#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com media :: news - Tue, 14 May 2019 04:20:21 PST
California: Sacramento District Attorney's Office Dismisses Marijuana Convictions
Sacramento, CA: Representatives of the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office have identified and dismissed several thousand past marijuana convictions, and reduced thousands of others to misdemeanors.
According to a Fox News analysis, officials dismissed nearly 2,000 low-level marijuana convictions. They also reduced over 3,300 past felony marijuana convictions to misdemeanors.
State lawmakers last year passed legislation, AB 1793, permitting the "automatic expungement or reduction of a prior cannabis conviction for an act that is not a crime as of January 1, 2017."
Denver, CO: Multiple legislative proposals await action from Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
House Bill 1234 establishes regulations for the delivery of cannabis products from state-licensed retailers. Under the plan, deliveries are limited to one per day per household, and are only permitted in municipalities that explicitly allow for such activities. Deliveries to college campuses are prohibited. The delivery of medical cannabis products would begin on January 2, 2020, while retail cannabis sales would begin on January 2, 2021.
House Bill 1230 establishes regulations for the licensing of "marijuana hospitality spaces." Under the measure, licensed dispensaries and retailers could apply for on-site consumption permits. Hotels, restaurants and other private business would also be permitted to apply for similar licensing. At indoor facilities, marijuana smoking will be permitted unless prohibited by local rules. If signed into law, Colorado will become only the second state to regulate social use marijuana spaces.
House Bill 1263 reduces criminal penalties for the possession of large quantities of cannabis. It reduces penalties for the possession of over six ounces of marijuana and/or three ounces of marijuana concentrate from a level 4 felony to level 1 misdemeanor. It also mandates that police may not arrest a defendant for violations involving the possession of between one and two ounces of cannabis.
Finally, Senate Bill 13 permits doctors to recommend cannabis therapy for any "condition for which a physician could prescribe an opioid."
Governor Polis is expected to sign each of the proposals into law.
Study: Most Health Professionals Supportive Of The Use Of Medical Cannabis In Clinical Practice
Brisbane, Australia: The majority of health professionals -- including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists -- express support the use of medical cannabis in clinical practice, according to a systematic review of the relevant literature published in the journal PLOS One.
An international team of investigators reviewed over 100 studies assessing health professionals' opinions with regard to medical cannabis.
Authors identified growing support for marijuana therapy in the more recently published literature. They concluded: "[H]ealth professionals [are] relatively supportive of the use of medicinal cannabis in clinical practice. This notion was consistent across the three predominant professional populations of medicine, pharmacy, and nursing."
Under federal law the cannabis plant is defined as a schedule I controlled substance with "no currently accepted use in treatment in the United States."
Full text of the study, "Health professional beliefs, knowledge, and concerns surrounding medicinal cannabis -- A systematic review," appears in PLOS One.
North Dakota: Governor Signs Marijuana Penalty Reduction Law
Bismarck, ND: Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation into law reducing marijuana possession penalties.
House Bill 1050 reclassifies the possession of up to one-half ounce (14.175 grams) of cannabis and/or the personal possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia for a first-time offender from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, to a criminal infraction -- punishable by a fine but no possibility of jail time. Those charged with subsequent infractions over the course of a calendar year may face the possibility of misdemeanor charges.
In 2016, North Dakota ranked sixth in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests.
Separate provisions in the measure reduce penalties for the possession of up to 500 grams of cannabis from a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, to a class B misdemeanor. Penalties for the possession of greater amounts are amended from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor.
The new penalties will take effect on August 1, 2019.
Report: Many CBD Products Inaccurately Labeled
Boston, MA: CBD-infused products commercially available in retail stores or online seldom provide accurate information on their label, according to Channel 7 News Boston investigation.
Reporters randomly purchased nine commercially available CBD-infused products, including oils and candies, and submitted them to a third-party laboratory analysis. In every instance, the percentage of CBD identified in the products failed to match the information provided on the label. In most cases, products contained far less CBD than advertised.
The results are consistent with those of previous reports -- such as those here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here -- which similarly determined that many commercially available CBD-infused products are of variable potency and may contain adulterants.
Oklahoma: Governor Signs Bill Permitting Osteopaths To Recommend Cannabis Therapy
Oklahoma City, OK: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed legislation into law expanding the pool of health professionals who may issue medical cannabis recommendations.
Senate Bill 162 explicitly permits those licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to issue medical cannabis recommendations to their patients. The new law takes immediate effect.
Separate legislation, Senate Bill 754, to permit nurse practitioners to similarly issue medical cannabis recommendations is pending.
According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, regulators have approved over 80,000 patients for cannabis access in the months following the June 2018 passage of the state's voter-initiated medical marijuana law.
Baltimore: Judges Reject Effort To Expunge Thousands Of Cannabis Convictions
Baltimore, MD: A pair of judges have struck down an attempt by Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby to expunge the records of 4,800 citizens previously convicted of minor marijuana-related crimes.
In January, Ms. Mosby publically announced that her office would no longer prosecute low-level marijuana possession violations, and that she would seek to vacate the records of those with past criminal convictions. The proposed expungement plan was similar to efforts recently taken by prosecutors in several other cities, including Brooklyn, Chicago, and Seattle.
But last week a pair of judges rejected Ms. Mosby's request, opining that the State's Attorney was bound by oath to defend state law. The possession of marijuana in quantities over ten grams is classified in Maryland as a criminal offense.
"I am deeply disappointed that this ruling did not afford us any opportunity to present legal arguments and essentially eliminated the court from being a safe harbor for those that were harmed by the discriminatory enforcement of marijuana laws," Mosby's said.
Las Vegas: City Council Approves Ordinance Licensing Cannabis Lounges
Las Vegas, NV: Members of the Las Vegas City Council have voted in favor of a proposed municipal ordinance permitting licensed facilities to allow on-site marijuana consumption.
Under the new measure, customers must be at least 21 years of age and bring their own cannabis. Licensed social use venues will not be able to provide patrons with either marijuana or alcohol, and cannabis use must be relegated to indoor spaces away from public view. Applicants who wish to operate an on-site consumption facility will need to apply for an annual license from the city. Initially, only licensed dispensaries will be able to apply for on-site consumption permits.
Those advocating in favor of the new ordinance opined that the establishments will serve as destinations for tourists visiting the city.
Although Nevada law does not explicitly permit social use spaces, a 2017 Legislative Counsel Bureau opinion states that local governments have the option to regulate such establishments.
To date, only the state of Alaska -- as well as a handful of cities, including Denver and West Hollywood -- regulate on-site marijuana consumption.
