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), which are focused on developing FDA-approved therapeutic formulations from marijuana compounds, are likely to help athletes and other groups of patients benefit from the medical effects of marijuana without taking the risk of running afoul of any existing laws, whether federal or state level restrictions.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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 — Five Compliance Mistakes Cannabis Companies Should Be Wary Of

Operating within one of the most fragmented regulatory landscapes in the world, businesses involved in the cannabis industry face unique challenges. With the expansion of the U.S. markets, the complexity of cannabis compliance requirements is on the rise.

The significance of adhering to marijuana regulatory compliance cannot be emphasized enough. Implementing a robust compliance program is crucial for safeguarding businesses, reputations, licenses and pipelines. Compliance also plays a key role in fostering a culture of accountability, where employees are encouraged to adhere to frequently changing rules.

Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when it comes to cannabis compliance:

Insufficient understanding of regulating agencies

A common error made by cannabis entrepreneurs is neglecting to comprehend the governing agencies overseeing their operations. At the local level, businesses may face regulation by boards of supervisors and city councils as well as departments such as fire, planning, police, public health and tax.

Establishing a strong compliance program begins with creating a comprehensive list of all relevant local and state regulatory agencies and ensuring easy access to their contact information.

Ignoring ongoing compliance efforts

Regulations applicable to the cannabis industry are subject to change. Companies need to stay informed by actively monitoring local and state agencies as well as legislative developments in key markets. These entities usually provide advance notice when discussing cannabis-related matters.

Subscribing to email notifications from relevant authorities and implementing a system to track important meetings, monitor agency websites, and stay updated on the latest proposed and final regulations is essential.

Neglecting standard operating procedures, checklists and monitoring logs

This is one of the most significant oversights. Without a solid understanding of day-to-day business processes, maintaining compliance becomes nearly impossible.

Taking the time to identify potential compliance risks and implementing SOPs can help mitigate such risks. For example, checklists may be necessary for packaging and labeling, while visitor logs can ensure facility security. It is also crucial to train staff on the implementation of these tools.

Inaccessibility of documents

Countless businesses have faced repercussions due to their lack of understanding regarding reporting requirements. Operators often fail to keep records easily accessible for document requests from state or local agencies. Creating a master list of records and organizing them for quick access when needed is a recommended approach.

Integrating reporting requirements into SOPs and ensuring employees understand the situations that trigger reporting is crucial.

Clearly identifying whether a situation requires prior approval or can be reported afterward is also beneficial. A comprehensive and easily accessible list of reporting requirements significantly aids compliance efforts.

Underutilizing available tools

Many companies neglect to leverage technology and tools that can identify compliance issues proactively. Industries such as banking, finance and insurance have widely adopted software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for regulatory compliance and business operations. Similarly, SaaS solutions are now available for the cannabis industry, allowing business owners to electronically store and organize documents.

These tools enable easy searching, downloading and printing of records, as well as tracking processes and identifying potential problems. By utilizing these tools, businesses not only protect public safety but also safeguard their reputation, saving valuable time and money.

For companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) that seek to commercialize FDA-approved cannabis-based treatments, the compliance requirements are clear, and they don’t have to navigate a labyrinth of differing state laws in each jurisdiction in which they wish to operate. This is different from what marijuana companies face in their bid to grow their footprint in different markets around the country.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Feds Intend to Complete Marijuana Scheduling Review This Year

During a press briefing in Sacramento last week, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra revealed his intention to provide President Joe Biden with a federal marijuana scheduling decision within this calendar year. Becerra acknowledged the agencies’ concerted efforts to swiftly complete the administrative review.

While previous statements emphasized the urgency of the marijuana review initiated by the president last year, the specific timeline remained unclear. Now Becerra has unveiled his target for fulfilling the president’s directive.

The FDA is evaluating marijuana scientifically through eight different processes under the authority of HHS. The goal is to establish if the substance should be descheduled, rescheduled or kept in Schedule I, which is a classification reserved for substances that are subject to the strictest regulations under the CSA.

Becerra emphasized the collaborative approach of HHS and other agencies, such as the DEA, in striving for an evidence-based response aligned with scientific findings. He expressed optimism about reaching a conclusion relatively soon, ideally this year. Although not a precise deadline, this is the most detailed timetable given by a senior government official, offering valuable insight into the secretary’s expectations for the following six months.

After HHS completes its study, it will send a scheduling suggestion to the DEA, which has the last say regarding the matter. The DEA can choose to ignore the resulting suggestion even if the scientific conclusions of the health agency are admissible in court.

Several legislators, including Congressional Progressive Caucus members and Barbara Lee, cochair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, have joined cannabis supporters in pressing the Biden administration to speed up the scheduling review procedure. At the same time, these lawmakers are pursuing incremental reforms such as marijuana banking.

BOWL PAC founder Justin Strekal emphasized the importance of marijuana descheduling to accomplish the Biden administration’s stated objectives, which include matters such as reestablishing the legitimacy of the law and addressing racial justice.

Becerra acknowledges that the completion of the schedule review by his department is of great public interest. Prioritizing safety and efficacy as guiding principles, he stated in March that action needed to be taken quickly while acknowledging the several stages necessary before deciding.

More than a dozen members of Congress from both parties called for transparency in the cannabis scheduling review in a letter delivered in March to Becerra and Merrick Garland, the U.S. Attorney General. The letter emphasized that Biden’s directive gives a chance to evaluate the causes and effects of federal policy rigorously. It noted the significance of acknowledging marijuana’s current status as a state-regulated narcotic and how scheduling marijuana was motivated by stigma rather than research.

Garland stated during a March Senate hearing that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is still drafting its marijuana policy in anticipation of the findings of the scientific assessment conducted by health agencies.

Many entities, such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), are likely to take an interest in how the scheduling review pans out since it could have far-reaching effects on marijuana as a substance of interest and how its derivatives are used.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Data Shows Reduced Incidents Between Cops, Youth in Canada After Cannabis Legalization

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has had a notable effect on the interaction between young citizens and law enforcement, as per recent data released earlier this spring. The findings, published in the “Drug and Alcohol Dependence” journal in April, revealed that the country’s marijuana legislation, which has been in place for five years, resulted in a significant decrease in reported cannabis-related offenses among individuals aged 12 to 17, regardless of gender.

By examining police records from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2021, researchers affiliated with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto discovered a substantial decline in daily incidents for both young males and females. Among young females, there was a notable 62.1% reduction, equating to 4.04 daily incidents. In the case of young males, the daily offenses decreased by 53% to 12.42.

Canada’s Cannabis Act, which officially took effect in October 2018, legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults aged 18 and above. The researchers concluded that the impact of the Cannabis Act on diminishing marijuana-related offenses among young individuals persists over time, aligning with the act’s primary goal of reducing criminalization associated with cannabis use among youth and its subsequent effects on the Canadian justice system.

The researchers also observed that the legalization of cannabis showed no discernible link to patterns of property crimes or violent offenses.

NORML, in its report, quoted the researchers as stating that the Cannabis Act had led to substantial and consistent reductions of approximately 50% to 60% in cannabis-related criminal incidents reported by young males and females over a span of about three years following legalization.

The researchers asserted that these findings demonstrate the benefits associated with implementing the Cannabis Act, given the negative social and individual-level consequences of young people’s involvement with law enforcement and the criminal justice system due to cannabis-related offenses.

Additionally, the researchers had previously reported that the Canadian Cannabis Act of 2018, which allowed youth to possess up to 5 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent for personal use or sharing, resulted in a short-term (76 days) reduction in police-reported, cannabis-related crimes among youth.

These findings align with another study published in “Drug and Alcohol Dependence,” which demonstrated that the legalization of recreational marijuana use and cannabis sales in Canada did not contribute to an increase in motor vehicle accidents.

Similarly, a 2021 study produced analogous results, revealing no significant changes in traffic-related injuries or emergency department visits among drivers, including youth, following the implementation of the Cannabis Act.

The concerns about the possibility of cannabis legalization leading to increased crime rates or higher rates of incidents between the youth and police seem largely unfounded as the studies above show. Attitudes about marijuana are likely to improve even more once the THC-formulations by companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) hit the market after obtaining the approval of the FDA.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Mother, Son Create Edible to Reverse Marijuana High

The legalization of adult-use cannabis in Massachusetts has led to an increase in individuals exploring the world of cannabis. However, amid this experimentation, there can be an undesirable and unexpected aspect to the experience: the unending high.

A dynamic duo consisting of a mother and her son, both from Boston, may have stumbled upon a potential solution, aptly named Soft Landing. Eli, the son and a recent graduate from Cornell University, describes Soft Landing as a unique twist on the traditional edible. While typical edibles bring about an intoxicating effect through THC, Soft Landing aims to counteract this by providing a calming influence.

Stoloff became aware of the need for such a product during his time at Cornell, where he heard stories of fellow students consuming edibles with no easy way to come down from the intense high. “The delayed effects of edibles are the cause,” he said. “You consume a gummy bear, wait patiently for 10 minutes, feel nothing, and then consume two more. An hour later, you find yourself on your bathroom floor, bewildered and disoriented.”

To address this issue, Stoloff and his mother, Alice Stone, embarked on a journey to develop a chocolate bar that would grant marijuana users greater control over their high. Stone, an entrepreneur with expertise in alternative healing methods, stumbled upon a medical journal article describing a naturally occurring molecule present in various herbs and spices. This molecule exhibited the potential to counteract the effects of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.

“After extensive experimentation and fine-tuning,” Stoloff explains, “we managed to formulate the optimal delivery method for this molecule, ensuring maximum efficacy.”

Subsequently, Soft Landing underwent a medical survey, revealing that 80% of participants rated it as “effective” or “very effective.” This positive response caught the attention of Sean Hope, cofounder of Yamba Market in Cambridge, who has now become an investor in the venture. Hope personally tested the chocolate and shared his experience. “It truly brought about a sense of balance within me,” he said. “The impact was immediate. I can confidently say that this product works. . . . I am convinced that we have a winning product here, and together, we are unstoppable.”

Looking ahead, Soft Landing is on the verge of entering the consumer market and actively seeking further investors to expand production and meet the growing demand.

For the individuals who will have access to the THC-based formulations made by companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), there will be no risk of getting “high.” These companies are making offerings that meet strict FDA requirements so that patients can reap the benefits of the cannabinoid without being intoxicated by their medication.

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420 with CNW — Report Shows Truckers Want Marijuana Testing Reformed

Marijuana testing is currently one of the most controversial matters in the employment market. While a majority of states have passed cannabis policies that allow residents to purchase and use either medical or recreational cannabis, the plant is still illegal at the federal level. As such, certain employers choose to or are required to run regular drug tests to ensure their employees are always drug-free.

With millions of Americans now granted access to legal cannabis, the differences between federal and state laws were bound to have repercussions that would affect tons of employees.

A recent report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has revealed that truck drivers overwhelmingly support cannabis testing reforms. The trucking industry has been dealing with driver shortages due to strict drug-testing policies that have reduced the pool of drivers who are eligible for employment.

In March 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a summary report noting that 10,276 commercial truck drivers had tested positive for THC compared to 31,085 positive drivers during the previous year, and 29,511 in 2020. Even though the American Trucking Association stated in 2021 that lower wages and an influx in retirements were responsible for the driver shortage, the recent increase in positive cannabis tests is also contributing.

In the recent ATRI report, titled “Impacts of Marijuana Legalization on the Trucking Industry,” the transportation research institute reviewed cannabis research, data on cannabis use and highway safety, and trends in legalization. The report also summarized the hiring and workforce implications of cannabis legalization on the trucking industry, taking a closer look at the opinions of carriers and truck drivers on cannabis reform.

According to the report, data from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse shows that more than 100,00 drivers tested positive for marijuana metabolites and were excused from duty from 2020 to 2022. The report also noted that 60.1% of carriers reported an increase in the number of walk-outs and positive pre-employment cannabis tests over the past half-decade. In addition, it notes that with the shortage of truck drivers in recent years averaging 65,000 to 80,000, the drivers removed due to cannabis use are definitely contributing to the shortages.

Federal cannabis prohibition presents a “potential disincentive” for truck drivers, and loosening marijuana testing rules could expand the employee pool and make trucking more attractive to drivers. The report showed that 62% of carriers said that the industry needed to change its federal drug testing policies, with 65.4% saying the cannabis use test should be replaced with a cannabis impairment test, and 40.9% of carriers stated that they were still concerned about impaired driving.

It is possible that a notable number of truckers who test positive for marijuana use the substance for medical reasons, and it is unfortunate that such people lose their jobs as a result. The work being done by entities such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) to come up with pharmaceutical-grade therapeutics from marijuana compounds could help such individuals manage their health conditions without putting their jobs at risk.

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420 with CNW — Activists File Lawsuits Against Montana Governor over Cannabis Bill Veto

Last week, activists filed lawsuits against Montana Governor Greg Gianforte’s decision to veto legislation that shed light on how the state allocated taxes realized from the sale of recreational cannabis. One of the lawsuits was filed by the Montana Association of Counties while the other one was filed by the Montana Wildlife Federation and Wild Montana.

The latter lawsuit requests that a Helena district court judge declare the governor’s veto of the measure void, unless and until both the secretary of state and Gov. Gianforte ask legislators their stand on whether to override the governor’s decision on the last day of this legislative session. Lawmakers can override this veto with a majority vote of two-thirds.

The lawsuit calls attention to the fact that while the governor does possess constitutional authority to veto the measure, he cannot exercise this authority with regard to this particular bill or any other for that matter if it interferes with the constitutional authority of the legislature to override said veto.

On May 1, 2023, the measure in question, SB 442, was approved in the senate by a 48 to 1 vote. The measure, which was sponsored by Senator Mike Lang, proposed that taxes imposed on the sale of recreational cannabis be divided between the general fund, conservation and recreation programs, addiction treatment and veterans services, and county road construction and maintenance.

On May 2, 2023, Gianforte vetoed the measure, arguing that it made the state responsible for things under the jurisdiction of local authorities, thus creating a slippery slope. The governor also disagreed with the fact that the legislation directed cannabis revenues to different accounts. The veto was read right before Senate Majority Leader Pat Flowers adjourned the Senate, which made it impossible for the legislature to override it.

This timing left the measure in a state of uncertainty, with the plaintiffs arguing that Gianforte’s veto wasn’t formally communicated to the senate, which made it invalid. For a veto poll to be issued now that the legislature is fully out of session, Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen has to receive the veto memo and the measure from the office of the governor. At the moment, this hasn’t been done, despite insistence from Wild Montana attorneys.

In both lawsuits, the plaintiffs argue that failing to fix this situation by issuing a poll to override the governor’s veto would create a loophole that could be used in the future to steer clear of veto overrides.

As these moves to reform cannabis laws in Montana are taking place, a different situation is unfolding in the realm of the medical use of marijuana. Several enterprises, including IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), are making strides forward in their bids to commercialize THC-derived formulations. Once these are approved by the FDA, offerings from these companies will be available to patients through the medical system in and outside the United States.

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420 with CNW — Possible Legalization Reversal Has Thai Cannabis Advocates Worried

Thai Ganja TV has been a platform where marijuana enthusiasts have closely followed the remarkable transformation of the drug from being a banned substance to a legalized medicinal plant and eventually a recreational indulgence. However, a year after the decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand, the platform’s approximately 90,000 followers are now witnessing with bemusement the threats from rival politicians who seek to once again outlaw or strictly regulate open consumption and dispensaries.

At the forefront of this debate is the soon-to-be prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat, whose party MFP surprisingly emerged as the winner in the May 14, 2023, general elections. Although MFP is generally seen as the most progressive political party in Thailand, marijuana advocates argue that it is spearheading the movement to curtail recreational use, casting a shadow over the nation’s multibillion-dollar marijuana industry.

Pita now asserts that the marijuana boom should be temporarily halted to control recreational use until the next government passes the proposed marijuana act, which would establish clear guidelines on the sale and consumption of the drug. This aligns with the perspective of Pita’s alliance, comprised of eight parties, several of which are from the conservative, largely Muslim provinces of southern Thailand.

The alliance’s position on cannabis has infuriated Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who championed the substance’s liberalization and refuses to support any government that aims to retract the current laws, even on a temporary basis. Anutin’s party, Bhumjaithai, holds 71 seats, which gives it considerable influence in determining the next government’s composition.

While politicians engage in disputes, marijuana advocates are growing increasingly frustrated with the uncertainties surrounding their industry. The legal ambiguity has eroded investor confidence, despite the industry’s rapid growth after decriminalization. Thailand has experienced a visible transformation with regard to cannabis, as it swiftly transitioned from a country with severe penalties for cannabis possession to one of the most permissive environments for its use and sale.

Exploiting the legislative gaps resulting from the failure to enact the marijuana act, both Thai residents and tourists openly consume cannabis on the streets. The market has also been flooded with illegal imports, primarily from North America, providing ample ammunition for opponents of the liberal marijuana culture.

Kobboon Chatrakrisaeree, a small-scale farmer in a Bangkok suburb, says the initial excitement following decriminalization has subsided. He claimed that due to the lack of appropriate restrictions, cannabis is now polluted by careless company owners who sell to minors and by people who openly smoke on the streets as if they were in Canada.

The regulatory uncertainty seen in the marijuana industry around the world has created an opportunity for enterprises such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) to develop medicines from marijuana. These entities plan on getting FDA approval for those therapeutics so that patients can easily access the novel treatments sans fearing that they could run afoul of prohibitive laws or complex state-level marijuana regulations.

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420 with CNW — D.C. Woman Wins Case Against Neighbor’s Marijuana Smoke

A judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a ruling requiring a man to cease smoking medical marijuana in his apartment because of complaints from a neighbor about the intrusive odor. Judge Ebony Scott determined that Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd had not proven her entitlement to damages but successfully argued that the smell constituted a private nuisance.

Consequently, Scott ordered Thomas Cackett, who is licensed to purchase marijuana but lacks the authorization to disrupt others’ enjoyment of their property, to discontinue his smoking habit. Additionally, Cackett is prohibited from smoking within a 25-foot radius of Ippolito-Shepherd’s residence.

This groundbreaking decision is expected to set a precedent that may result in further legal action. Ippolito-Shepherd expressed her belief that the ruling is a victory for individuals such as her who have lodged complaints about the smell of marijuana, which has been permitted in various forms in most states.

During the January trial, the 76-year-old asserted that she has experienced health issues, including sleep difficulties, since detecting the scent of marijuana in her Cleveland Park home. Ippolito-Shepherd accused Angella Farserotu, the owner of the adjacent property, of enabling Cackett, a tenant in a ground-level accessory apartment, to smoke without facing consequences. Farserotu and Cackett countered by stating that they bear no legal responsibility for Ippolito-Shepherd’s ailments.

This ruling arrives at a time when concerns surrounding the odor of marijuana have emerged alongside the flourishing cannabis industry. Operating within a legal gray area where marijuana remains illegal at the federal level but is sanctioned by individual states, users, sellers and growers have approached this new frontier cautiously. The legal ramifications associated with the smell have now become an additional concern.

During the court proceedings, Cackett testified that smoking medical marijuana alleviates his pain and aids his sleep following physically demanding shifts as a restaurant manager. He refuted the plaintiff’s claims of smoking continuously throughout the day and night, stating that he typically consumes eight to twelve puffs at night after work, usually outdoors if weather conditions permit.

According to public health experts, passive marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing toxins found in passive tobacco smoke. However, the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug has hindered long-term studies on its effects and passive smoking.

Advocates for marijuana legalization have expressed concerns that restrictions on smoking locations could limit individuals access to the drug for medical or recreational purposes. Due to marijuana’s federal legal status, federal disability protections do not extend to medical cannabis patients. As complaints related to the now-legal drug’s odor increase, certain cities in California have contemplated banning smoking in multiunit housing. While alternative methods of marijuana consumption exist, such as ingestion or vaping, smoking remains the most prevalent approach.

Some proponents of legalized cannabis sympathize with the notion that marijuana smoke can be bothersome and generally agree that responsible consumption entails being considerate of neighbors and surroundings. They argue that expanding and regulating designated public spaces for cannabis use, similar to the regulations applied to tobacco, would offer the best solution.

This lawsuit illustrates some of the challenges that people who use cannabis for medical reasons face, and one may be compelled to think that the efforts of enterprises such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) to come up with pharmaceutical-grade formulations from THC could help patients wishing to benefit from the therapeutic potential of marijuana without facing the wrath of neighbors who aren’t comfortable with the smell of marijuana smoke.

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420 with CNW — Louisiana Senate Signs Off on Cannabis Expungements Bill, Sends to Governor’s Desk

The Louisiana Senate has approved a measure to expunge certain cannabis-related offenses from people’s records and sent the bill to the governor. The new bill will provide a streamlined pipeline that allows people with first-time convictions for cannabis possession to expunge their records.

Most pundits agree that the war on drugs was a failure that led to the incarceration of millions of Americans for relatively minor offenses, and decimated local communities while allowing the criminal institutions behind the illicit drug trade to flourish.

Authorities were especially hard on people of color during the failed drug war and studies now show that Black people were significantly more likely to be arrested and sentenced harshly for cannabis use despite similar use rates with White people.

The majority of states with legal cannabis programs now have expungement laws that allow people with prior cannabis convictions to petition for them to be expunged from their records.

Representative Delisha Boyd introduced the expungement bill in May 2023, and it cleared the House before passing through a key Senate committee. Senate lawmakers then chose to pass the bill via a 32–7 vote before sending it to Governor John Bel Edwards.

If Governor Edwards signs the bill into law, people who were convicted for possessing up to 14 grams of marijuana as their first offense will be able to file a petition at the court to have their records expunged three months after receiving the conviction. Given that current Louisiana law requires that residents wait for five years before they can petition the court to expunge certain records, this bill will significantly expedite the process.

A House committee amended the original version of the cannabis expungement bill to state that only possession cases involving up to 14 grams of cannabis were eligible for expedited expungement. Furthermore, the committee amended the bill to remove provisions eliminating court-processing fees for eligible Louisiana residents and set a $300 cap on the court fees.

The legislation’s language states that the clerk should send equal shares of court processing fees for first-time cannabis conviction expungements to the district attorney and the sheriff.

The move was met with praise by reform activists in the state. Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) legislative manager Kevin Caldwell said in an interview that the organization is excited to see further advances in cannabis policy in the historically conservative state. He explained that Louisiana has one of the costliest and most complicated expungement processes in the country, with most people who seek expungement being forced to pay at least $550 per incident.

This new expungement bill could allow “tens of thousands of Louisianans” to finally clear their records and live their lives without being held back by a criminal record.

While Louisiana is taking steps to expunge the criminal records of individuals who were convicted for certain marijuana-related crimes, several companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) want to make FDA-approved cannabis medicines available to the public to help them in managing or treating some ailments, such as chronic pain. Such medicines wouldn’t come with any risk of facing arrest and incarceration since the formulations would have the required regulatory approvals and patients can get them through their doctors.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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