Cannabis News

Grading the Presidential Candidates on Cannabis: Joe Biden

Published

10 months ago

January 8, 2024

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Gentle readers, once again we find ourselves in a Presidential election year. Feel free to join me in tuning out the deluge of reporting and social media as to matters you cannot control in the slightest, and which are mostly negative and discouraging.

Except for this blog post, which I promise will be great. In each presidential election cycle, the Canna Law Blog runs a classy series of posts grading the candidates as to their positions on cannabis. Four years ago, Donald Trump was President, which means we graded Trump and many Democrats. This time, it’s the opposite. We will grade President Biden and his Republican challengers, including Donald Trump. But today we start with #46, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (Hunter’s dad).

Overall Grade: C

“C” is a middling grade, obviously, but it’s progress for Biden. Last time around, we (one of our law clerks) gave him a “D.” He certainly earned it. Biden was the only viable Democratic candidate who opposed cannabis legalization in 2020. In the decades before that, he was entirely bass-ackwards on things, being described by knowledgeable persons as “the architect, in all ways, of the war on drugs.” Yuck.

Biden’s positions on cannabis today

Things have changed a bit in the past quadrennium. The President has not pivoted as dramatically as Vice President Harris claims to have done on marijuana reform, but we’ve seen some progress. Exactly how good or bad Biden has been is a source of much debate. The people who argue that Biden is “responsible for the most significant marijuana reform in American history”, and those who send him thank you notes, are right. The people who argue that Biden hasn’t done nearly enough on marijuana reform are also right. I’m mostly one of the latter, correct people.

Let’s take a quick look at what Biden has and hasn’t done so far.

October 2022 pardons

In October of 2022, Biden pardoned 6,500 people previously convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law. I observed:

The pardons don’t release anyone from prison, as no one was in federal prison for this dubious crime. Everyone serving time for simple possession of cannabis is in state prison for violations of state (and not federal) controlled substances laws.

It’s also important to understand that nearly everyone arrested and prosecuted for federal cannabis crimes is nailed for trafficking (i.e., distribution and/or intent to distribute). Biden didn’t pardon any of these people, including the nonviolent traffickers. I’m guessing none of them will ever see a presidential pardon. Their only hope is through proposed legislation like the MORE Act or the CAOA, which would make non-violent cannabis crimes expungable, automatically or otherwise.

Finally, the pardon is also just a “pardon.” It doesn’t expunge the underlying convictions at issue, or clear anyone’s record. In many ways, the 6,500 pardonees find themselves in a similar spot today as prior to October 5. They are still walking around as convicted criminals of record, and will be for the foreseeable future.

I stand by the critique.

October 2022 exhortations to state Governors

Concurrent with his feeble pardons, Biden urged all state Governors to issue state-level pardons for state-level cannabis crimes. I was underwhelmed with that effort too, explaining again that the pardons were not expungements, and that the crimes included simple possession, only. I also wrote:

Rather than direct his attention at state-level actors, however, or in conjunction with doing so, Biden should endorse one of the many federal legislative proposals to deschedule cannabis. There are some good ones. See:

Recall that Biden’s VP, Kamala Harris, was Senate sponsor of the MORE Act. That one would deschedule cannabis, among a host of other provisions. Come on, man!

Biden still hasn’t come around on federal legislation, and it appears that his message to Governors had little effect. Yes, the Oregon governor erased some 47,144 convictions the following month, but that was in the works already. The Idaho governor, on the other hand, issued a predictably annoying response to Biden’s request. In all, we haven’t seen much movement here, and nothing one could tie directly to Biden’s “follow me” missive.

October 22 request to Health and Human Services (HHS)

This is the big one, and the reason people are split as to Biden’s cannabis doings. After Biden requested that HHS review the scheduling of marijuana under federal law, the Department recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that it should reschedule marijuana, down to Schedule III. I analyzed what a move to Schedule III would generally mean here.

The HHS recommendation occurred in late August, 2023. What DEA ends up doing here is far from certain, and things seem to be moving pretty slowly. All of that was expected: our colleague Shane Pennington, an authority on the sausage-making process, recently opined that any status change probably won’t occur until after the fall elections. What Biden did here may ultimately be helpful, but certainly not as helpful as possible. Biden passed the buck, putting us on an uncertain, circuitous path.

December 2023 pardons and clemency grants

This proclamation came in over the holidays, probably to mitigate any controversy. Not that it seems terribly controversial. The December action pardoned convictions for simple possession and use on federal lands. It seems designed to fill in some gaps from the October 2022 pardons, though it doesn’t extend to military convictions, which is odd: affording the same small grace to military personnel as common civilians seems like a no-brainer.

Biden separately commuted the sentences of 11 Americans who were serving “unduly long sentences” with respect to non-violent offenses related to other drugs. That one was helpful and should have a more profound impact on the lives of those few individuals.

Conclusion

Biden has come a long way on cannabis over the decades, even if he hasn’t smoked any weed–as suggested by a primary challenger. However, the President had a chance to do momentous things without much effort. Instead, he has chosen what he probably thinks is a middle path, and simply ignored certain issues issues like the scourge of “gas station weed” from hemp. Overall, I don’t think Biden’s actions are consistent with his promises.

After his October 2022 efforts, I wrote:

On the campaign trail, Joe Biden pledged to “decriminalize the use of cannabis and automatically expunge all prior cannabis use convictions.” That promise sits moldering right here on the “Black America” page of his website. Biden has done nothing. During the first year of his presidency, it seems likely that 300,000 (or more) Americans have been arrested and convicted of simple possession of marijuana. Penalties range from low-level misdemeanors to life imprisonment without parole in extreme cases.

The link to Biden’s website page referenced above is now removed: instead you’ll be asked to donate to the 2024 effort if you deign to click through. Feel free to do that if you’re fine with half measures cannabis, from ongoing criminalization to an administrative scrum which may or may not lead to Schedule III.

So I’m sticking with the “C” grade for President Biden. Stay tuned for coverage of the other party’s candidates…. Should be fun.

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Webinar Replay: Post-Election Cannabis Wrap – Smoke ’em if You’ve Got ’em

Published

16 hours ago

November 13, 2024

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On Thursday, November 7th, Vince Sliwoski, Aaron Pelley and Fred Rocafort held a post election discussion “Post-Election Cannabis Wrap – Smoke ’em if You’ve Got ’em”. Watch the replay!

Key Takeaways from the “Smoke ’em if You’ve Got ’em – 2024 Post Election Cannabis Wrap” Webinar:

Panelists:
- Vince Sliwoski: Oregon Business lawyer specializing in cannabis and commercial real estate.
- Aaron Pelley: Experienced in cannabis law since Washington’s legalization in 2012.
- Fred Rocafort: Trademark attorney working closely with the cannabis team.
Election Results Overview:
- Most 2024 cannabis ballot measures did not pass.
- Florida, South Dakota, and North Dakota saw failures.
- Nebraska became the 39th state to legalize cannabis for medical use when it passed two cannabis initiatives, Initiatives 437 and 438.
Federal and State-Level Developments:
- Medical use is currently legal in 38 states, and 24 states allow recreational use.
- Republican support for marijuana legalization is growing.
Federal Policy Implications:
- Schedule III Rescheduling: The process to move cannabis to Schedule III is ongoing, which could significantly impact the industry.
- Importance of Federal Appointments: The future of cannabis policy depends heavily on who is appointed to key positions in the administration.
International and Domestic Trade:
- Schedule III status could ease import/export restrictions on cannabis.
- Unified control of House, Senate, and presidency might expedite legislative progress.
Economic and Industry Impact:
- Cannabis stocks experienced volatility post-election, reflecting investor uncertainty.
- Federal legalization and banking reforms are crucial for industry stability and growth.
Future Outlook:
- The potential for federal rescheduling remains strong, with hearings scheduled for early 2025.
- State-level initiatives and regulatory developments will continue to shape the industry.

Watch the replay!

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I Had Just One Puff

Published

17 hours ago

November 13, 2024

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one puff of a joint a drug test

“How Long Does One Puff of Weed Stay in Your System?”… This topic can be difficult to answer since it is dependent on elements such as the size of the hit and what constitutes a “one hit.” If you take a large bong pull then cough, it might linger in your system for 5-7 days. A moderate dose from a joint can last 3-5 days, whereas a few hits from a vaporizer may last 1-3 days.

The length of time that marijuana stays in the body varies based on a number of factors, including metabolism, THC levels, frequency of use, and hydration.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. THC and its metabolites, which remain in your body long after the effects have subsided, are detected by drug tests.

Since these metabolites are fat-soluble, they cling to bodily fat molecules. They could thus take a while to fully pass through your system, particularly if your body fat percentage is higher.

THC is absorbed by tissues and organs (including the brain, heart, and fat) and converted by the liver into chemicals such as 11-hydroxy-THC and carboxy-THC. Cannabis is eliminated in feces at a rate of around 65%, while urine accounts for 20%. The leftover amount might be kept within the body.

THC deposited in bodily tissues ultimately re-enters the circulation and is processed by the liver. For frequent users, THC accumulates in fatty tissues quicker than it can be removed, thus it may be detectable in drug tests for days or weeks following consumption.

The detection time varies according to the amount and frequency of cannabis usage. Higher dosages and regular usage result in longer detection times.

The type of drug test also affects detection windows. Blood and saliva tests typically detect cannabis metabolites for shorter periods, while urine and hair samples can reveal use for weeks or even months. In some cases, hair tests have detected cannabis use over 90 days after consumption.

Detection Windows for Various Cannabis Drug Tests

Urine Tests

Among all drug tests, urine testing is the most commonly used method for screening for drug use in an individual.

Detection times vary, but a 2017 review suggests the following windows for cannabis in urine after last use:

– Single-use (e.g., one joint): up to 3 days

– Moderate use (around 4 times a week): 5–7 days

– Chronic use (daily): 10–15 days

– Chronic heavy use (multiple times daily): over 30 days

Blood Tests

Blood tests generally detect recent cannabis use, typically within 2–12 hours after consumption. However, in cases of heavy use, cannabis has been detected up to 30 days later. Chronic heavy use can extend the detection period in the bloodstream.

Saliva Tests

THC can enter saliva through secondhand cannabis smoke, but THC metabolites are only present if you’ve personally smoked or ingested cannabis.

Saliva testing has a short detection window and can sometimes identify cannabis use on the same day. A 2020 review found that THC was detectable in the saliva of frequent users for up to 72 hours after use, and it may remain in saliva longer than in blood following recent use.

In areas where cannabis is illegal, saliva testing is often used for roadside screenings.

Hair Tests

Hair follicle tests can detect cannabis use for up to 90 days. After use, cannabinoids reach the hair follicles through small blood vessels and from sebum and sweat surrounding the hair.

Hair grows at approximately 0.5 inches per month, so a 1.5-inch segment of hair close to the scalp can reveal cannabis use over the past three months.

Factors Affecting THC and Metabolite Retention

The length of time THC and its metabolites stay in your system depends on various factors. Some, like body mass index (BMI) and metabolic rate, relate to individual body processing, not the drug itself.

Other factors are specific to cannabis use, including:

– Dosage: How much you consume

– Frequency: How often you use cannabis

– Method of consumption: Smoking, dabbing, edibles, or sublingual

– THC potency: Higher potency can extend detection time

Higher doses and more frequent use generally extend THC retention. Cannabis consumed orally may remain in the system slightly longer than smoked cannabis, and stronger cannabis strains, higher in THC, may also stay detectable for a longer period.

How Quickly Do the Effects of Cannabis Set In?

When smoking cannabis, effects appear almost immediately, while ingested cannabis may take 1–3 hours to peak.

The psychoactive component THC produces a “high” with common effects such as:

– Altered senses, including perception of time

– Mood changes

– Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving

– Impaired memory

Other short-term effects can include:

– Anxiety and confusion

– Decreased coordination

– Dry mouth and eyes

– Nausea or lightheadedness

– Trouble focusing

– Increased appetite

– Rapid heart rate

– Restlessness and sleepiness

In rare cases, high doses may lead to hallucinations, delusions, or acute psychosis.

Regular cannabis use may have additional mental and physical effects. While research is ongoing, cannabis use may increase the risk of:

– Cognitive issues like memory loss

– Cardiovascular problems including heart disease and stroke

– Respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or lung infections

– Mood disorders like depression and anxiety

Cannabis use during pregnancy can negatively impact fetal growth and development.

Duration of Effects

Short-term effects generally taper off within 1–3 hours, but for chronic users, some long-term effects may last days, weeks, or even months. Certain effects may even be permanent.

Bottom Line

The amount of time that cannabis remains in your system following a single use varies greatly depending on individual characteristics such as body fat, metabolism, frequency of use, and mode of intake. Frequent users may maintain traces of THC for weeks, whereas infrequent users may test positive for as little as a few days. Hair tests can disclose usage for up to 90 days, while blood and saliva tests identify more recent use. Urine tests are the most popular and have varying detection durations. The duration that THC and its metabolites are detectable will ultimately depend on a number of factors, including dose, strength, and individual body chemistry.

PEE IN A CUP COMING UP, READ ON..

HOW LONG DOES WEED STAY IN YOUR URINE FOR A DRUG TEST?

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Is Kratom Addictive? Understanding Dependence, Risks, and Safe Usage

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

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is kratom addictive

Is kratom addictive? Discover the potential for dependence on Kratom, the risks involved with its use, and how to approach its consumption responsibly.

From 2011 to 2017, over 1,800 calls to poison centers involved kratom in the U.S. This significant number highlights the concern regarding kratom addiction.

However, without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight, and due to various consumption methods like teas and capsules, there are significant health risks. Safe use of kratom is now in question due to these issues.

Research debates how dependence develops, outlining signs like loss of control and withdrawal symptoms. These signs are seen in regular kratom users. Ironically, some people switch from drugs like heroin to kratom, looking for a legal alternative.

Understanding Kratom: Origins and Prevalence

Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa tree in Southeast Asia. It can act like a stimulant or like opioids, based on how much you take. People use it in different ways, for a small energy boost or stronger effects at higher doses.

The legal status of kratom in the U.S. is complicated and changing. It’s a hot topic because some worry about its misuse. It’s still legal in several states. This shows how different places handle drug rules. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is looking into its medical benefits. But, the FDA hasn’t approved it for medical use yet. The DEA calls it a “drug of concern,” which means policies might change.

From 2011 to 2017, poison control centers in the U.S. got over 1,800 reports about kratom. This shows it’s widely used and might pose health risks.

Kratom’s main ingredients bind to opioid receptors very strongly, stronger than morphine even. This fact is key to understanding its effects.

As more people use kratom, more are reporting serious health problems. These include liver and heart issues, and tough withdrawal symptoms, particularly in those already sick.

The statistics show mounting worries about kratom in the U.S. As its use grows, it’s becoming more important to health policies and laws. What happens next will depend on further research and legal decisions.

Is Kratom Addictive: Investigating the Substance’s Nature

The question of kratom’s addictiveness focuses on how it affects brain receptors and its long-term health implications. The ongoing debate highlights concerns about dependence and the risk of addiction. Scientists are closely looking at these issues.

How Kratom Works in the Brain

Kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, bind to the brain’s opioid receptors, similar to painkillers and narcotics. This connection suggests a potential risk of dependence. These alkaloids are key to kratom’s pain relief but also point to possible addiction concerns, especially with frequent, high-dose usage.

Patterns and Consequences of Long-term Use

Using kratom often, especially in large doses, can increase the risk of dependence and intense withdrawal symptoms, similar to opioid withdrawal.

Although some use it for pain or to improve mood, long-term kratom users might see serious health problems, like liver damage and mental health issues.

Withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, nausea, and sleep problems, show kratom’s impact on one’s physical and mental health.

Assessment of Addiction Risks

Studies indicate a significant risk of addiction to kratom, especially with high doses or frequent use. Dependence develops as the body gets used to kratom, leading to tolerance and a need for more to feel its effects. Withdrawal symptoms emphasize this risk, as highlighted by health experts.

Physiological Effects: Kratom’s Impact on the Body

There is a lot of debate about the safety and use of kratom. This herbal extract comes from the Mitragyna speciosa plant. It has drawn attention for its possible harmful effects on the body. The FDA has issued many warnings about kratom, raising safety concerns.

Kratom Adverse Effects: Kratom users have reported side effects like nausea, vomiting, and confusion. More serious issues include high blood pressure and liver damage. These problems highlight the risks of using kratom.

Herbal Extract Safety: Some kratom products contain heavy metals and pathogens. These can cause severe health issues, including death. This shows the importance of safety in herbal products.

FDA Warnings and Regulations: The FDA has linked kratom to over 35 deaths and warns against using it. They point out the lack of medical uses and the risk of addiction.

Physiological Impact: Kratom’s effects depend on the dose and the user’s body. Yet, it can lead to dangerous outcomes like liver damage and seizures.

Safety Concerns from Authorities: Federal agencies like the DEA are worried about kratom’s safety. Although not a controlled substance, monitoring suggests users should be careful.

Kratom might offer temporary relief for some ailments, but it comes with significant risks. The FDA’s warnings should make people think twice. If considering kratom, it’s crucial to talk to a doctor first. Experts stress the need for safety and caution with herbal extracts.

Conclusion

Kratom’s role in health and regulation is complex, with views and research findings widely varied. Some people use kratom for its claimed health benefits, but it’s a hot topic. Experts advise caution and suggest consulting a doctor before using kratom due to the unclear effects.

Clinical studies using scores like SOWS and COWS haven’t confirmed withdrawal symptoms from kratom. This adds to the debate, especially when some users report withdrawal. This makes kratom a controversial subject among different findings and user experiences.

When it comes to treating opioid addiction, kratom can be both helpful and harmful. Some have used it successfully to fight addiction. Yet, some states have banned it. This highlights the need for regulations and consistent product quality. It also raises questions about kratom’s legal status due to mixed actions by authorities.

The situation shows how complex kratom is in the realm of substance use and law. Without clear evidence supporting either its benefits or risks, it poses a challenge. More research is needed to guide regulations and health advice. For now, anyone thinking of using kratom should be careful, seek medical advice, and keep up with laws and health guidelines.