Embassy HEADLINES Issue 377
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
A growing number of Australians want marijuana legalised [Roy Morgan]
New research from Roy Morgan shows increasing numbers of Australians across all age groups want to legalise marijuana – although 49% remain opposed.
Federal Government wants to see ‘evidence’ legalising cannabis is a good idea [ABC]
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has penned a letter to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, calling on him to produce any evidence he considered before supporting the legislation, regarding the health impacts of cannabis.
Tasmanian Churchill Fellowship recipient to develop expertise in hemp cultivation and manufacturing [Mirage News]
Tim Crow is one of 115 recipients of the prestigious Churchill Fellowship award, and will develop further expertise in the cultivation, manufacturing, science, and policy of hemp and will travel to Nepal, India, Israel, Ukraine, Netherlands, Canada and USA. Mr Crow is the owner of Hemp Harvests, the only hemp seed processing facility in Tasmania. He has been involved in the hemp industry for over five years as a grower, processor and advisor to the Hemp Association of Tasmania.
Medicinal cannabis supplies in NZ depleted [NZ Doctor]
For the second time in as many months, medicinal cannabis supplies in New Zealand have been depleted. Two of the main Cannabidiol (CBD) products generally available in New Zealand are out of stock. Neither of the products are expected to have stock until the end of November at the earliest. These products are from different sources, with both Swiss and Canadian products affected.
‘Duty bound to speak’: Surgeons say no to ACT cannabis laws [The Canberra Times]
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has called for the repeal of Canberra’s cannabis laws, saying they will lead to more death and injury on the road.
Top secret medicinal cannabis facility somewhere in regional NSW [Nambucca Guardian]
A new $10 million study into medicinal cannabis will be undertaken at a top-secret research facility in regional NSW. Minister for Agriculture, Adam Marshall, said the research study was the result of a collaboration between the NSW and Commonwealth governments, the Cann Group Ltd, Southern Cross University, Aglive and the University of Newcastle.
Debate: Should cannabis be legalised? [The People’s Forums]
The topic of cannabis legalisation has long been contested. Currently, governments generally opt to ban its usage given potential adverse effects and adopting a hardline policy against substance use. However, some governments are choosing to legalise it to minimise harm associated with its usage and medicinal benefits.
NSW coroner to recommend pill testing be introduced at music festivals [The Guardian]
Report to also recommend end to police sniffer dogs and body searches, as premier Gladys Berejiklian urged not to ‘hide from the evidence’.
Medical Cannabis Weekend October 26/27 [Nimbin Hemp Embassy]
There’s a full program lined up says Nimbin HEMP Embassy President Michael Balderstone. “And as a special treat the new movie Green Light about a couple of local intrepid medical cannabis providers will be shown on the Saturday evening, with at least one of them speaking and answering questions.”
NORTH AMERICA
Canada’s legal cannabis market – one year on [Transform]
17th October 2019 marks the one year anniversary of Canada’s establishment of legally regulated adult market for non-medical (recreational) cannabis. Canada follows Uruguay and 11 US States in legalising cannabis for recreational use, and is the first commonwealth country and G7 member to do so.
Colorado’s largest cannabis grower loses millions of dollars in early freeze [Marijuana Business Daily]
The largest marijuana grower in Colorado disclosed it lost millions of dollars during an early winter storm after half the company’s plants froze before harvest could be completed. The crop loss in Southern Colorado is expected to send ripples throughout the state’s cannabis supply chain, reducing the supply of marijuana available to retailers and processors.
FBI Investigating Possible Public Corruption In Sacramento’s Cannabis Industry [High Times]
Federal prosecutors have indicted four people for directing foreign funds into campaign donations and marijuana businesses, including two men who have ties to Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
How Silicon Valley Is Helping Overturn Marijuana Convictions [The Fresh Toast]
Marijuana expungement is an often laborious, bureaucratic process, but algorithms have eased the process.
Bill Would Remove Cannabis Possession As Grounds For Deportation [High Times]
The Remove Marijuana from Deportable Offenses Act would amend U.S. law so that possession of cannabis could no longer lead to the deportation of an undocumented immigrant.
For sale: Two Florida medical marijuana licenses. Cost? $95 million [Tampa Bay Times]
One license is going for $40 million and allows the owner to operate no more than 30 retail stores. The other license is selling for about $55 million, with the rights to open up to 35 retail stores. In addition to the actual license, this deal includes a greenhouse for cultivation.
‘Gold standard’ bill to legalize recreational weed in Pennsylvania [The Philadelphia Inquirer]
Two Pennsylvania state senators introduced Senate Bill 350 in Harrisburg on Tuesday and it contains just about everything a cannabis advocate would love. There are provisions for growing cannabis at home, expungement of all cannabis criminal records, pizza-like delivery of marijuana to your door, and a bar-to-entry set so low that just about any Pennsylvanian could enter the trade as a grower or a retailer.
Grey market cannabis sellers undercutting legal market in Canada [Global News]
Online grey market cannabis sellers are competing with the legal market by undercutting it and offering deep volume discounts, data released by Statistics Canada shows.
Health Canada releases final regulations for new classes of cannabis [Osler]
In 2018, Canada legalized the sale of five classes of cannabis. This year will now see the addition of three new permitted classes of cannabis: (a) edible cannabis, (b) cannabis extracts, and (c) cannabis topicals.
BUSINESS & POLICY
Cannabis advertising firm Weedmaps cuts 100-plus jobs [Marijuana Business Daily]
California marijuana advertising giant Weedmaps announced Wednesday it laid off 25% of its workforce, blaming the slow rollout of recreational marijuana markets in California and Massachusetts and a dwindling pool of outside funding.
Is CBD oil legal and is it the same as smoking cannabis? [Wales Online]
Millions of Brits believe CBD oil is illegal in the UK, according to research. The oil, said to help promote sleep, ease chronic pain, and reduce stress and anxiety, is legal in the UK as it doesn’t contain THC – a compound with psychoactive effects. But two thirds of people believe it is banned. And eight in 10 think the effect of taking the naturally-derived oil is the same as smoking cannabis. More than half also said they would judge a friend or family member negatively if they knew they took CBD.
Europe could lose more ground in the medicinal cannabis industry [Health Europa]
There is a reluctance by some European policy and law makers to embrace the economic potential of medicinal cannabis and as a result they are seeing opportunities lost to more progressive markets. Europe could lose more ground following Lesotho and Zimbabwe’s decisions to allow cultivation of medicinal cannabis for mass export.
Farm to freezer: Why ‘fresh-frozen’ is taking over the cannabis harvest [Leafly]
Over the last six years, the idea of freezing part—or all—of one’s cannabis harvest has gone from bizarre to mandatory in the USA. A full 30% of Alien Labs’ coveted new strain Planet Dosi is heading straight from outdoor fields into the freezer this year.
AI helping booming cannabis industry evolve even faster [GreenCamp]
Humans are getting extra help in farming cannabis – his name is William and he’s an AI robot.
Researchers & Policymakers Grapple With Medical Implications Of Cannabis [Health Policy Watch]
Big pharma and medicinal cannabis – friends or foes? [EPM Magazine]
Rich Quelch, global head of marketing at pharmaceutical packaging provider Origin, discusses the rise in medicinal cannabis and what it means for the pharma market.
The Great Race to Become the World’s Weed Supplier [Cannabis Now]
The big play in cannabis may be the global export game. Is the time to get in now?
Pesticide maker bans its own product due to cannabis stigma [Leafly]
Three products were removed from the list of pesticides approved for use on cannabis in Washington state earlier this month. Commercial cannabis growers are not allowed to use any pesticides not on the list. When Leafly reached out to the Washington State Department of Agriculture to find out why the products were banned, we got a surprising answer: The makers of the pesticides had requested to be taken off the list because they didn’t want their brand to be associated with cannabis.
HEALTH & SCIENCE
Marijuana impairment lingers longer than intoxication [Fleet Owner]
These $1 Tablets Could Be the Future of Cannabis [Gear Patrol]
The Dose Dial is pocket-sized cannabis tablet dispenser. Each $30 dispenser holds 30, 3.7mg dissolving peppermint-flavored tablets inside.
EVENTS
Medicinal Cannabis & You [MCRA]
GreenLight: Saving Lives at any Cost
In cinemas from 10 October. You can also see it at the Nimbin Medican workshop 26-27 October. In Australia, two men work to provide the last hope of relief — and in some cases cure — for thousands suffering chronic and terminal illnesses. They provide black market medicinal cannabis for people who have nowhere else to turn.
Rethink Reform [Greens]
Greens are hosting a public forums about our drug laws in NSW. Come along to find out why the war on drugs has failed, what evidence-based public policy that prioritises harm reduction looks like, and what we can do to move towards decriminalising people who use drugs.
Annual General Meetings
Nimbin Hemp Embassy AGM 2019
11am on Saturday 16 November 2019 at the Town Hall, 45 Cullen Street, Nimbin.
MardiGrass Organizing Body AGM 2019
12pm on Saturday 16 November 2019 at the Town Hall, 45 Cullen Street, Nimbin.
Australian HEMP Party AGM 2019
2pm on Saturday 16 November 2019 at the Town Hall, 45 Cullen Street, Nimbin.
Australian Industrial Hemp Conference
FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS/PETITIONS/SURVEYS
URGENT REVIEW of the medical cannabis delivery system [Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia, MCUA]
Your petitioners ask that the Senate: Take the necessary steps to initiate an Independent Inquiry by the Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis (AACMC) to review the current delivery system with the view creating a fairer, more affordable delivery model in consultation with the end users.
Medical Cannabis Access – Patient Satisfaction Survey [Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia, MCUA]
MCUA is keen to get feedback on how the government’sMedical Cannabis delivery system is working for Australian patients 3 years after it was implemented. This survey is only open to Australian residents who have have qualified for approval by the TGA under the SAS. We have suggested to the Federal government that a Review / Inquiry be held into the current pharmaceutical delivery system and we want collate the information we get here to use it to demonstrate how well the pharmaceutical model is working for the end user ie the patients. We thank you for participating and appreciate your support.
HELP GROW OUR CANNABIS CAMPAIGN [The Greens]
The ACT took one small step towards legalising cannabis, and already the rapid News Corp media is after them. If we’re ever going to win this fight and #JustLegaliseIt, we need to take them on.
Next stop Canberra – we’re taking the fight to Parliament! [United in Compassion]
When Barnaby Joyce recently showed just how ignorant he was about medicinal cannabis, comparing it to “pulling bongs”, I realised something: the majority of Australians support medicinal cannabis. It’s the politicians who need to be convinced.
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
Trailer: Green Light [Film Ink]
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.