cannabis is not a crime - Cannabuzz Columnist

Cannabis Convictions In Washington State Are Being Expunged

- August 1, 2019April 26, 2020 0666

If you were unlucky enough to be convicted for misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor cannabis offenses in Washington State prior to cannabis being legalized, well, that really sucks, and I'm sorry. The vile absurdity of how we treat those who partook of weed before it became a taxed and regulated commodity remains

He Served A Record 39 Years For Cannabis

- May 14, 2019April 26, 2020 0616

Cannabis legalization programs have had the remarkable benefit of motivating cities and counties to begin expunging the records of people who were arrested for possessing or consuming cannabis back in the day, sometimes before there were even medical cannabis programs. You might think that this overdue restorative justice would also include

Cancer Patient Harassed By Cops Over Cannabis

- March 13, 2019April 25, 2020 0650

Here on the West Coast, it's easy to be lulled into a sense that our viewpoint of cannabis is widely shared. Even though adult-use recreational programs may not be in place everywhere yet, the tide is certainly turning. Even the CEO of Whole Foods recently said in an interview, "If

San Francisco Expunges Over 9,000 Cannabis Convictions

Hemp

- February 27, 2019April 25, 2020 0620

Despite its history of flower children and Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco has always had a rather vigorous and overly enthusiastic law enforcement system which perhaps didn't, um, work well with communities of color. Some unfun facts: In 2010-2011, Blacks made up six percent of the population of San Francisco; during that same

Baltimore To Cease Charging For Cannabis Possession

- January 30, 2019April 27, 2020 0614

Marilyn Mosby, state's attorney for Baltimore, made a major policy announcement this week concerning cannabis laws. The new policies will potentially impact thousands of lives, primarily those of people of color, and her plans are something all cities should be considering, regardless of state cannabis policy. As reported by the New

Micheal Bloomberg Is Not A Friend Of Cannabis Legalization

- January 23, 2019May 15, 2020 01271

The rush of candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president is breathtaking and encouraging—looking at you, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Kamala Harris—and provided there is anything left of the US by election time, we could be looking at a candidate who favors cannabis legalization at the federal level. Well,

Blumenauer Introduces Bill to Regulate Cannabis On Par With Alcohol

- January 14, 2019April 27, 2020 0819

Representative Earl Blumenauer, US congressman for the 3rd district of Oregon, introduced a new congressional bill last week, H.R. 420. (Yes, it's actually numbered 420, and that's on purpose.) The bill seeks to support research for faster bong-cleaning systems, address chronic cotton mouth, and provide financial support for businesses to use

Majority of Cannabis Ballot Measures Pass

- November 7, 2018June 20, 2020 0667

A scattering of small round stickers reading "I voted" lay on a white table

Last night we saw (thank god) a Blue Wave. And as primary-school finger painting taught me, you can't make green without blue—and there was also a Green Wave last night as well. As I wrote yesterday, four states had cannabis-related measures on the ballot—two with medical programs (Missouri and Utah), and

A Program To Target Minneapolis Cannabis Users Of Color Has Been Discontinued

- June 12, 2018June 14, 2020 0702

The face of a young black man is shown in a black and white photo

While there are legit issues with cannabis here on the West Coast, overall we have it pretty good. Supplies are plentiful, selection is bountiful, and new strains and products are refined and released regularly. And in cities everywhere along the coast, there continues to be discussion and action around the issues

Philando Castile, Cannabis and White Privilege

- July 19, 2017June 14, 2020 0861

Two smiling black women stand holding handmade signs reading #Blacklives matter We Won't Be Silent NO Justice NO Peace and Injustice Anywhere is a Treat to Justice Everywhere

If you say it wasn’t racial When they shot him in his tracks Well, I guess that means that you ain’t black It means that you ain’t black —Drive-By Truckers, “What It Means” We recently passed a terribly sad one-year anniversary on July 6, and I’ve been struggling to frame the tragedy properly. It addresses something

Now That Cannabis Legalization Measure 91 Has Passed, What’s Next?

- January 28, 2015June 14, 2020 0726

Now that 2015 has arrived, I thought it might be helpful to review exactly what Measure 91 means (and doesn't mean) for you and your shiftless, frequently forgetful, and dry mouthed demon-weed-puffing brethren. First, nothing takes effect until July 1, so slow your joint roll, Captain Pakalolo. Which does not mean Johnny

Cannabis Is Now Legal In Oregon. What’s Next May Not Work For Everyone.

- November 26, 2014August 2, 2020 0743

An image of a cannabis leaf superimposed over an outline of the State of Oregon

NOW THAT Measure 91 has passed, it's worth examining the fresh challenges awaiting those in the cannabis industry. First, consider that this is an industry started and developed by outlaws. These are people who have spent years, if not decades, working and living in the shadows. Because of their source of income, most