Political greenBrief
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
“Our policy is the same, really, fundamentally as the Holder-Lynch policy, which is that the federal law remains in effect and a state can legalize marijuana for its law enforcement purposes but it still remains illegal with regard to federal purposes.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions
“Let’s be honest: Cannabis is effectively legal now and the sky hasn’t fallen. A lot of the information people have been given is completely false.”
San Francisco Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, Who Uses Medical Marijuana To Mitigate Pain From Older HIV Medications
State: Pot Sellers Must Register (CA – Cannabis Registration)
The Madera Tribune (November 14, 2017) Individuals planning to sell recreational marijuana or cannabis products next year must register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for a seller’s permit, according to Paul Cambra of CDTFA.
http://www.maderatribune.com/single-post/2017/11/13/State-Pot-sellers-must-register
Yolo County Asks For Help Cultivating Marijuana Rules (CA – Cannabis Cultivation)
Capital Public Radio (November 14, 2017) Even though California voters approved recreational marijuana last fall, many cities and counties, like Yolo, don’t have laws regarding who can grow pot and where. Yolo County says people are growing weed all over the unincorporated areas, even though there is no ordinance that allows it. A series of community meetings are being held this month to gather ideas for the county’s new cultivation and processing rules.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2017/11/14/county-asks-for-help-cultivating-marijuana-rules/
Morro Bay To Accept Medical Marijuana Dispensary Applications — 10 Years After DEA Raid (CA – Medical Cannabis)
The Tribune (November 14, 2017) Morro Bay officials will begin taking applications from prospective operators of up to two medical marijuana dispensaries in July, after the City Council on Tuesday formally adopted local rules to regulate cannabis businesses, personal cultivating and public smoking.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article184685183.html
St. Anne Parish, School Organize Against Proposed Marijuana Store (CA – Cannabis Industry)
Catholic San Francisco (November 14, 2017) St. Anne of the Sunset Parish and school are organizing against a cannabis dispensary that was approved by the San Francisco Planning Commission on Irving Street, in the heart of the local shopping district. The appeal of the Barbary Coast dispensary at 2161 and 2165 Irving is scheduled to be heard by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5.
http://www.catholic-sf.org/CSF-home/article/csf/2017/11/14/st.-anne-parish-school-organize-against-proposed-marijuana-store
Bought By A Marijuana Company, Small California Town On Way To Becoming Pot Mecca (CA – Cannabis Industry)
USA Today (November 14, 2017) A cannabis company’s audacious plan to turn this remote settlement into a marijuana mecca is taking shape. New signs mark the town’s borders on the one road in. Fresh gravel lies in the parking lot outside the tiny store. And workers are installing a small pond, the first of many envisioned for the site.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/11/14/marijuana-company-making-changes-calif-town-pot-bought/859834001/
Pot-Friendly San Francisco Fights Over Recreational Cannabis (CA – Recreational Cannabis)
US News (November 14, 2017) Famously pro-cannabis San Francisco, where the 4/20 marijuana holiday is celebrated with a group smoke-out on Hippie Hill, is having a surprisingly difficult time establishing regulations for the broad legal pot market coming to California in January.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2017-11-13/pot-friendly-san-francisco-fights-over-recreational-cannabis
As More States Green Light Recreational Pot, Educators Adapt Prevention Efforts (CA – Recreational Cannabis)
The 74 (November 14, 2017) With California poised to become the 6th state to allow recreational use of marijuana, educators are grappling with how to adapt their anti-drug policies to a new reality where pot is sold at local dispensaries and advertised on billboards.
https://www.the74million.org/as-more-states-green-light-recreational-pot-educators-adapt-prevention-efforts/
Considerations For Employers As Medical Marijuana Approaches (CA – Medical Cannabis)
The Legal Intelligencer (November 14, 2017) Legal cannabis is having a moment in the United States and only continues to gain momentum. While cannabis remains a “Schedule I” drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 801, et seq., nearly 30 states and the District of Columbia have now legalized cannabis in some form, whether for recreational or medical use.
https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/sites/thelegalintelligencer/2017/11/14/considerations-for-employers-as-medical-marijuana-approaches/
Jeff Sessions Flip-Flops, Says Obama-Era Marijuana Policies Are Still In Effect (DC – Cannabis Legalization)
Civilized (November 14, 2017) Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not afraid to make his anti-marijuana feelings known to the public. But in a recent appearance on Capitol Hill, the anti-cannabis crusader seemed to dial back his rhetoric. Sessions appeared in front of the House Judiciary Committee to discuss his handling of the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General somewhat surprisingly said that Obama-era policies are still in effect when it comes to marijuana.
https://www.civilized.life/articles/jeff-sesssions-obama-era-marijuana-policies-still-in-effect/?utm_source=Civilized+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a52bb6e99e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8343e8fe68-a52bb6e99e-204660761
Insurers Can Deny Coverage For Property Damage Due To Pot Growing (USA – Cannabis Insurance)
Green Rush Daily (November 13, 2017) Be aware, cannabis growers: insurers can deny coverage for property damage due to pot growing. Cannabis is becoming increasingly legal on a state-by-state basis. And so, it has become difficult to regulate the plant due to the differing state and federal laws. The discrepancy in legal terms is a somewhat grey for businesses that have to deal with cannabis companies. In one recent case, the federal courts decided to put their foot down when it came to an illegal marijuana grow operation.
https://www.greenrushdaily.com/insurers-can-deny-coverage-property-damage-due-pot-growing/
Judge Approves Medical Marijuana For Probationer Who Pleaded Guilty In Gang Slaying (FL – Medical Cannabis)
ABA Journal (November 14, 2017) A Florida probationer with schizophrenia will be able to use medical marijuana as a result of a Miami-Dade judge’s ruling this month. The former inmate, Miguel Valdes, pleaded guilty in a 1999 gang-related murder committed when he was 15 years old, the Miami Herald reports. The plea deal called for Valdes to serve nine years of probation after his release from prison.
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_approves_medical_marijuana_for_probationer_who_pleaded_guilty_in_gang
Colorado Medical Marijuana Regulators Want Your Feedback (CO – Medical Cannabis)
Wesrword (November 14, 2017) The Colorado Department of Health and Environment is preparing to implement changes to the state’s medical marijuana rules in 2018, and there’s still time to let the department know what you think of those modifications. Some of the proposed changes are minor, fixing grammatical errors or slightly increasing an application fee, while others are designed to alide the rules with legislation passed in 2017.
http://www.westword.com/marijuana/colorado-medical-marijuana-regulators-want-feedback-on-new-rules-9690545
Sandusky Picks Potential Site For Marijuana Facility (OH – Cannabis Industry)
Sandusky Register (November 14, 2017) Building a medical marijuana facility at a blighted Sandusky site could create a jackpot scenario on many fronts. During Monday’s public meeting, city commissioners voted 6-1 on allowing a company, called The Forest Sandusky, to apply for one of 60 state-regulated dispensary licenses.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201711130012