Marijuana companies operating legally according to state laws where the cultivation and sale of the drug is allowed will not face action by the Justice Department, nominee for Attorney General William Barr said in testimony to the Senate on Jan. 15. If Barr is confirmed and follows through, this would reverse a decision made by […]
jeff sessions
Fifty Years: How Marijuana Became Re-Legalized In America
Part of a year-long series, longtime cannabis law reform advocate and historian Allen St. Pierre examines monthly for Cannabis Business Executive the last fifty years of cannabis prohibition and the public advocacy efforts in America to bring about the ongoing and inescapable socio-political changes underway first at the state, and soon, federal level regarding cannabis policy. […]
Tilray stock up 30% after cannabis foe Jeff Sessions resigns under pressure
Shares of major marijuana companies rallied after Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned Wednesday after months of public criticism from his boss, President Donald Trump. Canada-based Tilray closed up 30 percent while Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis rose 8.1 percent and 9 percent respectively. Cronos Group added 8.4 percent. “You’re happy if you’re long the cannabis stocks. He was the biggest roadblock to broadening that out to […]
Marijuana Bill Approved By Congressional Committee, Despite Drug Conviction Restriction Dispute
A powerful U.S. House panel that oversees federal drug enforcement efforts approved a bill on Thursday to require the Department of Justice and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to begin issuing more licenses to grow marijuana for research. Prior to the vote, a bitter dispute broke out over a provision of the legislation that prevents anyone with a “conviction […]
Canada Is About to Inhale the Global Pot Market. Thanks, Jeff Sessions.
In the dark of a frigid February morning on the outskirts of Ottawa, Canada, a convoy of trucks pulled up to the loading docks of a refurbished Hershey’s factory that’s now the headquarters of the world’s largest marijuana company—Canopy Growth Corp. Horticulturists in Tyvek suits began loading the vehicles with unmarked boxes, each the size of […]
DEA chief steps down, citing increasing challenges of temporary role
The acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration told staff Monday he is retiring, saying that running the agency as a temporary fill-in had become “increasingly challenging.” Robert W. Patterson, who has worked at the DEA for 30 years, sent an email to employees Monday afternoon saying he will retire in about two weeks. Patterson […]
ICYMI: Legitimate Marijuana Reform May Be On The Horizon For . . . Congress!
By Hilary Bricken The political stars may finally be aligned to see meaningful marijuana law reform be puff-puff-passed. It seems like every year, the old pot guard in Congress tries its hand at some form of marijuana legalization. Though these sorts of actions attract headlines (and votes?), they never seem to go anywhere. But for […]
More Banks Working With Marijuana Businesses, Despite Federal Moves
The number of banks that are willing to work with marijuana businesses is steadily climbing, even after the Department of Justice revoked protections for state cannabis laws, new federal data shows. By the end of March, 411 banks and credit unions in the U.S. were “actively” operating accounts for marijuana businesses, according to a report […]
Is Legal Hemp In The Hands Of Mitch McConnell?
The future of hemp legalization is up to Mitch McConnell. Period. House supporters of the idea tried to include legalization measures into the big farm bill lawmakers have been considering, but were advised to back off McConnell’s taking care of things, they were told. Reps. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, and James Comer, R-Kentucky, and others tried […]
Wisconsin’s First Hemp Store Fights Attorney General To Keep Doors Open
Wisconsin’s first hemp store is open for business, but just two weeks in, the owner is fighting to keep his doors open. Joel Peterson has been told what he’s selling is illegal despite a new state law that allows farmers to grow and sell hemp. Hemp is grown for two main reasons. First, its fibers […]
House Judiciary Chair Goodlatte Co-Sponsors Medical Marijuana Bill
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte has agreed to co-sponsor a Florida Republican’s bipartisan bill to make medical marijuana research easier, his office confirmed on Wednesday. That backing by the conservative Virginia Republican potentially bolsters the bill’s chances in the House. Representative Matt Gaetz started circulating a handout Tuesday night explaining his Medical Cannabis Research Act, […]
An Open Letter From Dr. Sanjay Gupta To Jeff Sessions On Medical Marijuana
Dear Honorable Jeff Sessions, I feel obligated to share the results of my five-year-long investigation into the medical benefits of the cannabis plant. Before I started this worldwide, in-depth investigation, I was not particularly impressed by the results of medical marijuana research, but a few years later, as I started to dedicate time with patients and […]
Trump Card: Is A Congressional Legislative Victory On The Horizon For States’ Rights And Pot?
Hopefully the Justice Department will leave state-legal marijuana businesses alone now. By HILARY BRICKEN When it comes to cannabis and this Presidential administration, it’s a bit like watching a soap opera, complete with all the drama and emotional crescendos you would expect. In this week’s episode, the rumor is that President Trump struck a deal […]
Trump, Gardner strike deal on legalized marijuana, ending standoff over Justice nominees
President Trump has promised a top Senate Republican that he will support congressional efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana — defusing a months-long standoff between Sen. Cory Gardner and the administration over Justice Department nominees. In January, the Colorado Republican said he would block all DOJ nominations after Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued […]
Feds Look For Input On Marijuana Reclassification
The Trump administration is asking Americans for input on whether marijuana should be reclassified under international drug control treaties to which the U.S. is a party. Currently, under both U.S. law and global agreements, marijuana sits in the most restrictive category of Schedule I. Domestically, that means it is not available for formal prescriptions and research on […]
Legal Marijuana States Seek Meeting With Jeff Sessions
California, Oregon and other marijuana-friendly states are seeking a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in hopes of resolving the conflict between federal and state laws that has left the nation’s cannabis industry in legal limbo. Marijuana is illegal at the federal level, even as 29 states have legalized pot in some form. State […]
No Congressional Couch Lock: State Medical Marijuana Laws Protected Through September 30th
By HILARY BRICKEN The Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment can still be used as a shield for medical marijuana providers…for now. State implementation of medical marijuana laws are safe from interference from the Department of Justice until September 30th of this year. In a highly anticipated move, Congress extended the protections of the well-known “Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment” (the “Amendment”) […]
Here’s how much marijuana you’d need to be eligible for the death penalty under federal law
Last week Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo encouraging federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for certain drug trafficking offenses. Federal law allows for capital punishment in drug trafficking cases involving murder or homicide. But the attorney general also specifically called out one provision that allows for capital punishment in cases involving “extremely […]
