Following important cannabis news articles every day can be a real burn-out, we know. That’s why the Emerald rolls up a chronicle of the headiest news hits, and passes them to you at the end of each week. We Bring You: The Dime.
Written by Katie Bryan | Emerald Magazine
Hot Box Trailer
U.S. Border patrol agents policing the Rio Grande River in Laredo, Texas, seized more than 5,350 pounds of cannabis on August 27th. After originally discovering several bundles of cannabis scattered throughout a grassy area, agents were led to a box trailer where they discovered more bales inside. The DEA took possession of the stash, a total of 245 bundles worth or a street value of approximately $4.2 million.
Puff Puff Pass the Ballot
Nebraskans may see medical cannabis legalization on their ballots in November. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, a cannabis advocacy group, has been busy collecting necessary signatures during the pandemic to bring forth the issue to the voters. The new law would allow “the Nebraska Constitution to provide the right to use, possess, access, and safely produce cannabis products and material, for serious medical conditions as recommended by a physician or nurse practitioner.”
Federal Decriminalization No Longer A Pipe Dream
This September, the U.S. Congress will vote on the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019, or the MORE act (congress really loves their acronyms), which — if passed by the house — would be the first toward effectively ending the schedule I classification for cannabis as an illegal narcotic.
The, bill-also known legislatively as HR3884, is lead-sponsored by Vice-Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, and would not only decriminalize cannabis, but also expunge prior cannabis-related convictions. The bill would also serve to provide funding resources for marijuana-adjacent businesses via a federal excise tax, allow military veterans to access medical cannabis through their healthcare providers, and allow legal cannabis businesses the opportunity to access financial and banking institutions. The bill’s passage would allow interstate transport and sales of cannabis products.
The vote will serve to establish precedent as it marks the first time since the Controlled Substances Act’s (CSA) inception that Congress has been tasked with the decision to de-schedule a controlled substance.
Leave a Reply