Legalization

New Cannabis Laws Free Prisoners

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Prisoners Charged With Cannabis Offenses Are Being Released

Since California’s legalization of medical cannabis, in 1996, several states have followed suit and provided a more modern approach to dealing with cannabis.

From medical use to recreational use in 22 states and Washington D.C., you can now legally use marijuana! In many states, it has also become decriminalized, protecting minor offenders (who would have previously been prosecuted for a dime bag) from the headache of an unnecessary arrest.

As a country, overall in the past 25 years, we have come a long way in the fight for legalizing marijuana. For those of us who are free and able to partake in these new legal marijuana outlets, it is wonderful and is a time for celebration.

Some of our brothers and sisters did NOT make it to the GREEN AGE of legalization, without a detour through prison.

Across the country thousands of men and women still sit behind bars, serving out time on minor marijuana offenses. Some of them are even being SLAPPED with the label of felons. Since the changing of many laws, some of these so-called “offenders” have been able to have their sentences overturned and are being set free.

There have been many “cannabis offenders” throughout the years, go to prison and be released.

Here are a few updates on those who were imprisoned due to marijuana or are currently on their way out.

Jeff Mizanskey

One of the most talked about prisoners released after new marijuana laws were implemented, Mr. Mizanskey spent two decades in prison for a non-violent marijuana charge. He was arrested in 1996 for the intent to distribute nearly 6 pounds of marijuana. Mr. Mizanskey was charged with a life sentence with no option for parole. Although it is still illegal to distribute marijuana without proper protocol and licensing, this sentence was quite harsh even for the time. Jeff was a non-violent offender who only had two previous, minor arrests on his record, which were also non-violent. In 2015, the new Governor of Missouri, where Mizanskey was serving his time, reversed the decision of the court and allowed him to walk free.

James Tranmer

In 1993 James Tranmer was sentenced to 420 months or 35 years in prison for conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana. He has continued to promote the benefits of marijuana from behind bars and is still active in his Rastafarian based faith. James was sentenced for helping his son financially with a marijuana smuggling venture. His son also served time for the same case. He pled his case to President Obama, seeking Presidential clemency. In 2017 Tranmer received his wish and was granted clemency in President Obama’s last round of clemencies. He was released on May 19, 2017, at the age of 73 after spending 24 years in prison.

Paul Free

Paul Free was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance in 1995. This non-violent charge that was weakly substantiated has led to a decades-long fight for freedom. Paul has been incarcerated in California trying to find a lawyer that can help him successfully overturn his charges for the past 22 years. When he was originally charged, there were multiple witnesses that stated he was not the person who distributed them marijuana, as well as having multiple pieces of evidence which place him away from the scene of the crime. Finally, in 2017 Free was given a glimmer of hope when he was granted clemency by President Obama. He is set to be released in the next few years and will be able to assimilate back into normal life with his brother down in Mexico.

Craig Frazier

In 2005 Craig Frazier was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a non-violent offense. Frazier was caught in an unfair situation where he was charged, on the premises, that he had WAY more marijuana in his possession than he actually did. Even based off of the amount of marijuana he had, Frazier was charged with four times the mandatory minimum for his case. He was treated this way in the Montana court system. After 7 years in prison with a clean record, Frazier was granted clemency and released on December 18, 2016. He plans to attend college back in his home state of Montana.

Dustin Costa

Our last update on a marijuana prisoner does not end as well as the previous few. Dustin Costa is still incarcerated at the Lompoc prison in Lompoc, California. He was running a small-scale marijuana grow farm that catered exclusively to patients. Costa stuck strictly to the rules laid out in prop 215 but was still arrested. He was charged with several different marijuana offenses and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Costa is now 71 years old and has been in prison since 2005. Not only were his crimes non-violent, but he was also helping around 300 patients have access to the healing, medicinal qualities of marijuana at the time of his arrest. Costa is still an avid cannabis supporter and looks forward to the future when it is legalized everywhere. Although he may never see life beyond prison bars again he is grateful for the support of others through letter correspondence and continues to enjoy advocating marijuana in any way that he can.

With new laws being implemented throughout the states we can only hope for more stories the end in 100% release for non-violent cannabis charges.

The harsh, draconian laws of the past no longer need to be upheld. As marijuana becomes legalized for medical and recreational use across the country, it will at the very least lead to fewer marijuana arrests and fewer prisoners in general. Violent drug offenders should most definitely STILL be prosecuted! However, for non-violent marijuana situations, there is no need for ANYONE to serve out the rest of their life behind bars.

Prohibitions Influence On The Legal System

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It’s no secret that the US 1920’s ALCOHOL PROHIBITION did NOT work at all!

For those thirteen years, vast amounts of wealth were created illegally on the black market. The basic law of economics teaches us that where EVER there is a demand, a supply will be created.

Perhaps an even more destructive prohibition in the U.S. has that of hemp and cannabis medicine. For eighty years, cannabis prohibition has plagued the American people – a prohibition set into action based almost entirely off of lies, racism and crooked cronyism interests.

Cannabis Prohibition First Takes Hold

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was one of the most manipulatively convoluted and misunderstood laws to ever hit the books. Just about everyone who has read or seen pieces of media such as Reefer Madness can now understand how absurd these claims were. The sad part is, back then – people actually believed that ‘one toke can turn youths into marijuana addicts’ and that ‘the devil’s weed, with its roots in hell, led wealthy white women to leave their husbands for black jazz musicians.’

The ringleader spinning this web of lies was a vile man by the name of Harry Anslinger. Anslinger served as the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department‘s Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN). The FBN eventually evolved into what we now know as the DEA. He was a perhaps the most vocal and outspoken supporter of the criminalization of drugs. Without him, cannabis prohibition might never have come to pass.

Somehow, Anslinger held office for 32 years in his role as commissioner until 1962. After that, he was the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Narcotics Commission for two years. In addition to inciting racism, Anslinger told an abundance of lies to representatives of a political system that believed it. In so doing, the waters of people’s understandings of the differences between non-psychoactive hemp and cannabis medicine were so muddied; most Americans didn’t know the difference at the time. In fact, the term ‘marihuana’ was virtually invented by these government goons at this time period. Later the made-up word evolved into what most people call it today – marijuana.

Before this, the plant was mostly called hemp in the west, with some more educated people referring to it as its scientific name, cannabis. Not only did Anslinger and his cohorts prevent access to cannabis medicine, but also restricted access to hemp – which is one of the most versatile plants on the planet.

Hemp’s Historical Uses

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As you might already know, the non-psychoactive hemp plant has an abundance of uses dating back centuries. More than half of states in the U.S. currently allow the growing of hemp with a license. The Federal government passed a farm bill was 2014. This legislation allows farmers in legal states to grow industrial hemp, provided it clocks in at under 0.3% THC.

Popular Mechanics magazine called hemp a “billion dollar cash crop” back in 1938.

Ironically, this was right around the time that cannabis/ prohibition was taking hold of the country. Even though cannabis prohibition has stifled much of the potential advancements involving the versatile plant, American-grown hemp has been proving itself as a cash crop once again. Sales of hemp products reached over $500 million nationwide in 2015, reports the Boulder, Colorado-based Hemp Business Journal.

How Prohibition Influences The Legal System

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As previously stated, the parasite of marijuana prohibition has been embedded into all Americans for 80 years now. As destructive as it was back then, it’s arguably even worse now. According to the ACLU, marijuana arrests make up more than half of all drug arrests in the United States. Police made 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010. Of those arrests, 88% were for simple possession – not for selling it, or for property damage, or hurting anyone else.

The War on Drugs was initially put into place by President Nixon, and Regan amped it up with the “Just Say No” campaigns of the 1980’s. Along with a plethora of propaganda and fear mongering delivered to young children through the D.A.R.E. campaign, the drug war has needlessly claimed thousands of lives of otherwise law-abiding citizens that most Americans agree should be offered treatment instead of punishment for drug use if they weren’t hurting anyone else. The war on drugs has cost the American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and has effectively taken law enforcement attention away from real crimes with real victims.

Thankfully, there are many sensible officers, current and former, who are against the war on drugs because they see how it takes away their resources that would otherwise be focused on real crimes. One of such groups is Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), formerly known as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. To say we need more sensible, compassionate, and educated officers like these who understand the vast harms brought on by drug prohibition and advocate an end to its stranglehold on the American people.

Despite the fact that sixty percent of Americans now favor the end of cannabis prohibition, President Trump’s new drug czar Jeff Sessions has vowed to crack down on drug users, stating, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.” Sessions even made the outright statement that there is “no evidence of medical uses for marijuana,” which is a bold-faced lie. Does Sessions actually believe these ridiculous statements, or is he pandering to the forty percent of Americans who somehow favor the continued prohibition on cannabis and the war on drugs? You be the judge.

Who Benefits From the Continued Prohibition of Cannabis?

With all of the overwhelming evidence of the destructive nature of cannabis prohibition and the war on drugs, what is taking so long to end it? Many people have made speculation and will continue to do so. Some people think it’s the pharmaceutical industry whose corporations stand to lose millions from the outright legalization of medical cannabis. Others point to for-profit private prisons making a fortune on jailing weed smokers. With so many people being arrested for marijuana possession and being pushed through the legal system by essentially being forced into plea deals that involve treatment as terms of probation, drug counseling services also stand to lose out when cannabis prohibition finally ends. Then there are also the DEA and police unions who oppose legalization because they understand how much money is being drained from arrestees in the form of fines, court costs, and legal fees.

While cannabis prohibition and the war on drugs is still very much entrenched in the American culture and the legal system, we have seen some great strides over the past few years – and we’ve come a long way. Hopefully, the senseless prohibition of cannabis won’t last too much longer, as it has a negative impact on the U.S. in so many ways.

Should You Be A Cannabis Activist If You Have A Family?

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There are many cannabis activists doing great things for the legalization movement in the United States. These activists have made a noticeable impact in influencing not only government policies, but also the attitudes people hold towards medical and recreational cannabis. However, as with just about every type of positive activism, doing so can come with a hefty price to pay.

The consequences of activism can be hard enough on someone who is single and doesn’t have children – but for those who have families, they can be devastating. Should you become a cannabis activist if you have a family? What are the risks of cannabis activism? Are there some forms of cannabis activism that are safer than others? What are some ways you can plan for the worst-case scenario? Read on for the answers to these important questions.

The Risks Of Cannabis Activism

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With the continued war on drugs and the illegality of cannabis at a federal level, activists run the risk of being ticketed, fined, and even arrested. Police and other officials tend to be standing by for protester, and those participating in “smoke-outs.” On top of that, known cannabis activists can be shunned and ostracized by their communities and other organizations. There are still some more conservative towns and cities out there, the majority of their residents clinging to an antiquated prohibitionist mindset.

The “think of the children” rhetoric is one that’s often trotted out by these individuals, repeating the either uninformed or dishonest viewpoint that legalization increases underage use. Of course these anti-pot prohibitionists rarely admit in the same sentence that alcohol and tobacco – the two legal drugs that claim the most lives year after year – are readily available in most American locales.

Activists with children, especially single parents, take on the added risk of Child Protective Services taking their children from them, or at the very least making their lives more difficult. Regardless of the level of harm or drug activity these children are being exposed to, any shred of evidence that a parent is a known user of an “illegal drug” can trigger an investigation. While many of these investigations are fair and honest, unfortunately many of them are not.

In addition to this danger, a known cannabis activist runs the risk of being denied jobs, bank loans, and the like. With all of these risks that cannabis activists are up against, it’s commendable that there are still brave people that do so with the knowledge of what awaits them.

Are Any Forms Of Cannabis Activism Safe?

With all of these risks involved, it’s natural for one to wonder – what kind of activism can you do that is safe?

There is one method of activism, one that is just about as old as time: word of mouth. Having conversations with friends, neighbors, and extended family members about the truth of the failed war on drugs and the myriad of benefits from medical cannabis certainly is not illegal; at least not yet, anyway. It might seem like doing so is small potatoes and that these conversations don’t matter, but you might be surprised at how many former prohibition supporters saw the light and came around to favor legalization after having these kinds of conversations.

Even sharing cannabis-related articles with your connections on social media can have a positive impact on the way these people perceive legalization and its supporters. While most people do in fact live in an echo chamber and shut out the majority of what they disagree with – especially when it comes to social media – there are still those open-minded few that are willing to hear new ideas and engage in points of view that contradict their own. These are the people we should be focusing on and trying to engage with in conversation.

Planning For The Worst-Case Scenario

So you’ve weighed the pros and cons about being a cannabis activist while having a family and you’ve decided that you’re going to go through with it. Your bravery is commendable. At this point, you need to make some plans should something unexpected happen. Even those with the best-laid plans can experience setbacks and unfortunate events. Thankfully, there are several steps that you can take in order to plan for the worst-case scenario. This can mean several things ranging from being incarcerated to having your children unjustly taken from you.

The first and most important thing you need to do to plan for the worst-case scenario when being a cannabis activist is having a plan of action. Create contingencies for your children to be taken care of should you be incarcerated or have something else happen to you. Communicate your intentions to a trusted family member or friend and prepare them for the possibilities.

Another important action you can take to protect yourself while being a cannabis activist is to put aside some emergency money. Create an activist fund and put as much money as you can afford into this fund. Over time, you can build up this specific account to help you pay costly court fines or cover tickets for civil infractions. Grant account access to your spouse or someone you can trust should you need assistance and be rendered unable to get to the funds – such as being jailed for activism.

Your activist fund will help you pay for another important thing you can do to prepare for unfortunate events – hiring an attorney. Depending on where you live, you may need to shop around for one who is open to representing cannabis activists. Developing a relationship with a legalization-friendly attorney will not only get some of your important legal questions answered, it will ensure that you have competent legal counsel to represent you – someone that understands your unique situation and can act as your advocate should you be arrested for your cannabis activism.

Conclusion

Whether you have a family or you don’t, you are the only person that can decide if cannabis activism is right for you and your lifestyle. Do your research, understand the risks that come with cannabis activism, and try to make an impact any way you can. Every legalization advocate has a role to play whether they realize it or not; by working together, we can keep peeling back the layers of the harms brought about by prohibition.

Legalizing Marijuana Has Affected Drug Cartels

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As more and more states begin to legalize the adult use of marijuana, for recreational purposes.

The economic effects, of adding weed sales to the “legal economy,” are making its LOUD voice become very clear, from the will of the people.

States have experienced a large upward shift in revenue from taxing all legal activities, associated with marijuana sales, and are cutting costs from not having to enforce hemp related laws.

However, the effects of legalizing marijuana go way beyond state government revenue.

Legalizing marijuana has affected the drug trade, legal and illegal, in unusual and unexpected ways.

BOOM In Tax Revenue

In 2016 the state of Colorado posted over $1 billion in legal cannabis sales.

The state government has collected over $150 million in tax revenue from those sales and allocated $40 million towards the development of the Colorado school system.

Other States (California, Maine, Massachusetts and a few others) viewed the increased revenues as a success and have voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that taxing legal marijuana is boosting tax revenue, but the question remains, how is the legalization of marijuana affecting the drug trade?

Drugs Crossing The Border

The seizure of illegal marijuana, at the Southwestern border of the United States, has decreased significantly as states begin the legalize marijuana for recreational use.

The amount of illegal marijuana seized at the Southwestern border decrease from almost 4 million pounds, in 2009, to about 1.5 million pounds in 2015.

The risk of transporting weed across the border is no longer worth it for the Mexican drug cartels.

When marijuana was illegal in all 50 U.S. States, the drug cartel could assert their authority and hold a monopoly on weed sales in a large geographical area allowing the cartels to overcharge.

Now that a large percentage, of American states can legally grow marijuana, the cartels have some fierce competition to deal with.

U.S. marijuana growers do not have to bear the costs of transporting weed across the border and do not have to worry about their weed being seized if they are caught.

This allows U.S. growers to charge a LOT less for the sale of their product, which is typically at a higher quality than the Mexican cartels can offer.

If states continue to legalize marijuana use, then Mexican cartels will be effectively priced out marijuana sales.

Why The Mexican Cartel’s Are Shifting Their Focus To Other Drugs?

While Mexican cartels are hesitant to give up on the cash crop, there has been a shift to pushing other drugs across the border.

The cartels are applying the antics of the marijuana drug trade, to other drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine.

Drugs, such as cocaine, are easy to transport across the border, because they are lightweight and have a higher profit to weight ratio, then marijuana.

The cartels stand to receive a much bigger reward by switching to sales of another drug, then trying to compete in the “lowering pricing” of the legal U.S. market.

In a lot of cases, the cartels already have a system in place and just need to alter their growing capabilities in order to break into the cocaine or heroin market.

Border patrol has seen an increase in the amount of methamphetamine and cocaine confiscated at the border since the legalization of recreational marijuana.

The question remains, by legalizing marijuana, are states inviting more ‘dangerous’ drugs to enter the U.S. marketplace?

Where there is demand, will there always be a supply?

Is The New Black Market Setting Up Shop, North Of The Border?

Another way drug cartels are attempting to establish themselves in the new marijuana market is by growing hemp in states that have legalized marijuana.

With the legalization of marijuana, it is much easier for the cartels to buy out a warehouse and start growing weed.

They can then sell their product on the black market at a cheaper price then legal distributors, because they can avoid state taxes.

This could result in states having to increase funding to enforce marijuana regulation and therefore negate the additional funds accrued from taxing the sales of the drug.

Until cannabis is cheaper than a bag a tea, there seems like there might always be a “hidden” black market to deal with.

However, if weed were as cheap as tea, what would happen to the quality and variety?

Would this still be a “lucrative” enough of a market to have an ENORMOUS community, as we have now?

Imo, if weed were THAT cheap, there would be another EXPLOSION of cannabis interest.

By lowering the “bar of entry” into the cannabis market, there could be ALL KINDS of unique opportunities to “shape and mold” cannabis into newer and more unique products.

Other Options

There are a few other ways that cartels could attempt to stay relevant in the American market.

First, they could specialize in the production oil based weed products.

This would create a unique product that is not currently legal within the states who have legalized marijuana.

Oil based marijuana is easier to transport across the border due to its liquidity.

Another option is for the United States and Mexico to take the issue to the international stage and attempt to get the transportation of marijuana across country lines approved by the UN.

This would allow for the U.S. to heavily tax imported Mexican weed, but also reduce the risk of illegally transporting weed across the border.

Cartels could venture into the legal realm, of both economies and compete on a competitive market with U.S. growers.

While states who have legalized marijuana are currently experiencing huge tax returns, from weed sales, there is little doubt that the drug cartels will start exploring new and innovative ways to remain relevant in the drug trade.

Although, if there was a way to make it MORE profitable, to get and stay legal, would that be enough of an incentive to want to “leave” a life of crime, in the black market?

Denver Voters Pass Onsite Consumption Initiative

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The New Regulation Will Enable Some Local Businesses To Apply For “Social Use” Permits

Passed this election cycle, Denver Initiative 300, the “Neighborhood-Supported Social Cannabis Consumption Initiative,” a policy type known industry-wide as “Social Use,” allows businesses to seek a permit for cannabis consumption on premises. This makes Denver one of the first cities in the United States to manifest something remotely similar to Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes.

Beginning in January 2017, Denver businesses can apply for annual temporary permits enabling regular businesses to allow bring-your-own cannabis and over-21 indoor vaping and edible consumption, and/or outdoor cannabis smoking. The new initiative is structured as an early pilot program which could eventually template the implementation of social use regulations state-wide.

Still, a few caveats exist.

The new Denver initiative will not allow businesses that serve alcohol, or activities requiring a liquor license, to apply. This rules out most bars, restaurants, some event venues and even public events which plan to serve alcohol. However, talks of yoga studios, galleries, cafes and private clubs able to apply are motivating these local businesses and others to seek permits. As it remains under state law, licensed recreational cannabis businesses, like dispensaries, still can’t allow social use consumption on premises.

Business seeking an onsite Social Use permit will have to obtain the approval of nearby neighbors plus the support of their local business association in order to apply. At this time, it’s uncertain just how many businesses will attempt licensure and how long it will take to receive local support and subsequent permitting. It may be several months into 2017 before social use comes online throughout Denver. Nonetheless, “Amsterdam-style” coffee shops, yoga studios, maybe even movie theaters should soon be reality, so long as they don’t sell cannabis or alcohol.

Additionally, all Social Use permitted businesses will have to adhere to the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, a state regulation that prohibits smoking in nearly all public indoor areas. Businesses may create indoor consumption areas so long as they are not for smoking; vaporizing cannabis and consuming BYO edibles is permissible. Businesses will be able to designate outdoor consumption areas so long as the business prevents unwanted odors of cannabis from reaching people outside.

It’s also possible businesses may be able to push for traditional “cigar bar” licensing and designate an indoor smoking section with an added cigar bar permit.

Participating businesses are required to develop operations plans outlining training and security protocols meant to prevent the underage use of cannabis. Written policy and procedures for handling and preventing highly intoxicated consumers must exist as well.

While early regulations may complicate permitting, many of the particulars will play out as the permitting process begins to take effect. The initiative is open to change and amendments as Denver’s early pilot program rolls out.

Elsewhere, Alaska currently has Social Use regulations in place to allow on-site consumption at retail cannabis stores. However, Alaska initiatives are still quite young, the first cannabis retailers only began opening throughout the state in October 2016. The implementation of Alaska’s onsite consumption regulations are still under review.

California, Massachusetts, and Maine all have new recreational cannabis regulations about to set in place and each will soon consider how to implement Social Use consumption. At this time, Social Use remains prohibited throughout Oregon, Washington and Nevada.

With an expedient implementation of the new Social Use initiative, Denver will be the first U.S. city where people can legally consume cannabis in traditional business establishments.

Photo Credit: David Rodriguez

Breathe Easy: Pot Doesn’t Cause Brain Damage

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You’ve probably heard the ol’ scare tactic before: Smoking cannabis causes brain damage.

That’s a complete myth. The most recent research suggests cannabis may actually regrow brain cells rather than destroy them.

How the Myth Started

All of the documentaries and websites that cater to cannabis love talking about Harry Anslinger and his Reefer Madness in the 1930s. His anti-pot campaign claimed that marijuana made people go crazy. That it turned them into axe murderers. That it made people lazy and stupid.

Of course, Americans like to think we invented everything. But even that kind of prohibitionist rhetoric didn’t start with us. It started with British imperialists in Egypt.

Yeah, Egypt.

In the 1890s, Egypt was a British colony. The British weren’t terribly popular in the Middle East at that time, and Egyptian nationalists wanted independence from their European masters. Typically, the British governors would just throw nationalist rabble-rousers in prison. But sometimes those nationalists would be dubbed “insane” and tossed in an institution.

Cue John Warnock, a British doctor chosen by the British to lead Egypt’s “Lunacy Department.” He started with the country’s only asylum, then went about affecting several national reforms.

Instead of learning the local languages and customs, as any shrink should, Warnock decided to just wing it. After a year in Egypt, he concluded the local custom of smoking, drinking, and eating hashish – a preparation made from cannabis – was to blame for Egypt’s crazies. Without question, British medical journals parroted his claims.

In 1924, the League of Nations (known today as the UN) met for the global Geneva Conference on Opium. This conference formed to combat the world’s opium epidemic, and Egypt sent delegates. One of those delegates was Dr. El Guindy, who presented Warnock’s non-peer-reviewed notes to our world leaders. El Guindy told the Geneva Conference that “about 70 percent of insane people in lunatic asylums in Egypt are hashish eaters or smokers.”

Overnight, the world associated cannabis with dangerous narcotics like opium and heroin. Things have never been the same ever since.

Ten years after El Guindy’s alarm bells, Reefer Madness swept across the US. American law enforcement and legislators jumped on the weed-causes-lunatics bandwagon. In 1937, the US government passed the Marihuana Tax Act, effectively outlawing marijuana until 1969, when the US Supreme Court overturned the law as unconstitutional.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon used his emergency powers to outlaw cannabis again. And the rest is history.

What the Science Says

Long story short, marijuana doesn’t cause brain damage or insanity. Even the US FDA, which has advised the DEA to keep marijuana illegal at the federal level, recently admitted that cannabis does not lower IQ, cause psychosis, or anything of that nature.

What we do have is ample evidence that cannabis may facilitate something called neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is a process where the body grows new brain cells. We used to think that the brain stopped regenerating after we reached our 20s, but that turned out to be a myth, too.

Although we have no clinical studies showing that smoking cannabis causes neurogenesis, we do have controlled studies that show isolated cannabinoids (like THC) can do this in animal models. The brain region that’s especially sensitive to cannabinoid-facilitated neurogenesis is the hippocampus, a region responsible for learning and memory. The hippocampus can also direct our nervous system to repair itself, so the suspicion is if we can regenerate brain cells in the hippocampus, it could cascade to regeneration in other parts of the brain and spinal cord, too.

These neurogenesis studies are so promising that the US government holds a patent on a pot-based pharmaceutical for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. I’m not making this up. You can check out the patent here.

As a responsible cannabis user, I should note that some studies show cannabis can disrupt short-term memory formation. Anyone who’s ever smoked a doob can attest to this. But that disruption is temporary, and simply abstaining from smoking for a short period will restore your brain’s normal functions.

States That Legalized Recreational Cannabis in 2016

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Cannabis Legalized in California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine!

Here’s how and when you can use recreational cannabis in these four states.

In the 2016 election cycle, four more states legalized recreational cannabis. California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine now join the ranks of legal cannabis in the United States. With recreational laws already passed in Alaska, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon, and dozens of states providing medical marijuana programs, over half the country now has some form of cannabis reform in place. To everyone’s amazement, prohibition is crumbling right before our very eyes.

Typically, the way it works in recently-legalized recreational states is, until the state’s recreational cannabis program gets fully underway, one must obtain cannabis through the state’s pre-existing medical cannabis program, or privately. Retail recreational licensing and regulatory processes usually take months, even years to implement. So, freely purchasing cannabis at a retail shop is generally delayed until each state gets organized.

Because of this, many states eventually roll out an “early sales” program to allow existing medical dispensaries to sell limited cannabis products to new recreational users. This allows locals and visitors to purchase cannabis through registered medical dispensaries, instead of the black market, during the time it takes for the state’s retail recreational cannabis sales to take full effect.

As recreational cannabis lingo goes, as states first legalize recreational cannabis use, the government is most concerned with how you obtain your cannabis and how much any one person can possess, or how much a single residence can contain. Generally, as long as everyone stays within the limits, people can gift cannabis to each other so long as no money or financial consideration is negotiated or exchanged.

Here’s a rundown of the new initiatives passed in each state, how they differ, how to obtain cannabis in each state, and when exactly certain aspects take effect.

California

California’s recreational cannabis program is now known as the “Adult Use of Marijuana Act” or AUMA. Effective immediately, statewide, Californians 21 and older can now possess up to one ounce of dry cannabis or eight grams of concentrate, and cultivate up to six plants per residence for personal use. At this time, no distinction has been made as to how these limits apply to cannabis edibles.

AUMA will be in full effect on January 1st 2018, when the first recreational licenses will be issued to retail businesses. Until then, people will have to source their cannabis through California’s medical marijuana program, or privately.

California has the oldest and most lenient medical marijuana program in the country. It’s quite easy to obtain a medical marijuana card in California by visiting one of the states many medical marijuana doctors. The process can even be completed online in a matter of minutes and generally costs less than a hundred dollars. Even so, state initiatives will likely institute an early sales program allowing existing medical dispensaries to sell to recreational customers long before January 2018.

Although it’s written that the current personal possession limit of cannabis concentrates is eight grams, the legislation later imposes a penalty for possessing more than four grams. This discrepancy will likely be amended in further hearings.

AUMA legislation also provides the ability to rewrite criminal penalty legalese to reduce most common cannabis felonies to misdemeanors. It will also allow prior offenders to petition for a reduction in their charges.

At this time public consumption by both smoking and ingesting cannabis remains illegal in California and must take place on private property. Although the AUMA will eventually allow for licensed on-site consumption.

Nevada

Nevada’s new recreational cannabis laws allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis flower or one-eighth ounce of cannabis concentrate, and cultivate up to six plants per person, twelve plants total per residence, for personal use. This begins January 1st 2017.

Licensed recreational retailers aren’t expected to come online until sometime in 2018, but the taxation department is expected to begin issuing temporary licenses to existing medical marijuana dispensaries for early sales by the summer of 2017. Until then, people will have to source their cannabis through Nevada’s medical marijuana program, or privately

Nevada’s medical marijuana program began in 2000, but it took until July 2015 for the first dispensary to open. There is no age limit placed on obtaining a medical marijuana card in Nevada, although the process is lengthy and costs several hundred dollars to complete. The program is open only to Nevada residents and culminates in a background check by the DMV.

Nevada has medical marijuana reciprocity for patients who hold a medical marijuana card from another state, but the issuing state’s medical marijuana program must require a doctor’s recommendation and have a searchable centralized database for patient verification. If your out-of-state medical marijuana permit holds-up to Nevada standards, you can easily purchase medical cannabis at existing dispensaries.

Under the new Nevada rules, local governments are not allowed to ban recreational cannabis outright, but will be able to create distinct zoning rules for local cannabis businesses.

Public consumption remains illegal and must take place on private property.

Massachusetts

Effective December 15th 2016, Massachusetts’ new recreational cannabis law allows adults 21 and older to possess one ounce of cannabis in public and up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home. Residents can cultivate up to six plants per person and twelve plants per residence. The first recreational cannabis retail licenses will take effect on January 1st 2018. Until then, cannabis must be obtained privately or through the state’s medical marijuana program.

Massachusetts’ medical marijuana program is still young and currently there are only a small number of medical dispensaries licensed to operate across the state. Only residents with a doctor’s recommendation may apply for a medical card. Residents with qualifying conditions can often complete the process within a few weeks or months for several hundred dollars.

Public consumption remains illegal and must take place on private property. However, the new initiative is set up to provision for cafes and other public consumption businesses in the future.

Maine

Maine’s recreational cannabis initiative was approved according to the first count of election results, but opponents are likely seeking a recount. The new legalization rules will take effect 30 days after Maine’s governor proclaims the official results.

Maine’s bill allows the possession, use, and transfer without monetary compensation, of two and a half ounces of cannabis, including concentrates, by adults 21 years of age or older. Adults may also cultivate six mature flowering cannabis plants per person and possess all the cannabis produced by those plants. Cultivation can take place at a person’s residence or another designated residence so long as the plants are out of sight of the public and properly labelled. The law also allows for the possession of 12 immature “starter” cannabis plants and unlimited seedlings.

Public consumption remains illegal wherever tobacco consumption is currently prohibited in the state. This means cannabis consumption must take place in non-public spaces or at a private residence.

Maine’s new law will allow the licensing of retail cannabis businesses. It also provides for the licensure of retail marijuana social clubs that will sell retail cannabis plus allow consumption onsite. Once passed, the state has a nine month window to develop rules and regulations governing retail cannabis operations.

Until retail recreational sales begin, one must either obtain cannabis through the state’s medical marijuana program or privately. Obtaining a medical marijuana recommendation in Maine is relatively easy. Assuming one has a Maine ID, one can visit a state certified medical marijuana doctor or clinic. Once a recommendation is given, the patient chooses a dispensary and an application is submitted to the Maine Department of Health and Human Service for approval. The process can take approximately 30 days to a few months and typically costs several hundred dollars.

Maine has medical marijuana reciprocity with states that issue medical marijuana cards, although patients must also obtain a recommendation in Maine to be permitted to purchase cannabis at local medical dispensaries. Out of state medical marijuana cards only provide use and possession protections and do not enable cardholders to purchase cannabis at Maine medical marijuana dispensaries. Under Maine law, out of state cardholders must establish residency and obtain a Maine Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) card through the process listed above.

The Top 5 Cannabis Careers of 2016

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Looking for a new line of work? Try a career in the cannabis industry.

It’s said the cannabis industry is growing so rapidly that working in it for just one year is equivalent to three years working in any other industry. Currently, 25 states plus Washington D.C. have enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana. Four of these states have legalized cannabis completely, while five more intend to vote recreational cannabis use into existence in November. This means half the United States is now home to a burgeoning cannabis industry replete with jobs and opportunity, while nearly one-sixth of the country is experiencing an all-out cannabis “Green Rush.” These five careers are currently leading the charge.

Topical Makers

Cannabis edible production is based on formal culinary practices like baking, chocolate and candy making and other compounding techniques like infusions, extracts and emulsions. As the industry grows and regulations loosen, chefs and apothecaries alike are creating edible cannabis products in functional and exciting new ways. From the hottest new candies, topical oils and edible ointments, to private chefs and elite supper club parties hosted by five-star chefs, skilled culinary artisans the world over are bridging the gap between a plant once known as “Weed” and the discerning gourmand.

Budtenders

As cannabis farming practices and subsequent branding and marketing efforts toil to line dispensary shelves with everything from vape-pen cartridges filled with strain-specific terpene oils, cannabis flower grown organically and biodynamically, and edibles of premium cannabis paired with some of the world’s finest chocolate, the demand for knowledgeable and sophisticated budtenders staffing the dispensary frontlines is on the rise. In previous years, basic marijuana knowledge would suffice. Now, budtenders learn tasting notes, pairing knowledge, and historical perspective, to ensure products are properly represented and successfully suggested to demanding consumers, from farm-to-table.

Extraction Technicians

There’s a bit of a war being waged over which cannabis extraction techniques are the best, purest and hardest hitting of them all. A clean, high yielding, consistent extraction is paramount to creating successful cannabis products and extraction technicians are becoming rock-stars of the cannabis industry by innovating proprietary extraction methods all their own. Extraction labs are often tightly regulated and require a deep understanding of chemistry, physics and mathematics from their technicians. In-demand lab technicians often net respectable salaries plus benefits and sometimes company equity, especially if the technician brings to the table highly innovative and marketable methods of extracting sought after terpenes and cannabinoids.

Grow Masters

Like fine wine, cannabis is becoming a connoisseur commodity. Master cultivators know how to produce cannabis with all the aesthetics of a masterpiece: fragrant bouquet, well defined calyxes, and glistening trichomes. They are paying close attention to elevated terpene profiles, looking for whether the smoke or vapor satisfies discerning customers, and providing CBD strains that calm the most upended patients. Even more so, master growers know how to produce these results consistently…and to scale, all the while producing a product free of molds, pesticides and fungus that simultaneously appeals to the sight, smell, touch, and taste senses of a demanding consumer base. It’s incredibly difficult. Pests threaten. State and local regulations dictate energy and water consumption. Master growers are both agile and determined…and quickly becoming captains of the cannabis industry. Rightfully so.

Harvesters & Trimmers

A harvest can be tossed into bulk trimming machines, but it’ll immediately lose shelf appeal…plus a countless number of beautiful pistils and gleaming trichomes. Professional trimmers hand pick each flower, carefully cutting away excess leaf, shaping the plant into curvaceous frosty buds while preserving trichomes and allowing pistils to maintain their lightning-like extend into the air. These aesthetics help premium cannabis sell-through and a certain trim style is often the hallmark of a master grower. Trimmers typically work in harvest cycles and earn bonuses for completing their work quickly, without sacrificing quality. Working on trim teams is also a great way to learn the ins and outs of large scale cultivation and cannabis processing.

Which States Could Legalize Cannabis in 2016

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And Which States Aren’t Far Behind

This year is looking pretty good for cannabis. Voters being called to the polls this November will have several opportunities to push the legalization effort forward. In at least four states chances are fairly good that cannabis could be made fully legal for adult use and in six others the promised land is just on the other side of that horizon.

Let’s take a look at which state’s voting booths might smell a little extra skunky this year.

LIKELY SUSPECTS

Arizona

Arizona, though a medically legal state, it is still very much divided regarding the full legalization of cannabis. The initiative facing votes this year, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (or Prop 205) is a great chance for cannabis advocates to stand up and make a difference.

California

California has had medical marijuana since 1996, yet somehow haven’t managed to take that relationship to the next level. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (or Prop 64) has gained a ton of traction and hopes are high that California will finally legalize in 2016, a good 20 years after medical marijuana was officially introduced.

Maine

Maine is rocking the medical cannabis game – they even offer reciprocity to licensed med patients from other states. If you can believe it, there are even some cities IN Maine that have essentially legalized cannabis already, they just haven’t done so on a statewide level yet. While there were originally two initiatives fighting for legalization, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol ended their campaign in October 2015 to merge with the Marijuana Legalization Act. The Marijuana Legalization Act is now the state’s only legalization initiative and if the majority votes for it, it will make use cannabis legal for adults 21 and older.

Nevada

Nevada went full steam ahead with medical cannabis legalization and now it is vying for legalization of cannabis in the state for adults. Period. More information about the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Initiative is available on their website.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Connecticut

Although Connecticut legalized for medical marijuana legalization as recently as 2012, they could legalize fully in the near future. Legalization could have been possible through of one two efforts in 2015, but sessions were stalled and the legalization initiatives were not addressed. However, the state did add 3 additional dispensaries this year and increased the list of acceptable symptoms for a cannabis prescription by five including :

“Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity, Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care and Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder.”

Delaware

Delaware, while medically legal regarding cannabis, started slowly and hasn’t really picked up the pace. With only around 700 registered patients – and one dispensary for the entire state – Delaware is likely going to remain medically legal only, until someone puts up a fight otherwise. The Marijuana Policy Project has begun the fight, founding the Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition in hopes that their efforts can bring sensible drug policies to the state.

Maryland

Maryland is not expected to legalize this year, but it has made strides in recent years. Small amounts of cannabis have been decriminalized in the state but that is a far cry from cannabis being legal. The Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition is planning for a strong 2017.

Michigan

Michigan has a love hate relationship with cannabis. It has been medically legal in the state since 2008, but regulators have tread with unsure footing ever since. At one point, the powers that be even OUTLAWED medical dispensaries forcing business owners to close if they wanted to remain within the law.

This year, MI Legalize was able to collect above and beyond the required amount of signatures to get a legalization initiative on the ballot, but that was blocked when governing bodies stated that many of the signatures could not be verified due to having been collected outside of the allowed 180 day window of time. THE REALLY MESSED UP THING ABOUT IT? The 180 day window of time caveat was created AFTER the signatures had been turned in by MI Legalize. The group appealed to no avail. Next year, the group will need to keep on their toes (even more so if that is possible) to get the initiative on the ballot.

New York

New York’s official medical program rolls out in January, with 5 licensed cultivators for the state. It is believed that full legalization efforts will rely heavily on the outcome of the first year or so of medical marijuana. The Marijuana Policy Project explains why legalization in full is not up for discussion any longer this year,

“Although many bills that would have improved New York’s medical marijuana program were introduced by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Senators Gustavo Rivera and Diane Savino in 2016, none of them passed. Most of them died in the Health Committee of the state Senate.”

Vermont

Vermont came this close last year and ALMOST legalized, ALMOST. There WAS a bill, S.241, that had backup from 54% of Vermonters, it passed through the Senate successfully and then…the House kicked it to the curb. Although the bill did not pass this year, leaders of the House and Senate have agreed to come together to better research and understand the potentials of legal cannabis in their state.

History of the D.A.R.E. Program

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Did It Really Keep Kids Off Drugs?

When and Why It Was Created.

If you went to school in the United States from the 80s on, chances are you took a course through D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, began in 1983 with the intention of providing alternative support and prevention education to children to lessen their risk of using drugs, experiencing violence and/or being involved in gang activity.

A major perceived catalyst of the program was the untimely death in the mid eighties of prominent college basketball star, 22-year-old Len Bias. Bias, a player from the University of Maryland, was at the very top of his game and had just been the No. 2 overall pick of the NBA Draft (NUMBER 2!). Bias was set to be making his way to the Boston Celtics. At the time, Celtics scout Ed Badger told the press,

“Len Bias is the closest thing to Michael Jordan to come out in a long time…He’s an explosive and exciting kind of player like that.”

The stage was set for Bias’ unlimited success. But just two short days later and Bias was dead, having passed away a few hours after using cocaine at an early hours party.

ESPN writer Rick Weinberg put it perfectly for his readers,

“The shock of the day’s events do not subside. Not in that moment. Not for years.”

Though Weinberg was correct, he likely didn’t realize that it was more than just the sports community that was affected by Bias’ death.

A War on Drugs had begun. And the shock and awe of that event has still has not subsided. In fact, the war continues. Today, D.A.R.E. program has been integrated into 75% of schools in the U.S. and reaches 52 countries total.

Program Objectives.

The number one objective of the program is in the name – drug abuse resistance. Cocaine, and later crack, were the big news drugs in the 80’s. After Ronald Reagan’s Anti-Drug Abuse Act was signed in ‘86, D.A.R.E had the government sanctioned foothold it needed to stay relevant in the school system, indefinitely.

The original intent of the program was not to scare children, but instead to give them the education they would need in order to make a wise decision when drugs or alcohol did cross their path. By showing children what other choices they had, and that they had the power to make those choices, D.A.R.E. program coordinators were aiming to give kids a better life, one free of drugs and violence.

 

Methods Used.

When the D.A.R.E. program began, information was imparted to youth by police officers. Utilizing the police force as instructors for the program is a tactic that is still used today. Sure, a student can listen to their usual teacher talk to them about drugs and violence, but when a uniformed police officer steps into their mundane classroom, badge shiny and handcuffs jingling at their side – the classroom attention perks up.

Children often want to please police officers, in part because, in many instances, they are taught to revere and fear them. Heck, some parents even use local police as a scare tactic when disciplining their kids, much to the distress of the officers hoping to build trust in the community. So it would seem as though using police officers to teach D.A.R.E. was beneficial regarding gaining student’s attention but maybe not so much in the way of allowing children to open up, ask questions and feel comfortable admitting mistakes.

Was it effective? Is it still in schools?

The effectiveness of D.A.R.E. is a difficult thing to measure. Yes, in the 90’s after the program had been initiated, youth polls began to show a decrease in use of marijuana, methamphetamines, LSD and cocaine. However, one could speculate that with a brand new program in place in many classrooms, one that condemns the aforementioned substances, perhaps the children charged with taking these surveys were more guarded and therefore less likely to be honest and admit their use then they had been previous to the D.A.R.E. program.

D.A.R.E. is still in schools today, being taught alongside the literary classics and sex education. It is a very normal, expected part of the school year for students. And while it’s effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, has not prompted any big changes in the program in the last several decades – times ARE a-changing now and an overhaul regarding the use of marijuana may well be in order.

What do you think about the D.A.R.E. program. Do you have any memories of being taught drug abuse resistance education? Let us know in the comments below.

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