Law
California lawmakers pass bill to erase old marijuana convictions
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A bill requiring California prosecutors to erase or reduce tens of thousands of marijuana criminal convictions was approved by the state Legislature on Wednesday and now awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. When voters passed Proposition 64 in 2016 to allow adult use of marijuana, they... Read more
Landscape on marijuana research shifting despite federal roadblocks
After decades of disconnect between federal officials who consider cannabis a harmful drug and public opinion that increasingly views cannabis as something that should be legal and is potentially good medicine, the landscape on marijuana research might be shifting. This week, UC Irvine announced it received a $9 million... Read more
Marijuana bills increasingly focus on social justice
WASHINGTON — State lawmakers and advocates pushing to legalize marijuana this year aren’t just touting legalization as a way to raise tax revenue and regulate an underground pot market. They’re also talking about fixing a broken criminal justice system and reinvesting in poor and minority communities that have been... Read more
Does legal marijuana make police more effective?
Marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington state has “produced some demonstrable and persistent benefit” to police departments’ ability to solve other types of crime, according to researchers at Washington State University. “Our models show no negative effects of legalization and, instead, indicate that crime clearance rates for at least... Read more
Kern County supervisor criminally charged in connection with marijuana conflict of interest
Prosecutors have filed two misdemeanor charges against county Supervisor Leticia Perez regarding a conflict of interest between her role as supervisor and the California marijuana industry in what’s believed to be the first time a sitting supervisor has been criminally charged in Kern County. District Attorney Lisa Green said... Read more
Conservative states balk at voter-approved medical marijuana
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Pot advocates celebrated the culmination of a yearslong effort to ease restrictions on the use of cannabis last month when nearly 60 percent of Oklahoma voters approved medical marijuana. Oklahoma’s proponents had even included a two-month deadline for the implementation in their measure so as... Read more
California’s permanent cannabis regulations could affect marijuana delivery, edibles and advertising
Cannabis retailers soon may be able to deliver marijuana anywhere in California, no matter what city or county rules say. Also, it’s likely that medical marijuana patients will be allowed to buy edibles infused with cannabis that’s more potent than currently permitted under state law. And on another front,... Read more
Mojave Desert town Newberry Springs among new marijuana-growing meccas vexing law enforcement
NEWBERRY SPRINGS — Along a dusty dirt road in this Mojave Desert outpost 20 miles east of Barstow, U.S. postal worker Jessica Garcia stopped at the few houses dotting Morgan Lane and unloaded packages from the back of her 4-wheel-drive Jeep Wrangler. On this day, the pungent odor of... Read more
Victorville refuses to approve Chalice marijuana festival; faces lawsuit
The Victorville City Council on Thursday night refused to sign off on allowing cannabis consumption and sales at the Chalice California festival, set for July 13-15 at at the San Bernardino County fairgrounds. The decision came after a few dozen people spoke in support of the festival, citing the... Read more
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