Philadelphia District Attorney Sues Big Pharma For Opioid Crisis

Larry Krasner has been in office as Philadelphia District Attorney for a little over a month. He has initiated some important changes in that short time. His most recent moves are aimed at fixing some longstanding drug-related issues. Most importantly, he is suing several pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis. As the Philadelphia District Attorney sues Big Pharma, momentum could be building to combat the epidemic.

Larry Krasner Is Suing Big Pharma

Krasner announced his decision to sue Big Pharma yesterday in a press release. In it, he said that he filed a lawsuit against 10 pharmaceutical companies on February 2. More specifically, those companies are:

• Purdue Pharma, L.P.
• Purdue Pharma, Inc.
• The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc.
• Allergan Finance, LLC
• Cephalon, Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
• Endo Helath Solutions, Inc.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson

Krasner cited the Consumer Protection Law in his suit. That law allows either the Pennsylvania Attorney General or a Pennsylvania County District Attorney to sue companies on behalf of the state.

In particular, Krasner is suing to recoup some of the costs the City of Philadelphia has incurred dealing with opioid addictions and deaths. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the companies being sued have been deceitful about the dangers of their products.

“The City of Philadelphia has been hurt, more than any other city in the nation, by the scourge of opioids,” Krasner said in the press release.

“The time to act is now, which is why I’ve taken this unprecedented action, in parallel with the City of Philadelphia’s suit, to stop these companies from systematically distracting the public from knowing the true dangers of opioid use as they reap billions of dollars in profits.”

Krasner’s lawsuit isn’t actually the first time someone has sued pharmaceutical companies that make opioids. In fact, there are 16 other lawsuits throughout Pennsylvania. However, Krasner’s suit is unique because it’s the only one filed under the Consumer Protection Law.

Krasner and Marijuana

At the same time that he’s going after Big Pharma, Krasner is also tackling cannabis. He just reformed Philadelphia’s weed policies.

More specifically, Krasner made it so that people caught with weed in Philadelphia will not ever see a court case. The change is a minor one. But it could still have a big impact.

Already, cannabis enforcement is fairly loose in Philadelphia. Krasner said that around 90 percent of the time cops find someone with weed they just write a simple citation. But there’s still that 10 percent when that doesn’t happen.

“What we’re talking about is the 10 percent or so that are being charged as they used to be, as misdemeanors in court,” Krasner said. “From now on, the DA will advise his staff not to pursue criminal charges against anyone arrested for marijuana possession in the city.”

Citations for possession will be anywhere from $25 to $100.

Final Hit: Philadelphia District Attorney Sues Big Pharma

Clearly, Krasner is diving into his new role as Philly’s DA. And he’s already making headlines for his aggressive attempts to fix pressing drug-related issues.

By targeting Big Pharma and relaxing weed laws, Krasner is in direct opposition to more conservative, anti-cannabis politicians. Most notably, people like U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Earlier this month, Sessions attempted to blame the opioid crisis on cannabis. Unfortunately for him, research does not support his claims.

In fact, researchers have found that cannabis can help combat the opioid epidemic. More specifically, cannabis can be a safer alternative for treating pain. Additionally, it can help people already addicted to opioids gradually scale back their dependence.

This City Is Cracking Down on Synthetic Marijuana

As federal marijuana prohibition continues, so does the practice of searching for its legal, or at the very least, easily obtainable substitute. To combat this, one city is cracking down on synthetic marijuana.

The outbreak of synthetic marijuana has become somewhat of an epidemic in its own right, with an influx of overdoses occurring over the last year. For a sample size, last July, there were over 150 people treated for K2 overdoses in the span of just a week.

The drug, which can be up to 800 times more powerful than traditional marijuana, is known for a plethora of ghastly side effects such as seizures, hallucinations, convulsions, kidney damage, in addition to a variety of psychological effects that could result in suicidal thoughts and violent, erratic behavior.

However, one small city in Indiana is taking a proactive approach to ending the epidemic once and for all, following a number of synthetic marijuana induced incidents over the past couple of years.

This City Is Cracking Down on Synthetic Marijuana

South Bend, Indiana has seen its fair share of synthetic marijuana horror stories. Last year, an incident where three kids were rushed to the hospital due, foaming at the mouth, due to a synthetic marijuana overdose, was enough to constitute a change.

“I thought one of them was having a seizure until I saw two others that were in a similar situation. We called paramedics, they made it. But it was a real wakeup call for me about just how harmful and dangerous some of these substances are,” said Southbend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Last year, Beacon Health says there were 1,300 visits to the ER last year because of the drug, a 300 person increase from the year prior.

As a result, synthetic marijuana was deemed illegal back in August. However, companies are finding loopholes to continue marketing their product. A simple recipe change can result in the product no longer being considered illegal, due to the difference in chemical makeup.

However, South Bend is unwilling to allow any such drugs slip through the crack. They had a meeting Thursday night with community members in order to raise awareness of the harmful drug, hoping that, even if there are some available in gas stations and convenience stores, people will have the wherewithal to say no.

Is New Jersey Favoring Decriminalizing Marijuana Over Legalization?

As New Jersey continues to push for the legal cannabis, detractors of the plant continue to look for ways to stop the state from achieving its goal. While this will be somewhat of a tall task for anti-cannabis foes, a group of bipartisan lawmakers have come up with a compromise— decriminalize cannabis in lieu of an outright legalization. And at this point, it’s fair to wonder: is New Jersey favoring decriminalizing marijuana over legalization?

The Suggested Compromise

“This whole legalization stuff needs to slow down. I think folks need to listen to Sen. (Robert) Singer and myself, and people in the community,” said state Sen. Ronald Rice, one of the legislation’s main sponsors.

Under the suggested legislation, pot offenders with a small amount of cannabis would, essentially, be treated like traffic violators.

The new bill would allow those caught with under 10 grams of cannabis to only face a $100 fine for a first offense. Second-time offenders would receive a $200 ticket, and any further offenses would result in a $500 fine. As it stands, offenders, first time or not, can face up to six months in jail, a $500 fine, or both.

Additionally, the bill would also speed the process of expungement for past marijuana arrests and allow municipalities to pocket all but $50 from every fine. The bill would also offer treatment services for those who claim to have a marijuana dependency.

State Sen. Robert Singer, another one of the bill’s sponsors, believes the legislation gets to the root of the problems plaguing New Jersey.

“We are not putting people in jail. We are helping them get treatment if they need it,” Singer said. “What bothered all of us is we are going to try to solve the woes of the state by tax money coming in from marijuana. Shame on us.”

Anti-legalization proponents agree that the bill will help New Jersey lawmakers reach its ultimate goal— providing social justice for its community.

“Marijuana legalization is not the step forward for social justice that has been promised,” said Bishop Jethro James, the president of the Newark/North Jersey Committee of Black Churchmen. “In fact, it’s just the opposite, as the marijuana industry routinely targets vulnerable communities as profit centers. Just take a look at Denver, where the number of pot shops littering the city is greater than the number of McDonalds and Starbucks combined.”

Final Hit: Is New Jersey Favoring Decriminalizing Marijuana Over Legalization?

While the compromise remains an interesting option for New Jersey, it remains a long shot that the bill will usurp any potential plans for outright legalization of the plant as the state’s number one priority.

Governor Phil Murphy made the legalization of cannabis one of the key components of his platform, and it’s unlikely Rice and Singer’s bill would do anything to stop him. Additionally, the bill needs the approval of Senate President Stephen Sweeney in order to make it to a committee hearing, something that appears more than unlikely while legalization is still on the table.

Regardless of the outcome, the proposed bill is still seen by some as a step in the right direction. Even amongst certain pro-cannabis groups.

“This legislation goes a long way in addressing the social injustice surrounding our youth and people of different ethnicities,” said Dara Servis, the executive director of the NJ Cannabis Industry Association. “People of color are targeted and arrested at an alarmingly high rate and this could aid in offsetting the injustice within our community.”

Recreational Marijuana in Canada Will Be Delayed

There’s bad news for those hoping to blaze up north this summer. Today, the Canadian federal government announced that recreational marijuana in Canada will be delayed. The government will not cast the final vote on bill C-45 until July 7th. And it will take 8 to 12 weeks following that vote for Canada’s provinces and territories to prepare their own policies and infrastructure for retail marijuana sales.

It seems that Justin Trudeau’s prediction that Canada would legalize weed by July 1st was overly optimistic.

What is bill C-45?

Two significant bills comprise Canada’s marijuana legalization initiative introduced last year on April 14th: C-45 and C-46. The first one legislates the sale, cultivation, and use of marijuana. The second one toughens laws to stop driving under the influence. On July 7th, the Canadian Senate will be voting on C-45, the more contentious of the two bills.

Under these new laws, Canadians 18 and older can have up to 30 grams of cannabis, purchase weed from licensed retail locations, and grow up to four marijuana plants.

Why the delay?

Politics. The conservative Tory party has been pushing for more time to study the impacts of legal weed on law enforcement, national health, and minors. Conservatives view the July 7th date—as opposed to the May date proposed by Senate liberal Peter Harder—as a victory.

The police force, too, asked for more time to prepare for implementing this new legislation. They also requested that the government rethink letting people grow their own marijuana at home.

After hearing the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s concerns and passing bill C-45, the federal government will still require royal assent to implement the bill. Since Canada is a part of the British Commonwealth, a representative of the Queen of England must give a bill royal assent for it to become an Act of Parliament. This won’t really slow down the process, but it is an extra-legal step.

Next, each territory and province creates its own policy to implement bill C-45. This means that provinces and territories have to vote on local legislation and build infrastructure before weed hits the market. For example, provinces can set their own age restrictions for cannabis, like they do with tobacco. Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor estimates that this will take eight to twelve weeks.

Only after legislation passes the federal, provincial and commonwealth levels can Canadians buy marijuana. In all likelihood, this won’t happen until late August or September.

The Consequences of Delaying Recreational Marijuana

The fact that recreational marijuana in Canada will be delayed will take a toll on summer fun and legal marijuana sales. For starters, you won’t be able to legally celebrate Canada day, July 1st, with the THC session and ounces of weed it deserves. This means another beautiful summer without recreational cannabis. Legally, of course.

More seriously, though, experts value the illegal marijuana industry at $7 billion in Canada alone. As long as cannabis is illegal recreationally, much of this money will go to organized crime, instead of boosting local, taxpaying business. Concerned by the economic consequences of this delay, Independent Senator Tony Dean from Ontario proposed imposing a time limit on conservatives if they delay voting further.

Final Hit: The Good News about Canadian Cannabis

Few are surprised that recreational marijuana in Canada will be delayed. Luckily, the majority of Canadians, the Prime Minister, and the Liberal party support legalization. This means that it’s not a question of if, but when, Canadians will smoke freely. And it looks like not until the end of this summer

Lawmaker Writes Bill To Let Kids Bring Medical Marijuana To School

In California, a lawmaker just introduced a bill to let kids bring medical marijuana to school. Although there are some stipulations, the proposed bill would give students in the public school system to have access to their medication on campus.

The Bay Area Bill

One state senator in the Bay Area of California is unwaveringly in favor of a sensible medical marijuana policy. So much so that he wants to extend the state of California’s already generous medical marijuana program. State Senator Jerry Hill, of San Mateo County, has proposed a bill to let kids bring medical marijuana to school with them.

He introduced the bill, titled Senate Bill 1127, early this week, on Tuesday. The bill would apply to students in the public school system, from kindergarten to the twelfth grade, who depend upon medical cannabis for normal, day-to-day functions.

While this proposed bill is certainly progressive, there are a few stipulations. First and foremost, the medical marijuana may not be consumed in a smokeable form. Or even in the form of a vaporizer. It would have to be delivered in a tincture, capsule or topical.

Another specific detail to Senate Bill 1127 is that a parent or guardian would have to come to the campus to administer the medication. Unlike other medications, the students’ medical marijuana would not be able to be stored in the school’s infirmary, or in lockers, in the case of older students.

Yet another piece of fine print to this proposed bill? If it is passed, there is no guarantee that it would apply to all students who use medical marijuana. School districts in the state of California would not be required to implement this policy.

Still, there seem to be quite a few school district officials who are in favor of Senate Bill 1127. In a press release from Senator Hill’s office, educators in the district lent their voice in support of the measure. Linda Cravalho-Young, the principal for Special Education Services, called pediatric medical marijuana access a “critical issue.”

“Knowing that the bill is being introduced shows amazing progress towards acceptance of our students with special medical needs,” she said.

Final Hit: Lawmaker Writes Bill To Let Kids Bring Medical Marijuana To School

The bill was just introduced this week. But it’s already been met with support from educators and parents alike.

“This legislation is about giving students access to the medicine they need so they have a better chance for success in the classroom and in the community,” Senator Hill proclaimed.

Senate Bill 1127 is not the first of its kind. In the states of New Jersey, Washington, Colorado, Maine and Florida, school districts have adopted similar policies. And in Chicago, Illinois, a sixth-grade girl and her parents are working with their school district to allow her to do the same.

When it comes to medical marijuana, the main thing to remember is that it’s not only effective for adults. Children and teens benefit immensely as well. And as such, they should enjoy the same right to access their medication as adults do. They shouldn’t have to choose between their education and their health. Thankfully, many lawmakers feel the same way.

California Cracking Down on Illegal Marijuana Businesses

Even with recreational weed fully legal in California, illegal marijuana businesses continue to thrive throughout the state. And authorities are not putting up with it anymore. According to reports coming out of The Golden State, authorities are beginning to respond to these illegal operations more forcibly. With California cracking down on illegal marijuana businesses, questions about the transition toward a legal cannabis market remain.

California’s Illegal Weed Businesses

California has pretty much always been one of the hottest weed spots in the nation. It’s home to legendary growing activity and has long been a relatively safe place to consume as many ounces of cannabis as one so desired.

When weed was illegal in California, the state had a strong black market for cannabis. In the age of legal weed, black market activity continues to live on in various ways. According to new reports coming from local media, there are still tons of illegal marijuana shops operating throughout the state.

For example, the Los Angeles Police Department claimed that there are hundreds of such shops in L.A. alone.

“We have several hundred, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 to 300, of what we believe are these unlawful and illegal establishments operating throughout the city,” said LAPD Deputy Chief John Sherman.

It appears that there is a wide range of factors making these shops illegal. For example, some of them may be operating without proper licensing. Similarly, some have been accused of failing to follow proper security protocols.

Whatever the offense, California law enforcement agencies appear to be cracking down on weed businesses they deem illegal. Last week, authorities in L.A. raided a shop that they said was operating illegally. During the raid, they arrested three people, one of whom was a security guard with an unlicensed firearm.

So far, cops in L.A. have identified 18 businesses that they say are definitely operating illegally.

Final Hit: California Cracking Down on Illegal Marijuana Businesses

The exact motives behind this crackdown are unclear. It could be a backlash against the growing acceptance and prevalence of cannabis throughout the state now that recreational weed is legal. As weed becomes legalized in more and more places, it often creates tension between those in favor of legalization and law enforcement who see cannabis as a problem.

On the other hand, the crackdown could be part of the sometimes-messy transition toward a fully legal cannabis market. When weed becomes legal, it eliminates much of the need for a black market. Despite this, the black market continues to exist, often falling under heightened scrutiny by law enforcement.

Whatever the case, the cannabis scene in California is in the middle of big-time changes. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since the 1990s.

But it wasn’t until 2016 that voters approved the legalization of recreational weed. The state’s recreational program, including full-scale recreational retail, went into effect the beginning of this year.

These legal changes have introduced a number of interesting tensions. Most recently, the city of Berkeley became a sanctuary city for recreational weed. A resolution that passed earlier this week stated the city of Berkeley will not cooperate with federal efforts to enforce laws against cannabis.

The decision comes largely in response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In January, Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, an Obama-era policy that told federal agencies to take a “hands-off” approach to dealing with state cannabis laws.

Sessions’ move has worried lawmakers, business owners, and cannabis consumers, many of whom fear that it could open the door to a federal crackdown on all weed-legal states.

In LA, Legal Cannabis Stores Call for Crackdown on Illegal Pop-Ups

In California’s second month of legal adult-use cannabis sales, the nation’s largest retail cannabis scene, Los Angeles, is a mess.

'Due to the lack of enforcement, illegal shops and delivery services are opening up' and stealing sales from licensed dispensaries.

Virgil Grant, owner, Med EX Now dispensary

Licensed dispensary owners say the opposite of what was supposed to happen has happened: As they hold on with limited revenues—many still awaiting city and state licenses—illegal storefronts and delivery services have cropped up to siphon sales.

Some owners of licensed dispensaries are exasperated. Those who aren’t losing money so far in 2018 say they’re just squeaking by, as new underground shops and illicit delivery services steal their customers with cut-rate prices made possible by the fact that they’re not paying taxes.

Why Am I Paying Taxes, Again?

Those taxes are no joke—they include a nearly 10 percent county sales tax, a 15 percent cut for the state of California and a 10 percent cut on receipts that go to City Hall.

“Due to the lack of enforcement and due to legalization, it has empowered illegal shops to start opening up,” says Virgil Grant, owner of Med EX Now, a licensed dispensary. Grant is also the co-founder and president of the Southern California Coalition, the city’s largest cannabis industry trade group.

Customers are 'coming out in droves to illegal shops.'

Jared Kiloh, owner of the Higher Path dispensary

Jared Kiloh, owner of the Higher Path dispensary in Sherman Oaks, said he had to sit on his hands in January, when he was awaiting a license from the city. Meanwhile, multiple illegal shops opened in the surrounding neighborhood and dozens of new delivery services set up shop.

“It’s gotten worse,” says Kiloh. “Come January an uneducated part of the market said, ‘I can buy weed anywhere now.’ Guess what they are doing? They are going anywhere. They’ve come out in droves to the illegal shops.”

The Los Angeles market has long been seen as the grand prize for legal cannabis in the United States and perhaps the world. Even during the era of medical pot the city of L.A. alone had as many tax-paying cannabis retailers as did the entire state of Colorado, which began adult-use  sales in 2014. And that’s not counting the rest of the 88-city county of Los Angeles.

300+ Licensed Companies Expected

With recreational legalization and the coming of the city’s voter-approved Measure M, which overturned the loose framework of the past in favor of licensing, it’s expected that 300 or more retailers, not to mention manufacturers, delivery services and testing labs, will be blessed by City Hall.

'The situation is unfair to the businesses that have been playing by the books.'

Carlos de la Torre, Cornerstone Research Collective

But as the City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulations hustles to release the first batch of licenses to rule-following retailers, the most legitimate shops in town have had to serve a trickle of customers willing to pay their tax-enhanced higher prices, even as commerce rages at illegal storefronts, observers say. For some the dream of a green rush in America’s largest pot market has become a real let-down.

“The situation is unfair to the businesses that have been playing by the books,” says Carlos de la Torre who, with his wife, owns the Cornerstone Research Collective dispensary in Eagle Rock. “Measure M has enforcement issues. I’m actually competing with these businesses that aren’t paying all their taxes. They should have to play by the same rules.”

“With all the new regulations and taxation, and having to buy from only licensed producers, the margins become modest and it’s impossible to survive as long as there’s illegal competition,” adds Aaron Herzberg of CalCann Holdings, a California medical marijuana real estate company. “The legal operators are going to have to suffer financially until the illegal guys are shut down, and that’s going to take a lot of time.”

Illegal Delivery: The Unkindest Cut

The biggest sore spot for legit dispensaries is illegal delivery. Why drive to a shop, which may or may not be legal, and pay high taxes when a guy can come to your door?  In conjunction with state law, the city is only poised to allow deliverers tied to licensed brick-and-mortar shops. And delivery licenses in L.A. have yet to be issued.

Kiloh, president of the UCBA (United Cannabis Business Alliance), a group of legit dispensaries in town that inspired Measure M, says he estimates that 200 new delivery services have popped up since the beginning of the year. “Delivery is not even legal in the city of Los Angeles,” he notes.

“None of us can deliver out of a storefront until we get our full license—so how is that fair?” asks De la Torre. “How many delivery services are there in the city of L.A.?”

Pre-ICOs and Measure M

Delivery was essentially outlawed under the city’s last regulation framework, Proposition D, which was approved by voters in 2013. The measure only allowed 135 or fewer shops to exist, although they were not expressly legalized. Instead they were offered limited legal immunity.

Those stores are often called “pre-ICOs,” because they’re supposed to have existed prior to a failed attempt in 2007 by the city to enact an “interim control ordinance” that intended to freeze the growth of dispensaries in town.

The state’s new legal cannabis framework requires local municipalities to license cannabis companies, and “limited legal immunity” wasn’t going to cut it. The City Council stepped in with Measure M, which is now responsible for licensing all of the city’s cannabis companies.

Delivery services tied to brick-and-mortar shops will be licensed, but the city is initially focused on those so-called pre-ICOs, like the shops owned by Grant, Kiloh and De la Torre, who received the first “priority” licenses.

Herb Wesson: Expecting 157 Licensed Stores

According to a spokeswoman for the office of City Council President Herb Wesson, “the current working number is around 157 dispensaries” that are expected to receive priority licenses from the city. While that number could be seen as fishy given the longtime assumption that there were fewer than 135 pre-ICOs still operating since 2007, the possibility that poseur shops will receive the much-coveted priority licenses has taken a backseat to support for enforcement against hundreds upon hundreds of fully illegal shops.

Those who now favor the issuance of 157 or so priority licenses say there were 187 pre-ICOs in 2007 and that some of those shops that are no longer around should be given a chance to become legal again, despite the survival of fewer than 135 dispensaries since then.

However, many observers agree that the figure of 157 could open the door to illegitimate shops that used doctored paperwork or other shenanigans—some pre-ICOs were split into multiple storefronts—to become legal. Those would-be pre-ICOs relied on documentation that many call “Frankenstein licenses,” backed by documents that included business tax registration certificates (BTRCs) that created the appearance of compliance, critics say.

“Plenty of people in the business for years have never done it right and will probably still get a license anyway,” says dispensary owner Kiloh. “There are [illegal] pre-ICOs that have six locations and change their address with the state of California every two weeks.”

“There are a lot of people who spend a lot of money to get creative to make something look pretty good on paper,” adds Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition. “Not all the pre-ICOs are clean as a whistle.”

License Means Nothing Without Enforcement

Both Kiloh and Spiker say licensing 157 or 158 dispensaries as good actors, even though some aren’t, is better than allowing fully illicit shops to operate without any enforcement.

Kiloh estimates there may be as many as 1,500 illegal dispensaries in Los Angeles, a figure echoed by other experts. Legal operators say they’re going through loopholes to stay open while illicit concerns take their business.

“The people who get the most scrutiny are the ones trying to be most legal,” Kiloh says. “They’re held accountable for paying taxes and enduring regulation paperwork.”

Three Staffers. Yes, Three.

The legit dispensaries are counting on the city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation to help weed out the fakes by withholding licenses. But the department, run by former Drug Policy Alliance coordinator Cat Packer, appears to be overwhelmed. The office has only three employees, including Packer. They’re tasked with weeding through thousands of cannabis industry hopefuls. It’s a daunting challenge for a city that does not even know precisely how many pre-ICOs exist or how many illicit stores exist.

“In order for the department to be successful the City Council has to allocate money,” says Herzberg of CalCann Holdings. Los Angeles, Herzberg adds, “is the largest legal marijuana market in the world. The city needs to make staffing a priority immediately.”

Says Kiloh: “You can’t run regulation in the largest marijuana market with only two employees.”

Press Conference Tomorrow?

Still, there’s faith among some legit retailers that Packer, the City Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Police Department will come to the rescue. The LAPD is expected to hold a news conference tomorrow (Feb. 13) regarding its enforcement efforts. Through department spokesman Josh Rubenstein, the captain of the LAPD’s gang and narcotics division, Stephen M. Carmona, declined to comment for this story. However, another high-ranking official in the department acknowledged that new dispensaries “are popping up fast all the time.”

“We’ve seen shootings surrounding marijuana business go up dramatically,” he added. “The new law has created a black market both for people who don’t want to pay the new taxes and for people who want to sell to those under 21. That black market poses a high potential for crime around a very valuable commodity. If what I’ve seen in the first weeks of the new year holds, it doesn’t portend well for the future.”

Officials: No Comment

The mayor’s office, the City Attorney’s Office and the Department of Cannabis Regulation did not make anyone available to comment on the record for this story. For now, the good actors in the local cannabis industry are eagerly awaiting the cavalry to come and shut down their illegal competitors. Cops can raid shops under state and local law. But the City Attorney’s Office also has tools, including daily $20,000 fines for illicit operators and the landlords who facilitate them.

“I could find 10 shops to close down just driving down the street,” Kiloh says. “But I have yet to hear one business being assessed those fines since January 1.”

“In order for any kind of regulated system to be a success you need to have vigorous enforcement,” says Herzberg. “A surge is going to have to happen if in fact the licenses are to mean anything or be financially viable.”

Can Marijuana Treat Postpartum Depression?

Can marijuana treat Postpartum Depression? This sadness, anxiety and sleeplessness that can follow childbirth affect many new mothers. Traditionally, healthcare providers prescribe antidepressants and psychotherapy. However, many are questioning the efficacy and safety of these treatments. Many new parents are asking, can marijuana treat postpartum depression? And what are the benefits and potential risks of cannabis treatment?

What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?

The symptoms of PPD include depression, irritability, inability to sleep and mood swings. Though it’s unclear what causes PPD, most attribute it to fluctuating hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone, and parental anxiety.

Classified as a major depressive disorder, PPD affects a minimum of 15% of mothers according to a study in the US National Library of Medicine. In real life, this figure is a lot higher. Many mothers feel guilty about experiencing PPD and do not report their symptoms.

What treatments are typically made available to women with PPD?

Doctors typically prescribe antidepressants for PPD. Most believe that there is little to no risk in taking anti-depressants during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Even when there is some risk, many advocate for their use anyway. Studies show that the threat that a depressed mother poses to a child’s development is often considered riskier than antidepressant medication.

Just because antidepressants are commonly prescribed doesn’t mean that they don’t pose a serious risk. A study published by the Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine in Germany found that Sertraline, a popular antidepressant, can result in neonatal abstinence syndrome and serotonergic over-stimulation when prescribed to breastfeeding mothers.

These conditions manifest in tremors, crying, sleep issues, fevers and sweating. In the study, these symptoms worsened until the mother stopped breastfeeding. Though this case was perhaps an outlier, these consequences should be cause for concern.

To make matters worse, doctors commonly give Sertraline to women with PPD because of its low transferability. What are the risks of even more powerful anti-depressants?

Another common treatment for PPD is therapy. Due to cost, time, and distance, however, therapy isn’t always a practical solution.

If therapy isn’t an option and antidepressants are dangerous but necessary, why breastfeed at all?

Today, it’s a common belief that breastfeeding is crucial to the mother and the baby’s health. In a study published by the University of Adelaide, researcher Dr. Grzeskowiak states, “breastfeeding has immense benefits for the child and the mum herself, including a degree of protection against post-natal depression.”

He argues that it’s critical to breastfeeding through the sixth month. This study also found that 57% of women suffering from PPD who stopped taking antidepressants stopped breastfeeding before six months. Medication, though often necessary to continue the beneficial process of breastfeeding, poses a health threat.

A popular alternative to synthetic drugs, can marijuana treat postpartum depression?

Marijuana as an antidepressant

Cannabis is becoming an increasingly common treatment for depression. At Buffalo’s Institute on Addictions, senior researcher Dr. Samir Haj-Dahmane found that “chronic stress reduced the production of endocannabinoids, leading to depression.”

Endocannabinoids are found in the human nervous system. They regulate mood, pain sensitivity, and other important bodily processes. These neurotransmitters are also found in weed.

Dr. Haj-Dahmane explains, “Using compounds derived from cannabis […] to restore normal endocannabinoid function could potentially help stabilize moods and ease depression.” Dr. Haj-Dahmane also points out, marijuana can be an effective tool for coping with post-traumatic stress disorder.

But is marijuana safe to use while breastfeeding?

Can marijuana treat postpartum depression? In short, smoking of any kind is inadvisable while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Just because more women are smoking marijuana during or after pregnancy does not mean that it is safe.

The danger is due to marijuana’s psychoactive cannabinoid, THC. If ingested while breastfeeding, THC can enter the baby’s bloodstream. Studies conducted in Pittsburgh and Ottawa maintain that THC affects a child’s long-term ability to read, focus and feel emotions.

This research focused on mothers who ingested THC while pregnant, not necessarily while breastfeeding.

Dr. Yasmin Hurd from Mount Sinai Hospital states, “Even early in development, marijuana is changing critical circuits and neurotransmitting receptors.” The consequences of transmitting THC to a baby can be significant and long-term.

You could argue that most of the research is about THC transfer during pregnancy. But as infants can also absorb THC through breast milk, we can assume, for now, that similar risks exist.

Dr. Tori Metz of the Denver Health Medical Center explains to The New York Times, “There is an increased perception of the safety of cannabis use, even in pregnancy, without data to say that it’s actually safe.”

Better to be safe when it comes to THC while breastfeeding.

Is CBD safe?

There is very little research on the effects of CBD use while breastfeeding. What we do know is that CBD is non-psychoactive. This means that unlike THC, it doesn’t get you high.

CBD is also used to treat a variety of illnesses such as epilepsy, and it relieves pain, helps with PTSD and reduces inflammation. Additionally, children are increasingly using CBD to cope with serious illnesses.

Final Hit: Can Marijuana Treat Postpartum Depression?

To answer the question: can marijuana treat postpartum depression—potentially. If you’re not breastfeeding, consider talking to your doctor about consuming cannabis to alleviate depression and anxiety.

If you are breastfeeding and you want to use cannabis, stick to products derived exclusively from CBD but know that research is far from conclusive. We’ll have a clearer answer once we clear the smoke surrounding the benefits and disadvantages of medicinal marijuana.

And remember: if you suffer from postpartum depression, it’s not your fault. Don’t be ashamed to seek help and support.

The Lawsuit Against Jeff Sessions Will Be Heard In Court Tomorrow

In case you haven’t been in the loop, a lawsuit against Jeff Sessions has been in the works for months now. Specifically, a lawsuit alleging that the federal prohibition of cannabis is unconstitutional. And tomorrow, that lawsuit will be read and evaluated in the Federal Court of New York City.

The Case

The United States Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, is infamous for his vehement stance against cannabis. Since his appointment as Attorney General, he has not held back on sharing his views on the matter. These views have been entirely in favor of prohibition and firmly against marijuana legalization of any kind.

Including medical marijuana.

Sessions’ statements about cannabis have, historically, not been rooted in any sort of scientific evidence. Rather, they have been a regurgitation of antiquated theories and Harry Anslinger-esque rhetoric. Sessions has, to date, refused to entertain any evidence or research that contradict his anti-cannabis stance. Indeed, a previous Attorney General, Eric Holder, asserted that Sessions has “an almost obsession with marijuana”. Specifically with marijuana prohibition.

On January 4, 2018, Attorney General Sessions put definitive action behind his words. He rescinded the Cole Memo. This piece of Obama-era legislation was put in place to prevent the federal government from interfering with states with legalized and regulated marijuana.

While lawmakers around the country have been stepping up to the plate to go head-to-head with this blatant violation of state’s rights, a separate lawsuit against Jeff Sessions has been in progress since autumn of last year.

And this complaint isn’t coming from lawmakers. It is coming from civilians who depend on medical marijuana.

The Plaintiffs

The most prominent plaintiff in this lawsuit against Jeff Sessions is Alexis Bortell. At twelve years old, she uses medical cannabis to control and quell her debilitating epilepsy.

In order to secure this life-saving treatment, she and her parents were forced to relocate from their native Texas to Colorado. The medical marijuana that Bortell uses every day is perfectly legal in Colorado. But because of the federal prohibition, she can’t travel with her medicine.

This means that she cannot leave the state. So what’s a young person to do when she is essentially trapped because of federal marijuana prohibition? Sue the federal government. Specifically Jeff Sessions.

Attorney Michael Hiller has taken on the task of representing Bortell and four other plaintiffs. Bortell’s co-plaintiffs include her father, Dean Bortell, another child and his parent (Jagger and Sebastian Cotter), an Army veteran (Jose Belen), a retired football player (Marvin Washington) and the non-profit organization Cannabis Cultural Association, Inc.

The Suit

The lawsuit against Jeff Sessions alleges that the Controlled Substances Act violates the Constitutional rights of medical marijuana patients.

From the complaint, shared with us by Hiller, PC Attorneys at Law:

Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the CSA, as it pertains to the classification of Cannabis as a Schedule I drug, is unconstitutional, because it violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, an assortment of protections guaranteed by the First, Ninth and Tenth Amendments, plus the fundamental Right to Travel, the right to Equal Protection, and right to Substantive Due Process.

In plain language, the federal prohibition of cannabis is unconstitutional, and these lawyers are about to prove it.

Final Hit: The Lawsuit Against Jeff Sessions Will Be Heard In Court Tomorrow

Tomorrow, this court document attached to the lawsuit against Jeff Sessions will be read and evaluated tomorrow, February 14, 2018, in the Federal Court of New York City. The case will be presided over by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. According to our sources, this will be an open hearing and Jeff Sessions himself will be in attendance.

Alexis Bortell, on the other hand, will not be because, again, she is unable to travel without her medication. And more to the point, she is unable to travel with her medication.

If the plaintiffs are successful, it will not just be a victory for them. It will be a victory for the thousands of medical marijuana patients in the country.

As this is a case that is of national interest, we will do our best to keep you updated.

Former Head of the NRA Calls Demands Gun Reform for Medical Marijuana Patients

Whether its restrictions on their banking activities, ability to travel, medical care, or education, medical marijuana patients still have freedom to fight for in America — including their inability to legally own a gun.

Last week, the former head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) came out in defense of medical marijuana users in an opinion piece for The Washington Times, pleading with the federal government that “trading a constitutional right for pain relief is a choice no one should have to make.”

“Since gun purchasers must sign a form swearing they are not habitual drug users,” said David Keene, who is now an editor at large for the news outlet, “a holder of a marijuana prescription cannot both answer the question honestly and buy a firearm today from a gun dealer anywhere in the country.

This restriction on gun ownership can be traced back to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), who classify those with medical marijuana recommendations as “admitted drug users” who are banned from buying, possessing, or utilizing a gun. Medical marijuana users who own guns live in a constant state of uncertainty as they grapple with state and federal law discrepancies.

In 2016, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which governs many legalized marijuana states on the western side of the country, ruled that the federal laws restricting medical marijuana users from legally obtaining firearms do not conflict with the 2nd Amendment, meaning patients are not having their rights violated by the prohibition. The court’s reasoning behind the ruling was cannabis has been known to cause “irrational or unpredictable behavior.”

According to federal law, a “user and/or an addict of any controlled substance” is prohibited from obtaining a firearm, yet the law ignores countless people toting guns while addicted to opioid painkillers because they are shielded by verbiage, namely a “prescription,” rather than the “recommendation” doctors are limited to when a patient’s care calls for marijuana.

If you’re wondering where the federal government was able to establish a precedent as far as cannabis causing violent behavior, the 9th Circuit Court credits a 2014 case from the 4th Circuit Court in Virginia that suggests “a significant link between drug use, including marijuana use, and violence.”

Estimates place the number of doctor recommendation-holding medical marijuana users at roughly 2.3 million in legal states from Connecticut to California, though the numbers are fairly conservative considering the hit-or-miss registration and reporting from state to state — another reason we need federally-regulated cannabis. That’s at least 2 million Americans who are barred from taking advantage of their 2nd Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.

The book Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know, written by drug policy experts Mark Kleiman, Angela Hawken, and Jonathan Caulkins, outlines how mainstream drugs used by millions of Americans are actually far more harmful to the psyche of a gun owner than cannabis.

“There is a good deal of evidence showing an association between alcohol intoxication and pharmacologically induced violent crime,” the book explains.

Keene calls out the DEA in his op-ed, pointing out that cannabis has been grossly miscategorized on the Controlled Substances Act scheduling system for almost five decades, situated on the same top tier class as heroin, referred to as more dangerous than drugs like cocaine and fentanyl that cause countless overdoses.

The former NRA leader also points out the confusion this legal gray area causes for law enforcement.

State law enforcement officials are in a quandary as to which laws to enforce and as a result no one knows what to expect. In Oregon, a sheriff denied several concealed carry applications because he believed possession of a medical marijuana card was an admission of illegal drug use, while an Arizona gun owner who asked the Phoenix police if she had a problem because she has a medical marijuana prescription was told she was fine as long as she doesn’t run into a “federal” officer or get caught on federal land with both a gun and a prescription card.

While many gun owners who also utilize the medical benefits of cannabis are currently left confused as to which laws to abide by, this dilemma further highlights the need for the federal government to get on the same page as the states, especially when there is such a vast gap in policy.