AUSTRALIA & NZ
Former Socceroo aiming high with dive into cannabis industry [The Sydney Morning Herald]
Former Socceroos winger Mark Bresciano may have lost his passion for football but he’s found a new lease of life as an investor in a company that will grow medicinal cannabis. The 38-year-old, a veteran of 84 appearances for Australia, is a joint partner in Greenhope, which aims to grow and produce cannabis for medicine in Australia.
A Canadian cannabis producer exported CBD oil to patients in Australia and its stock is surging [Business Insider Australia]
Tilray, one of the largest Canadian marijuana companies, said Tuesday that it had successfully shipped a CBD product to Australia for treatment of children with epilepsy at three hospitals in Victoria. CBD is one of the nonpsychoactive compounds found in cannabis.
7 News Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) |
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| 3/10/18, 2:44 pm
Queensland’s first medicinal cannabis dispensary has opened in Brisbane’s east. “Anyone who thinks they can access it to get stoned off, it’s going to be a waste of time for them.” – Dr Jonathan O’Mullane #7News pic.twitter.com/ZVvMUEhiDO |
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Update on Dr Katelaris
On 5th November Dr Andrew Katelaris will be in the Downing Centre District Court. The charges are production and supply of a large commercial quantity of cannabis and if convicted the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. However, Dr Katelaris intends to run the first successful medical necessity defence to be heard in the penal colony of NSW. Most medical cannabis activists who are arrested enter a plea of guilty with extenuating circumstances and often receive a mild penalty, but this provides no impetus for law change. The battle lines on medical cannabis are now clearly drawn. The government intends to replace a legal prohibition with a medical prohibition, where are a small number of selected practitioners act as gate keepers, providing medical cannabis to those with intractable illnesses only after all allopathic treatments have been tried. Further, the TGA approved medicine costs more than the current black market price. In an act of malice directed at the most vulnerable group in our society the police are giving no exemptions for medically prescribed cannabis when detected by roadside testing. On November 5th, we would appreciate a show of public support, with as many people as possible attending the court to send a clear message to this government that it is totally unacceptable to play politics with people’s lives and put pharmaceutical profits before health and well being. I hope to see you there, Dr Andrew Katelaris
NORTH AMERICA
Poll: New Mexico Voters Support Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Nearly 2-To-1 [Medical Marijuana Inc]
A majority of voters in New Mexico support a bill that would legalize, regulate and tax recreational marijuana sales for adults 21 years and over, according to a new poll conducted by Research & Polling, Inc. for the Albuquerque Journal.
White House drug office vows objective pot study [Denver Post]
A White House drug office official has offered assurances that a marijuana policy panel will be objective and dispassionate as it examines the impact of legalization in some states, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said. The vow came after BuzzFeed reported in August that the panel intended to portray marijuana as a national threat and criticize state efforts to legalize it.
Michigan lawmakers vote to prohibit marijuana-infused beer and liquor [Marijuana Business Daily]
Legislation that would prohibit the use, possession or sale of cannabis-infused beer, wine, liquor and mixed drinks in Michigan was approved by the state House on Tuesday by a 101-4 vote.
Boston Lawmakers Say Marijuana Activists Left a Mess After Recent Freedom Rally [The Marijuana Times]
Last month the annual “Boston Freedom Rally” descended on the Boston Common as thousands of marijuana enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the cannabis plant and the success of the marijuana law reform movement. But what was left behind in the wake of the event has Boston lawmakers calling for a change of venue next year. According to The Boston Globe, not only were mountains of trash left behind, but also needles and grass damaged by vehicles.
Senators debate home-grown medical marijuana [Pacific Daily News]
Senators during Tuesday’s legislative session started debating the first of several bills intended to solve problems with the island’s medical marijuana program, which was approved by voters four years ago, but still is not implemented. In the last four years, no chronically ill patient on Guam has received a single dose of medical marijuana, said Sen. Louise Muña, R-Yigo, who introduced Bill 302, to allow patients and caregivers to instead grow their own.
The future of California cannabis co-ops: Q&A with former CGA Director Hezekiah Allen [Marijuana Business Daily]
One of the loudest pro-cannabis voices in Sacramento for the past four years has been the executive director of the California Growers Association (CGA), Hezekiah Allen. Marijuana Business Daily spoke with Allen to discuss the past and the future of MJ cultivation in the Golden State and to get his insight on how small farms might compete with commercial-sized grows.
Colorado U.S. Attorney Blasts Cannabis Industry, Hints At Crackdown [Ganjapreneur]
In a scathing op-ed published in The Denver Post, U.S. Attorney for Colorado Bob Troyer recently lambasted the “commercialization” of cannabis as a threat to public safety. In the article, Troyer suggested that cannabis enforcement in Colorado will shift its focus from finding and stopping illegal growers to monitoring and policing licensed growers more closely. He argues that some Colorado firms have maintained their license to cultivate and distribute cannabis not to serve Colorado’s industry, but as a cover, so they can serve the more lucrative illegal, out-of-state markets.
FDA Says Marijuana Ingredient CBD Doesn’t Meet Criteria For Federal Control [Marijuana Moment]
Last week’s decision by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to place a marijuana-derived drug in the least restrictive category under federal law was largely based on a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But according to a recently released internal government letter, the FDA actually concluded that cannabidiol, or CBD, doesn’t meet the criteria for federal control at all.
Denver crackdown on marijuana tour buses heads to court while city task force says “legalize it.” [Denver Post]
Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours were both targeted by police in a sting earlier this year. Police pulled over the buses under the guise of normal traffic violations and proceeded to ticket the drivers and everyone on the bus, some with criminal charges. The tour buses, which are still operating, allow paying customers to use cannabis while they ride between dispensaries and other destinations. After running for years with little trouble, buses from two companies were targeted in a June 15 operation that resulted in criminal charges for dozens of customers and employees.
Don’t take pot on international flights, transport minister warns [Saskatoon Star Phoenix]
Garneau says as long as they are on domestic flights, Canadians can bring up to 30 grams of marijuana with them once possession for personal use becomes legal. The minister warns, however, that international passengers should not carry cannabis. Transport Canada says taking cannabis, or products that contain pot, across the U.S. border remains illegal.
UK & EUROPE
Tory MP calls on UK ministers to review the law amid war on drugs failings [The Courier]
The UK Government should launch a full review of drugs policy, says a Perthshire MP.
High stakes: cannabis capitalists seek funds to drive drug trade [The Guardian]
London conference pushes uses ranging from reducing pain to increasing orgasms.
‘It can make a massive difference to cases’: Legal experts question garda cannabis plant valuation [The Journal Ireland]
Gardaí apply a general valuation of €800 to each plant – experts claims this is at odds with international best practice.
WORLD
Is Colombia’s renewed ban on marijuana possession even constitutional? [Colombia Reports]
The former President of Colombia’s Constitutional Court said Monday that a decree by President Ivan Duque to persecute marijuana users “goes against the constitution.” Drug policy experts called the president’s initiative “a step backwards.” Duque signed a presidential decree on Monday which reversed Colombia’s drug laws in regards to drug possession of his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos.
Use of Article 44 urged to push marijuana bill [The Nation Thailand]
With the bill to legalise the use of marijuana for medical purposes bogged down in process, Deputy Prime Minister ACM Prajin Juntong is looking into the possibility of Article 44 being invoked as a means of moving the bill forward. The Constitution’s Article 44 delegates special powers to the NCPO chief, which can be used to fast-track medical-marijuana legalisation. “We can tell whether marijuana should be used for medical purposes, but we can’t say if its use should be legalised via a special law,” Sirinya said.
Malaysia in talks to become first in Asia to allow medical pot [Free Malaysia Today]
Malaysia, which imposes the death penalty for some drug trafficking offences, is racing against Thailand to become the first Asian country to legalise marijuana for medical use.
Jamaica makes first shipment of medical marijuana to Canada [The Gleaner]
In making the announcement, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw, “Jamaica is uniquely positioned to be a global player and we are committed to providing the leadership and resources required for opening the international markets including Canada and Europe for our licensed and regulated Jamaican companies.”
HEALTH & SCIENCE
Legalization Doesn’t Increase Problematic Marijuana Use, Study Finds [Marijuana Moments]
A new study concludes that state marijuana legalization laws are not associated with increases in “problematic” cannabis consumption or with more impulsive behaviors.
Study Shows THC Helps Reduce Risk of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [Medical Marijuana Inc]
Males with a history of using the cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have a significantly reduced risk of experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), according to a new study published in the journal Urology.
Recreational Marijuana Reduces Pre-Operative Pain in Orthopaedic Patients, New Study Shows [Medical Marijuana Inc]
Orthopaedic surgery patients who use recreational marijuana experience less pain and greater physical function than non-using patients, according to a new study published in International Orthopaedics.
Cannabis ‘more harmful than alcohol’ for teen brains [BBC]
Teenagers using cannabis are causing long-lasting damage to their developing brains, a Canadian study suggests. It found the impact on thinking skills, memory and behaviour was worse than that of teenage drinking. The researchers, from the University of Montreal, urged teenagers to delay their use of cannabis for as long as they felt able.
US lawmakers urge feds to expand approved marijuana growers for research [Marijuana Business Daily]
Fifteen U.S. House lawmakers urged the heads of the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration to expand the number of federally approved marijuana cultivators allowed to grow cannabis for research purposes. The request, made in an Oct. 1 letter, comes on the heels of the DEA granting approval to medical researchers at the University of San Diego to import cannabis oil from a licensed Canadian cultivation business, Tilray, for a study on essential tremor.
CBD vs Opioids [Endoca]
When it comes to pain having something that hits the spot quickly and effectively is the aim of the game. Those that experience pain on a daily basis whether it’s as a result of an accident or a symptom of cancer, whatever it may be, many are left desperate to find sweet relief which can have you reaching for the hard stuff just to have a break and some normality.
Inhaler delivers cannabinoids faster at lower doses [European Pharmaceutical Review]
The physical uptake of pharmaceutical cannabinoids when inhaled through an inhaler is greater than 50 times faster than oral delivery at only a fraction of the dose according to the results of a clinical study from the US.
CULTURE & SOCIETY
A Complete History of Marijuana, According To Scientists [Marijuana Moment]
Researchers compiled a trove of documents from around the world and examined earlier studies in order to “provide a critical and comprehensive evaluation, from the ancient times to our days, of the ethnological, botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of [cannabis], with a vision for promoting further pharmaceutical research to explore its complete potential as a therapeutic agent.”
California approves statewide social equity program for cannabis industry [Marijuana Business Daily]
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation this week that will set up a state-run program aimed at widening participation among minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals in the marijuana industry, either as business owners or employees.
Teens who’ve tried marijuana have used it in more than one form [MedicalXpress]
Most teens who’ve tried marijuana have used the drug in more than one form, including cannabis products that are smoked, eaten or vaped, new USC research shows. The study, published Friday in JAMA Network Open, raises concerns about adolescent health amid a booming cannabis market that touts sleekly packaged products claiming an array of health benefits.
BUSINESS & POLICY
Cannabis capitalism: who is making money in the marijuana industry? [The Guardian]
Marginalized groups that championed legalization struggle to compete with corporate refugees jumping on the bandwagon. With legal marijuana now one of the country’s fastest-growing industries, who profits is as much of a civil rights question as who gets punished. The industry’s moral challenge is to ensure the groups who have suffered the most under the drug war can participate in the green rush and enjoy the spoils of legalization.
A sea change in CBD drug policy? [MedicalXpress]
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a shift Friday that clears the way for the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant to make its way to market where it will provide treatment for severe forms of childhood epilepsy. The decision—the DEA’s first major shift in its stance toward marijuana regulations in nearly half a century—comes in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug Epidiolex on June 25. The drug treats epilepsy using cannabidiol, a chemical compound found in marijuana commonly referred to as CBD.
Nancy Pelosi Says Marijuana Reform Depends On Trump [Marijuana Moment]
The fate of federal marijuana policy reform is squarely in the hands of President Donald Trump, no matter what happens in November’s midterm elections, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Friday.
Hawaii regulator calls for federal marijuana banking solutions [Marijuana Business Daily]
Hawaii’s top banking regulator joined the growing chorus of state leaders urging Congress to consider banking solutions for the cannabis industry.
Opponents of Marijuana Legalization in Michigan Trot Out Same Old Lies [The Marijuana Times]
With a little over a month to go until voters in Michigan head to the ballot box to decide on recreational cannabis legalization, opponents of the measure are in the midst of a media blitz. In a series of press conferences held in the state earlier this month, prosecutors, law enforcement and others who oppose legalization made their case for why Michigan voters should not approve the measure. Not surprisingly, their case is full of conjecture, fear mongering and outright falsehoods.
Washington eyes hiking hemp farming fee by 2,400 percent [Capital Press]
The annual fee to grow hemp in Washington would increase to $7,500 from $300 under a state Department of Agriculture proposal intended to cover the cost of regulating the crop. The 2,400 percent hike could be avoided if state lawmakers continue subsidizing the fledgling hemp industry with general taxes, or if more growers emerge to share the expense. Agriculture department spokesman Hector Castro said the agency understands concerns that raising the fee could discourage potential hemp farmers.
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]
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]