If you were unlucky enough to be convicted for misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor cannabis offenses in Washington State prior to cannabis being legalized, well, that really sucks, and I'm sorry. The vile absurdity of how we treat those who partook of weed before it became a taxed and regulated commodity remains
Drug Laws and Policies
Now That Hemp’s Legal, What About CBD?
Canadian Government Does Not Want “Fun” Used To Market Cannabis. Um, Okay.
Oregon has some issues with how we regulate our cannabis programs, with truly baffling and seemingly self-defeating rules and regulations. For example, those who grow and process cannabis are forbidden from sharing samples with legal-aged consumers, because, um... look, don’t worry about why, they just are, okay? Rules are rules! Even if
California Still Battling Illegal Cannabis Growers
California is still making its way through the weeds (thanks, I'm here all week...) as far as its adult-use cannabis program goes, and the focus lately has been working for the clampdown on the illicit marketplace. A few recent activities give insight as to how that's going. Let's start with illicit
The VA Continues To Block Access to Cannabis for Veterans
Last week, Oregon Congressperson Earl Blumenauer was in the midst of, uh, congressing, which for him includes introducing, co-sponsoring, and supporting congressional legislation, often around cannabis issues. In this case, Blumenauer was pushing for an amendment that would have allowed doctors within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recommend cannabis
LGBTQIA+ And THC: Gay Pride And Cannabis
While Portland’s Pride celebrations have mostly wrapped up, Pride Month continues all the way through the end of June. It’s a month chosen to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969, but 50 years later, Pride Month has grown to draw attention to the many concerns facing LGBTQIA+ communities, including safety, housing
LA Has So, So Many Illegal Dispensaries
I visit LA regularly, but I struggle to adequately explain the differences that city's cannabis scene has with Oregon's, or even the Bay Area. In October 2017, I wrote a column about shopping at LA dispensaries shortly before California instituted their legalized recreational program. Even then, I wasn't able to get
Illinois Man Sentenced To 4 Years For Cannabis Edibles
An Illinois man is going to jail for four years because he ordered 42 pounds of cannabis-infused edibles from a California dispensary five years ago. Because this is happening so close in relation to Illinois passing legislation to establish a legalized cannabis program starting January 1, 2020, it's been in the
3 Pounds Of Cannabis Results in Life Sentence
Legalized cannabis programs have generated tax revenue and created jobs, and have also moved cities and counties to implement expungement programs to remove previous cannabis-related arrests and convictions. But these programs only go so far, and there are still those who may not be eligible for expungement but deserve their freedom. Should
Italian Big Pharma Losing Sales To CBD
He Served A Record 39 Years For Cannabis
Cannabis legalization programs have had the remarkable benefit of motivating cities and counties to begin expunging the records of people who were arrested for possessing or consuming cannabis back in the day, sometimes before there were even medical cannabis programs. You might think that this overdue restorative justice would also include
Record Cannabis Bust In Southern Oregon
No Citizenship For Immigrants Working In Cannabis
Last year, I wrote a piece that looked at the perils of working in the cannabis industry, or using cannabis, for undocumented individuals, and even had in translated into several languages in the hope that it would reach the largest intended audience. Last week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Biggie Smalls Estate Entering The Cannabis Industry
I've written (okay, fine, bitched) about the number of celebrities entering the cannabis space, and while it may be well intentioned, it doesn't always sit well with consumers who want their weed brands to have a legitimate connection to the industry. A celebrity brand that gives back something to the community
DA in Dallas Easing Up On Cannabis
Getting busted for weed in Dallas is nothing to fuck with. I speak from experience, having family there that I visit while being very aware that my cannabis activities could easily result in seriously unpleasant dealings with Texas law enforcement. But a recent announcement from the Dallas County District Attorney may change