AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
‘Significant help’: experts, community laud launch of national epilepsy helpline [The Sydney Morning Herald]
A new service aims to help the 250,000 other Australians living with epilepsy. Launched on Wednesday, the Epilepsy Nurse Line provides access to nurses trained in epilepsy treatment between the hours of 9am and 5pm, seven days a week.
Cannabis advocate fined after police raid [The Courier]
A cannabis advocate who pleaded guilty to cultivating nine plants on his property was fined $800 but avoided a conviction. Facing the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court, Jason Foster said he worked with organisations and governments “here and abroad” to reform laws around cannabis.
Australian Cannabis Summit
NORTH AMERICA
Cory Booker Pledges to Extend Clemency to Drug War Prisoners if Elected President [Medical Marijuana Inc]
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has announced his presidential plan for marijuana criminal justice reform. In his Restoring Justice Initiative, the 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate pledges to set a new precedent by granting executive clemency to thousands of nonviolent federal offenders serving sentences for marijuana-related convictions.
Oregon Passes Interstate Cannabis Commerce Law [Ganjapreneur]
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed into law several cannabis policy updates, including a bill allowing the state to export cannabis products to other states with cannabis programs.
Fake cannabis labels circulating in Saskatchewan [CBC]
The symbols found on the packaging of legal recreational cannabis for sale in Saskatchewan are hard to miss: A red octagon with the letters THC and a stylized cannabis leaf; a white and yellow warning label advising users to keep the product out of the reach of children. But these symbols can also be found on illegal cannabis disguised to look like the legitimate product.
Massachusetts Bans CBD Consumables [Ganjapreneur]
Massachusetts state officials have banned the sale of most CBD products, including CBD-infused food and beverages, CBD flower, CBD products that make medicinal or therapeutic claims, and any dietary supplements or animal feed containing hemp. Just last week the House voted unanimously to allow farmers with agricultural deed restrictions to grow hemp.
New Hampshire governor vetoes bill opening state to for-profit cannabis firms [Marijuana Business Daily]
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed legislation that would have opened the state’s heavily regulated medical marijuana industry to for-profit MMJ businesses, dealing a setback to cannabis entrepreneurs who might have been interested in launching a moneymaking operation there. Currently, the state’s vertically integrated MMJ businesses must operate as nonprofits.
Illinois Governor Signs Adult-Use Legalization Bill [The Marijuana Times]
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has officially signed legislation that legalizes adult-use cannabis in his state. Starting January 1, 2020, Illinois adults will be able to carry up to 30 grams of marijuana on them legally; non-residents of the state can carry up to 15 grams.
BUSINESS & POLICY
Historical Vote by Congress to Offer Protection to Marijuana States [Medical Marijuana Inc]
In what’s considered a great win for cannabis activists, the U.S. House of Representatives set a historic precedent by voting to allow marijuana states to operate without federal interference.
Want to Grow Your Own Cannabis? Get Ready to Fight ‘Big Marijuana’ [Leafly]
Illinois has just made history as the first state to legalize recreational cannabis and allow commercial sales through the state legislature instead of via a voter initiative. But this historic piece of legislation almost died along the way over the increasingly contentious issue of homegrow. Eventually, lawmakers compromised by allowing only medical cannabis patients to cultivate for themselves; recreational consumers can’t grow at all. This may sound like politics as usual, but it actually represents a worrying trend for those who believe that the right to grow your own cannabis is an essential part of a truly equitable legalization plan.
Medical cannabis should not face usual regulatory checks, says former UK health minister [The Pharmaceutical Journal]
Medical cannabis products should not be subject to the usual regulatory checks before patients can use them, as cannabis is “the oldest medicine of all”, Sir Norman Lamb has said. During a panel discussion at the Cannabis Europa conference in London on 25 June 2019, Sir Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk and chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, said the current system for supplying medical cannabis in the UK “simply hasn’t worked”, with doctors reluctant to prescribe unlicensed products.
HEALTH & SCIENCE
More Pregnant Women are Using Marijuana [Medical Marijuana Inc]
A new research survey on women in the United States finds the rates of women using marijuana while pregnant more than doubled from 2002-2017.
Developers race to meet demand for hemp-specific technology [Hemp Today]
Solutions for harvesting and processing the entire hemp plant are in overwhelming demand as inventors, engineers and other assorted tinkerers work feverishly to develop ground-breaking technology and machines for both small and large hemp-centric operations.
Is Neem Oil Causing Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome? [Leafly]
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a rare cyclical vomiting condition, is said to be triggered by too much cannabis. But many believe this isn’t true—and instead say the painful bouts of vomiting come from other factors, such as pesticide contamination.
How Hemp May Be Able to Help Save Honey Bees [Medical Marijuana Inc]
Bees play a significant role in the ecosystem, pollinating about one-third of the global food supply. As bee populations continue to fall, concern grows about what implications the loss of pollinators will have on global food production. A new study from researchers at Colorado State University suggests industrial hemp could be a saving grace for sustaining the bee population. Because bees pollinate hemp, researchers are hopeful bee populations will begin to increase with hemp production.
Shattering 4 Misconceptions About Cannabis Concentrates [Leafly]
Perhaps the most misunderstood and often misrepresented cannabis products are concentrates. Wax, shatter, dabs, oil, and resin are just some of the concentrates on the market, and some media outlets have likened these to hard narcotics such as crack cocaine. Perpetuating misconceptions about cannabis concentrates damages retailers, consumers, and curious outsiders by spreading misinformation about a well-regulated and safe product that can be manufactured and consumed responsibly and without a great deal of risk.
Illegal drug classifications are based on politics not science – report [The Guardian]
Illegal drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis should be reclassified to reflect a scientific assessment of harm, according to a report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy.
CULTURE & SOCIETY
How activists convinced a city to decriminalise magic mushrooms and ayahuasca [Triple J Hack]
Gardening could be the Hobby that helps you live to 100 [BBC]
Many of the world’s centenarians share one common hobby: gardening. Could you extend your life and drop your stress by taking up the pursuit, too?
EVENTS
FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS/PETITIONS/SURVEYS
Inquiry into drug driving reform [Enpsychedelia]
The National Drug Driving Working Group clearly states that drug driving laws are specifically a driving offense and not a drug offense. Despite this, people who are not impaired, but may still have trace amounts of one of three prescribed substances in their bodily fluid, are frequently charged with a road offense. There is a significant economic and social burden from these unjustified infringements.
E-Petition: Inquiry into drug driving reform [Parliament of Victoria]
Gateway to Good Health [Weed Billboards]
Celebrating Cannabis [Australian Cannabis Awards]
E-Petition: Legalise cannabis for recreational use [Parliament of Victoria]
Just Reform It! Let’s Get Real about Drugs [The Greens]
Survey: What’s the link between cannabis use and psychotic experiences? [The University of Queensland]
EDUCATION
MardiGrass Hemposium 2019 Talks now Available on YouTube [Hemp Embassy]
EP202 – Roadside Drug Testing Panel at Nimbin Mardi Grass [Enpsychedelia]
‘Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll’: MP’s Memoir Goes On Sale [Reason]
Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Tasmania & “the leaf” Newsletter [Facebook]
Nimbin Medican Workshops on YouTube [Hemp Embassy]
DRUG WAR OVER! [Radio Documentary]
View five new EGA video presentations on ethnobotanical plants and psychedelics [Entheogenesis Australis]
To mark the anniversary of our special gathering and end the year on a high note, we’ve released five new videos of talks from the Psychedelic Symposium that are now available to watch online and can also be found below in this email.