Proposed US banking fix for marijuana may not open all doors
LOS ANGELES — A proposal in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana could encourage more banks to do business with cannabis companies.But it appears to fall short of a comprehensive fix for an industry often forced to conduct business in cash in a credit card world.Pot is legal in some form in about 30 states, but companies that grow or sell it often are locked out at banks because the drug is illegal under federal law.Transactions tied to marijuana proceeds could expose financial institutions to money-laundering charges.The congressional measure includes language to address the problem, but industry experts predict some banks will still stay away.California pot industry attorney Nicole Howell Neubert says it's an excellent step but probably "not a silver bullet for the banking problem."
LOS ANGELES — A proposal in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana could encourage more banks to do business with cannabis companies.But it appears to fall short of a comprehensive fix for an industry often forced to conduct business in cash in a credit card world.Pot is legal in some form in about 30 states, but companies that grow or sell it often are locked out at banks because the drug is illegal under federal law.Transactions tied to marijuana proceeds could expose financial institutions to money-laundering charges.The congressional measure includes language to address the problem, but industry experts predict some banks will still stay away.California pot industry attorney Nicole Howell Neubert says it's an excellent step but probably "not a silver bullet for the banking problem."
Pres. Trump signals support for legislation easing US ban on pot
LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump said Friday that he's inclined to support a bipartisan effort in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana, a proposal that would dramatically reshape the nation's legal landscape for pot users and businesses.The federal ban that puts marijuana on the same level as LSD and heroin has created a conflict with more than two dozen states that have legalized pot in some form, creating a two-tiered enforcement system where cannabis can be both legal and not.The legislation would ensure states have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders, but some U.S. restrictions would remain, including recreational sales to people under 21.The proposal introduced Thursday has support from members of Congress from both parties, including Republican U.S. Sen.
LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump said Friday that he's inclined to support a bipartisan effort in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana, a proposal that would dramatically reshape the nation's legal landscape for pot users and businesses.The federal ban that puts marijuana on the same level as LSD and heroin has created a conflict with more than two dozen states that have legalized pot in some form, creating a two-tiered enforcement system where cannabis can be both legal and not.The legislation would ensure states have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders, but some U.S. restrictions would remain, including recreational sales to people under 21.The proposal introduced Thursday has support from members of Congress from both parties, including Republican U.S. Sen.
Bust in Green Bay nets 20 pounds of marijuana, guns, cash
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Four people were arrested in a drug bust that Green Bay police say was more than a year in the making and resulted in the seizure of about 20 pounds of marijuana.Officers executed a search warrant on a home Thursday.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Four people were arrested in a drug bust that Green Bay police say was more than a year in the making and resulted in the seizure of about 20 pounds of marijuana.Officers executed a search warrant on a home Thursday.
Desperate to hire, more businesses open door to pot smokers
WASHINGTON — FPI Management, a property company in California, wants to hire dozens of people.
WASHINGTON — FPI Management, a property company in California, wants to hire dozens of people.
Historic move: Seattle city attorney looks to vacate 500+ misdemeanor marijuana charges now that recreational pot is legal
SEATTLE -- In an historic move, the office of the Seattle City Attorney has asked the municipal court to vacate about 540 misdemeanor marijuana charges.
SEATTLE -- In an historic move, the office of the Seattle City Attorney has asked the municipal court to vacate about 540 misdemeanor marijuana charges.
Pot politics: Schumer joins politicians rethinking marijuana
WASHINGTON — The top Senate Democrat is using marijuana's informal holiday to announce a change of heart about the drug, another sign of the growing political acceptance of pot.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Friday he'll introduce a bill taking marijuana off the federal list of controlled substances — in effect decriminalizing its use.His bill would let states decide how to treat marijuana possession.
WASHINGTON — The top Senate Democrat is using marijuana's informal holiday to announce a change of heart about the drug, another sign of the growing political acceptance of pot.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Friday he'll introduce a bill taking marijuana off the federal list of controlled substances — in effect decriminalizing its use.His bill would let states decide how to treat marijuana possession.
Police advertise 4/20 contest to find person with 'the most marijuana’
YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Think you've got the most impressive marijuana stash?
YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Think you've got the most impressive marijuana stash?
Former House Speaker Boehner to promote legalizing marijuana
CINCINNATI — Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday he has had a change of heart on marijuana and will promote its nationwide legalization as a way to help veterans and the nation's deadly opioid crisis.The Ohio Republican, an avid cigarette smoker, has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings , a multistate cannabis company.
CINCINNATI — Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday he has had a change of heart on marijuana and will promote its nationwide legalization as a way to help veterans and the nation's deadly opioid crisis.The Ohio Republican, an avid cigarette smoker, has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings , a multistate cannabis company.
Authorities make several large marijuana busts in Midwest
MINNEAPOLIS — Several large marijuana busts along Interstate 94 have authorities in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin wondering whether the interstate corridor is becoming a major smuggling pipeline for marijuana and other drugs.The Star Tribune reports authorities think more residents in the three states are buying marijuana where it's legal and then bringing it back home to distribute.Minnesota troopers seized more than 2,600 pounds of marijuana last year, more than six times what was confiscated the year before.
MINNEAPOLIS — Several large marijuana busts along Interstate 94 have authorities in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin wondering whether the interstate corridor is becoming a major smuggling pipeline for marijuana and other drugs.The Star Tribune reports authorities think more residents in the three states are buying marijuana where it's legal and then bringing it back home to distribute.Minnesota troopers seized more than 2,600 pounds of marijuana last year, more than six times what was confiscated the year before.
MADISON -- Rep.
Gubernatorial candidate Matt Flynn would pardon pot offenders
MADISON — Democratic candidate for governor Matt Flynn says if elected he would pardon everyone who has low-level marijuana convictions.Flynn also supports legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin.
MADISON — Democratic candidate for governor Matt Flynn says if elected he would pardon everyone who has low-level marijuana convictions.Flynn also supports legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin.
Prosecutors in pot-friendly states will decide on crackdown
DENVER — Whether to crack down on marijuana in states where it is legal is a decision that will now rest with those states' top federal prosecutors, many of whom are deeply rooted in their communities and may be reluctant to pursue cannabis businesses or their customers.When he rescinded the Justice Department's previous guidance on marijuana, Attorney General Jeff Sessions left the issue to a mix of prosecutors who were appointed by President Donald Trump's administration and others who are holdovers from the Barack Obama years.Legal experts do not expect a flood of new cases, and people familiar with the job of U.S. attorney say prosecutors could decide against using already limited resources to seek criminal charges against cannabis companies that abide by state regulations or their customers."There are higher priorities: terrorism and opiates to start with," said Rory Little, a former prosecutor and a professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "You also have to draw the jury pool from the local people, who appear to generally support the state policy.
DENVER — Whether to crack down on marijuana in states where it is legal is a decision that will now rest with those states' top federal prosecutors, many of whom are deeply rooted in their communities and may be reluctant to pursue cannabis businesses or their customers.When he rescinded the Justice Department's previous guidance on marijuana, Attorney General Jeff Sessions left the issue to a mix of prosecutors who were appointed by President Donald Trump's administration and others who are holdovers from the Barack Obama years.Legal experts do not expect a flood of new cases, and people familiar with the job of U.S. attorney say prosecutors could decide against using already limited resources to seek criminal charges against cannabis companies that abide by state regulations or their customers."There are higher priorities: terrorism and opiates to start with," said Rory Little, a former prosecutor and a professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "You also have to draw the jury pool from the local people, who appear to generally support the state policy.
California pot shops ring in 2018, ring up first legal sales: "Kind of a big deal for everybody"
OAKLAND, California — Customers lined up early to purchase recreational marijuana legally for the first time in California as the new year brought broad legalization some two decades after the state was the first to allow pot for medical use.Jeff Deakin, 66, his wife Mary and their dog waited all night and were first in a line of 100 people when Harborside dispensary, a longtime medical pot shop in Oakland, opened at 6 a.m. and offered early customers joints for a penny and free T-shirts that read "Flower to the People — Cannabis for All.""It's been so long since others and myself could walk into a place where you could feel safe and secure and be able to get something that was good without having to go to the back alley," Deakin said. "This is kind of a big deal for everybody."The nation's most populous state joins a growing list of other states, and the nation's capital, where so-called recreational marijuana is permitted even though the federal government continues to classify pot as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD.California voters in 2016 made it legal for adults 21 and older to grow, possess and use limited quantities of marijuana, but it wasn't legal to sell it for recreational purposes until Monday.Finding a retail outlet to buy non-medical pot in California won't be easy — at least initially.
OAKLAND, California — Customers lined up early to purchase recreational marijuana legally for the first time in California as the new year brought broad legalization some two decades after the state was the first to allow pot for medical use.Jeff Deakin, 66, his wife Mary and their dog waited all night and were first in a line of 100 people when Harborside dispensary, a longtime medical pot shop in Oakland, opened at 6 a.m. and offered early customers joints for a penny and free T-shirts that read "Flower to the People — Cannabis for All.""It's been so long since others and myself could walk into a place where you could feel safe and secure and be able to get something that was good without having to go to the back alley," Deakin said. "This is kind of a big deal for everybody."The nation's most populous state joins a growing list of other states, and the nation's capital, where so-called recreational marijuana is permitted even though the federal government continues to classify pot as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD.California voters in 2016 made it legal for adults 21 and older to grow, possess and use limited quantities of marijuana, but it wasn't legal to sell it for recreational purposes until Monday.Finding a retail outlet to buy non-medical pot in California won't be easy — at least initially.
California gets ready to ignite cannabis culinary-arts scene
SAN DIEGO — The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it's apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine.
SAN DIEGO — The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it's apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine.
Joy to the weed! Marijuana gifts increasing as more states legalize
PORTLAND, Maine — Peter Bernard's Yuletide plans include dressing up in a tuxedo emblazoned with marijuana leaves, donning a green Santa hat and doling out cookie bars made with marijuana to his friends from a big pillowcase."That's me exercising my right to give marijuana this Christmas," said Bernard, a Taunton, Massachusetts, pot lover who heads the Massachusetts Growers Advocacy Council when not doubling as "Pot Santa" at events for weed enthusiasts.Not everyone's plans are quite so flamboyant, but for many pot lovers, this Christmas is much more about reefer than wreaths.
PORTLAND, Maine — Peter Bernard's Yuletide plans include dressing up in a tuxedo emblazoned with marijuana leaves, donning a green Santa hat and doling out cookie bars made with marijuana to his friends from a big pillowcase."That's me exercising my right to give marijuana this Christmas," said Bernard, a Taunton, Massachusetts, pot lover who heads the Massachusetts Growers Advocacy Council when not doubling as "Pot Santa" at events for weed enthusiasts.Not everyone's plans are quite so flamboyant, but for many pot lovers, this Christmas is much more about reefer than wreaths.
Los Angeles won't join California's legal pot party Jan. 1
LOS ANGELES — There will be no legal pot party in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.California kicks off recreational sales on New Year's Day, becoming the largest state in the nation with legal marijuana.
LOS ANGELES — There will be no legal pot party in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.California kicks off recreational sales on New Year's Day, becoming the largest state in the nation with legal marijuana.