LA will become largest US city with recreational pot
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles is in line to become the nation's largest city with legal recreational marijuana after the City Council voted Wednesday to license sales and cultivation next year.The landmark vote came after a hearing in which council members characterized the rules as a work in progress almost certain to see revisions next year, after California launches its recreational pot industry in January.City Council President Herb Wesson's office said the city rules would take effect immediately after the signature of Mayor Eric Garcetti, which is expected."The other cities in this nation, they are looking to L.A.," said Wesson, predicting the city model would become a template for legalization elsewhere.Under the Los Angeles regulations, residential neighborhoods would be largely off-limits to pot businesses, and buffer zones would be set up around schools, libraries and parks.However, with the new year just weeks away — and the holidays coming — industry experts say it's not clear how many businesses, if any, will be ready to open their doors on Jan. 1 to hordes of anxious customers.If demand is not satisfied in the legal market then "you are just giving oxygen to the black market we all want to eradicate," said Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, a cannabis industry group.Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for two decades.The dense set of regulations passed Wednesday dictate where pot can be grown and sold in the new marketplace, along with how businesses will be licensed.Businesses that want to participate in the marketplace need local permits before they can apply for state licenses required to operate in 2018.The state and hundreds of cities are faced with the challenging task of trying to govern the vast, emerging industry with a projected value of $7 billion.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles is in line to become the nation's largest city with legal recreational marijuana after the City Council voted Wednesday to license sales and cultivation next year.The landmark vote came after a hearing in which council members characterized the rules as a work in progress almost certain to see revisions next year, after California launches its recreational pot industry in January.City Council President Herb Wesson's office said the city rules would take effect immediately after the signature of Mayor Eric Garcetti, which is expected."The other cities in this nation, they are looking to L.A.," said Wesson, predicting the city model would become a template for legalization elsewhere.Under the Los Angeles regulations, residential neighborhoods would be largely off-limits to pot businesses, and buffer zones would be set up around schools, libraries and parks.However, with the new year just weeks away — and the holidays coming — industry experts say it's not clear how many businesses, if any, will be ready to open their doors on Jan. 1 to hordes of anxious customers.If demand is not satisfied in the legal market then "you are just giving oxygen to the black market we all want to eradicate," said Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, a cannabis industry group.Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for two decades.The dense set of regulations passed Wednesday dictate where pot can be grown and sold in the new marketplace, along with how businesses will be licensed.Businesses that want to participate in the marketplace need local permits before they can apply for state licenses required to operate in 2018.The state and hundreds of cities are faced with the challenging task of trying to govern the vast, emerging industry with a projected value of $7 billion.
"Yes We Cannabis!" Group puts pressure on politicians to decriminalize marijuana
MILWAUKEE -- A local group hopes to put the pressure on politicians to decriminalize marijuana in Wisconsin.Representatives from Southeastern Wisconsin NORML, held a fundraiser called "Yes We Cannabis!" in Milwaukee on Thursday, November 16th.
MILWAUKEE -- A local group hopes to put the pressure on politicians to decriminalize marijuana in Wisconsin.Representatives from Southeastern Wisconsin NORML, held a fundraiser called "Yes We Cannabis!" in Milwaukee on Thursday, November 16th.
Democratic governor candidate Matt Flynn favors legalizing pot
MADISON — Democratic candidate for governor Matt Flynn says if Wisconsin voters want to legalize marijuana, he's all for it.Flynn on Tuesday called for the Republican-controlled Legislature to put a non-binding referendum on the November 2018 ballot asking if there's support for the legalization and sale of marijuana.If it would pass, Flynn says as governor he would push the Legislature to follow through.There have been small signs of movement in the current Legislature among supporters of legalizing marijuana.
MADISON — Democratic candidate for governor Matt Flynn says if Wisconsin voters want to legalize marijuana, he's all for it.Flynn on Tuesday called for the Republican-controlled Legislature to put a non-binding referendum on the November 2018 ballot asking if there's support for the legalization and sale of marijuana.If it would pass, Flynn says as governor he would push the Legislature to follow through.There have been small signs of movement in the current Legislature among supporters of legalizing marijuana.
65 pounds of marijuana found in couple’s Amazon order
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Police are investigating after a Florida couple found 65 pounds of marijuana in their Amazon order, according to WFTV."We love Amazon and do a lot of shopping on Amazon," the customer, who was not identified.The customer and her fiancé ordered 27-gallon storage containers, so they could put some items away in storage.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Police are investigating after a Florida couple found 65 pounds of marijuana in their Amazon order, according to WFTV."We love Amazon and do a lot of shopping on Amazon," the customer, who was not identified.The customer and her fiancé ordered 27-gallon storage containers, so they could put some items away in storage.
Hawaii says its 1st state to go cashless for marijuana sales
HONOLULU — Hawaii said Tuesday that it will be the first state to require marijuana sales to be handled without cash, saying it wanted to avoid robberies and other crimes targeting dispensaries.Medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii won't be allowed to accept cash beginning Oct. 1 and will require people to use a debit payment app instead.
HONOLULU — Hawaii said Tuesday that it will be the first state to require marijuana sales to be handled without cash, saying it wanted to avoid robberies and other crimes targeting dispensaries.Medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii won't be allowed to accept cash beginning Oct. 1 and will require people to use a debit payment app instead.
$9.2M initiative: Colorado schools bulk up staff in marijuana-prevention push
DENVER — Colorado has given 42 school districts and charter schools a combined $9.2 million to hire people and create programs to keep marijuana out of the hands of students.The Denver Post reports (http://dpo.st/2wzAAB0 ) the money is going to schools located near legal pot shops and is funded by proceeds from marijuana sales.Districts are hiring nurses, social workers and counselors with the grant money to discourage underage marijuana use.The Jefferson County School District plans to hire six social emotional learning specialists and three school nurses.
DENVER — Colorado has given 42 school districts and charter schools a combined $9.2 million to hire people and create programs to keep marijuana out of the hands of students.The Denver Post reports (http://dpo.st/2wzAAB0 ) the money is going to schools located near legal pot shops and is funded by proceeds from marijuana sales.Districts are hiring nurses, social workers and counselors with the grant money to discourage underage marijuana use.The Jefferson County School District plans to hire six social emotional learning specialists and three school nurses.
AG Jeff Sessions has warned of pot crackdown; task force giving him no ammunition
WASHINGTON — The betting was that law-and-order Attorney General Jeff Sessions would come out against the legalized marijuana industry with guns blazing.
WASHINGTON — The betting was that law-and-order Attorney General Jeff Sessions would come out against the legalized marijuana industry with guns blazing.
Democratic proposal would fully legalize marijuana in Wisconsin
MADISON -- Democratic State Representative Melissa Sargent of Madison has announced legislation to fully legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.The bill would include employment and benefit protections for marijuana users.
MADISON -- Democratic State Representative Melissa Sargent of Madison has announced legislation to fully legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.The bill would include employment and benefit protections for marijuana users.
"Far exceeding expectations:" Running out of weed, 'statement of emergency’ declared in Nevada
NEVADA -- Nevada's governor has endorsed a statement of emergency declared for recreational marijuana regulations, after the state's tax authority declared that many stores are running out of weed.The Nevada Tax Commission said in a statement it will consider emergency regulations on July 13 to provide a structure for marijuana distribution to retailers.
NEVADA -- Nevada's governor has endorsed a statement of emergency declared for recreational marijuana regulations, after the state's tax authority declared that many stores are running out of weed.The Nevada Tax Commission said in a statement it will consider emergency regulations on July 13 to provide a structure for marijuana distribution to retailers.
Marijuana sales in Nevada exceed stores' expectations
LAS VEGAS — Recreational marijuana sales have exceeded the expectations of Las Vegas area store owners, who have seen long lines outside their dispensaries since Saturday, when Nevada became the fifth state with shops selling pot to the public.That move jumpstarted a market projected to be fueled by the tens of millions of visitors that Sin City welcomes each year.Eager pot customers on Monday again lined up before dispensaries opened their doors.
LAS VEGAS — Recreational marijuana sales have exceeded the expectations of Las Vegas area store owners, who have seen long lines outside their dispensaries since Saturday, when Nevada became the fifth state with shops selling pot to the public.That move jumpstarted a market projected to be fueled by the tens of millions of visitors that Sin City welcomes each year.Eager pot customers on Monday again lined up before dispensaries opened their doors.
Tourists, locals buy Nevada's legal recreational marijuana
LAS VEGAS — Tourists and locals alike were among the more than 100 people waiting in line at one Las Vegas-area dispensary Saturday as Nevada became the latest state in the U.S. with stores selling marijuana for recreational purposes.Minnesota resident Edgar Rosas Lorenzo on Saturday flew with his family to Sin City for a wedding.
LAS VEGAS — Tourists and locals alike were among the more than 100 people waiting in line at one Las Vegas-area dispensary Saturday as Nevada became the latest state in the U.S. with stores selling marijuana for recreational purposes.Minnesota resident Edgar Rosas Lorenzo on Saturday flew with his family to Sin City for a wedding.
Insurance study ties legal pot to boost in car crash claims
DENVER — A recent insurance study links increased car crash claims to legalized recreational marijuana.The Highway Loss Data Institute, a leading insurance research group, said in study results released Thursday, June 22nd that collision claims in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon went up 2.7 percent in the years since legal recreational marijuana sales began when compared with surrounding states.Legal recreational pot sales in Colorado began in January 2014, followed six months later in Washington, and in October 2015 in Oregon."We believe that the data is saying that crash risk has increased in these states and those crash risks are associated with the legalization of marijuana," said Matt Moore, senior vice president with the institute, which analyzes insurance data to observe emerging auto-safety trends.Mason Tvert, a marijuana legalization advocate and communications director with the Marijuana Policy Project, questioned the study's comparison of claims in rural states such as Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana with Colorado, Oregon and Washington that have dense population centers and how that affected the study's findings."The study raises more questions than it provides answers, and it's an area that would surely receive more study, and deservedly so," Tvert said.Researchers accounted for factors such as the number of vehicles on the road in the study and control states, age and gender of drivers, weather and even whether the driver making a claim was employed.
DENVER — A recent insurance study links increased car crash claims to legalized recreational marijuana.The Highway Loss Data Institute, a leading insurance research group, said in study results released Thursday, June 22nd that collision claims in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon went up 2.7 percent in the years since legal recreational marijuana sales began when compared with surrounding states.Legal recreational pot sales in Colorado began in January 2014, followed six months later in Washington, and in October 2015 in Oregon."We believe that the data is saying that crash risk has increased in these states and those crash risks are associated with the legalization of marijuana," said Matt Moore, senior vice president with the institute, which analyzes insurance data to observe emerging auto-safety trends.Mason Tvert, a marijuana legalization advocate and communications director with the Marijuana Policy Project, questioned the study's comparison of claims in rural states such as Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana with Colorado, Oregon and Washington that have dense population centers and how that affected the study's findings."The study raises more questions than it provides answers, and it's an area that would surely receive more study, and deservedly so," Tvert said.Researchers accounted for factors such as the number of vehicles on the road in the study and control states, age and gender of drivers, weather and even whether the driver making a claim was employed.
MADISON — Gov.
Canada introduces legislation to legalize marijuana
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced legislation Thursday to let adult possess up to 30 grams of marijuana in public — a measure that would make Canada the largest developed country to end a nationwide prohibition on recreational marijuana.Trudeau has long promised to legalize recreational pot use and sales.
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced legislation Thursday to let adult possess up to 30 grams of marijuana in public — a measure that would make Canada the largest developed country to end a nationwide prohibition on recreational marijuana.Trudeau has long promised to legalize recreational pot use and sales.
Pondering pot: Illinois considers allowing people to possess, grow or buy marijuana
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Marijuana advocates are trying to lay the groundwork for Illinois to become the first state in the Midwest and the ninth nationwide to legalize recreational pot.Two Illinois state lawmakers introduced legislation last week that would allow residents 21 and older to possess, grow or buy up to an ounce of marijuana and license businesses to sell marijuana products subject to regulation.The lawmakers say it would help fill Illinois' multi-billion dollar budget hole with at least $350 million in new tax revenue.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Marijuana advocates are trying to lay the groundwork for Illinois to become the first state in the Midwest and the ninth nationwide to legalize recreational pot.Two Illinois state lawmakers introduced legislation last week that would allow residents 21 and older to possess, grow or buy up to an ounce of marijuana and license businesses to sell marijuana products subject to regulation.The lawmakers say it would help fill Illinois' multi-billion dollar budget hole with at least $350 million in new tax revenue.
Growing problem: Pot lights give ham radio operators a buzz
AUGUSTA, Maine — Ham radio operators say their frequencies are increasingly getting a harsh buzz from a component of the indoor lamps used to grow pot.The American Radio Relay League has been filing complaints with the Federal Communications Commission over the past several years and wants federal regulators to halt the marketing and sale of illegal grow light ballasts.Ballasts regulate electrical currents in lights and can disrupt radio frequencies.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Ham radio operators say their frequencies are increasingly getting a harsh buzz from a component of the indoor lamps used to grow pot.The American Radio Relay League has been filing complaints with the Federal Communications Commission over the past several years and wants federal regulators to halt the marketing and sale of illegal grow light ballasts.Ballasts regulate electrical currents in lights and can disrupt radio frequencies.
President Trump's administration hints at 'greater enforcement' of marijuana laws
WASHINGTON – The White House said Thursday it expects law enforcement agents to enforce federal marijuana laws when they come into conflict with states where recreational use of the drug is permitted."I do believe you will see greater enforcement of it," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said regarding federal drug laws, which still list marijuana as an illegal substance.That's a reversal from the Obama administration's stance, which laid out in an official memo that the federal government wouldn't interfere in states where nonmedical use of marijuana is allowed.That guidance was issued after two states -- Colorado and Washington -- voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana.
WASHINGTON – The White House said Thursday it expects law enforcement agents to enforce federal marijuana laws when they come into conflict with states where recreational use of the drug is permitted."I do believe you will see greater enforcement of it," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said regarding federal drug laws, which still list marijuana as an illegal substance.That's a reversal from the Obama administration's stance, which laid out in an official memo that the federal government wouldn't interfere in states where nonmedical use of marijuana is allowed.That guidance was issued after two states -- Colorado and Washington -- voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana.