Yesterday Maryland's senate passed a legalization bill for medical marijuana. A few weeks back, the state's house of representatives passed a similar bill, and now representatives from both bodies will meet to sort out the differences between the bills and present it to Democratic Governor Mark O'Malley.
I'm tempted to say that the dominoes are starting to fall at a much quicker rate than I'd anticipated.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
political update
so there have been a few things going on politically that needs to be posted here, that I've found out:
1. Utah has legalized medical marijuana - partially. Between this July and December 31st of next year, it is legal to possess CBD oils if you are the parent of a child who is documented as having severe epilepsy. Prescriptions can only be written by a neurologist, which then is sent to the state's department of health, who in turn allows potential patients to apply for a wavier to pay the state a $400 hemp extract fee. They are then placed on a waiting list. The extract must have at least 15% CBD, and no more than .03% THC.
Author's note: As I don't provide my own opinion on political matters, I will not comment on the glaring holes in the law. However, I can state that since the bill did not establish any sort of growing program (in theory, parents of said children would procure the oil from nearby Colorado) and instead is only legalizing patients the ability to actually possess or use it, those transporting the legalized oil across state lines will still be subject to Federal law. How that isn't legal due to hemp being legal (and strains with very small traces of THC can technically be classified as hemp), is anyone's guess.
2. New Hampshire's house of representatives last year voted to write a legalization bill, before turning over it to the state's tax committee. The committee recommended against passing the bill, due to it not giving the state enough controls to properly regulate the distribution of the plant. In a 192-140 decision, the house of representatives rejected the bill. Last week, the same house voted to decriminalize small amounts (under 1 ounce), but that will more than likely be vetoed by the governor, who has vowed to veto any pro-marijuana legislation that arrives at her desk.
3. Also, the US House of Representatives voted against funding the research on medical marijuana for veterans. After a University of Arizona psychology professor was granted permission to conduct said research last week, Arizona's own representative lashed out at the proposal, and it was ultimately defeated.
1. Utah has legalized medical marijuana - partially. Between this July and December 31st of next year, it is legal to possess CBD oils if you are the parent of a child who is documented as having severe epilepsy. Prescriptions can only be written by a neurologist, which then is sent to the state's department of health, who in turn allows potential patients to apply for a wavier to pay the state a $400 hemp extract fee. They are then placed on a waiting list. The extract must have at least 15% CBD, and no more than .03% THC.
Author's note: As I don't provide my own opinion on political matters, I will not comment on the glaring holes in the law. However, I can state that since the bill did not establish any sort of growing program (in theory, parents of said children would procure the oil from nearby Colorado) and instead is only legalizing patients the ability to actually possess or use it, those transporting the legalized oil across state lines will still be subject to Federal law. How that isn't legal due to hemp being legal (and strains with very small traces of THC can technically be classified as hemp), is anyone's guess.
2. New Hampshire's house of representatives last year voted to write a legalization bill, before turning over it to the state's tax committee. The committee recommended against passing the bill, due to it not giving the state enough controls to properly regulate the distribution of the plant. In a 192-140 decision, the house of representatives rejected the bill. Last week, the same house voted to decriminalize small amounts (under 1 ounce), but that will more than likely be vetoed by the governor, who has vowed to veto any pro-marijuana legislation that arrives at her desk.
3. Also, the US House of Representatives voted against funding the research on medical marijuana for veterans. After a University of Arizona psychology professor was granted permission to conduct said research last week, Arizona's own representative lashed out at the proposal, and it was ultimately defeated.
Monday, March 24, 2014
New Jersey state senator introduces recreational legalization bill
Not to take a break from the investments post (which is already huge and growing), but today marked another landmark in the movement to get recreational marijuana legalized throughout the US. New Jersey state senator Nicholas Scutari announced a bill to legalize marijuana, tax it, and regulate it like alcohol - meaning it would be legal for those 21 and older. Individual counties and towns would be able to ban storefronts selling the plant. No word yet on the tax the state would place on the purchase, but Scutari's plan revolves around the tax revenue such legislation would create, pointing to Colorado's recently announced revenues from legal sales in January as a reason to legalize the plant.
Naturally, Governor Christie, a longtime advocate of the war on drugs and GOP presidential hopeful, has come out against the bill (naturally), and will try to stop it from being passed.
Naturally, Governor Christie, a longtime advocate of the war on drugs and GOP presidential hopeful, has come out against the bill (naturally), and will try to stop it from being passed.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
University of Arizona researcher receives federal approval to research the use of marijuana for suffers of PTSD
The investments post is coming. I promise. But...I saw this this morning on Google news and I had to re-post it, being an alumnus of said University and all (Bear Down, Cats!).
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/marijuana_news_feds_approve_un.html
What's interesting is that there is already a school that is allowed to research medicinal marijuana, the University of Mississippi (Ole' Miss). However, they are severely limited in what they can do. Also, the fact that it's illegal for anyone to transport anything across state lines (even extracts) really limits the impact the lab can have.
But more on this later. Back to the investments post!
Monday, March 17, 2014
Back in it!
Today marks the day I get back into the blogging game as my other project needs to be sided for the time being. So I'm back to this!
Before I get into today's main idea, I'm going to recap some of the events that have been going on (politically) in this space since my last post. There's still a few posts sitting around waiting to be published that don't have anything to do with politics (they are focused on firms operating in the space), but more on those later.
California, as stated in a previous post, has shelved their efforts to get recreational legalization on their 2014 ballot. New York and Georgia have both legalized medicinal use, albeit in extremely limited circumstances. Floridians will vote on medical use in August while Rhode Island will vote on recreational legalization during that same month. Oregon's legalization of recreational use is dependent on the initiative gathering enough signatures (which, if successful, would be put to a vote in November). Maryland's house of Representatives has debated both legalizing recreational use and pulling back on restrictions set up for medicinal users, but nothing has been put to a vote, yet.
Now, onto the main theme for today, which is what I've learned while doing extensive research on this space for a friend of mine. The most astounding thing I've learned is that there isn't as much social media action happening here as one would think. While some major players have huge followings on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc..., such as actors, musicians, and some publications, there isn't as much activity surrounding the space as one would imagine. I'm saying this because while over 40% of adults in this country (conservatively speaking) have tried the substance, there are only a handful of pro-marijuana influencers active on social media that have a following of over 1 million people.
This has perplexed me. Reason being, people who are proponents of the stuff (from legitimate medical users to your average pothead) are generally pretty vocal about their position. Today's technology allows such people to connect with ease, and make an impact on the internet. This just isn't happening, and I can't understand why. (To my few readers: do you know why, or have a hypothesis?) It seems that those who have the most power to influence simply aren't, or the ones that do have the power simply aren't being helped by similar people.
I've also learned a few more things about investment as well. That will go into tomorrow's (massive) post. I've lost a few bucks trying to invest in this space in the past month and I want to tell my latest tale.
Before I get into today's main idea, I'm going to recap some of the events that have been going on (politically) in this space since my last post. There's still a few posts sitting around waiting to be published that don't have anything to do with politics (they are focused on firms operating in the space), but more on those later.
California, as stated in a previous post, has shelved their efforts to get recreational legalization on their 2014 ballot. New York and Georgia have both legalized medicinal use, albeit in extremely limited circumstances. Floridians will vote on medical use in August while Rhode Island will vote on recreational legalization during that same month. Oregon's legalization of recreational use is dependent on the initiative gathering enough signatures (which, if successful, would be put to a vote in November). Maryland's house of Representatives has debated both legalizing recreational use and pulling back on restrictions set up for medicinal users, but nothing has been put to a vote, yet.
Now, onto the main theme for today, which is what I've learned while doing extensive research on this space for a friend of mine. The most astounding thing I've learned is that there isn't as much social media action happening here as one would think. While some major players have huge followings on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc..., such as actors, musicians, and some publications, there isn't as much activity surrounding the space as one would imagine. I'm saying this because while over 40% of adults in this country (conservatively speaking) have tried the substance, there are only a handful of pro-marijuana influencers active on social media that have a following of over 1 million people.
This has perplexed me. Reason being, people who are proponents of the stuff (from legitimate medical users to your average pothead) are generally pretty vocal about their position. Today's technology allows such people to connect with ease, and make an impact on the internet. This just isn't happening, and I can't understand why. (To my few readers: do you know why, or have a hypothesis?) It seems that those who have the most power to influence simply aren't, or the ones that do have the power simply aren't being helped by similar people.
I've also learned a few more things about investment as well. That will go into tomorrow's (massive) post. I've lost a few bucks trying to invest in this space in the past month and I want to tell my latest tale.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
The first ever marijuana commercial on TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyzxs33B6FA
So it's the first commercial for a marijuana service. And it's going to be all over the major networks!
And yeah, sorry for the lack of updates. I've been setting up a cannabis database for a friend of mine, and it's taken ALL my time.
So it's the first commercial for a marijuana service. And it's going to be all over the major networks!
And yeah, sorry for the lack of updates. I've been setting up a cannabis database for a friend of mine, and it's taken ALL my time.
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