Politics

Nebraska’s Governor Opposes Medical Marijuana, Even if it Helped His Own Children

February 4, 2019 by Staff Writer

From the time we can understand anything, we are taught to trust doctors. The vast majority of people in the United States carry an innate trust of medical professionals. They are experts and they are there to help us. We trust them with our secrets and our very lives.

Yet, when it comes to medical marijuana, that trust seems to get suspended for some. It’s not enough for your doctor to think you should use medical cannabis; there has to be a law to allow him/her to do so.

And for that, in many states, you need the permission of lawmakers. Lawmakers who have had no reason to look into the issue of medical cannabis and clearly haven’t done so.

For example, in Nebraska, Governor Pete Ricketts doesn’t think anyone should have the option of using medical marijuana legally until the FDA has said it’s okay. “I’ve sat down with the families and they’re very sympathetic and I certainly understand where they’re coming from with regard to a child,” Governor Ricketts told News Channel Nebraska. “But we also have to remember we have to protect the entire public…to protect the public safety you really have to make sure it goes through the FDA process….And I know it’s a long process but that is what’s happening and we are getting those drugs.”

The NCN reporter pressed the Governor more in regards to his own children and whether or not them needing medical marijuana would sway his position, to which he responded, “[a]gain we have to think about the broader issue of public safety here with regard to how we have drugs in our country. To make sure they’re safe and effective and what dosage for what ailments, what side effects and that’s what the FDA process does.”

Despite the fact that FDA-approved drugs kill tens of thousands of people every year in this country and marijuana kills no one – although Gov. Ricketts did assert that “every few days someone in Colorado dies in a marijuana-related car accident” – some people really believe that the only safe and effective medicines on Earth cannot be medicines until they have gone through the FDA approval process.

So if the parents and doctor of a child feel that child could benefit from medical cannabis, in the eyes of the Governor of Nebraska, they shouldn’t be allowed to do that until the FDA says it’s okay – no matter how long that takes and no matter what the reason.

This is the ignorance that condemns so many people to criminality every day simply for choosing a better way to live.

Nebraska’s Governor Opposes Medical Marijuana, Even if it Helped His Own Children
Source: Marijuana Times

Senator Diane Savino on New York’s Cannabis Prospects in 2019

February 3, 2019 by Staff Writer

New York State Senator Diane Savino is one of the earliest lawmakers in the state to champion cannabis reform. Senator Savino carried the state’s medical cannabis bill after her predecessor, Thomas K. Duane, did not seek re-election in 2012.

Savino recalled how Duane, the state’s first openly gay member of the Senate – who was also the only openly HIV-positive member – pushed for the bill in honor of those self-medicating to treat their HIV symptoms. “Anyone who’s ever seen anyone suffer from either the effects of cancer or chemotherapy or just chronic pain, you realize the limitations to what modern medicine can provide,” the Senator said. She went on to say, “…why would we stand in the way of people finding treatments that they could live with? So, [supporting the measure] was a no-brainer for me.”

After re-writing the bill to reflect the current climate, Savino was pivotal in passing legislation, which was signed in 2014. Today, the state appears poised to become one of the latest to legalize a recreational cannabis market. However, Senator Savino isn’t so sure it’s a done deal. That said, progress concerning New York’s cannabis access has been rapid in recent years.

In its earlier stages, New York’s medical cannabis program was considered one of the more restrictive in the country. Today, however, it is one of the more progressive markets, which includes becoming one of the first states to allow people with opioid-prescriptions to qualify for a medical marijuana ID.

Getting to this stage was not easy, according to Savino, and she cited Governor Andrew Cuomo’s reluctant support for cannabis. As recently as 2017, he had been calling marijuana a gateway drug. However, Savino noted that Cuomo saw the writing on the wall between public demand and sales revenue. A great deal of back and forth during the 2014 legislative session resulted in a bill which had proponents agreeing to restricted sizes and lengths of the program, as well as limited qualifying conditions and a ban on smokable flower.

Pro-medical supporters did earn clear dates to the program during negotiations. Doing so helped New York open its first dispensary within the quoted time – a feat several states failed to achieve. From there, she said the state began to see the concerns of supporters. The results were limited access for patients and practitioners, while businesses could not operate and left the market.

Since then, the state has opened its access for easier practitioner enrollment, which has allowed for more efficient patient enrollment under expanded qualifying conditions. By Q2 of 2018, 1,718 practitioners had been registered – up from 1,098 the year before, according to a state DOH report. Meanwhile, New York has certified 98,101 patients, adding 23,637 people during that period.

Still, the Senator sees gaps in the program. The biggest, according to Savino, has been doctors. State medical societies, like the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), consider legalized cannabis a public health concern. In a statement, Dr. Thomas Madejski, President of the MSSNY, agreed that there are medical purposes for cannabis. However, Dr. Madejski added, “Physicians are very concerned that marijuana is an addictive drug that can have significant adverse public health impact if it were to be legalized for non-medicinal purposes.”

While doctors are a problem, according to Savino, nurse practitioners seem more open to medical cannabis. “Nurses just tend to be a little bit more progressive than doctors,” she stated.

When asked if lawmakers are actually supportive of cannabis reform or just going along with the wills of constituents, Savino was unsure. Her uncertainty extended to the legislation itself. “I’m not absolutely certain that we have the votes to pass this yet.” Savino cited potential sticking points for lawmakers. Key points centered on the expansion of the adult-use market as well as issues surrounding traffic, youth access and lingering concerns that cannabis is a gateway drug.

While Savino may have concerns, Governor Cuomo made legalization seem as if it is right around the corner. During his recent State of the State address, the Governor called for recreational reform in the first 100 days of 2019. When asked if this will come to fruition, Savino wasn’t sure of the Governor’s timeline. She stated that “[Cuomo]’s hard to predict whether he thinks something is good or whether he’s just throwing it out there.” She added, “I think he assumed that we can get it done.”

At this time, Senator Savino sees legislation at a different phase. “I think right now people are in that phase that well maybe it doesn’t have to happen in the budget or it’s just not quite there yet. But we’ll know soon.”

Savino doubts that the bill will pass in its current form. One concern could be the Governor’s newly proposed Office of Cannabis Management, which would oversee the market. According to the Senator, its Executive Director would have “an extraordinary amount of power over this program”. This is an aspect of the program she does not see making the final bill. “I sincerely doubt that will remain the case. We’re not gonna give somebody so much power over a public health program, an adult-use program, tax policy and the administration of regulation of something as important as this without having some legislative oversight.”

Other significant concerns could upend the proposed bill’s progress. They include a provision which would allow counties and cities with less than 100,00 citizens to opt out of the program. Savino said that this rule would apply to “basically every county and every city in the state of New York with the exception of Buffalo and New York City.” While Savino supports towns, villages and possibly small cities opting out, some sparse upstate counties not participating could create massive cannabis deserts in New York.

Meanwhile, concerns over taxes and a lack of dispensaries could create additional headaches for the measure. However, Savino believes that the matter is moving in the right direction. This includes inclusive ownership points laid out by Governor Cuomo in his 2019 agenda. Programs and stipulations aimed at prioritizing minorities, women and disadvantaged farmers are currently in Cuomo’s proposal. These measures are likely to include licensing priority and an incubative program. However, no key data points were available at this time to demonstrate the initiative’s goals concerning market share.

As New York State moves towards likely legalization of its adult-use market, Savino sees progress with other significant steps that need sorted. This includes amendments of the state’s penal code concerning marijuana decriminalization. Additionally, the state must send a clear message to offenders that black market activities will be penalized.

With cannabis such a wide-spanning subject, State Senator Savino expects the topic to come up during a series of budget hearings this month. Soon enough, we could have a clearer idea as to when, or if, New York legalizes adult-use cannabis.

Senator Diane Savino on New York’s Cannabis Prospects in 2019
Source: Marijuana Times

The Next Attorney General Might Be More Supportive of Cannabis Legalization

January 31, 2019 by Staff Writer

Since the Trump Administration took over the White House, things have been a little unstable when it comes to how prosecutors are supposed to handle the conflict between federal and state law on marijuana. Under the previous administration things were guided by the Cole Memo, which protected businesses that were operating in compliance with all state laws. However, it was only a year ago when then-AG Jeff Sessions rescinded the memo, removing some of the only federal documentation protecting the legal cannabis industry.

Now that Sessions is out, it is time for a more permanent replacement to step in – and it appears that nominee William Barr might not be such a bad choice. He has confirmed in written responses to questions from U.S. Senators that he would not continue to push against legalization if he were confirmed.

“As discussed at my hearing, I do not intend to go after parties who have complied with state law in reliance on the Cole Memorandum,” he wrote, referring to Obama-era cannabis enforcement guidance that then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded last year.

“I have not closely considered or determined whether further administrative guidance would be appropriate following the Cole Memorandum and the January 2018 memorandum from Attorney General Sessions, or what such guidance might look like,” he wrote in response to a question from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). “If confirmed, I will give the matter careful consideration.”

Barr’s opinion on cannabis may not be entirely in support of legalization, but he does appear to be on board with helping the government to create a more sensible policy to cooperate with states, rather than work against them on this issue. Personal feelings aside, Barr is willing to ensure that state-legal cannabis businesses can continue to operate without fear of federal interference – and he appears willing to work with Congress to come up with proper legislation to handle these issues.

“It’s positive to see Barr make the same commitments on marijuana enforcement in writing as he did in the hearings,” Michael Collins, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, said. “My hope is that he sends this message to all federal prosecutors so that states are given space to reform their outdated, broken, racist marijuana laws, and the country can turn the page on prohibition.”

While we don’t know for sure that Barr is the next Attorney General under the Trump Administration, at least we now know that it wouldn’t be something that should bring concern to the industry in the way that Sessions did. In fact, it appears that there is a chance that things could be even more progressive on amending federal law to compliment – rather than conflict – with state laws.

The Next Attorney General Might Be More Supportive of Cannabis Legalization
Source: Marijuana Times

The Importance of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus

January 23, 2019 by Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Although there are many uncertainties surrounding the issue of marijuana law reform, there are some things we can be absolutely certain of. Federal-level reform is a must in the U.S.; that is one certainty. Another certainty is that 2019 is the best year yet to actually accomplish federal cannabis law reform.

Without a change in federal law, whatever states do in regards to changing cannabis policy will always be in imminent danger. Lawmakers will always use federal law as an excuse to do as little as possible.

Fortunately there is a group of stalwarts in the U.S. Congress that fight for progress on the marijuana law reform front. The Congressional Cannabis Caucus lost a couple of founding members with the departures of Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) from the House of Representatives, but added new blood with the addition of Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and David Joyce (R-OH).

“The Cannabis Caucus was the first of its kind to create a forum for elected officials to collaborate on ways to address our outdated federal marijuana laws,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), another founding member of the caucus. “Congress is clearly out of step with the American people on cannabis when national support for federal marijuana legalization is at an all-time high and we saw several states move toward with legalization last November.”

Rep. Blumenauer – with the help of NORML – has made it easy for you to send a letter to your Representative that urges them to join the Cannabis Caucus. NORML and the Oregon Representative have also collaborated on several events designed to spread knowledge about cannabis.

“In the last session of Congress, NORML hosted a number of events in cooperation with our Cannabis Caucus, including regular policy briefings and bringing in unique perspectives such as travel writer Rick Steves, former US Attorneys Barry Grissom and Bill Nettles, and victims of criminalization as part of the inaugural Caucus event entitled ‘The Faces of Prohibition,’” Blumenauer said in an email press release. “Additionally, in a strong demonstration of grassroots advocacy, hundreds of NORML members who traveled from all around the country to meet with their federal officials moved us ever closer to our goals.”

Getting back to certainties, here’s another one: things move quickly when it comes to who holds power in Washington D.C. Every opportunity to advance cannabis legislation must be seized, and 2019 is a year that a lot can get done.

The Importance of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus
Source: Marijuana Times