President Joe Biden has “every intention of using his clemency power,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. But while the administration is “looking at” relief for non-violent drug offenders, she again declined to give specifics about when any presidential action might actually happen. Advocates and some lawmakers have grown impatient with the president as his first year in office comes to a close. Biden campaigned on cannabis reform, promising that he would push for decriminalization, rescheduling and ensuring that people aren’t locked up over marijuana. Marijuana Moment partnered with More Perfect Union this week to shed light on exactly what Biden’s administration can do when it comes to cannabis. Watch below: Asked at a press briefing whether Biden would be following the tradition of issuing pardons or commutations “in the spirit of the holiday” as the year comes to an end, Psaki said simply, “I don’t have anything to preview at this time.” “I would just reiterate that the president has every intention of using his clemency power,” she said. “And there has been some reporting which is accurate out there about looking at non-violent drug offenders, but I don’t have anything to update you on at this point in time.”

Tom Angell, Marijuana Moment, 12/23/2021 06:24:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/biden-has-every-intention-of-using-clemency-power-and-is-looking-at-people-with-drug-convictions-white-house-says/

Authorities in Thailand plan to extend the scope of cannabis use in the country, which has been afflicted by the availability of cheap narcotics. In a recent interview, Anutin Charnvirakul, the country’s Minister of Health, stated that he was advocating for new legislation that would allow licensed marijuana cultivators to use whole plants for commercial and medicinal purposes. Current law opposes this, with licensed growers only being allowed to use the plant’s stalks, stems, leaves, and roots. The partial ban on the plant’s other parts was approved during the country’s legalization process for cannabis as the cannabis plant’s seeds, buds and flowers usually contain high amounts of THC. THC is the main psychoactive component found in the marijuana plant, which induces a high. Anutin stated that by the end of 2022, the use of the entire marijuana plant will be legalized, urging licensed cultivators to produce more plants for supplementary income. Under the new law, every household will also be permitted to grow six plants of marijuana for limited sales to add to their income and also for personal use.

CannabisNewsWire, 12/22/2021 16:20:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisnewswire.com/420-with-cnw-thailand-set-to-expand-laws-on-cannabis-use/

Two Texas CBD stores are being sued by a former employee who says they illegally scammed workers of overtime pay. The lawsuit filed Monday accuses two CBD USA Plus franchises managed by Jay Ashley and Jamie Ashley of having workers shuffle between stores in Sherman and Denton, both in North Texas, to avoid paying overtime. Former employee Colin Ross says that the Ashleys, a married couple, jointly supervised the stores. But they maintained separate business names and sent workers checks under the different business names to skirt federal labor rules on overtime pay, Ross argues. The Ashleys live in Oklahoma, where they own three CBD USA Plus franchises. CBD USA Plus has more than 80 locations. The company did not immediately comment on the overtime lawsuit to Law 360, which first reported the case.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 12/22/2021 19:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2021/12/23/texas-cbd-retailers-face-employee-overtime-lawsuit

Most states in the U.S. are in violation of a major federal drug statute. The 1971 Controlled Substances Act lists marijuana in the most dangerous category defined in the law, on par with cocaine and heroin because of its supposed potential for abuse and lack of medical applications. But 36 states plus the District of Columbia allow either full legalization for adult use or wide-scale medical use, putting them at odds with federal law. Congress so far has been unable to come up with a solution, despite support from leading Democrats for a smoother relationship between the states and the federal government. State acceptance happened quickly, with Colorado and Washington the first to legalize adult-use less than 10 years ago. By the first of the year, marijuana possession will be legal for all adults in 18 states — including Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Virginia — that make up 44% of the national population. That number has recently been growing: The governors of New Mexico and Virginia signed their legalization laws just this year. Montana’s, enacted through a ballot measure in 2020, will go into effect on New Year’s Day. The disconnect between a federal ban and increasing state liberalization has not stopped the marijuana industry from blossoming where it is legal. Since Colorado and Washington’s moves in December 2012, the federal government has largely stayed away from enforcing federal law in states where the drug is legal. But the policy gap widens as more states join in legalization, touching on everything from banking to tribal jurisdiction.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 12/22/2021 19:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2021/12/23/federal-law-still-treats-marijuana-illegal-drug-creating-headaches-states