420 with CNW – Missouri Prosecutors Change Stance on Marijuana Cases

It is still illegal to consume recreational marijuana in Missouri, but prosecutors in several urban areas there have decided to stop going after people found in possession of small amounts of cannabis.

The prosecutors in Jackson County, St. Louis and St. Louis County have all announced that their efforts will be directed elsewhere rather than on small-time marijuana cases.

The change in these urban areas isn’t unique to Missouri. Brooklyn, Manhattan, Albany and Virginia are other examples of urban authorities where similar policies are being implemented.

Wesley Bell, the new prosecuting attorney of St. Louis County, is the latest urban authority law enforcement official to announce that low-level marijuana cases will no longer take any law enforcement resources.

However, individuals who are suspected to be distributing or selling marijuana will still be prosecuted as well as those who drive under the influence of the substance.

Marijuana law reform advocates welcomed this announcement and expect many other urban authorities to take similar action since there is growing pressure to end prohibition and adopt legalization and regulation of marijuana.

At one time, cannabis was seen as a stepping stone (“gate-way” drug) to harder drugs like heroin and cocaine. However, the medicinal use of marijuana has led to wider acceptance of the substance and nearly three dozen states have legalized its medical use. Missouri voters did the same during the recent midterms.

The decision taken by the prosecutors in the urban areas of Missouri have nevertheless attracted some criticism. For example, some lawmakers are saying that it isn’t up to the prosecutors to decide which laws they will implement and which ones they will not implement. They added that it is the work of the legislature to make laws while the judiciary interprets them and law enforcement simply implements those laws.

The action of the prosecutors is therefore a subversion of democracy, the critics concluded.

In response, Wesley Bell said that his biggest priority is to keep families safe, and small-time marijuana possession isn’t the biggest threat to families. Violent crime and other serious forms of crime pose a bigger threat to public safety, so scarce resources should be directed there.

Bell gave an example that a minor marijuana possession case can take approximately 60 hours of an assistant prosecutor’s time. Is that a good way to utilize the limited law enforcement personnel, he wondered.

Since prosecutors are in the business of tackling crime, who is to argue against them regarding how much attention low-level marijuana possession should be accorded? The cannabis industry, including VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) and TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN), welcomes every small step that is taken to end the pariah status that has been unfairly slapped on cannabis for decades.

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Three Things Likely to Affect Marijuana Stock Prices

While 2018 can be described as a huge year for marijuana in many ways, 2019 promises to yield even bigger strides for the industry. Investors who are planning to get in on the action this year should pay attention to three important factors that are likely to have an impact on the price of marijuana stocks. This article discusses those factors.

Changes to U.S. Marijuana Laws

There have been concerted efforts to get the U.S. federal government to modify its marijuana laws. So far, nothing has happened yet. However, the new House of Representatives that started its work at the start of this month seems poised to pass some legislation that will change the legal landscape for marijuana. Efforts are also ongoing in the Senate to build consensus around marijuana law reform.

Should any change be made, several companies are poised to register big wins since they will be able to attract more investors. For example, the passing of a law that recognizes the right of states to enact their own marijuana laws can ease the jitters of many potential investors in the industry. Needless to say, the rescheduling of marijuana at the federal level can cause major activity in the market for marijuana stocks.

Growth and Expansion in the Canadian Recreational Market

The Canadian recreational market is still in its infancy, but even then, the demand has overwhelmed the growers there and they are scrambling to step up their production in order to meet the huge demand.

Be that as it may, many more aspects of the market, such as concentrates and edibles, are yet to be legalized. The passing of the appropriate legislation for those other products will cause a significant stir in the market. The companies that have primed themselves to bring additional products, such as edibles, will command a huge share of the market. Savvy investors should therefore do their homework and identify the companies that have positioned themselves properly to jump in first once the door is opened.

Big Deals

In 2018, the marijuana industry saw some major deals between cannabis companies and entities outside the industry. For example, Constellation Brands concluded a big money deal with Canopy Growth. Cronos Group also received a huge investment from tobacco giant Altria. Those deals caused major price movements in the stocks of the two cannabis companies, and more deals can be expected this year.

Remember, last year ended when there were rumors that some beverage makers, such as Coca-Cola, were in talks with Canadian marijuana companies. Nothing came of those rumors, but don’t discount them just yet. Other companies are also poised to strike deals with big brand entities that are looking to get a foot into the marijuana industry. The investors who correctly identify and buy shares in companies that eventually put pen to paper will smile all the way to the bank when they ride the wave that will carry the stocks of those companies upwards as a result of the deals struck.

The marijuana industry has rightly been lauded as good for everyone (patients, the taxman, employees, investors and recreational users). Read the factors above correctly when making an investment decision and you too will join the ranks of those who are benefiting from the industry. That is what industry players like Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) want for every investor.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Cannabis Drinks Likely to Be a Big Hit in 2019

As calls for marijuana legalization sweep across the U.S., many companies are gearing up to provide yet another way to get your high, by sipping marijuana. Cannabis-infused drinks are poised to be a big thing in 2019 and beyond if the undertones surrounding the cannabis industry are to be believed.

First, industrial hemp is now legal to grow after the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. This means that companies will have a huge source of CBD (the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in hemp and marijuana) to use when making cannabis beverages.

Such drinks may be the first to become popular since name-brand giants like Coca-Cola have expressed an interest in making them. Those beverage giants have massive experience in building a brand from scratch and distributing it to all corners of the world cost-effectively, skills that will be crucial in getting the cannabis drinks to as many people as possible without affecting their cost.

Secondly, the medical use of marijuana is growing rapidly and more states are due to pass legislation or vote on ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana. This sector will also provide huge opportunities for cannabis drinks to take root and thrive. Already, one brewer has put a non-alcoholic cannabis beverage on the shelves of medical marijuana dispensaries. You can bet that more such drinks are in the offing, and consumers may be spoilt for choice by the end of 2019.

A number of craft beer makers have also gotten in on the action and it is now easy to find “cannabis beer” in states where recreational cannabis is legal. However, that beer just contains terpenes that give the beer flavors similar to cannabis flavors. Consequently, you aren’t likely to get a double-high (drunk on beer and high on marijuana). So, don’t be fooled when you see the image of a marijuana leaf or plant slapped on a beer can.

There’s a major reason why you are unlikely to find an alcoholic drink that contains THC. The existing laws in the country don’t allow any maker of alcohol to include THC among the ingredients used to make that alcoholic drink.

This legal provision has a firm foundation in logic, for you wouldn’t want to learn the hard way what a concoction of different intoxicating substances can do your body and mind.

If you didn’t know about that provision of the law, then you need to be first in line to get your ticket to the upcoming Cannabis Drinks Expo in San Francisco so that you can interact with different players in the cannabis industry, such as Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) as you sip on the different drinks available.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Federal Report Shows More Banks Doing Business with Cannabis Companies

A quarter-three report for 2018 released by the Treasury Department’s FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) shows that the number of financial institutions that are doing business with marijuana businesses has increased by 20 percent from what it was at the start of this year.

The data gathered by FinCEN shows that 111credit unions and 375 banks had cannabis businesses as clients by the end of September.

This latest report has no surprises since previous quarterly reports by the agency showed a steady increase in the number of financial institutions willing to work with cannabis businesses even if national laws regard marijuana as an illegal substance.

The Q3 report comes hot on the heels of the electoral victories scored by marijuana in the midterm polls. Michigan voters approved adult-use cannabis while voters in Utah and Missouri voted in favor of medical marijuana.

The recent general political developments also seem to favor the marijuana industry in some form, especially when one considers the fact that the Democrats have taken control of Congress. National opinion polls also show record-high support for marijuana legalization, and the politicians may think twice before ignoring this tide.

Meanwhile, the ABA (American Bankers Association) started collecting data from its members regarding the challenges that they are facing as they serve the cannabis industry. The data collected will be used to apply pressure upon Congress and the relevant regulators to institute helpful reforms in the stifling banking laws.

At the same time, a number of key players in the federal government, such as the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have expressed a willingness to find ways for cannabis businesses to keep their cash safely instead of in bags as is the current practice.

The Federal Reserve chair has also acknowledged that the current legal regime makes it hard for financial institutions to have any certainty regarding how to work with cannabis businesses in the states where cannabis is legal. He feels that this needs to change.

States where cannabis is legal are also speaking up in different ways. For example, financial regulators in 13 states wrote to Congress asking for protections for the banks doing business with marijuana businesses.

More hope for financial institutions is coming from the consensus that seems to be forming in both Congress and Senate in favor of new legislation geared at fixing the impasse between federal and state banking laws with respect to offering services to cannabis businesses.

The big question now is whether the Republican-leaning Senate will cooperate when it matters if the Democrats in Congress pass cannabis-friendly bills. VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF), Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and the entire cannabis industry would be glad if these two houses agreed and removed the existing ambiguity in the financial laws affecting cannabis banking.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Marijuana Has No Effect on Kidney Transplant Outcomes, Research Finds

In the U.S., people who admit using or test positive for cannabis are routinely denied kidney transplants or turned away when they offer to donate their kidneys. This practice has gone unchallenged until a recent study proved that marijuana doesn’t affect the outcomes of kidney transplant surgery.

The research to find out how marijuana affects recipients of kidneys during and after the transplant surgery was partly inspired by the story of a man in Maine who was denied a kidney and even removed from the waitlist because he was a user of medical cannabis.

A group of researchers reviewed the transplant records at one kidney transplant facility from 2000 to 2016. The data on the donors and kidney recipients was grouped based on whether those people consumed cannabis or not.

31 of the donors reviewed were found to have used cannabis while 27 of the kidney recipients were also consumers of marijuana.

The comparison revealed that no difference existed between the recipients who got kidneys from consumers of cannabis and those whose donors didn’t consume cannabis.

The researchers concluded that facilities should start accepting donors who consume cannabis since the substance doesn’t have any discernible effect on the performance of the kidneys after the transplant surgery.

Such a shift would increase the pool of possible donors in order to reduce the long waitlists for matches between donors and potential recipients. Finding a match is already hard enough as it is, so there is no justification to prevent potential donors from participating just because those donors have a history of consuming cannabis.

The researchers hope that their findings trigger a discussion in the scientific community and the medical centers involved in conducting kidney transplants.

The walls and stereotypes surrounding marijuana seem to be collapsing one by one. It is refreshing to realize that debunking the myths and misconceptions on cannabis is being spearheaded by the scientific community. Their findings cannot be accused of fueling propaganda either for or against marijuana. They are simply putting the facts straight.

Hopefully, those scientific studies will trigger a mindset change in the collective consciousness of communities that have for decades been brainwashed into thinking that the cannabis plant was evil and was connected to many of the social ills plaguing different communities.

Cannabis companies like TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) welcome the findings of the researchers studying the relationship between cannabis consumption and kidney transplant outcomes. Such findings validate some of the things that cannabis companies have been saying all along.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Attorney for Oregon Selected to Head Marijuana Group

The head of the federal prosecutors in Oregon has been selected to lead the U.S. Attorney General’s Marijuana Working Group. This group is made up of all the federal prosecutors in the states where cannabis is legal in some form (recreational and, or medical).

Billy Williams of Oregon will lead this 16-member panel. The panel examines how the different states are handling matters of law enforcement, policy and practices with regards to marijuana. The committee isn’t a new creation. It existed long before Donald Trump took office.

The panel is part of the sub-committee which advises the U.S. Attorney General on issues regarding controlled substances, such as cannabis and heroine.

The selection of Williams is significant since he has been very vocal in expressing his displeasure regarding the way the state of Oregon handled marijuana legalization. He has always pushed for stronger measures to cut off the supplies of marijuana into the black market.

Early this year, Williams revealed his priorities for the federal prosecutors under his leadership in Oregon. He wanted enforcement efforts to be focused on stamping out the illegal cannabis market in the state as well as ending the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

Recently, he again stated that overproduction and the black market have become major law enforcement issues on the west coast where cannabis is legal for both recreational and medical use.

His zeal for “greater regulation” seems to have now received a bigger platform upon which he can promote his desire to see multi-district efforts to control the burgeoning cannabis industry.

Interestingly, the press release announcing the selection of Billy J. Williams was released on the very day that Jeff Sessions resigned as U.S. Attorney General.

It would have been worth following how Jeff Sessions, known for his strong opposition to any form of cannabis legalization, would have acted if he had Williams (a man known for his zeal to see tougher marijuana legislation) as his de facto chief advisor on matters of marijuana. Industry players could be sighing with relief that those two men never got to work closely together.

Medical marijuana became legal in Oregon in 1998 while a ballot measure legalized recreational cannabis in 2014. This means that Oregon was one of the pioneer states to allow adult-use cannabis. The zeal of Attorney Williams can therefore be seen in some quarters as an attempt to roll back the tolerance of cannabis in that state.

Marijuana industry players like TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) will be observing how Williams will perform his duties in this new office to which he has been selected.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Lack of Regulations and Doctors’ Fears Threaten UK Medical Cannabis Program

Many patients celebrated when the UK government announced that doctors could start prescribing medical marijuana come November 1. However, the reality after that date is turning out to be frustrating for many patients as doctors seem reluctant to prescribe medical marijuana.

The first hurdle that patients have to negotiate is to find a specialist doctor who can prescribe medical marijuana for the condition which the patient has. This requirement is different from what happens in other countries where any GP can prescribe medical marijuana after enrolling to participate in the program.

As it is, many specialist doctors approached by patients for a prescription are turning away those patients for a variety of reasons.

Some of the doctors are saying that medical cannabis is just a fad which will pass in no time. They therefore see no need to involve themselves in such a “passing wave”. Such a mentality shows how much needs to be done to inform doctors about the medicinal benefits of marijuana.

Other specialist doctors are refusing to prescribe medical cannabis because those products are an unknown entity which hasn’t been subjected to double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials similar to what other drugs or pharmaceutical products undergo before coming to market.

The doctors fear that they could be held liable in case an adverse effect occurs to a patient for whom that doctor wrote a prescription for medical cannabis.

Such a fear could have been resolved in case appropriate regulations had been passed to control which marijuana products are permitted on the market.

Even patients who don’t go through specialist doctors and opt to apply to the temporary approval panel to get a license for medical cannabis have been met with rejection.

Hannah Deacon is the mother to one of the two boys whose cases generated such a huge public outcry that the government changed the existing law to make medical marijuana legal in the UK. She now works with a cannabis campaign group and has been getting calls from parents whose kids have been denied medical cannabis prescriptions.

A consultant neurologist, Dr. Waqar Rashid, understands the frustration of the patients who want to access medical cannabis. He also appreciates the concerns of the doctors and he has therefore formed a society of medical cannabis clinicians in order to disseminate information about medical cannabis. The group will form the core around which other doctors will be brought on board to prescribe medical cannabis. So far, 60 clinicians have joined that group spearheaded by Dr. Rashid.

The efforts by clinicians like Dr. Rashid and the groups of parents and patients, such as the one Hannah Deacon works with, are the way to go if clarity is to be attained on the way medical cannabis is to be availed to the patients who badly need it. Participants in the cannabis industry, such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) applaud all those who are adding their voice to the calls for medical cannabis to be accessible to everyone who needs it within the UK or elsewhere.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Poll Suggests North Dakota Will Legalize Marijuana Next Month

A new opinion poll in North Dakota is suggesting that those in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana will take the day when the matter is voted upon during the midterm polls next month.

This ballot measure comes after the state legalized medical marijuana two years ago and implementation is set to start next year.

Measure 3 is expected to legalize cannabis for adult use without any limits on how much marijuana someone can possess or grow. The minimum age limit for this adult consumption has been set at 21. The measure also seeks to expunge all marijuana convictions and protect the state from liability claims originating from marijuana convictions.

The new opinion poll suggests that 51 percent of the voters will vote “yes” while 36 percent will vote “no” to the ballot measure. However, a significant fraction (13 percent) of the participants in the poll revealed that they hadn’t made up their mind regarding how they will vote. This group could well hold the key to determining which direction the vote eventually swings on voting day.

Demographics are also likely to play a role in the outcome of the vote. Voters older than 50 seem to be biased in favor of continued prohibition while those who are younger than 50 want prohibition to end.

Advocates are therefore hoping that younger voters turn up in massive numbers so that the measure sails through in November. The opinion poll conducted by The Kitchen Group had 57 percent of its respondents in the over 50 age group.

It is noteworthy that respondents were more likely to agree with Measure 3 if they were told that legalizing marijuana would go a long way towards combating the opiate crisis and leaving the meagre law enforcement resources to be directed to more serious issues.

North Dakota is unique from other states that have legalized cannabis in a sense that those who are advocating for the ballot measure don’t have big financiers on their side while the people opposed to the measure have invested massively to sway public opinion against recreational cannabis.

LegalizeND (Legalize North Dakota, a committee set up to campaign for legalization) has been working tirelessly to provide accurate information about marijuana in order to counter the propaganda spread by those opposed to legalization.

Observers say both sides of the ballot measure appear to be getting more funding from sources outside the state when compared to the campaign funds being generated locally. Those opposed to the measure have nearly got all their funding from one source (an anti-marijuana lobby group called SAM, or Smart Approaches to Marijuana). Cannabis companies like TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) can only watch from a distance as the trend of cannabis legalization unfolds.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Washington State Marijuana Tracking System Flawed, Says Report

An assessment report released by Gartner Consulting recently has found that Washington State rushed to implement a seed-to-sale marijuana tracking system even though the regulator and the system provider knew that the tracking system was flawed.

That rushed implementation cost retailers revenue since many dispensaries were unwilling to buy marijuana from those retailers whose systems hadn’t been integrated with Leaf Date Systems (the tracking platform created by MJ Freeway).

Gartner Consulting is an independent technology and research firm based in Connecticut. Washington State LCB (Liquor and Cannabis Board) contracted Gartner Consulting to assess the tracking system over a period of eight weeks.

The consulting firm noted that the tracking system was unstable and crashed several times during the assessment period.

Gartner Consulting placed the blame for these technical glitches on both LCB and MJ Freeway.

LCB is blamed for making a decision to go live with a system that was flawed and could not pass numerous basic tests for such platforms. The regulator should never have allowed an immature system to be commissioned since that put the entire marijuana value chain tracking system at the risk of a total collapse when so much was at stake.

The consultant also pointed out several issues which put LCB and the developer on the spot. For example, the deployment schedule followed was labeled “impossible” by Gartner Consulting since such projects usually take at least a year to develop and deploy. MJ Freeway should have known better and demanded a reasonable timeframe within which to design a defect-free platform.

The assessment also concluded that the platform designer and the regulator underestimated what would be required to customize the platform for Washington State.

A more stinging criticism for MJ Freeway was that the methods upon which the entire system was developed and implemented didn’t adhere to industry best practices. Consequently, the system raises persistent security concerns.

Gartner Consulting went on to propose ten steps through which the tracking system can be salvaged and improved. For example, the consultant recommends that Washington State hires an experienced firm to provide software integration so that the system can work seamlessly with the software used by other marijuana industry players.

Alternatively, the state could take the radical decision to cancel the project and implement a new one.

Jessica Billingsley, the CEO of MJ Freeway, admitted that though they deployed the system in record time, it had some technical issues which are being addressed to improve it. The company has been taking steps to address all the concerns raised in the Gartner report. TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) must be hoping that they never be at the receiving end of such harsh criticism of their products and services.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – U.S. Feds Confirm Canadians Involved in Legal Marijuana Industry Not Welcome

It is just days before recreational cannabis becomes legal throughout Canada but difficulties are already shaping up regarding how this legalization will affect Canadians who wish to travel to the U.S. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service has confirmed that steps will be taken to bar people who are involved in the Canadian marijuana industry from entering the U.S.

CBP’s confirmation comes at a time when numerous media reports emerged about individuals who were handed lifetime bans from entering the U.S. as a result of their investment interests in the cannabis industry.

Customs and Border Protection is simply enforcing the U.S. federal government position that marijuana is a controlled substance that has no medical value and has a high potential for being abused. The feds therefore don’t recognize the marijuana industry as a legitimate business or industry. Anyone involved is regarded as a drug trafficker just like those found with heroin and other such drugs.

Some of the consequences of being found with cannabis or admitting to an involvement in the cannabis industry may include being fined and/or having your cannabis seized, arrests and bans on admission into the U.S.

CBP officials also warned that Canadians should not be tempted to lie about their involvement in the cannabis industry either as investors or consumers since such misrepresentations will carry serious consequences once discovered. The stored data on any affected persons will be kept and referred to in future when those people try to reenter the U.S.

It is still unclear how the Customs and Border Protection agents will screen Canadians entering the U.S. CBP itself admits that not everyone will be questioned about cannabis, but questions may arise when a person is found with cannabis or when the smell of cannabis is detected in the car of the person at an entry point.

Congressman Lou Correa has written to Homeland Security asking its head to clarify a number of issues regarding the implementation of CBP’s position on Canadians involved in the legal marijuana industry. For example, how will the agents determine that someone at the entry point is a participant in the cannabis industry?

People who are handed a lifetime ban can apply for that ban to be waived for a while. That waiver comes at a cost of $585 (not including the person’s legal fees). It isn’t yet clear how long it can take for that waiver to be processed.

Canadian citizens are beginning to get a taste of what companies like TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTC: VVCIF) have to deal with as they expand from one jurisdiction to another.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.net