Skip to main content
neighborhood house keys home ownership neighborhood house keys home ownership

Survey Finds That People Prefer To Live In Legal Cannabis Jurisdictions

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural, Politics.

The adult-use cannabis reform ‘experiment’ has been underway in the United States since 2012 when voters in Colorado and Washington State approved legalization initiatives on Election Day.

Leading up to the successful votes in 2012 opponents pulled out all of the stops in an attempt to keep prohibition in place, including hurling unfounded theories that cannabis legalization and the industry it created would ruin both states.

Since 2012, many other states have also legalized cannabis for adult use and obviously, the sky has not fallen over any of them. In fact, a plurality of survey participants recently indicated that they prefer to live in legalized jurisdictions.

Below is more information about it via a news release from our friends at NORML:

A plurality of US adults desire to reside in a jurisdiction where “marijuana is fully legal.”

In a survey of new movers compiled by the real estate brokerage firm Redfin, 46 percent of respondents said that they would either “prefer” to live in a jurisdiction where cannabis was legal or that they would “only” live in a legalization state. Twenty-two percent of respondents did not want to reside in a legal state. Thirty-two percent of respondents had no opinion.

Studies have previously reported that cannabis legalization is correlated with increased property values. Data reported in July concluded, “[T]here is strong evidence that legalization drives higher property values — particularly in areas that allow recreational marijuana and welcome retail dispensaries. … These investments can improve quality of life in communities across the nation while attracting tourism and new residents who drive real estate demand.”

Separate data have shown that states experienced spikes in tourism following adult-use legalization.

Additional information is available in the NORML fact sheet, ’Marijuana Regulation: Impact on Health, Safety, Economy.’

nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree nba basketball referree

NBA To Continue To Not Test Players For Cannabis

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues on earth and is made up of players and coaches from literally every corner of the planet.

Unfortunately, the NBA has had a cannabis prohibition policy in place for multiple decades, which has resulted in needless harm being caused towards a number of players including and especially International Cannabis Business Conference alumni Clifford ‘Uncle Cliffy’ Robinson (RIP).

Testing players for cannabis made no sense prior to any state/country legalizing cannabis for medical and/or adult use, and it makes even less sense now that reform is spreading.

Every NBA team is now located in a state that has legalized cannabis for at least medical use, and many teams are also located in states that have legalized for adult use. In the case of the Toronto Raptors, the team is located in a country that has legalized cannabis entirely.

Thankfully, the NBA announced that it will continue to refrain from testing players for cannabis, which is a continuance of a temporary policy that was originally put in place at the start of the pandemic.

The NBA needs to make the policy permanent, as well as apologize to every player that was needlessly harmed by the NBA’s historic cannabis policy. Anything less is unacceptable.

Below is more information about the NBA’s recent decision via a news release from our friends at NORML:

For the second season in a row, the National Basketball Association has announced that it will suspend the practice of randomly testing players for marijuana.

A spokesperson for the league announced last week that it will “extend the suspension of random testing for marijuana for the 2021-22 season and focus our random testing program on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse.”

Commenting on the policy, NORML’s Political Director Justin Strekal said: “The NBA, like a number of sports leagues, has wisely recognized that it is inappropriate to subject players to drug detection testing for their off-the-court use of cannabis. Their actions are part of a growing trend, and we anticipate that their decision will propel other organizations and companies to make similar changes to their drug screening policies.”

Recently, both the NFL and MLB have amended their drug testing policies so that use of the substance is no longer an offense resulting in a suspension. Last month, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that it would be reviewing its marijuana-related drug testing guidelines for international athletic competitors.

A literature review published in September in the journal Sports Medicine reported that athletes do not perform better under the influence of either cannabis or THC, but that the use of marijuana and/or CBD may aid in their recovery following competition.

Also last month, the nation’s second largest private employer – Amazon.com - announced that it had dropped pre-employment screening for marijuana and that it was reinstating eligibility for former applicants who were denied consideration under its former policies.

Since 2015, cannabis-related testing in the workplace has fallen over five percent, with jurisdictions where marijuana use is legal for adults experiencing a more significant decline.

Several states - Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Montana - now limit employers’ ability to pre-screen certain job applicants for past marijuana use, as do a growing number of municipalities, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

Additional information is available from NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Marijuana Legalization and Impact on the Workplace.’

robert veverka robert veverka

Czech Republic Is Wrongfully Trying To Punish Cannabis Educators

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural.

Cannabis media resources play a vital role in the cannabis community and beyond. For many years, efforts to spread the truth about the cannabis plant were difficult because mainstream media outlets around the world helped perpetuate misleading, and in some cases, blatantly false information about cannabis.

The motivation behind those efforts was obviously political in nature, with global mainstream media outlets helping further the reefer madness agendas of political leaders. There were also business interests at play, with people and entities that financially benefitted from cannabis prohibition working hand-in-hand with lawmakers and media outlets to keep the truth about cannabis hidden.

For many decades, that reefer madness coalition had a virtual monopoly on cannabis information, which is why it wasn’t a coincidence that many people around the globe thought that cannabis was harmful. In many cases, older people still think that is the case because they were conditioned to think so over the course of so many years.

Thankfully, due in large part to better access to media printing and the rise of the internet, there are now various cannabis-focused media outlets operating around the globe, including in the Czech Republic where Legalizace magazine is based. Legalizace magazine is a bimonthly periodical focused on cannabis, as well as drug policy relating to human rights and environmental issues.

It’s an amazing resource for people in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. Their unbiased reporting and the educational information that they publish adds tremendous value to society. Unfortunately, Legalizace magazine and its editor-in-chief Robert Veverka are now facing charges for doing nothing more than educating people. Below is more information about it via a press release from Legalizace:

September 29, 2021 – Prague, Czech Republic

Education is not a crime!

Legalizace magazine and its editor-in-chief, Robert Veverka have been formally accused of “inciting and promoting toxicomania”, with penalties of up to five years of imprisonment. The first court hearing will take place on Tuesday, October 5 at 8:30 AM at the district court in the town of Bruntál, Czech Republic.

According to Czech law, cannabis is considered a regular agricultural crop plant and also possesses the status of a medicinal plant, and its cultivation and processing is permitted in compliance with Act No. 167/1998 Czech Law Coll. without special permission. Given this fact, Legalizace magazine considers the criminal charges of “inciting and promoting toxicomania” not only an instance of systematic failure and demonstrable ignorance of cannabis legislation by the prosecuting authorities but also a gross infringement of freedom of expression and the right to information guaranteed by the Czech Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

“The prosecution, which is calculated, stigmatizing, borderline untruthful, and based on fallacious conjectures and limited interpretation by the police that the cultivation and processing of cannabis is automatically illegal or that any mention of cannabis automatically equates ‘inciting toxicomania’, comprises a dangerous precedent comparable to totalitarian repression and censorship. I consider it my duty to fight not only for the right of Legalizace magazine to exist, but also for the rights of all print and electronic media who have ever dared mention the word ‘cannabis’ – or plan to do so in the future,” said Robert Veverka, the editor-in-chief, regarding the indictment.

gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling gavel law legal decision court ruling

Rastafarians Petition Court In Kenya

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural.

Humans have a long history with the cannabis plant. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the Eastern Asia region, being initially used for grain and fiber.

The oldest known use of the cannabis plant for the purpose of fiber and grains is in Japan on the Oki Islands, dating all of the way back to 8000 BCE.

Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, known as the ‘Father of Chinese Medicine’ included medical cannabis in written medical writings back in 2727 BCE. Evidence of cannabis being used for textile purposes dates back even farther in China’s history.

The oldest known evidence of cannabis use for intoxication purposes is found in Central Asia in roughly 2500 BCE, although, cannabis could have certainly been used for that purpose previously, we just haven’t discovered evidence of it yet.

Cannabis has also been used for religious purposes for many years, most notably by Rastafarians. Cannabis use plays a very big role in the Rastafarian religion.

Rastafarianism started in Jamaica and has spread to parts of Africa, including in Kenya where Rastafarians are petitioning to get an exemption from cannabis laws to be able to use cannabis for religious purposes. Per Tuko:

The Rastafarian Society of Kenya and one of their prophets, Mwenda Wambua, have moved to court seeking orders to decriminalise the use of Marijuana in their places of worship.

Through their lawyer Shadrack Wambui, the society sought the court to suspend Section 3 of the Narcotics Act which involves the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the members of the Rastafarian society for their spiritual and private growth and use of cannabis in their private homes or designated places of worship.

It’s unclear right now what the chances are of the petition being granted, but it’s certainly worth a shot. There’s a clear need for the exemption, being that Rastafarians have a legit religious need for it.

No one should be persecuted because of their cannabis use, and that includes cannabis use for religious purposes.

Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa

The Spirit Of The Cannabis Community Is Alive And Well This 4/20

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural.

Unless you have been living under a rock the last few decades, then you are presumably aware that April 20th is the official holiday for the global cannabis community. Every year members of the cannabis community celebrate our favorite plant on April 20th.

Historically, global April 20th gatherings were geared towards activists protesting unjust cannabis laws around the world. As reform has spread to various parts of the planet, many gatherings in legal jurisdictions have transitioned to celebrations that include various forms of entertainment in addition to consumption.

April 20th, 2020 was supposed to be the greatest 4/20 celebration in the history of the cannabis community. The last time that it was 4/20 for an entire month was in 1920 when things were obviously much different than they are today. Unfortunately, in-person 4/20 events were canceled all over the planet due to the ongoing pandemic, which was sad to see.

However, just because the 4/20 that was envisioned didn’t occur doesn’t mean that the spirit of the cannabis community is defeated. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Virtual cannabis events, fundraisers, and rallies are being held all over the world today. In true cannabis community fashion, the community adapted to the unforeseen circumstances and made the best of it.

It’s what we have done for decades, and it’s what we will continue to do as a community.

The cannabis movement didn’t get to where it is today because of advocates running into a hurdle and giving up. The story of the cannabis movement is a story of overcoming hurdle after hurdle, with some of those hurdles initially seeming to be impossible to get over. Yet, time after time the cannabis community stepped up and succeeded, and this 4/20 is a continuation of that.

It may not be the 4/20 that we all wanted, but we are all still one giant cannabis community celebrating in unity today, and nothing can stop the (virtual) celebration from happening. Not unjust cannabis laws. Not cannabis opponents. Not even a pandemic.

Celebrate responsibly today and know that there is still a lot of work left to be done, reflect on the victories that have been achieved, keep cannabis prisoners in your thoughts, and know that the future of the cannabis movement is bright. Cheers!

Spain flag Spain flag Spain flag Spain flag

Spanish Patients Can No Longer Access The Cannabis Clubs

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Cultural.

In the United States, the issue of whether the cannabis industry is “critical” or not is being fought on a state by state basis. In Europe, the situation is almost the same, except the mandates here are “national” and “federal.”

In Spain, one of the worst-hit Covid countries, cannabis patients are in a terrible situation. The Cannabis Clubs are all in a tenuous position thanks to the lockdowns and a failure by authorities to address the situation to help keep them open, even in a limited capacity (at least officially).  Most of the associations are closed due to the Pandemic. Those who risk opening for an hour or two a day are doing so in secret. And the supply on the street has rapidly escalated in price.  

As a result, most of the 200,000 patients in Spain currently served by the clubs are now left without medication, either because of lack of access to the clubs, or money, or both.

The clubs themselves are also in an almost impossible solution, even if they wish to help. Obtaining supplies from the outskirts of towns where the cannabis is cultivated for the clubs is almost impossible due to the lockdown measures. Those who brave the measures and are caught risk huge fines. Some clubs are opening for an hour or two a day, despite the lockdown, clandestinely, just to stay alive, if they can.

Indeed, as reported by Spanish ‘zine ElPlural.com, the Pandemic and efforts to control it, are having an outsized and terrible impact on Spain’s cannabis patients.  Carola Perez, president of the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis, put it this way. “Right now, we are facing many calls from desperate people.”

Unlike the United States, Canada, and even Germany, where the drug has slowly begun to gain acceptance, and patients can still obtain supplies from dispensaries and pharmacies, the lack of regulatory progress or even current guidance in Spain has thrown a curveball that is, as some are describing it, a human rights violation of massive proportions because nobody thought about giving the clubs any sort of protection to operate. Or patients the right to obtain their meds from these outlets.

Where is the status of cannabis regulation In Spain?

The calls and promises to regulate the drug and normalize its use, even medically, have stalled since 2017. Cannabis has been banned in Spain “officially” since 1967 when the dictator Francisco Franco outlawed it, but in recent years, the clubs have begun to fill in the grey areas. There are currently only ten companies in Spain who have the right to cultivate the plant, given said authority from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). This medication must be obtained from a doctor (still difficult) and is highly expensive.

Everyone else depends on the clubs and exists in a tenuous reality, created by a lack of forward progress on cannabis reform domestically, if not internationally. The pandemic, of course, has already made the gaps in the system, and the lack of real reform all the more visible.

For up to the date information on regulatory change across Europe, be sure to attend the International Cannabis Business Conference when it returns to Europe in late summer 2020.

cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant

Cannabis Reform In The NFL Is A Big Deal

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural.

Professional sports play a big role in society all over the globe. That is a fact that is being contemplated a lot right now with the temporary closing of many international pro sports leagues. It is estimated that there are over 4 billion association football (soccer) fans around the world. That’s one sport. People watch sports, play sports, and eat and breathe all things sports.

American football is the most popular sport in North America, and until recently, the National Football League (NFL) had one of the harshest cannabis policies in professional sports. Players were not tested as often as the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the testing THC threshold was not as low compared to the NBA, however, punishments in the NFL for testing positive for THC were very harsh, with some players essentially having their careers ended because of cannabis testing violations.

From the sole perspective of cannabis testing, the collective bargaining agreement that was recently signed by both NFL owners and the player’s association was a tremendous upgrade. Moving forward, the NFL will no longer suspend players for failing drug tests due to cannabis use. The THC threshold will go from 35 ng/mL up to 150 ng/mL, which is the same standard that Olympic athletes are held to.

The move by the NFL comes after Major League Baseball removed cannabis from its banned substances list entirely. The National Hockey League was ahead of all of the North American major sports leagues and hasn’t listed cannabis on its list of banned substances for a long time. All eyes are on the NBA now, which has the worst cannabis policy out of every major sports league in North America. NBA players are tested randomly 4 times a season, and the THC threshold is a mere 15 ng/mL.

Cannabis reform in the most popular sports league on a continent is a big deal. Cannabis policy in the NFL still needs to be improved, however, from a greater-society perspective, it’s a tremendous victory and boost to the overall cannabis movement.

Consider how many NFL fans, many of which may not know anything about cannabis, recently came across positive news coverage about cannabis in the NFL and see cannabis in a new (positive) way. Presumably many of them became educated about how ridiculous cannabis prohibition is in professional sports, and hopefully, some of that line of thinking will carry over into their views on cannabis policy in society and industry.

With so many NFL fans out there, reform in the league has the potential to change literally millions of people’s perspectives about the cannabis plant, right in time for election season, and that’s a fantastic thing.

spannabis spannabis spannabis spannabis spannabis spannabis

Science Will Decide The Winners Of The Spannabis Champions Cup

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Cultural, Science.

Cannabis competitions often involve a large amount of subjectivity. The cannabis community has long needed a cannabis competition that is dedicated to objectivity and science.

That is why the Spannabis Champions Cup has organized a competition in which the winner will be decided by science alone.

The rules of the cannabis competition are very straightforward. Entries will be lab tested, and the best lab results will determine the winner in each category.

It’s a very objective approach to determining a winner and makes it a truly even playing field for all of the competitors.

Two cash prizes will be awarded to the entries with the highest amount of cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s an exciting format that is going to draw interest from consumers and industry members from all over the globe.

More information about the Spannabis Champions Cup

XV Spannabis Champions Cup will be a neutral and transparent competition with five categories:

  • Indica
  • Sativa
  • CBD Flowers
  • Solvent-free Extractions
  • Solvent Extractions

As previously stated, lab results will determine who takes the prize and the funds raised (once the basic production expenses are covered) will go to the cash prizes for the winners.

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Spannabis Barcelona 2020 auditorium.

There are two sponsorship options: 

  • GOLD (€ 1,400 + VAT)
  • SILVER (€ 700 + VAT)

Here you can check all the details of each option, and here you can download the request in PDF.

Contact the event organizers if you have any kind of questions.

ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs

Sign Up To Receive The International Cannabis Chronicle Newsletter

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Cultural, Medical, OMBC, Politics, Science, Social.

These are truly exciting times for all things cannabis. Cannabis policy reform is sweeping the globe, the cannabis industry is growing at an epic rate, and major cannabis culture news is occurring at an increasing pace.

It can be very difficult to stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in the cannabis world with so much going on at all hours of the day. Cannabis has gone mainstream, and the rise in the level of acceptance of cannabis in society has been paralleled by an increase of news coverage that touches on topics and situations that are not necessarily that important in the grand scheme of things.

For many cannabis consumers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers it can be exhausting to try to sort out the less important stories from the truly important ones due to so much cannabis media white noise. However, at the same time, it is vital for people in the cannabis community at all levels to stay on top of things. It’s a very frustrating catch-22.

To help address the problem the International Cannabis Business Conference launched a new e-mail newsletter, the International Cannabis Chronicle, which covers the most important cannabis news and developments from around the globe.

International Cannabis Chronicle is delivered straight to subscribers’ e-mail inboxes once a week. It’s an extremely convenient way to stay up to-to-date on the most important cannabis information.

If staying up to speed on the biggest cannabis stories is important to you, make sure to sign up to receive the International Cannabis Chronicle newsletter today. You will be glad that you did!

ICC Mailchimp Masthead For Blogs