Hemp History
Senate Committee Overwhelmingly Passes Veterans Equal Access Amendment
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 24-7 to include the Veterans Equal Access amendment as part of the 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which would expand much needed medical marijuana access to our nation’s veterans. Presently, V.A. doctors in states where cannabis therapy is permitted are forbidden from providing the paperwork necessary to complete … Continue reading
Michigan: Legalization Coalition Effort Reaches Signature Milestone
Proponents of Michigan voter initiative effort to legalize and regulate the personal use and retail sale of cannabis statewide has gathered over 100,000 signatures in the past six weeks. Advocates must collect a total of 252,523 valid signatures from registered voters by mid-November in order to qualify the measure — the Michigan Regulation and Taxation … Continue reading
DEA Reaffirms Stance That CBD Meets Schedule I Criteria — Reality Says Otherwise
The US Drug Enforcement Administration has publicly reiterated its position that cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, is properly categorized under federal law as a schedule I controlled substance — meaning that, by definition, it possesses “a high potential for abuse,” “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States,” and lacks “accepted safety … … Continue reading
Have a NORML 4th of July
What are your plans this Fourth of July weekend? If you are like most Americans, you are likely to be having a cookout, watching fireworks with friends and family, or engaging in some other social event that celebrates your freedom. But for the millions of Americans who consume cannabis, freedom can be fleeting. In many … Continue reading
Two New Virginia Laws Foreshadow Larger Cannabis Policy Changes
A common cliché for overcoming a difficult obstacle asks, “how do you eat an elephant?” The answer is, “one bite at a time.” In Virginia politics, the tough question facing cannabis policy reform advocates is, “how do you change the minds of political Elephants?” The answer is, “one law at a time.” Although progress in cannabis reform has been slow in … Continue reading
Florida: Lawsuit Filed Challenging Medical Cannabis Smoking Ban
Representatives of Florida for Care filed litigation today challenging a statewide ban on medical cannabis smoking. The suit was expected after lawmakers approved legislation (SB 8A) in June amending Amendment 2 — a voter initiated constitutional amendment permitting the use and distribution of medical cannabis. Seventy-one percent of voters approved the amendment in November. Senate … Continue reading
Study: Cannabinoids Reduce Migraine Frequency
The prolonged daily administration of cannabinoids is associated with a reduction in migraine headache frequency, according to clinical trial data presented at the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology. Italian researchers compared the efficacy of oral cannabinoid treatments versus amitriptyline – a depressant commonly prescribed for migraines – in 79 chronic migraine patients … Continue reading
Study: Crimes Spike Following Closing of Dispensaries
The closure of medical marijuana dispensaries is associated with an increase in larceny, property crimes, and other criminal activities, according to data published in the Journal of Urban Economics. Researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine assessed the impact of dispensary closures on neighborhood crimes rates in the city … Continue reading
Weekly Legislative Update 7/1/17
Welcome to this week’s edition of the NORML legislative roundup! At the federal level, the House Appropriations Committee this week released its 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, which determines the funding levels for numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Justice. Predictably, the bill does not include language — known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment … Continue reading
Setting The Record Straight
One of NORML’s primary missions is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults. One of the ways we successfully achieve this goal is by debunking marijuana myths and half-truths via the publication of timely op-eds in online and print media. Since the mainstream media seldom casts a critical … Continue reading