Cannabis News
Marijuana Business Owner Running For Congress Says Federal Legalization Is The ‘Only Path’ For ‘National Market Stability’
Colorado-based marijuana entrepreneur Wanda James is running for Congress, pledging to push for an end to the federal ban on cannabis if elected. Anything outside of legislation (whether it’s a bill focused on industry bank access or other incremental reform like rescheduling) won’t cut it, he says.
James, who owns the Simply Pure dispensary in Denver, is challenging Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in next year’s Democratic primary to represent Colorado’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He spoke about his cannabis legalization platform at an MJBizCon event on Wednesday.
“No bank bill will save us. No half-step will fix it. No amount of tweaking will correct decades of damage,” he said in a press release ahead of the speech. “Only legalization gives oxygen to this industry.”
“Only legalization ends 280E. Only legalization ends raids. Only legalization ends fear,” he said, referring to the policy that prevents cannabis businesses from taking federal tax deductions and generally puts businesses at risk of federal enforcement action. “Only legalization stops the piecemeal nonsense that destroys operators while confusing the public.”
“And let me be very clear about something else,” he said. “This is not a battle between hemp and cannabis. It’s the same plant. The same history. The same communities. The same families. The same lack of respect. It’s time to send it to Congress that will step up the momentum our industry demands.”
In a statement on his campaign site, James also said he will “champion legislation to completely remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)” if elected. Rescheduling the plant or kicking the can down the road with “administrative delays” is not enough, he said.
“Full legalization. PERIOD,” he said. “This is the only way forward with federal safety standards, interstate commerce, banking access and national market stability.”
“In Congress, I will work with reform officials, veterans from both parties, and economic innovation committees to ensure that legalization is implemented quickly, safely, and with strong public health and consumer protections,” James. add.
The campaign statement also said James will push for legislative reform that boosts marijuana tax revenue for community reinvestment initiatives that support “affordable housing, mental health services, child care assistance, public school improvements and neighborhood economic development.”
“This approach ensures that legalization becomes a tool to lift up families, support workers, and rebuild ALL communities damaged by decades of discriminatory and wasteful enforcement,” he said.
The candidate also said he will “promote a federal equity framework that ensures priority licensing, business development assistance and access to federal grants and low-interest capital for communities disproportionately impacted by criminalization.”
James said the regulatory approach to marijuana he would adopt would prevent “corporate consolidation from wiping out the small operators and the pioneers who built this industry.”
“I will fight for antitrust protections, access to federal loans and fair trade rules between states that allow small businesses to compete without being crushed by multinationals,” he said. “And I will push for clear federal packaging, testing and transportation standards so entrepreneurs can responsibly scale across state lines.”
Also, as a military veteran, James said that doctors at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can recommend medical cannabis to the veteran population “without fear of penalties or bureaucratic hurdles.”
In 2023, James approached then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at an event focused on higher education and higher education. supported marijuana banking legislationpointing out how black business owners in the industry broadly support additional reform to free up banks and credit unions to work with state-licensed cannabis companies.
“I would love to see more and more movement on this. Make no mistake about it, first and foremost, we need to get grassroots banking in place,” he told Marijuana Momenti at the time, adding that his personal bank accounts were recently closed due to his involvement in the marijuana industry.
James is also a regent-elect at the University of Colorado, and his role in the marijuana industry became a point of contention leading to formal censure by the Board of Regents, who criticized an ad campaign warning about the dangers of cannabis use as racist for its portrayal of blacks using marijuana.
“This is a victory for me because we have completely exposed the problems that the University of Colorado has with race,” he said. he said of the census “We’ve been able to bare it for the world to see, and I couldn’t be more proud of my community and the people who have stood up for the truth and stood up against Blackness.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) responded to the board’s censure action, writing that “the First Amendment protects the right to free speech,” and that “no White House executive order or university public policy can override that fundamental right.”
“I’m concerned that the CU Board of Regents did that to punish Vice Chancellor Wanda James,” she said. “To protect the right to free speech and the fair treatment of CU Regent James, the Council of Regents would do well to reconsider the actions against him. Letting this action go into effect not only raises questions about fairness, but also weakens CD1’s representation on the Council.”
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It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.
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Last year, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) called James is a “force of nature,” acknowledging his historic role in the marijuana policy debate and Colorado’s cannabis program.
DeGette, the incumbent congressman for whose seat James is running for, is also a supporter of marijuana reform. For example, legislation protects…as well as a pilot acquisitionto Avoiding federal interference with state cannabis laws.
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Cannabis News
A steel roof transforms the silo into a solid building instead of a container with a cover on it
The future of steel roofs in water silos
The demand for steel roofs on water silos in the Netherlands is increasing rapidly. According to Bas van der Elst of silo producer Hendic, this development reflects a structural change in the market rather than a temporary trend.
“Growers are increasingly choosing the safety of steel over traditional covers,” he says. “This is largely driven by safety concerns, but also by more stringent requirements from insurers and authorities.”
Van der Elst explains that structural reliability is a key factor behind the growing interest. “It’s about the reliability of the construction. A steel roof can withstand significant snow and wind loads, much more than a traditional roof. However, certification is often the deciding factor. At Hendic, we include the steel roof in the structural calculations and the CE certification of the entire silo. This is essential compared to PVC roofs.”
© Hendic
Why has CE certification become so important?
The importance of CE certification has increased, especially in export markets. “In Germany and other countries, many municipalities will not issue a permit without a structural calculation that complies with local regulations,” explains Van der Elst. “Insurers are also increasingly requiring the silo to be assessed and insured as a single unit. The steel roof effectively turns the silo into a solid building, rather than a basin with a sheet on top. This provides producers with legal certainty and operational peace of mind.”
Is safety a factor in addition to construction?
In addition to structural resistance, local security plays an important role. “With a steel cover, a silo is completely enclosed. We equip them with a lockable access gate, so the silo can literally be locked. Compared to a tented cover, it’s a significant improvement in yard security.”
© Hendic
Does this mean the end of the popular PVC covers?
According to Van der Elst, steel roofs do not mean the end of PVC-based systems. “The various systems we offer, from simple tension roofs to floating roofs and domes, have proven their worth and remain highly functional in most situations. However, for producers dealing with strict building regulations or extreme weather conditions, steel roofs offer the greatest added value today.”
© Hendic (gn)
For more information:
Bas van der Elst
Hendic bv
(email protected)
https://www.hendic.nl/
Cannabis News
Florida Lawmakers Pass Bill To Provide Discounted Medical Marijuana Cards For Military Veterans
The Florida House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill to reduce the fee for military veterans to obtain medical marijuana registry identification cards.
The measure passed by Reps. Susan Valdés (R) and Michelle Salzman (R) unanimously on Wednesday in a 113-0 vote. The proposal comes after clearing three House panels and separate Senate legislation to reduce the cost of cannabis for veterans is also moving forward.
If enacted into law, HB 887 would require honorably discharged veterans to pay $15 to obtain a medical cannabis card, down from the current $75 rate for most eligible patients.
The $15 charge will also apply to replacement cards as well as annual renewals.
To receive the reduced fee, veterans must provide the state Department of Health (DOH) with a copy of the discharge form, a US Veterans Affairs (VA) identification card, or a Florida driver’s license with a “veteran designation.”
The law will come into effect on July 1 of this year.
“Medical cannabis has shown promise in relieving symptoms commonly experienced by military veterans, such as managing chronic pain, mitigating the effects of PTSD, improving sleep and reducing opioid addiction,” Valdés said on the House floor. “This bill greatly reduces veterans’ financial barriers to accessing medical marijuana, their health solution of choice.”
“Reducing the cost of access is not only a symbolic gesture to the veterans who serve us, it directly removes the often very high cost barrier that prevents already underserved veterans from participating in this program, and this is one way to show our veterans how grateful we are by turning that slate green,” he said. he saidas before notify By Florida Politics.
According to A invoice study, the reform “would have an unspecified negative fiscal impact on the DOH.” While there are currently 931,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Florida, “the number of veterans with an active medical marijuana use registry identification card is unknown” and thus “the amount of revenue reduction is unknown.”
That said, the analysis says the policy change “would have a positive fiscal impact on veterans who will see a $60 reduction in the cost of ID cards under the bill.”
Earlier this month, the Senate Health Policy Committee advanced a bill by Sen. Alexis Calatayud that would reduce medical cannabis registration fees for veterans to $15 and implement other reforms to expand access to medical marijuana.
Under that amended proposal, a physician would recommend a 70-day supply limit for cannabis, or a 35-day supply limit for marijuana smoking products for 10 supply limits. Under current law, they can recommend up to three 70-day supply limits for non-smoking cannabis and six 35-day supply limits for smoking marijuana.
The SB 1032 bill would also require doctors to evaluate patients to qualify for medical marijuana every 52 weeks, rather than the legal requirement of evaluations every 30 weeks.
Here’s an overview of some of the pending Florida marijuana bills:
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It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
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Meanwhile, a Florida campaign seeking to put marijuana legalization on the ballot faces complications as the status of the 2026 signature drive remains in dispute. Lawyers are now asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the officials’ decision to quash the tens of thousands of applications submitted.
A new survey released this week shows that a A majority of Florida voters support the legalization of cannabis.
Max Jackson’s photo.
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New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has recalled several cannabis products after finding that reported results from a testing laboratory were “unreliable.”
OCM says it has found a total of 54 product lots that tested false positive for Aspergillus, the mold that causes disease. According to OCM, another batch of product had incorrect results for the heavy metal cadmium.
“When test results are inaccurate or unclear, product safety and, in turn, the safety of New York State consumers cannot be guaranteed,” said OCM Executive Deputy Director of Licensing, Enforcement and Laboratories Stephen Geskey. “It’s not a risk OCM is willing to take.”
This information comes from an audit of inspections and records conducted by Keystone State Testing New York between December 2025 and January 2026. According to OCM, there have been no reports of the effects of consuming any of the products.
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