AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

More detail is needed as ACT moves to legalise cannabis [The Age]

Canberra has every right to legalise cannabis, and the federal government would be ill-advised to try and overturn such a law, according to a prominent barrister. Greg Barnes, who is national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said a bill being introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly this week that would make small amounts of cannabis for personal use legal would not be in contravention of federal drug laws. “Legalising cannabis is something that is well within the jurisdiction of states and territories,” he said.

One step closer to legalising cannabis [The Greens]

A few months ago, we created a bit of a splash by announcing our plan to legalise recreational cannabis for adult use. One big part of this announcement was our commitment to introducing our Just Legalise It bill into federal parliament by the end of this year.  Today we delivered.  I know you care about changing our drug laws, so I want you to be the first to hear about what’s going on in Canberra. Take a look at my video announcing the introduction of our bill. 

South Australia’s emerging hemp industry forecast to be worth millions [ABC]

South Australia’s fledgling hemp industry could be worth $3 million annually within five years, government data shows.

NORTH AMERICA

New Jersey legislative committees advance adult-use cannabis legislation [Marijuana Business Daily]

New Jersey took a big step Monday toward becoming the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana when separate panels in the Senate and the Assembly approved identical legislation and sent it to the full Legislature for a vote.

New Jersey Legalizes Hemp Cultivation for Research [Medical Marijuana Inc]

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last week signed into law a bill that allows the research and cultivation of hemp as part of a pilot program.

Michigan sets recreational marijuana legalization date, will take business apps in late 2019 [Marijuana Business Daily]

Possession and adult use of marijuana will be legal in Michigan starting Dec. 6, but the launch of  what is expected to be a billion-dollar-plus commercial industry is still more than a year away.

Legalizing Marijuana Would Generate 24,000 Jobs and More than $500M in Tax Revenue for Illinois [Medical Marijuana Inc]

Legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois could create nearly 24,000 new jobs and generate over $500 million in new state and local tax revenue, according to a new study conducted by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois.

The U.S. Needs to Decriminalize Drug Possession Now [American (In) Justice]

The persistent political resistance to addressing America’s twin epidemics of mass incarceration and deadly drug misuse with solutions that have proven effective elsewhere can be infuriating. It’s not just the idiocy and ill will of the Trump administration in this area as in so many others but the reluctance of even progressive state and local legislators to embrace what’s already working elsewhere. It’s not just the political weakness of those who favor drug treatment over incarceration but the persistent belief among many treatment supporters, and the public, that the only acceptable alternative to drug use, whether problematic or not, is abstinence — and that the criminal justice system is an essential partner in forcing people to abstain. And even as the broader criminal justice reform movement has grown rapidly in recent years, many of its leaders remain beholden to backward ideas about drug misuse and refrain from embracing and prioritizing the legalization of drug possession as a key objective.

‘Sky has not fallen’: Cannabis legalization didn’t impact Calgary crime in 1st month [CBC]

It’s still early days, but cannabis legalization has yet to have much of an impact on crime in Calgary.

Here’s How Infuriatingly Hard It Still Is to Get Medical Marijuana in New York [Filter]

But getting certified for New York’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) proved complicated, time-consuming, costly and infuriating. The experience suggested that the state agencies behind it don’t actually want patients to get the drug.

Dr Benedikt Fischer: Canada provides lessons on legal cannabis [NZ Herald]

New Zealand is debating its cannabis policy, a process that led to legalisation of cannabis use and supply in Canada just last month. Since the two countries share many traits and values – and high cannabis use rates – they have many insights to share on these matters.

Michael Moore: Put Marijuana On The Ballot To Drive Voter Turnout In 2020 [Marijuana Moment]

Documentary filmmaker and activist Michael Moore says that if Democrats want to win in the 2020 election, they ought to put marijuana legalization proposals on the ballot in states across the country, especially in swing states.

The Legalization of Cannabis in Canada [Library of Congress]

Now that cannabis is legal in Canada, here is what you need to know.

Massachusetts marijuana: Here’s how much the retail stores made in five days of sales [Mass Live]

The two Massachusetts marijuana retail stores pulled in $2.2 million in gross sales, according to data released by the state Cannabis Control Commission. The commission released five days’ worth of data, based on sales at Cultivate in Leicester and New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton, the first marijuana retail stores to open east of the Mississippi.

Maryland’s medical marijuana program is rapidly developing [Marijuana Business Daily]

The head of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) said state regulators are receiving more than 1,000 applications a week from would-be patients, according to the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.

WORLD

South Korea becomes first country in East Asia to legalize medical marijuana [Marijuana Business Daily]

South Korea became the first country in East Asia to legalize medical cannabis, marking a significant milestone in the global industry and a potential turning point in how the drug is perceived in traditionally conservative societies.

Thai Plan to invoke Article 44 for decision on cannabis patents [The Nation]

The junta is planning to use the extraordinary powers of Article 44 to introduce a solution to the cannabis-related patent problems.

Thailand Legislators Overwhelmingly Endorse Medical Cannabis Legalisation [Talking Drugs]

Thailand’s parliament has almost unanimously accepted the first reading of a bill to legalise medical cannabis, but there is growing fear that foreign companies will monopolise any new marijuana industry.

“There is no difference between giving young people guns and handing them drugs” [Presidency of the Republic of Turkey]

Speaking at the International Symposium on Drug Policy and Public Health, President Erdoğan said: “We act as uncompromisingly against drug dealers who steal our children’s health as we do against terrorist organizations who send young people to death. In our eyes, there is no difference between giving young people guns and handing them drugs.”

Modi’s love for ayurveda may be just the push marijuana needed in India [Quartz]

India’s new-found love for ayurveda, its ancient medicine system, may help mainstream marijuana in the country. On Nov. 25, the Central Council For Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, a research body under India’s AYUSH ministry of traditional medicine, announced positive results from the first clinical study in India on the use of cannabis as a restorative drug for cancer patients.

Marijuana, mountains and money: How Lesotho is cashing in [BBC]

Lesotho is aiming to make money from the booming medicinal marijuana industry, but the BBC’s Vumani Mkhize says the southern African nation already has an unheralded illicit trade in the drug for recreational use.

Medical marijuana trend slow to take off in Finland [YLE]

Patients seeking pain-relieving cannabis preparations have been frustrated by tight regulations, social stigma and widespread confusion.

Israel advances medical marijuana export law in ‘huge leap for industry’ [Marijuana Business Daily]

An Israeli government committee approved the first draft law on the export of medical cannabis, an important step toward the government’s long-delayed plan to foster an MMJ export industry.

BUSINESS & POLICY

Bankers’ pot push gets boost from blue wave, Sessions ouster [Ed Perlmutter]

‘There’s no question: Cannabis prohibition will end,’ one House Democrat said. Energized by the results of the midterm elections, an unusual alliance of lobbyists and lawmakers is planning to push legislation that would lift restrictions on banks seeking to serve pot businesses that are now legal in a growing number of states.

‘I think cannabis should be legalised – this is why’ [Manchester Evening News]

Jeff Smith talks about his first-hand experience of the devastating consequences of illegal drugs and offers a solution he and other MPs are fighting to see through parliament.

Would making cannabis lawful be a gateway legalisation? [YouGov]

Here in the UK taking a softer line on cannabis has widespread public support. Close to four in ten Brits (38%) think the sale and possession of the drug should be legalised entirely; a further 22% want to see it decriminalised. Only three in ten (30%) believe that it should remain a criminal offense to sell or possess cannabis.

HEALTH & SCIENCE

The entourage effect: Is it a legitimate theory worth marketing by cannabis companies? [Marijuana Business Daily]

Many marijuana and terpene enthusiasts believe the unique effects of individual plants are the result of different cannabinoids – most notably THC – working in concert with other cannabinoids and terpenes.

Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs [The Marijuana Times]

If you’re one to stay up on the latest and greatest advancements in holistic wellness, you’ve likely heard of CBD. The once misunderstood herb is finally getting the recognition that it deserves. Check out the remarkable benefits of CBD and see for yourself why so many pet parents are choosing CBD over conventional medications.

How ancient viruses got cannabis high [Science Daily]

THC and CBD, bioactive substances produced by cannabis and sought by medical patients and recreational users, sprung to life thanks to ancient colonization of the plant’s genome by viruses, researchers have found.

Cheap Therapy: Modest Mouse on Using Cannabis for Better Mental Health [High Times]

Isaac Brock and Jeremiah Green talk Modest Mouse, using cannabis for depression and how crazy can be interesting.

Charity to launch cannabis oil trial in hope of treating skin condition [ITV News]

A charity is to begin funding a clinical trial to investigate the use of cannabis oil to treat pain and itching in adults with a potentially fatal skin condition.

CULTURE & SOCIETY

A Main Ingredient In Beer Used To Be Marijuana’s ‘Sister,’ Study Shows [Marijuana Moment]

A researcher reviewed the biological classification of marijuana throughout history in the study, which was published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. One finding was that marijuana as we know it today “lost a sibling” about 28 million years ago—and that sibling was Humulus. Humulus is a plant that contains flowers called “hops,” commonly used as flavoring for beer. So it’s not the intoxicating ingredient, but it is a central component of the popular drink.

Did Astronaut Chris Hadfield Test the Effects of Marijuana in Space? [Snopes]

Although followers might expect to see genuine historical images being posted by a social media page named “Pictures in History,” that account frequently shares manipulated or miscaptioned images. In this case, an image of Hadfield holding a bag of Easter Eggs was doctored in order to make it appear as if the astronaut were showing off a pouch of marijuana.

How to Achieve Weed Equality [Vice]

With countries like the UK debating cannabis reforms, could Massachusetts – the latest US state to open its doors to legal cannabis sales – provide an alternative model of social justice?

Marijuana Legalization Threatens These Dogs’ Collars [The New York Times]

Drug-sniffing dogs that are trained to detect marijuana are complicating searches where pot has been legalized. That’s forcing some into early retirement.

The Myth of Social Costs Associated with Marijuana Legalization [The Marijuana Times]

One of the favorite lines prohibitionists like to use when opposing cannabis legalization is that there are massive and mysterious “social costs” that come with legalization. A new report from Colorado Christian University purports to show these costs, when in reality it does nothing of the sort.

2018 Holiday Gift Guide [Ganjapreneur]

If you’re looking for great cannabis gifts for the ganjapreneur or cannabis aficionado in your life, look no further. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most interesting, useful and entertaining gifts available.

OTHER DRUGS

Oregon Attorney General Approves Psilocybin Ballot Measure Language [Marijuana Moment]

Oregon officials have certified the ballot title for a proposal to let licensed medical professionals administer psilocybin, the main active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, for therapeutic purposes. If approved by voters, the state would be the first in the U.S. to allow legal use of the substance, marking a major milestone in the drug policy reform movement.