Weed News (June 19, 2018) I received the following legislative alert out of California today: A bill that could restore the ability to provide free, untaxed cannabis to low- or no-income patients is now being considered in the California State Assembly. SB 829 would allow taxes to be waived for medical cannabis that is donated, free of charge, for medical cannabis patients. This is a welcome improvement for patients with limited means.

NBC Los Angeles (June 19, 2018) A ban on commercial cannabis remains in place in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, with the Board of Supervisors Tuesday opting not to take any action on the issue, even as new legal dispensaries open with state and local licenses in other parts of the county.

High Times (June 19, 2018) The founder of one of the largest marijuana festivals announced a lawsuit against California’s cannabis regulatory agency on Tuesday after the massive Chalice Festival was denied a permit to hold a fully licensed event. The Chalice Festival, a three-day event that was scheduled to take place at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville, has run into complications with new regulations that followed the passage of California’s recreational marijuana law.

Cal Coast News (June 18, 2018) Medical marijuana – cannabis – has been legal under California law since Proposition 215 was passed by voters in 1996. Well over a year ago, facing a mandated state deadline and anticipating new state regulations which would preempt local control, the Arroyo Grande City Council passed an ordinance authorizing deliveries only of medical cannabis within the city. Due to the rigorous protocol the city established to protect residents and regulate delivery services, only one company, Elite Care, has qualified and received a city permit since the ordinance was enacted.

RD Mag (June 18, 2018) With 29 states and counting currently allowing medical marijuana, research on new and better usages is becoming increasingly important. Much of the research community relies on the University of Mississippi, the only federally authorized grower of marijuana, under a contract with the National Institute of Drug Abuse, to supply the plant material needed to continue exploring medicinal marijuana research.

Marijuana.com (June 19, 2018) The Delaware House of Representatives is set to consider legislation that could wipe out records for cannabis-related convictions, while on the West Coast, California lawmakers are set to tackle marijuana-related bills affecting after-school programs, financial institutions and compassionate care facilities. These bills are on their respective states’ legislative calendars for the week of June 18, 2018.

KRON 4 (June 19, 2018) A British pharmaceutical company is getting closer to a decision on whether the U.S government will approve the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant, but parents who for years have used cannabis to treat severe forms of epilepsy in their children are feeling more cautious than celebratory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide by the end of the month whether to approve GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex. It’s a purified form of cannabidiol — a component of cannabis that doesn’t get users high — to treat Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes in kids. Both forms of epilepsy are rare.

Leafly (June 20, 2018) Many parents have seen firsthand the calming, clarifying effect that cannabidiol (CBD) has on their autistic children. Yet most mainstream medical professionals remain skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of using medical cannabis to treat autism. Even politicians are divided: Earlier this month Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed a bill passed by the state legislature that would have added autism as a condition that qualifies for medical cannabis.

Leafly (June 19, 2018) The pace of cannabis research continues to escalate as we’ve hit midway through 2018. Perhaps unsurprisingly, cannabidiol (CBD) continues to be a hot topic in medicine. Here are five medical research studies from the last quarter that made particularly important strides.

Ganjapreneur (June 19, 2018) Robert Patterson, the acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, has announced that he is retiring in two weeks, according to a Washington Post report. Patterson, who has worked at the DEA for 30 years, announced his retirement to staff on Monday via email. Patterson was tapped for the position in October after former DEA director Chuck Rosenberg stepped down.

Entrepreneur (June 19, 2018) As more and more states approve the legalization of cannabis for medical and/or recreational use, savvy entrepreneurs are launching businesses to capture a piece of the new “green rush.” If you’re seeking to break into this dynamic, fast-growing industry, you should start by understanding the fundamentals of how cannabis is brought to market. Below are the three primary ways that legal cannabis is cultivated.

WKBW (June 18, 2018)Opioid use will now be added as a qualifying condition for Medical Marijuana. On Monday, the New York State Health Department announced it would be developing a regulatory amendment to add opioid use as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.

BBC News (June 19, 2018) Cannabis is thought to be the most widely used illegal drug in the UK. But while it can lead to feelings of relaxation, happiness and sleepiness, many experts say the drug is not the harmless “natural” high some claim it to be.