AUSTRALIA & NZ

PM Jacinda Ardern rejects US President Donald Trump’s call to join war on drugs [NZ Herald]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand will not join the countries that are signing up for a war against drugs that US President Donald Trump is pushing at the UN in New York. About 124 countries have already signed up, but Ardern said New Zealand will not be following suit indicating she believed it was too hard-line.

Cannabis as Medicine Survey: 2018 [The University of Sydney]

As researchers from the University of Sydney we are launching an Australia wide online survey of people who have used cannabis for MEDICAL (therapeutic) purposes within the last 12 months. A similar survey was conducted in 2016, and we aim to see how things have changed in that time.

Northern Rivers Hemp Collective Gathering

THIS Saturday 29th September!
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Mullumbimby Community Gardens, NSW

Featured discussions and showcases at this event include:
•    Industrial Hemp Growing experiences
•    Molecular Hydrogen in agriculture
•    3d Printing with Hemp including launch of Hemp Guitar Pick
•    Health and Wellbeing: H2 and Hemp
•    Community Gardens – Hemp Demonstration School
•    Island Vibes – Hemp Education Stall

 

 

NORTH AMERICA

Canada signs on to U.S.-led renewal of war on drugs [The Globe and Mail]

Canada was rebuked on Monday by a group of world leaders and experts on drug policy for endorsing a Trump-led declaration renewing the “war on drugs” and for passing up a critical moment to provide global leadership on drug regulation. The Trudeau government’s decision to sign on to the declaration, released by the White House on the sidelines of U.S. President Donald Trump’s first attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, contradicts Ottawa’s previous skepticism of Washington’s drugs war at home and abroad, and comes just weeks before cannabis legalization in Canada.

Canadians Involved In Marijuana Industry Not Welcome In US, Feds Confirm [Marijuana Moment]

But more than just stopping marijuana from crossing the border, the federal agency will also actively deny entry into the country by people who work in the legal cannabis industry. “As marijuana continues to be a controlled substance under United States law, working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal marijuana industry in U.S. states where it is deemed legal or Canada may affect admissibility to the U.S.,” reads the CBP statement.

U.S. Territory Makes History, Legalizes Recreational Marijuana [Medical Marijuana Inc]

A United States territory in the Pacific Ocean made history this week by becoming the first American jurisdiction to legalize the sales of recreational marijuana without first legalizing medical use. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on Friday signed into law the Taulamwaar Sensible Cannabis Act of 2018 to fully legalize the possession, personal cultivation, and commercial sales of marijuana.

Seattle drops over 500 convictions for marijuana possession after legalization [The Hill]

The Seattle Municipal Court ordered more than 500 convictions for misdemeanor marijuana possession be vacated after Washington legalized marijuana in 2012. The order, dated on Sept. 11 but publicized on Monday, vacates all convictions for misdemeanor marijuana possession from 1996 to 2010.

Big Pharma Synthetic Marijuana Leaves 2 Dead, 89 Hospitalized In Illinois [Ur Health Info]

So far this month, 89 people have been hospitalized and 2 left dead after ingesting synthetic marijuana produced by Big Pharma, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The users ingested an FDA-approved version of synthetic cannabis known as K2 or Spice.

Marijuana Arrests Spike, Outpace Arrests for All Violent Crimes Combined [AntiMedia]

For the second year in a row, arrests for cannabis in the United States have gone up, also dwarfing the number of arrests for violent crime. The increases have come in the form of arrests for possession, not manufacture and sales. According to the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report, out of 1,632,921 arrests for “drug abuse violations,” 36.7% were for possession of cannabis. That amounts to 599,282 people, which is up from the previous year’s figure of 587,516. In contrast, as Forbes noted, arrests for the sale and manufacture of the plant dropped from 65,734 in 2016 to 60,418 in 2017.

Oklahoma has OK’d more than 1,000 medical marijuana businesses [Marijuana Business Daily]

Oklahoma’s business-friendly medical cannabis law is seemingly coming to fruition: Regulators already have approved more than 1,100 business licenses with roughly 500 additional applications in the pipeline, according to a tweet by state officials Monday.

Those impacted by the War on Drugs still wait for cannabis permits in SF [San Francisco Examiner]

New retail outlets could open only if they are equity applicants, those who in some way were impacted by the War on Drugs. The City is also allowing equity incubator permits, those who will help through rent or other assistance those impacted by the War on Drugs get a foothold in the industry. But to date The City has not approved any new locations. All equity applications remain in various stages of review with The Office of Cannabis, which has not yet sent any to the Planning Department for the next step in the approval process.

Are Police Breaking The Law To Campaign Against Marijuana Legalization? [Marijuana Moment]

Police in two states with marijuana initiatives on their ballots this November are using official law enforcement social media accounts to campaign against the measures, in what could be a violation of elections rules.

US attorney files civil suit against West Virginia hemp farm [Charleston Gazette-Mail]

There’s a war on hemp in West Virginia. Though state laws allow for the cultivation, sale and purchase of industrial hemp, Mike Stuart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, and his office filed a civil lawsuit against a Mason County hemp farm and related parties earlier this month for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Coloradans May Cut Hemp From The Constitution, And That Could Be Good For The Industry [KUNC]

As one of the first states to legalize hemp, Colorado’s constitution defines industrial hemp as a type of cannabis that cannot contain more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. Earlier this summer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced a bill that would remove hemp from the list of controlled substances, where it’s currently lumped in alongside drugs like heroin. The bill is expected to pass. That’s great news for the hemp industry, but if the federal bill conflicts with than what’s written in Colorado’s constitution, it could be a major setback.

Girl can attend school with her cannabis-based medicine, California court rules [CNN]

It took a fight in court, but a 5-year-old girl will be allowed to bring her cannabis-based medicine to school and attend class with other students, according to a ruling by a California administrative court on Friday.

Michigan to permit online registrations for medical marijuana patients, doctors [Marijuana Business Daily]

In a move that could boost dispensary sales in Michigan, medical marijuana patients and their doctors will be able to register and renew registrations for the state’s MMJ program online beginning next month.

New York formalizes medical cannabis as alternative to opioids; market boost seen [Marijuana Business Daily]

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing medical marijuana to be used as an alternative to opioids, codifying a development that already has led to expansion of the state’s MMJ market.

New legislation will ban sale of products bearing a cannabis leaf [CTV News]

By October, recreational marijuana will be legal and sold in Montreal government-run stores. However, regular retailers will not be permitted to sell anything with even a picture of a cannabis leaf on it – whether it’s clothing, décor, or smoking accessories. Smoking accessory stores in Montreal follow strict government rules regulating the sale of tobacco and related products – rules that some customers don’t understand.

 

UK & EUROPE

Medical cannabis licences issued for nine patients [the medical independent]

The Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2017 in Ireland provide a legal basis for a Ministerial licence for medical cannabis in exceptional circumstances. The Department did not specify if any applications had been rejected.

 

 

WORLD

Lawmaker Pushes For Marijuana Legalization In Kenya [Marijuana Moment]

A Kenyan lawmaker is introducing legislation to legalize marijuana nationwide. Member of Parliament Kenneth Okoth wrote a letter to the National Assembly speaker on Friday, requesting help to prepare the legislation so that it can be published. The bill would decriminalize cannabis possession and use, clear criminal records of those with prior cannabis-related convictions, enact a legal and regulated commercial sales program and impose “progressive taxation measures” in order to “boost economic independence of Kenya and promote job creation.”

Malaysia in Talks to Become First in Asia to Allow Medical Pot [Bloomberg]

Public outrage over a death penalty handed to a 29-year-old man is spurring Malaysia to start talks to legalize marijuana for medical use, racing to become the first Asian country to do so. For now, the focus is on overturning a death sentence handed last month to a man convicted of possessing, processing and distributing medicinal cannabis oil. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 93, has said the verdict and relevant law should be reviewed in the country, where Muslims make up more than half of the population. The cabinet has reached consensus to remove capital punishment in the man’s case, but garnering support for legalizing medical marijuana will be “an uphill battle,” Xavier said.

 

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Studies Suggest Cannabis Doesn’t Kill Pain, But Improves Tolerance [Ganjapreneur]

Researchers from Syracuse University have shown in a systematic review of research that cannabis has a positive effect on pain threshold and perceived unpleasantness, though the review showed no perceptible direct pain relief, according to a report appearing in Inverse.

Majority of Physicians and Other Medical Professionals Favor Legalizing Marijuana Nationwide [Medical Marijuana Inc]

Most medical clinicians believe medical and recreational marijuana should be legal, according to a new poll from Medscape Medical News.

Terpenes: Living in the Shadow of THC and CBD [The Marijuana Times]

Even as CBD (cannabidiol) has gotten a bump in the last few years when it comes to awareness among the cannabis community, terpenes have remained in the shadows of their more well-known fellow cannabis compounds. When talking about cannabis, terpenes are what give each strain and variety their flavor and odor.

 

CULTURE & SOCIETY

The World’s Most Eco-Friendly Car: It’s Made Entirely From Hemp [Why Don’t You Try this?]

The world’s most Eco-friendly car, the Kestrel, was designed in Canada by Calgary-based Motive Industries INC. The body of the car is completely impact-resistant and made entirely out of hemp. When we think of cars we think of gasoline, steel, pollution, etc. Even though we have had some innovative and visually pleasing cars on the road today, it is difficult to ignore the sheer environmental impact that modern cars create.

Marijuana Use by Older Americans Now Outpaces Teen Use [The Marijuana Times]

But lost in the mountain of evidence that use by those aged 12 to 17 has been declining in recent years is the increasing evidence that older Americans are either returning to marijuana use or are partaking for the first time. In fact, new federal survey data shows 6.7% of those aged 55 to 64 say they have used marijuana in the past month; that number is 6.5% for those aged 12-17.

BUSINESS & POLICY

Why marijuana infused businesses have experienced testing and labeling challenges in California [Marijuana Business Daily]

The Golden State’s cannabis-infused products makers have weathered some strong winds recently stemming from new testing requirements, and it’s an issue marijuana businesses in other markets should pay attention to as different states experiment with rules surrounding lab tests. According to California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), 32.9% of edibles, tinctures and lotions samples have failed laboratory analysis.

Election 2018: A Look at State Marijuana Ballot Initiatives and Where Candidates Stand on Marijuana [Medical Marijuana Inc]

The 2018 midterm elections are only 42 days away, and just like two years ago cannabis legalization is going to be a lead issue. Four states will have the opportunity to legalize cannabis in some capacity through voter-approved ballot initiatives in the upcoming November 2018 election. With nationwide support for marijuana at a record-high, we may be headed for another banner year for the marijuana legalization movement.

Marijuana publication High Times buys Dope Magazine for $11.2 million [Marijuana Business Daily]

California-based cannabis culture publication High Times has acquired Dope Media, the Seattle-based publisher of Dope Magazine, for $11.2 million in cash and stock. The deal adds to the High Times portfolio of cannabis publications, which includes the online news website Green Rush Daily and Culture Magazine. The transaction also comes as High Times’ parent, High Times Holding, attempts to raise money from investors as it prepares go public.

Estimated revenue from marijuana legalization increases to $58 million [Concord Monitor]

Legalizing marijuana could secure New Hampshire as much as $58 million a year, according to a Department of Revenue Administration analysis this week – the highest estimate yet.

OTHER DRUGS

Britain’s drug testing charity is ready to roll out in Australia [The Sydney Morning Herald]

Pill testing at music festivals in Australia is inevitable, Britain’s only drug-testing organisation says. But experts behind pill-testing say it should not be touted as a way of saving lives, but reducing harm for those determined to take drugs by identifying the chemical make-up of their drugs for both the user and medics called to treat those suffering adverse reactions.

Psilocybin as a therapeutic treatment [Alcohol & Drug Foundation]

Research into  how these drugs can be applied therapeutically to various conditions is suggesting that their effectiveness may be connected to their ability to induce a ‘mystical experience’ –  that is, an experience which creates feelings of grand connectedness or unity.

Does Donald Trump Want To Ban Chocolate, Or Is He Just Confused? [Marijuana Moment]

Does President Donald Trump want to rid the world of chocolate or cocaine? When his speech turned to Colombia, whose newly elected president campaigned on stopping cocaine production in the country, Trump made a familiar error. “We look forward to partnering with his new administration to eradicate cocoa production in his country,” he said. “All of us must work together to dismantle drug production and defeat drug addiction.”. Now, according to the White House transcript, the president was supposed to call for the eradication of coca, the base plant used to make cocaine.

 

 

FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS/PETITIONS/SURVEYS

Time to test [Unharm]

With help from you and the The Loop UK we will set up a new drug safety testing charity in Australia. Expert volunteers will analyse people’s drugs and provide tailored healthcare consultations.

Petition: Cannabis law reform [Queensland Parliament] Closing Date 17 October 2018

Cannabis as Medicine Survey: 2018 [The University of Sydney]

Support Tony Bower’s Legal Fees [gofundme]

Supporting Andrew Katelaris [gofundeme]

LEGALISING CANNABIS [The Greens]

 

 

EVENTS

NIMBIN MEDICAN WORKSHOP 20-21 OCTOBER [Hemp Embassy]

The next Medican Workshop will be on the weekend of October 20/21. Entry by donation, beside the river at Nimbin’s Bush Theatre. Starting at 11 am and aiming to finish by 4.20! Learn how to make and use Cannabis as medicine! Anyone using medical cannabis who would like to tell their story on the day should contact the HEMP Embassy…. phone 02 66891842 or email head@hempembassy.net

APS Integration Circle – October [Australian Psychedelic Society]

When: October 7th, 2pm-5pm Where: 11a Hope st, Brunswick, Melbourne

CannaTech Sydney

28-30th October 2018, Sydney

Hemp Health & Innovation Expo

MCEC Melbourne (Jeff’s Shed) Saturday 8th December – 9.30am – 7pm Sunday 9th December – 10am – 4pm, Melbourne

Medicinal Cannabis Symposium [United in Compassion]

22-24 March 2019, Tweed Heads NSW

MISCELLANEOUS

‘Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll’:  MP’s Memoir Goes On Sale [Reason]

“I’ve tried to write an honest account of what it’s like for someone to come from a very un-parliamentary background, into a balance of power position in an Australian Parliament”, Fiona Patten said. “There are many similarities between my old career and my new one – although you are much more likely to be screwed in politics these days than in the sex industry. Machine politics, revenge and religion have turned politics toxic even in the last couple of years”. Read about Fiona Patten’s Track Record on Law Reform of Drug and Other Social Issues.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to get two or three Reason members elected at the coming election and help secure the socially progressive gains Fiona has made in Victoria and to pursue drug law reform at a parliamentary level.  You can donate on the Reason website: https://www.reason.org.au/act_donate

Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Tasmania & “the leaf” Newsletter [Facebook]

Nimbin Medican Workshops on YouTube [Hemp Embassy]

MardiGrass Hemposium 2018 Talks now Available on YouTube [Hemp Embassy]

DRUG WAR OVER! [Radio Documentary]

‘Exposing The War On Drugs’ looks at how the war on drugs has affected Australia and the rest of the world.

Entheogenesis Australis Shop Now Open [EGA]