AARP

DEA Delivers Gut Punch To Marijuana Industry

Published

4 days ago

November 1, 2024

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The DEA has worked hard to keep marijuana illegal – despite almost 90% believing it shouldn’t be.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has work diligently to turn the tide of legal marijuana. An agency built on the “War on Drugs” is doing everything to stop cannabis being available to the population and undercutting a vast amount of their efforts. And now again the DEA delivers gut punch to the marijuana industry. The agency is swimming upstream in the process as it is being recommended by Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration to them to reclassify cannabis in part do to the medical benefits. This goes along the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians encouraging the federal government to change based proven, science based medical help to a variety of patients including cancer, chronic pain, inflammation and more.

The delay until post-election is do to the DEA’s inability to coordinate the next steps so they pushed the in-person testimony for the upcoming marijuana rescheduling until early next year. DEA director Anne Milligan is seen as anti-marijuana and more inline with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). When the current administration announced the move to reschedule, Director Milligan had a meeting with key DEA Leaders with “no note taking” and off the record. The DEA not rescheduling would go against the norm as they have always followed HHS and the FDA recommendations.

While both presidential candidates have expressed support for marijuana, a YOUGOV poll has indicated more people have faith in Harris to support the industry. The surprise is the fact is both Democrats (65%) and Republicans (31%) believe her administration would follow through. Pew Research, who has followed the mainstreaming of cannabis, has it at 88+% of the population is for some form of federal legalization. Even AARP has moved toward legalizing marijuana, a key voting block for both parties. But, it seems, the DEA, is against the move and is hoping there is a change of heart in policy making.

In another slap to the cannabis industry, Milligan and the DEA have tried to stack the deck against cannabis. NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said that he was disappointed but hardly surprised by the DEA’s decision to disproportionately include groups opposed to marijuana policy reform as designated participants. “The fight to end our nation’s outdated and failed cannabis prohibition laws has never been fought on a level playing field,” he said.

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AARP

Red States Lean Green This Election

Published

2 weeks ago

October 23, 2024

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The last 20 years have seen a big change for marijuana.

The War On Drugs framed a mindset about marijuana for two generations, but in the last 10 years, the country seems to have moved passed it. Now even red states lean green this election. Nixon’s administration went to battle with drug abuse declared “public enemy number one”. But times have changed and so has public opinion and taste. And in this election, even conservative states are polling positive about opening their border for forms of legal cannabis.

The west coast led the way for legalization with California, Oregon and Washington, but other states were slower in acceptance. But as of 2022, over 50% of the population has access to legal weed and even the AARP has come up in support of it for medical marijuana. And states have enjoyed the robust revenue to the state coffers. States with fully recreational earn more money from cananbis taxes than alcohol. And crime drops also.

In Kansas, the Midwest Newsroom partnered with Emerson College Polling to conduct surveys. More than 72% of the state’s voters said they support legalizing medical marijuana. About 56% support legalizing it for recreational use. Republican leaders in the Sunflower state have opposed legalizing marijuana of any kind. But with some movement at the federal level, recently appointed a special committee on medical marijuana.

North Dakota voters appear split and largely undecided about the marijuana initiative according to poll commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative. The Dakotas are traditionally conservative states, but the North’s sister state to the south is showing a bit of difference. The Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota shows an increase in support, but not quite at the level needed to to pass.

Utah, which is not a fan of alcohol or caffeine seems to be leaning green. A recent poll found 50% of the Beehive State voters would support recreational cannabis. Another 38% of Utahns surveyed support medical cannabis only and 9% believe cannabis should be illegal entirely. Three percent were “not sure.”

Florida, one of the largest states, seems to have leaned into saying yes for recreational marijuana according to polls. This is interesting considering the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has waged an all out war against the ballot initiative. Currently, there is a court battle about DeSantis using the state’s resources to put pressure on the media to promote public service announcements against legalization.

November 5 could be a big day for cannabis, and a look into the mindset of the country.

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AARP

Dallas, Daiquiris And Marijuana Decriminalization

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

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New Orleans and Las Vegas are the “party cities” but Dallas is looking at going the list.

When you think of Las Vegas and New Orleans, you pictures people roaming the streets, cocktails in hand, listening to music and soaking up the moment. Alcohol flows like the mighty Mississippi or the fountains of the Bellagio. But another major city is making a move and voters will get to pay a role. Here is the information on Dallas, daiquiris and marijuana decriminalization.

New Orleans also has a practice called window hawking, where bars, clubs, and restaurants sell drinks to people outside from windows and doorways. The practice began in 1967. Las Vegas seems to have allowed to go drinks from the beginning. Marijuana is still illegal in Louisiana, but Vegas is home to one of the most profitable dispensaries in the US – Planet 13. And it is going to get CANNABITION: An Elevated Immersive Experience. But Dallas has had a different history but has the eye on the future.

Cannabis has fewer health risks than alcohol. And unlike alcohol, it has many health benefits. The American Medical Association, AARP, the American College of Physicians, and the federal government all agree cannabis can help patients. But Governor Greg Abbot has different ideas.

In Texas, including Dallas, liquor can only be purchased from specific liquor stores, which are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM and are closed on Sunday. Beer and wine can be purchased from stores between 12 PM and 12 AM. Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol on Sunday starting at 10 AM if food is ordered, or at noon if food is not ordered. Certain bars and restaurants can serve until 2 AM any night of the week with a “late hours” permit.

But in 2021, copying New Orleans, Governor Greg Abbott allowed “to go alcohol drinks” like the Big Easy. on signed a bill to permanently allow Texans to drink and roam. There are now drive thrue daiquiri shops in Dallas. But when it comes to the plant, Abbott is a staunch enemy, siding with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on keeping it illegal.

So when it comes marijuana – the Governor and Dallas are at odds. The Lone Star politician is hot over Dallas voters looking at decriminalizing cannabis in small amounts. The state is even threating to sue the cities. But, as usual, oppenents are swimming against the tide of public opinion. The Univeristy of Texas at Austin did a poll shows the majority of people believe the laws should be less strict.

This is in line with a Pew Research which said almost 90% of the public believe it should be legal in some form. Now Dallasites will have a chance to move in the direction of the public will on election day.

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AARP

More Mainstream Pressure For The Federal Government Accept Cannabis

Published

1 month ago

September 26, 2024

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A federal department wants more control over legal cannabis- but until it rescheduled or more, there hands are tied.

Legal marijuana has turned out to be surprisingly popular. It has been embraced by all ages for fun, to manage anxiety, to help sleep, for pain and more. Gen Z has started a trend of moving away from alcohol and toward the healthier cannabis. Boomers, guided by AARP, are embracing it for a variety of medical benefits and for enjoyment. But now a federal agency has come out to say the government needs to have more say in stregthen and products. The issue, until rescheduling or decriminalization, they don’t have the authority. So this is just more mainstream pressure for the federal government to accept cannabis as part of today.

Both presidential candidates along with VP candidate Tim Walz have said they are for moving cannabis forward. But have made statements of support, but no real clear action. When asked should marijuana be legalized across the U.S. for recreational and medical use, he replied.

“Well, I think it’s an issue for the states on some of those, and that’s the way the states have done it,” Walz, the former Minnesota’s governor and Congressman said, dodging the question.

But with more people using, especial for medical, and a state patchwork of products, strengthand dosage, it is a bit messy. States have oversight, but not the same resources as the federal movement. Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration are for rescheduling and oversight. Now the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are adding their voice. They released a report about what needs to happen, but nothing can be done until the federal government has a big voice.

“We’d like the federal government to step up to provide some leadership in this area,” said Dr. Steven Teutsch of the University of Southern California, who chaired the committee behind the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report. The CDC and the National Institutes of Health sponsored the report. A CDC spokesperson said Thursday that the agency would study the recommendations and that more money would be needed to implement them.

Aaron Smith of the National Cannabis Industry Association said states have protected public health by replacing criminal markets with regulated businesses “that are required to test products for contaminants, practice truth in labeling, and most importantly, keep cannabis products out of the hands of minors.” Making cannabis legal nationally would improve public health through federal regulation, Smith said.

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