A review of Canadian legislation that seeks to address key issues in the country’s cannabis industry has been delayed. The Cannabis Act is in need of a mandatory review that was scheduled for October 2021, three years after Canada made it legal to use marijuana for recreational purposes. According to Tammy Jarbeau, a health spokesperson, a legislative review is currently in the works. Once the review launches, the industry seeks to address issues, some of which are not covered in the Cannabis Act. Some of those issues include excise taxes, potency limits of products, and the marketing and advertising of cannabis products. According to industry sources, the September elections, the installation of a new health minister, and the pandemic are possible reasons for the review’s delay. Last year, the Cannabis Council of Canada was in discussions with Health Canada, which wanted to narrow the review. The review is expected to have an impact on public health, Indigenous communities and legal home cultivation. George Smitherman of the Cannabis Council states that the concern of public health is important in addressing the country’s illicit market of cannabis.

CannabisNewsWire, 03/09/2022 16:20:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisnewswire.com/420-with-cnw-delayed-review-leaves-canadas-cannabis-industry-in-suspense/

As more states in the U.S. legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use and the industry grows, political not-for-profit organizations, trade associations, and cannabis businesses continue to lobby for cannabis reform and legalization. Lobbyists are being paid a lot to weigh in on the cannabis reform measures being introduced in Congress, with OpenSecrets finding that 22 clients spent roughly $4.3 million last year to employ professional lobbyists to keep tabs on cannabis reform. OpenSecrets, which is a not-for-profit research group tracking political spending, found that this figure had increased from the $3.6 million recorded in 2020, noting that in the last 10 years the tally had also grown significantly. The group found that in 2011, $35,000 was spent on lobbyists focusing on cannabis issues, with the Medical Marijuana Industry Group and the National Cannabis Industry Association accounting for this total. These tallies remained in the thousands until 2017 when stakeholders in the now-growing industry spent more than $1.5 million lobbying Congress about cannabis issues. Since then, spending has continued increasing, with more than $15 million being spent in the period between 2018 and 2022.

CannabisNewsWire, 03/10/2022 04:20:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisnewswire.com/420-with-cnw-unions-businesses-and-groups-spend-millions-lobbying-for-federal-cannabis-reforms/

A cannabis legalization campaign in Ohio has managed to attract enough signatures to qualify for review by the state’s legislature. The proposed bill, which prompts legislators to regulate adult-use (recreational) cannabis in the same way as alcohol, must now be considered by legislative members before undergoing a ballot vote in November. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) issued an official news release on the subject. As per the release, the secretary of state told members of the campaign on Friday, Jan. 28 that Ohio’s cannabis legalization initiative had gained an adequate number of signatures to forcibly stimulate contemplation by lawmakers. Should lawmakers amend the state constitution in accordance with the bill’s suggestions, adult-use cannabis sales would be legalized across Ohio, which is home to nearly 12 million people. The CRMLA’s Initial Attempt at Legalization in Ohio As per the CRMLA’s proposed law to legalize and regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and sale of cannabis for people aged 21 and up, the measure “fixes a broken system.” Back in December 2021, the group took its first stab at legalization. However, to the dismay of CRMLA members, 206,943 submitted signatures were not sufficient to have the bill considered by lawmakers.

Posted By, Cannabis Central, 03/09/2022 08:00:00

Open article: https://www.veriheal.com/blog/legislative-members-prepare-to-review-ohios-recreational-cannabis-campaign/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=legislative-members-prepare-to-review-ohios-recreational-cannabis-campaign

Military veterans would be “encouraged” to discuss medical marijuana treatment without the fear of losing federal benefits under a new bill being sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA). The main thrust of the legislation is to codify existing policies that allow VA doctors to talk about medical cannabis with patients as well as protections for veterans who are candid about their history with marijuana treatment. By doing so, it would enshrine these policies into law so that they could not later be changed administratively by future VA leaders. Veterans participating in state-legal cannabis programs could not be rendered ineligible for “care and services furnished by” the VA, the text of the bill states. The legislation does stipulate, however, that people could not use or consume marijuana on VA property, even in states where marijuana is legal—thought that section of the proposal would be repealed if the federal prohibition is ultimately lifted. — Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics, and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts, and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 03/09/2022 09:20:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/military-veterans-would-be-encouraged-to-discuss-medical-marijuana-therapy-with-va-doctors-under-new-congressional-bill/

Adults in Illinois who use legal cannabis during their free time would be protected from losing their jobs under a bill approved Thursday by the state’s House of Representatives. The measure, which now proceeds to the Senate, would prohibit most employers from firing workers or discriminating against job applicants merely for testing positive for marijuana use, with some exceptions. “If we’re going to legalize the substance, you should talk about individual liberties and what people want to do on their weekends,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bob Morgan (D) told local NBC affiliate WGEM before the vote. “We should allow people to make good choices and not be discriminated against in the workplace because of those choices as long as it’s not affecting the workplace.” In 2019, Illinois became the first state to legalize cannabis and launch a retail system for adults through an act of the legislature rather than a voter initiative. Last year the state saw more than $1 billion in sales of recreational cannabis products.

Ben Adlin, Marijuana Moment, 03/05/2022 10:52:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/illinois-house-approves-workplace-protections-for-cannabis-consumers/