The FBI’s system of reporting state and local marijuana arrests may be seriously flawed, and a local Maryland official with extensive drug policy experience is asking the Justice Department Office of the Inspector General to launch a formal investigation into the matter. What seems to be at the center of the issue is confusion among local law enforcement agencies about whether citations issued for cannabis possession under state decriminalization laws are required to be reported to FBI as “arrests.” That has led to inconsistency in the annually released data and, as a result, calls into question its utility as a tool that can inform policymaking when it comes to marijuana. FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program is widely relied on by lawmakers, researchers and media to understand and contextualize law enforcement trends, with more than 18,000 jurisdictions reporting to the agency on how many, and why types of, arrests are made in a given year. But when it comes to cannabis “arrests,” there appears to be a problem that could have significant implications for policymakers and observers assessing the impacts of decriminalization policies and possibly even federal funding for police departments.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/31/2022 11:44:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/fbi-marijuana-arrest-data-may-be-critically-flawed-and-doj-is-being-asked-to-investigate/

California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) recently launched a data visualization tool to help consumers identify licensed cannabis product retailers. The technology would also inform business owners about which cities and counties license cannabis businesses while supporting continual conversations regarding access to the state’s safe and legal cannabis market. “This data helps Californians understand the work we have ahead of us in realizing the promises of cannabis legalization, including supporting access to a safe, legal and equitable cannabis market across the state and combating the unregulated, illicit market,” DCC Director Nicole Elliott said. The data tool can be accessed through the DCC website. The offering represents the initial version of the data tool. It is slated to be updated on an ongoing basis, and input from stakeholders regarding improved functionality, presentation, and resources is encouraged. The DCC noted collaboration with the California Office of Digital Innovation produced a map detailing 44 percent of cities and counties that allow the licensing of at least one cannabis business type, and 56 percent of cities and counties prohibit the licensing of all cannabis business types.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 05/31/2022 20:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2022/06/01/california-department-cannabis-control-launches-cannabis-data-visualization-tool