A recent
POLITICOarticle discussed the Cannabis Freedom Alliance, a group aimed at drug legalization and criminal justice reform. The initiative is the result of an unlikely Zoom meeting involving right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, rapper Snoop Dogg, and Weldon Angelos, an advocate for criminal justice reform. The effort to legalize mariunana has been a left-leaning topic, but as Angelos put it, “We can’t cut with one scissor blade. We need Republicans in order to pass [a legalization bill].
Having served a 55-year sentence for drug trafficking, Weldon is now the founder of the Cannabis Freedom Alliance. He networked with Koch in an effort to flip “10 to 12 Republican senators” to pass a legalizing marijuana bill at the federal level. The coalition will advocate for removing penalties for marijuana offenses, and help usher sellers from the illicit market to a regulated, legal market. It will also establish a regulatory framework that encourages free markets and low tax
Remember the heady days of 2018? When 53 percent of Utah voters passed Proposition 2, allowing the use of medical cannabis by qualified Utah patients? Voters even green-lit the growing of up to six plants for certain patients personal use.
But voters taking such matters into their own hands woke up a sleeping bear meaning Utah s governor and Legislature then sprang into action approving their own medical cannabis bill that circumvented Prop 2.
And now, after years of advocacy, grueling work to put a referendum to the voters, opposition from conservative and religious leaders, and plenty of growing pains, Utah finally has a medical cannabis program. With more than 23,000 card-holding patients who have purchased nearly $30 million in cannabis products, the program has already established itself in its first year and will only continue to grow.
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Schumer Says It’s Time To End Federal Cannabis Prohibition
arrow Dried hemp plants at Hepworth Farms Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock
Imagine a scenario in which any state that wanted to sell orange juice had to ensure all oranges were grown and juiced within state lines.
“You would be able to give it away for next to nothing in Florida, but it would be next to gold in Massachusetts,” suggested Justin Strekal, political director for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
It may sound bizarre, but this is a fitting analogy for cannabis in the U.S., where the plant still can’t be shipped across state borders. It’s just one of many idiosyncrasies that come with marijuana remaining in the same category as heroin under federal law. Those buds meanwhile are already legalized for adult use in 17 states and Washington, D.C.
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Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what s
happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Federal legislation to legalize cannabis is under consideration.
In state news, Virginia moved up its timeline to legalize
possession and home grow. New York launched a cannabis control
website. We take a look at what s happening in Montana. South
Carolina probably won t legalize medical marijuana. And
finally, only cannabis could unite Snoop Dogg and Charles Koch.
federal legislation
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) supports federal decriminalization that would