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.
Senators Will Push to Pass Cannabis Reform Bill This Year
Given the uncertainty that casted a shadow over most of 2020, one silver lining is that every initiative that aimed to either legalize or decriminalize cannabis on the ballot in 2020 passed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and two other Democratic senators said Monday, February 1st, that they will push to pass legislation to end the federal prohibition on cannabis, CNBC reports. The goals of the upcoming legislation include restorative justice for people who have been convicted of pot-related crimes, and implementing responsible regulations for all.
Kansas Wants to Legalize Medical Cannabis
Kansas — a state surrounded by others who’ve legalized cannabis in one form or another — is in the process of joining the other 30 states in the U.S. that have legalized medical cannabis, thanks to a bill introduced this Monday, February 1st, by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. If passed, Kelly says it could generate millions in tax revenue each year, and create up to 13,000 jobs, Marijuana Moment reports.
More Marijuana Dispensaries = Fewer Opioid Deaths
Though cannabis has not been directly linked to any deaths — it has been linked to a decrease in opioid-related deaths. According to a new study, researchers discovered that a county’s opioid-related deaths — particularly those due to synthetic ones like fentanyl — drop when medical cannabis shops open within that county. While promising, the study’s authors said that more examination is needed to determine whether or not pot is actually responsible for this drop in mortality rates.
NBA Tosses Around Ending Regular THC Testing
The NBA regularly tests its players for cannabis use. But, that came to a halt due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Now, the league’s commissioner, Adam Silver, is considering a permanent ban on “random” cannabis drug testing. As a further testament to the sport industry’s evolving views of weed, Marijuana Moment reports that Michelle Roberts, head of National Basketball Players Association, recently joined the board of cannabis company, Cresco Labs, and believes the policy could be “formally changed indefinitely as early as next season,” the publication adds. Both announcements come after the UFC officially declared it would no longer test fighters for THC.
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