Could Georgia Be The Next State To Vote For Legalized Weed?

Medical cannabis is a conservative value. Just last week in Texas, a six-year-old girl received the state’s first shipment of legal medical marijuana. Now, the question is which southern state will be the first to legalize recreational marijuana outright. Looking around the south, the chief suspect is in the southeast. So: Could Georgia be the next state to vote for legalized weed?

Legalization Where The Marijuana Laws Are Toughest?

Georgia is more liberal on cannabis than you may think. Atlanta lawmakers ended criminal penalties for low-level marijuana possession in October. That paved the way for state lawmakers to support legalization in numbers never before seen.

State Senator Curt Thompson tried to legalize cannabis in Georgia last year. His bill failed, in no small part because he was the only sponsor. This time around, five other state lawmakers attached their names to the effort.

Decriminalization is nice, but legalization is much better. Georgia has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country. Possession of more than two ounces is punishable by a ten-year prison term, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

That’s bad. And that’s something cities can’t fix on their own.

“To get rid of the gangs, to get rid of the organized crime unit, that is the only way to do it is to do it statewide,” Thompson told WTOC.

Based on numbers from Colorado, if Georgia were to legalize and tax recreational cannabis, it would mean more than $340 million in tax revenue. Big money! And money that Georgia is desperate to find from somewhere. Anywhere. This is why the answer to “Could Georgia be the next state to vote for legalized weed” is a strong maybe.

If Not Casinos, Then Cannabis

Georgia lawmakers have spent the past few years furiously searching around for a source of income. They’ve tried several times to legalize casinos with no luck.

So instead of casinos, why not marijuana?

Thompson’s plan is short on details. The bill he’s introduced only authorizes the state assembly to send the question to voters. Every other point, such as who can grow it and how it’ll be taxed or sold, is still up in the air.

That said, Thompson wants to split that $340 million windfall between education and transportation.

If the bill passes the state Legislature, it would go to the voters in November 2018 for their final approval.

That’s a mighty big if.

Final Hit: Could Georgia Be The Next State To Vote For Legalized Weed?

2018 is already shaping up to be a banner year for marijuana legalization. Vermont’s governor signed a legalization bill into law in January. New Jersey’s governor is on notice to fulfill a similar promise. And backers of a legalization effort in Michigan say they have more than enough support to pass a ballot measure in November.

Where does that leave Georgia? In the south, unfortunately. Support for legalization so far is limited to urban areas like Atlanta. Lawmakers in other sparsely populated areas of the state aren’t quite so keen. Not even coastal Savannah, with its renowned arts and cultural scene, is down with legal weed.

In fact, lawmakers are both the solution and the problem.

Georgia has no citizen-initiated ballot initiative process. Changes to the state Constitution go before voters, but only legislators can send a question to the ballot.

So legalization’s only path forward is via state lawmakers. Until this year, no state had accomplished that. And so far, only Bernie Sanders’s home state has managed that trick. Can the home of SEC football be the next? It’s at least possible.

Has Federal Marijuana Research Evolved?

Has federal marijuana research evolved since the early days of prohibition? The legalization of marijuana by states across the country has tempered the federal government’s presentation of research on marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) acknowledges research that makes several former concerns inaccurate today.

Research Contrasts Concerns

NIDA has always expressed concern over marijuana’s effect on memory and consciousness. They act as if getting high is a negative side-effect rather than one of the reasons people use it.  They continue to worry about its effect on learning and driving. On a more serious note research suggests some concern over the effect of marijuana use on the developing brains of teenagers and whether heavy use at that age harms cognitive development.

More interesting is that NIDA acknowledges that while they would like to see more research on the subject, when it comes to medical marijuana “there is mounting anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of marijuana-derived compounds.”  However, there has been a subtle change in how NIDA refers to medical cannabis. It is now part of a general and recognized category of therapeutic substances known as botanicals.

Has federal marijuana research evolved since the popular gateway theory came about? NIDA acknowledges that of people who use marijuana typically do not use other, more dangerous drugs.

Loose Links Sink Ships

NIDA also clarifies the linkage between marijuana and psychiatric disorders. However, the connection was confined to people with preexisting genetic conditions or other vulnerabilities. They concluded that there was no significant risk for the general population.

While smoke is harmful to the lungs, studies have failed to associate marijuana with emphysema and lung cancer.  However, heavy marijuana users report more symptom of chronic bronchitis.  On the other hand, NIDA explains that THC and CBD have been shown in animal studies to have antitumor effects, and this may explain why there no connection between the use of marijuana and more serious lung problems.

There are also a few studies showing a link between adolescent marijuana use and an increased risk for testicular cancer.  Another relatively new concern that is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, “a condition marked by recurrent bouts of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.  This condition occurs in persons over 50 with a long history of cannabis use.  These developments will be subject to further research.

Positive Impact Of Legal Marijuana

NIDA also reports on the impact of marijuana legalization on the opioid crises.  The first study found a reduction in overdose deaths from opioid pain relievers in states that had legalized marijuana. The effect grew stronger every year after legalization.

A more detailed study funded by NIDA and conducted by the RAND Corporation shows areas with cannabis dispensaries have lower levels of opioids prescribed. Additionally, there is less self-reported opioid use, fewer people need treatment for the abuse of pain pills and overdose deaths are reduced.

Final Hit: Has Federal Marijuana Research Evolved?

The government has always pushed that idea that marijuana is addictive but overlooks clinical standards about drug dependency about just what that means.  However, the use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances like marijuana or kratom by teenagers can contribute to other problems in early adulthood.  The research supporting these warnings has been available for some time now. And they seem to support efforts to reduce marijuana’s availability to teenagers and support responsible use of marijuana by adults.

Cannasure Launches Insurance Program For Weed Businesses

Being federally illegal and operating with cash-only, weed businesses come with lots of risks. Some of them are specific to the cannabis industry. As a result, insurance companies, like Cannasure, that cater to the needs of businesses in the industry have been around for years. And now, Cannasure is launching a new comprehensive insurance program for weed businesses so farmers and dispensers can finally sleep at night.

Cannasure Launches Cannabis Program

Cannasure Insurance Services is based in Cleveland, Ohio but their insurance program for weed businesses will expand to every state with legalized marijuana. They cover both medical and recreational marijuana businesses. This includes dispensaries, processors/manufacturers, ancillary businesses, landlords and testing laboratories. Considering a greener approach to your business, like growing organic weed? Cannasure covers cultivation too.

There is even coverage for marijuana events. Cannasure has event relocation coverage, event cancellation coverage, product coverage and equipment coverage. Cars at cannabis events have been broken into and festivals have been raided with all the medicine at the event being seized. Now, there is even insurance coverage that will take care of any monetary losses experienced due to misplaced products or medicine at an event.

“The cannabis industry is evolving at an unprecedented rate and because of this so are the industry-specific risk factors and operational demands,” said Patrick McManamon, CEO of Cannasure Insurance Services.

The program will be managed by Kieran O’Rourke, who has over twenty years of property/casualty underwriting and senior management experience.

Coverage

Businesses will be eligible for up to $5 million in general liability as well as property protection. This includes furniture, fixtures and equipment. Even medicine can be covered. They claim the rates are affordable and you can see the money cannabis companies have saved so far on their website.

On top of property coverage, the money lost during the time it takes to re-open your business after a fire is also covered. For some dispensaries a few days closed means a huge tank in profits. Fortunately, Cannasure can make that a problem of the past.

Cannasure’s program aims to satisfy the specific needs of the cannabis industry. As a result, they cover any loss of medicine from theft or fire. They also offer coverage for any weed being transported from cultivation site to dispensary.

Since dispensaries are forced to operate in cash, they have been the perfect target for robbers. As a result, businesses have had to dish out for 24-hour security for facilities and for transporting cash or product. They couldn’t afford a loss because it might not be covered by their businesses insurance.

On top of inventory coverage against risks like fire and theft, Cannasure offers product liability. This means if someone sues due to an unexpected reaction to medicine, the insurance company will cover the expenses of both the cost to defend the lawsuit and the potential loss.

Final Hit: Cannasure Insurance Program For Weed Businesses

A fire or theft doesn’t need to result in an unrecoverable loss for weed businesses. Cannasure has been one of the leading forms of insurance coverage for marijuana since 2010. The launch of the program for new business submission will be effective on February 1st of 2018. Weed businesses can reach out to them and other insurance companies for quotes to compare coverage and prices.

Indiana Has Finally Legalized Industrial Hemp

Indiana has finally legalized industrial hemp, which means that farmers could soon have the freedom to grow this cash crop. Lawmakers have been pushing for years to bring this versatile plant to the Hoosier State. But some worry it is a step in the wrong direction.

Law enforcement and other state officials have voiced concerns that fields of hemp might become problematic. They believe it might create opportunities for black market players to grow weed under legal cover. Maybe even become so confident that they take it a step further and grow organic weed.

There is also the concern that permitting farmers to grow marijuana’s low-THC cousin might be a pathway to full-blown legalization. Nevertheless, the Indiana Legislature has taken steps to legalized industrial hemp.

Indiana House Votes to Legalize Industrial Hemp

Earlier this week, the Indiana House voted unanimously in favor of a measure allowing Indiana farmers to cultivate industrial hemp. The proposal, which was brought to the table by Republican Representative Jim Lucas, would give farmers the opportunity to grow hemp in the same fields as corn and other crops.

The goal is to provide the agriculture sector with a new economic opportunity—create jobs for Indiana families.

There seems to be a lot of support in the 2018 session for an upgrade to last year’s CBD oil law. Lawmakers from both parties are now pushing for a more comprehensive reform.

But the idea of allowing the cultivation of industrial hemp is not exactly the move that some lawmakers had intended. Still, supporters of the Lucas’ “jobs bill” hope to convince the naysayers that this is the right move for the state economy.

Not only would industrial hemp production lead to economic growth, but it could also open up a venue for patients to get local CBD products. Yet, federal law is still a concern.

Some lawmakers are still worried that the Justice Department and its head goon, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, are going to impose a crackdown. So they want to err on the side of caution.

“Everything I’ve seen says industrial hemp is probably a harmless crop,” Senate leader David Long told the Indianapolis Star. “I have no problem with that, I’m just not sure the federal government issue isn’t still holding us back.”

Federal Farm Bill and Hemp Legalization

In 2014, the federal government passed a bill that gives states permission to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes. Many states, including Indiana, took advantage of this opportunity.

There were some problems, at the beginning, with respect to getting seeds without hassles by the DEA. Kentucky, which has one of the strongest industrial hemp programs in the country, made national headlines with its seed debacle.

But in Indiana, industrial hemp is a relatively quiet scene. As for now, Purdue University is the only location allowed to grow the crop. Still, no one is positive whether the “research” adheres to federal law.

“There’s been no research that I’ve seen directly,” professor Janna Beckerman, a hemp researcher at Purdue, told the Star. “It’s sort of a big wink: ‘Oh yea we’re doing research.'”

But if Indiana was to get on the same page as Kentucky, big opportunities would come-a-knocking. Some of the latest data shows that Kentucky farmers produced 3,200 acres of industrial hemp in 74 counties last year.

And the new industry has created hundreds of new jobs. The state was recently approved to grow 12,000 acres of the product in 2018.

Final Hit: Indiana Has Finally Legalized Industrial Hemp

Regardless of the obvious benefits, many conservatives in the Indiana Senate are expected to carefully approach the industrial hemp bill. This chamber is responsible for the majority of the snags with last year’s CBD proposal.

Many lawmakers still do not understand that industrial hemp does not have intoxicating prosperities. That it is impossible to get high by smoking this stuff.

They fail to comprehend that if marijuana is beer, hemp is O’Doul’s. But the two plants look similar, and that is enough for some lawmakers to turn their backs.

How Is Oregon Handling Its Cannabis Surplus?

An overgrowth of weed has lawmakers and spectators alike wondering: how is Oregon handling its cannabis surplus? The state is currently producing more weed than the legal market can handle. And the surplus in cannabis production has become a sticky issue with lawmakers, law enforcement, and cannabis industry players. Here’s how Oregon is handling it.

A Spike In Cannabis Production

Billy J. Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the state of Oregon, published an opinion article last month in The Oregonian. In it, he described the state’s cannabis surplus.

Williams argued that Oregon’s legal weed industry has sparked more marijuana-growing activity than the state can handle. As a result, he said, much of the cannabis produced in Oregon is finding its way onto the black market.

“In 2017 alone, postal agents in Oregon seized 2,644 pounds of marijuana in outbound parcels and over $1.2 million in cash,” he wrote. “Overproduction creates a powerful profit incentive, driving product from both state-licensed and unlicensed marijuana producers into black and gray markets across the country.”

He concluded: “This lucrative supply attracts cartels and other criminal networks into Oregon and in turn brings money laundering, violence, and environmental degradation.”

The massive amount of cannabis being grown in Oregon most likely stems from a couple key factors.

For starters, Oregon has long been a prime location for growing cannabis. Even before weed became legal, growers found near-perfect environmental and climatic conditions for cannabis cultivation.

More recently, the legal industry has likely sparked an uptick in the volume of weed being grown in the state. In particular, Oregon has not set a limit on how many growers can become licensed to produce cannabis.

According to The Chicago Tribune, there are currently 900 licensed recreational growers in Oregon and more than 1,100 waiting approval. There are also more than 25,000 licensed medical marijuana growers.

Given all this activity, it may not be surprising that the state now has more weed than the legal industry can handle.

Final Hit: How Is Oregon Handling Its Cannabis Surplus?

Oregon’s cannabis surplus could create tensions with the federal government. Recently, Attorney General Jeff Sessions revoked an Obama-era policy that directed federal agents to take a “hands-off” approach when dealing with weed-legal states.

The move could pave the way for a federal crackdown. And if such a crackdown materializes, any cannabis perceived to be fueling the black market would be a likely target.

To address this type of tension, Williams is organizing a state-wide summit to discuss how to handle the situation. He said he would invite a wide range of people and organizations to attend.

This includes federal, state, local, and tribal leaders, lawmakers, and law enforcement, public health groups, and various community organizations.

“This summit and the state’s response will inform our federal enforcement strategy,” Williams wrote. “How we move forward will depend in large measure on how the state responds to the gaps we have identified.”

Medical marijuana became legal in Oregon in 1998. Then, in 2014, voters approved the legalization of recreational cannabis. Since then, the state’s legal THC market has exploded.

Now, with a cannabis surplus creating the possibility for increased tension with federal law enforcement, the state may have to adjust key aspects of its legal weed programs.

Should We Lower Legal Adult-Use Marijuana Laws to 18?

Should we lower legal adult-use marijuana laws to 18? Now that more states are legalizing weed, it’s definitely something to consider. But why does the default age for legal consumption seem to be 21?

The United States has been sending 18-year-olds into combat for years while refusing to sell them alcoholic beverages. Now, this trend has become the standard with respect to the legalization of marijuana. There is no federal policy to strong arm cannabis advocates to reach for legal weed based on these politics.

Yet this is how the cannabis industry is being set up for future generations. Are we passing these types of adult-use laws because it is the right thing to do? Or is the cannabis industry simply following in the footsteps of alcohol because it is more palatable?

History of Adult-Use Laws

The U.S is one of only four countries that prevents adults between 18 and 20 from enjoying booze and weed. The age restriction is a fairly new concept. It originated in the 1980s as one of the most effective methods to control drunk driving. We suspect this was less complicated than imposing the more common-sense policies recommended by the commission on drunk driving.

President Reagan eventually signed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. The law did not force states to increase their legal drinking age to 21-years-old. But it twisted their arms a bit by threatening to revoke a percentage of their highway funding.

These days, every state follows this policy. But, contrary to popular opinion, there is still no national minimum drinking age.

Similarly, there is nothing on the books to persuade legal states to limit cannabis sales to people 21 and older. Marijuana remains an outlaw substance under the DEA’s Controlled Substances Act. This classifies it as one of the most dangerous drugs in the world.

In recent years, eight states have passed recreational marijuana laws. And all without the permission or support of Congress. This means marijuana initiatives approved in places like Colorado and Washington could have, just as easily, had adult-use marijuana laws at 18 and older to buy weed.

There are no laws in place to encourage states to go along with the 21 and older philosophy.

Cannabis Industry Follows Suit

But cannabis advocates have piggybacked Reagan’s 21 and older approach to responsible use. Why? It seems advocacy groups, like the Marijuana Policy Project, believe it is less confusing for the voters. Rather than adult-use marijuana laws being set at 18.

“We are pushing to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol because that is a system that is universally familiar and which most people are comfortable with,” Morgan Fox, director of communications at the Marijuana Policy Project, told High Times.

“Since marijuana does cause inebriation it more closely resembles alcohol than tobacco to the average person, despite being far safer than both substances. Setting an age lower than 21 could turn off a lot of swing voters,” he added. “Once marijuana becomes legal at the federal level, it is likely that Congress will eventually pass something analogous to the federal minimum drinking age, so it also makes sense for states to already be in compliance if this happens.”

But there is no evidence that adult-use policies restricting the sale of booze and weed to adults 21 and older contribute to the public safety of American citizens.

Do Adult-Use Laws Keep America Safer?

Many people believe that laws restricting the sale of alcohol and marijuana to adults 21 and older keep American safer. This is just an illusion. Drug and alcohol use among teens is lower these days than it has been in the past few decades.

But young people did not allow 21-and-older laws to keep them sober through much of the nineties and into the new millennium. The nation’s current infatuation with adult-use laws is actually part of the reason how binge drinking has become such a problem.

College-aged students are often reduced to getting their hands on booze only after finding someone 21 and older willing to score for them. And when they do, they often drink way too much.

Marijuana, while safer than booze, still comes with a certain binge mentality for those without legal access. But much like alcohol, the powers-that-be continue to try and sell the American public on the myth that marijuana consumption before the age of 21 wreaks havoc on developing brains.

They pulled the same shenanigans, back in the day, when trying to increase the legal drinking age. Researchers said, at the time, that booze consumption before the age of 21 limits “brain power.” To this day, no one is certain exactly what constitutes brain power.

Some of the latest studies have shown that person’s brain is not fully developed until around age 25. But researchers say this has more to do with “emotional maturity, self-image and judgment.”

It does not mean that smoking marijuana at the age of 18 or 19 will cause any particular brain development issues. There is still no definitive evidence that marijuana is harmful to the brain.

Adult-Use Policies Are a Scam

Let’s face it. If state and local governments really had any interest in restricting the sale of intoxicating substances to mature adults, the legal age would be somewhere around 42 for men and 30 in women.

Most of us are still exercising our hell-raising years until then.

Yet it has been our nation’s modus operandi since 1920 to impose prohibition laws as a means for controlling the masses. But those policies do not work.

Imposing restrictive adult-use marijuana laws are made up of the same beast as prohibition. These policies really only serve to criminalize behavior that technically does not impact or harm others.

So no, adult-use laws do not keep Americans safer. If this is the goal, cannabis advocates should be encouraging responsible consumption by working with lawmakers to impose stricter penalties for those who do not act responsibly. We hate to be the ones to break it to you. But the 21-and-older sales pitch is nothing but a scam.

Final Hit: Should We Lower Legal Adult-Use Marijuana Laws to 18?

Lawmakers in some states are presently working to lower the legal drinking age to 20-years-old, while still restricting retail sales to those 21 and older. Other states are trying to drop the legal drinking age to 18-years-old for active service members only.

This is insanity at its finest. All of the people that fall into this demographic are legal adults. They can go to war, they can be prosecuted for crimes and sent to prison and they can get married.

But because President Reagan tried to convince the public almost 35 years ago that he was doing everything in his power to stop drunk drivers from terrorizing America’s highways, none of these folks can legally purchase alcohol.

Unfortunately, the marijuana advocacy community is now copying this misguided standard with raging enthusiasm. Perhaps the cannabis industry should rise up and become leaders on adult-use marijuana laws, rather than try to impose policies that mirror the alcohol industry because they are “universally familiar” and “comfortable.”

We should be working to pass laws that celebrate freedom and the American way of life, not just trying to legalize a plant.

California Weed Farmers Are Challenging State Grow Regulations

In an effort to fight against the looming threat of cannabis corporatization, California weed farmers are challenging state grow regulations. Small-scale growers were dismayed when the regulations overseeing the legal cannabis economy were released by California state authorities last year, placing no effective limits on acreage that can be used by a single grower.

This led to fears that agribusiness could convert huge holdings in the Salinas and Central valleys to cannabis cultivation, and force the traditional small growers of the Emerald Triangle off the market.

Now the California Growers Association is challenging the regulations in the courts, demanding a one-acre cannabis grow cap.

The California Growers Association

Representing more than 1,000 cannabis cultivators and businesses in communities throughout the state, the California Growers Association filed its suit against the Department of Food & Agriculture regulations in Sacramento County Superior Court on Jan. 24.

The group’s press release cites the text of Proposition 64, the 2016 initiative to establish a legal cannabis market in California. Prop 64 stated that it “ensures the nonmedical marijuana industry in California will be built around small and medium-sized businesses…”

Prop 64, formally the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, and its enabling legislation, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, establish a five-year transition period during which small and medium-size growers are to be protected before the state may issue large-scale cultivation licenses.

But the California Growers Association argues that the new regulations include a loophole that allows a single corporation “to obtain and aggregate unlimited smaller cultivation licenses to operate a cultivation site larger than the legal limit.”

The regulations do limit the number of one-acre grow licenses to one per person or entity—but also allow an individual to apply for multiple licenses for smaller plots, making nonsense of that one-acre limit.

Growers Association director Hezekiah Allen said Food & Agriculture violated the intent of the law. Its lawsuit calls upon the court to prohibit the state from issuing small cultivation licenses in cases in which the applicant’s total size would exceed one acre. The suit is also calling for the court to award attorneys’ fees to the Growers Association.

The association’s director Hezekiah Allen said they had exhausted every other option after meeting with state regulators and staff from Governor Jerry Brown’s office over the past months.

Allen emphasized, “Generally we think the agency is doing a good job, this is not a broad complaint. Our concern is very narrow in scope, but the implications are huge.”

Final Hit: California Weed Farmers Are Challenging State Grow Regulations

The specter of “corporate cannabis” was part of what led to the defeat of the 2010 legalization initiative in California, Prop 19, and also won Prop 64 its skeptics—including the recently departed Dennis Peron, arguably the state’s most prominent cannabis activist.

At least keeping a market niche for the small producers of the plant that gives us THC will clearly now be a challenge for growers, advocates and policy-makers alike.

California weed farmers are challenging state grow regulations, and if they do so successfully, it could help the industry keep true to its grassroots foundation.

Is The Governor of Maine Lightening Up His Anti-Weed Stance?

Is the governor of Maine lightening up his anti-weed stance? Republican Governor Paul LePage has just agreed to delay the implementation of tough new regulations for the state’s medical marijuana community. The proposed rules were scheduled to take effect February 1 but have been postponed until May instead.

New Regulations For Maine?

The new directives would have ended the manufacturing of cannabis products such edibles, tinctures and topicals. Unannounced inspections of caregivers and their operations would have also been permitted.

So is the governor of Maine lightening up his anti-weed stance? It doesn’t look like it. Governor LePage still wants stricter regulations. He’s just willing to wait to get them.

“While I believe strongly that the medical marijuana program needs improved and increased regulation, waiting until May to ensure we do not create unnecessary confusion and complication is a reasonable approach,” LePage said in a letter sent Wednesday to Representative Deborah Sanderson.

Representative Sanderson, also a Republican, serves on the Health and Human Services Committee of the Maine State Legislature. That committee, which is tasked with regulating medical marijuana, had requested the delay and was poised to pass a law that would do just that.

But the law would have failed to take effect before the impending regulations, making passage of the bill a moot point. The committee wants time to craft legislation that would address many of the same issues covered by LePage’s delayed rules.

New Rules Are Still Inevitable

Representative Sanderson made it clear that she was not trying to avoid regulation of the cannabis industry in Maine. “The program needs greater oversight. My request was not a way to avoid more regulation. I just want to do it in a thorough, thoughtful way,” she said.

She also noted that by investing the time and effort now, the government will be able to merge regulation of medical marijuana with the implementation of the legalization of recreational marijuana passed by Maine voters in 2016.

“I think it’s prudent to see what’s in the new rules, parse out what exactly the department was going for as far as oversight and bring industry standards to everyone, and that includes caregivers. That is not something we can just do. We have to hear from the department, the community.

It would be complicated enough on its own, but we also have to look for ways to dovetail some of the policy we are working on with what is going on with adult-use marijuana,” Rep. Sanderson said.

Final Hit: Is The Governor of Maine Lightening Up His Anti-Weed Stance?

LePage has been a staunch opponent of marijuana legalization. In November 2017 the governor vetoed a bill passed by the legislature that would have implemented a commercial adult-use cannabis market in Maine. The bill was intended to enact Question 1, a ballot proposal legalizing recreational marijuana use that was passed by voters in November 216.

Governor LePage defended that action by saying he had sought the advice of United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions while deciding what to do with the legislature’s bill.

“Until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine,” the governor wrote in a letter explaining his veto.

How A Marijuana Company Is Giving Back To The Community

For some, the weed industry might seem like an evil scheme trying to capitalize on the downtrodden of America. Yet, this still mostly outlaw trade is, by far, considered one of the most community-conscious business sectors in the United States. Take Bloom Farms, for example. This California marijuana company is giving back to the community by reportedly donating 1 million meals to those less fortunate in the community.

California Marijuana Company Feeds Families

The method behind the company’s outreach program is simple. For every cannabis product purchased, Bloom Farms donates the cash equivalent of one meal to local food banks.

In a statement released earlier today, CEO Michael Ray said, “Donating our one-millionth meal shows that we’re succeeding for our customers, who have purchased one million of our products. [They] appreciate that we are working toward the greater good, and for California’s most vulnerable families who have received the gift of nutritious food.”

However, the company did not originate the “one-for-one” concept. Several other California businesses subscribe to this policy. These companies give away everything from shoes to books based on the one-for-one model.

But, for the folks at Bloom Farms, making sure people have food is a priority.

As it stands, around 20 percent of the children in California are not getting enough nourishment. This is something Ray says he saw a lot of during his formative years.

“I realized there is a high likelihood that my family friends were from food-insecure families,” he said.

In addition to the company’s involvement in the one-for-one program, it also takes care of its employees. Its policy is to reward workers with four hours of paid volunteer time each month. A lot of these folks pitch in to help Bloom Farms bring meals local food banks.

It’s Not Always Easy for a Marijuana Company to Give Back

As strange as it might sound, it can be difficult for marijuana companies to give back to the communities they serve. Despite legalization, some organizations are still scared to accept charity from companies that sell weed. In fact, Bloom Farms was turned down a number of times when it first began participating in the program a few years ago.

“They didn’t say they were philosophically against [cannabis], they just had various board members that were unwilling to accept financial donations from companies like us,” Ray explained. “We’re just trying to make a positive impact on our community. It was relatively shocking to see how difficult that was.”

But all it took was one food bank willing to listen to get the program off the ground. Ray says Bloom found a partner and SF-Marin Food Bank. It was not as closed minded as some of the others.

“I told them my story about how I’d been turned down, and their jaws literally dropped. They were shaking their heads,” Ray said. “They said, ‘this cause is not political, we’re just trying to feed people.’ That was music to my ears.”

Final Hit: How A Marijuana Company Is Giving Back To The Community

Now, other food banks are eager to listen. Some of this change of heart has to do with the state’s newly legal recreational market. What has evolved into a million meals for California families now has the potential to grow into a million more, as long as everyone continues to work together.

It is these types of stories that help eliminate the negative stereotypes and replace the stigma attached to the cannabis plant with hope and goodwill.

Weed Dispensaries Are Bracing Themselves For Super Bowl Sunday

Weed dispensaries are bracing themselves for Super Bowl Sunday. The Big Game is right around the corner, and retailers across the board are getting ready for a huge weekend. And that, of course, includes cannabis stores. Around the country, in states where it’s legal, these specialty shops are prepping for a touchdown.

High Retail Numbers

Super Bowl Sunday is traditionally one of the most active weekends for retail. Now, new stats show that this trend holds true for the legal cannabis industry as well.

USA Today and cannabis sales company Green Bits recently compiled sales data for the legal weed industry. These numbers reveal that last year, weed sales spiked by 40 percent on the Saturday before the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the average purchase at a dispensary went from $100 to $140 right before the Big Game. Edibles and THC cartridges were the most popular Super Bowl products last year.

This year, experts are expecting even bigger overall numbers. That’s primarily because there are now more places where recreational weed is legal.

With the recent legalization of recreational weed in Vermont, there are now nine states, plus Washington D.C., where weed is legal.

Most notably, California launched legal sales at the beginning of the year. That state alone should add a significant boost to overall weed retail numbers this weekend.

Along with Super Bowl weekend, there are a few other key dates that are emerging as hot times for legal weed sales. Not surprisingly, the 420 season is one of the busiest times for weed retail. Additionally, the days before and immediately following Thanksgiving are active. So are the days just before Christmas.

Social Events and Cannabis Consumption

Experts say that much of Super Bowl weekend’s appeal has to do with the social aspects of consuming weed. More and more, people in weed-legal states are turning to cannabis for social recreation. Sometimes, even more than alcohol.

“The Super Bowl is like any other large social event: people getting together,” Green Bits CEO Ben Curren told USA Today. “Whenever there’s a large social event we see an uptick in purchases.”

Many experts suspect that people are turning to weed during social events because it lets people get high and have fun, but without feeling hung over the next day.

“You can be social, have a good time, and still be a human being and go to work the next day,” said Justin Bishoff, manager of the GroundSwell dispensary in Denver.

Final Hit: Weed Dispensaries Are Bracing Themselves For Super Bowl Sunday

As weed dispensaries are bracing themselves for Super Bowl Sunday, the relationship between cannabis and football is intensifying. And not just in terms of fans purchasing more weed.

More and more, current and former NFL players are calling on the league to allow for the use of medical marijuana. A growing number of concerned players are pointing out that without reliable access to medical marijuana, pro football players are too often forced to rely on dangerous opioids.

As a result, many players run the risk of developing harmful dependencies.

In fact, a survey taken last year found that 91 percent of NFL players have taken opioid painkillers at some point. Forty-five percent said they felt pressure from team doctors, staff, and teammates to use the drugs.

Whether it’s players using medical marijuana to manage pain or fans buying weed for Super Bowl parties, it seems as if legal weed and football are increasingly working well together.