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Despite the proven track record of cannabis sales in the U.S., Senate Republicans still refuse to go down the path toward legalization.

For the first time in history, Congress has voted to legalize marijuana in the United States. Well, kind of.

The House of Representatives approved a piece of legislation (MORE Act) last week to eliminate the cannabis plant from the Controlled Substances Act and work to expunge criminal records and dedicate funds to those communities choking on the bones of the drug war. But the bill is not expected to advance with Senate support. More accurately, it’s probably dead in its tracks.

Cannabis products make for great gifts. Here are some recommendations for every type of friend, from seasoned stoners to newbies.

Christmas is right around the corner and it’s expected to be a lonelier affair than usual. A simple way to feel closer to your friends this year is to mail them thoughtful gifts. An even better way is to send them thoughtful weed gifts.

Making cannabis gifts is getting easier every year, with new products targeting a wide variety of people, from the canna-curious to seasoned users.

Here are some gift suggestions for this holiday season:

For your friend who needs to relax

Photo by Pharma Hemp Complex via Unsplash

New Frontier Data Report Shows Passed Cannabis Legalization Initiatives and the Pandemic Increase Consumer Consumption, Igniting Flourishing Industry

U.K. operation estimated to have a street value of $1.7 million.

Dismantling a sophisticated cannabis grow-op boasting 1,000 plants having an estimated street value of £1 million (about $1.7 million) made for quite a mess — and a big show — for neighbours in Clacton, U.K. last week.

Essex Police busted the illegal growing operation in a disused three-storey building after receiving reports of suspicious activity, according to a Facebook post from police. Work to dismantle the equipment and remove the approximately 1,000 plants started shortly after the raid and reportedly took much of the weekend to complete.

“Cannabis factories are linked to criminals who exploit vulnerable people for their own financial gain. These might be people who are exploited or forced to work for them to manage these cultivations, or to sell the drugs,” the statement notes.

“Organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking are typically also involved in a range of criminal activity, and the profits from illegal drugs are used to fund other forms of criminal operations, including buying illegal firearms and financing terrorism,” according to the National Crime Agency.

By mid-2021, Pine Bluff is expected to have a new employer arriving in town that will provide as many as 200 jobs paying an average of $19 an hour, and an annual payroll of $9.4 million including benefits.

Good Day Farm Arkansas LLC, a medical-marijuana cultivator licensed by the state, received approval last month from the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to purchase Natural State Wellness Enterprises of Newport and to move the operation to Pine Bluff, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

Scott Hardin, spokesman for the department, said the commission took action in two steps.

New Jersey officials are moving cannabis legalization forward.

New Jersey lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced last week that they had agreed on a plan to legalize recreational cannabis in the state. The deal comes following last month’s approval of a ballot measure that asked New Jersey voters to weigh in on the concept of legalizing marijuana but lacked details on establishing a regulated cannabis industry.

“There is a deal,” said Sen. Nicholas Scutari, the sponsor of the marijuana legalization bill, on Friday. “It’s been a long road and I’ll be happy when it’s done.”

State Leaders Hail Agreement
In a joint statement, Murphy, and fellow Democrats Scutari, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Assembly Majority Conference Chair Annette Quijano said on Friday that the plan includes strong social equity provisions.

“We’re proud to announce today that we’ve reached an agreement on legislation providing the framework for legalization, which is a critical step in reducing racial disparities and social inequities that have long plagued our criminal justice system,” they said. “This legislation will accomplish our shared goals of delivering restorative justice and ensuring that the communities most impacted by the War on Drugs see the economic benefits of the adult-use cannabis market. While there is still much work ahead, we are one step closer to building a new, promising industry for our state.”

Cannabis is illegal in Nigeria. Its production, distribution and use are criminalised by local laws. Cultivated mostly in southern Nigeria, the drug is affordable and readily available through street drug-running. Cannabis users are also widely seen as social deviants, and are liable to arrest and imprisonment.

Despite the stigma and danger from the law, the use of cannabis in Nigeria is growing fast. Studies show that it ranks just below alcohol as the second most used psychoactive substance in Nigeria. It is mostly used by people aged 25-39 years.

In my recent research leading to two publications, I explored access to recreational drugs, and the factors that encourage and motivate young adults in an eastern Nigerian city to use cannabis. My study also examined cannabis normalisation among users and their social networks. I recorded how the participants connect cannabis to their academic, leisure, social and sporting lives.

It’s important to understand why young people are using drugs, and if policy and legal frameworks are to be effective in reducing any harm. My findings show that cannabis is readily available in the city where I conducted our interviews, and it is easily accessible.

Cannabis has many uses

For my study, I selected 23 young men and women who were either university undergraduates or graduates who use cannabis. I interviewed them to find out their habits and why they use the drug.

The idea of adding cannabis to your investment portfolio may seem far-fetched. But this once frowned-upon commodity is fast becoming a viable asset for long-term sustainable wealth creation.

In September, the House postponed a vote on the MORE Act (H.R.3884), which would de-schedule cannabis. Now that this legislation has passed the House and moves onto the Senate, safety leaders must again warn lawmakers to exercise caution. While the MORE Act includes some provisions that would not cause workplace safety concern, such as the removal of punitive actions for drug violations, any de-scheduling of cannabis must be done with care. Steps toward legalization need to include an evaluation of the impact that legalized cannabis use will have on transportation and workplace safety. We have an obligation to protect workers and all who use our roadways, and cannabis use can create serious risks in both environments.

Data should always drive policy decisions. Cannabis is an impairing substance whose use has been on the rise, and a substance without clear and scientifically defined levels of impairment. Unfortunately, no cannabis test currently exists that correlates well with impairment level such as breath alcohol or blood alcohol. At this time we know little about cannabis impairment, the side effects or long-term health implications, as well as the implications for workplace safety. These questions can only be answered through rigorous research.

We know that cannabis has the ability to impair, and on-the-job impairment can have serious consequences, particularly for workers in safety-sensitive positions and all those around them. It is difficult to ascertain if a worker may be impaired, when they last used cannabis and whether they pose a risk to co-workers, customers or the general public. This is akin to the potential for “driving under the influence” for those operating commercial aircraft, trucks, trains, buses, cranes and forklifts. One troubling trend during the pandemic has been an increase in impaired driving, including from cannabis. Potential mishaps can also result from impairment of a worker on the floor of a chemical plant, at a construction site, warehouse or other operation with inherent risk.

Even among states that have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use, there is a worrisome lack of consensus on what occupations are considered to be “safety-sensitive” positions and when employers may conduct drug testing or institute a zero-tolerance drug policy for those positions. To meet their legal and ethical responsibilities, employers should be allowed and encouraged to maintain a substance-free workplace, regardless of the legal status of cannabis.

We urge that any steps taken towards legalization likewise explore the impact on transportation and workplace safety and ensure there is an evidence-based standard for detecting cannabis-impairment in driving and other safety sensitive operations. When it comes to impairment, we owe it to our employees and our communities to address the public safety side of cannabis first and foremost.

Cannabis may be consumed by adults of all races, ages, and genders, but in Canada, those employed in the upper echelons of the nascent industry don’t reflect that diversity. According to a report published by the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation (CDPE) and the University of Toronto, the leadership of the country’s licensed cannabis producers is made up of predominantly white men.

Will These Cannabis Stocks See More Momentum?

Starting with the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report in 1893 ending with the US Drug Czar’s own Institute of Medicine report in 1999, no major study has found any basis for the criminalization of cannabis.   

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast. 

Gizmodo.com a website whose motto is “We come from the future” has an article titled, What Is the Biggest Scientific Fraud of the Past 50 Years? It asked some distinguished scientists what they would nominate for that dubious distinction.  

Robert N. Proctor, Professor of the History of Science and Professor by courtesy of Pulmonary Medicine at Stanford University, named the “Council for Tobacco Research, the cigarette industry’s chief instrument for denying that cigarettes cause cancer…   

“Twenty-seven Nobel laureates took money from Big Tobacco, and every major university was showered with cash…”  

The House Will Vote On More Cannabis Legislation This Week

Most investors when looking at marijuana stocks to buy tend to focus on the market and the company’s finances. However, with each company comes a service or product that offers some form of value to the cannabis industry. Some people may skip past this part when searching for pot stocks to watch. Though if you take a deeper look into what a company needs to do in order for their product to be available for consumers there is a strict process. This is especially true when dealing with the cannabis plant its self or any kind of derivative from it.

What some may not know is the intricate process and stringent guidelines each company must follow before its product can be sold. With packaging alone, each spec must be documented and labeled on the product as well. Having the most accurate info for every cannabis product is important to know. Because not knowing what’s in your cannabis product can potentially do more harm than good. In the past, there has been a lack of resources to give consumers the most accurate info on cannabis. This has resulted in consumers getting sick or having a bad overall experience with their cannabis. Fast forward to today and it’s a whole new game with cannabis testing. Although much more progress has been made there is more work that needs to be done for more accurate results with testing cannabis.

How Does Cannabis Testing Work And Why Is It Important?

When a company like Charloetts Web Holdings Inc (CWBHF Stock Report)
or a company like Green Thumb Industries Inc (GTBIF Stock Report) develops a product testing must be done. In fact, any company that operates in a legal state within the U.S. must go through this process. Here’s how it works. So once your cannabis is ready to sell or you have made a batch of CBD  or THC oil testing must commence. Two important reasons cannabis products are tested in cannabis testing labs are to verify the products are safe for human consumption. As well as to give consumers an idea of the potency of the product they are using.

After an initial burst of celebration over last week’s House approval of the MORE Act, landmark legislation that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, the hard realization that getting the bill past the finish line and signed into law is an unlikely proposition is beginning to set in. Even some cannabis activists aren’t sure the bill is the right path to legalization, and getting the measure a fair hearing in the Senate while Mitch McConnell is at the reins isn’t at all likely.

Federal cannabis legalization is a longshot as long as Mitch McConnell is Senate Majority Leader. ... [+]

 GETTY IMAGES

With that reality in mind, a new group aimed at establishing a legal framework for cannabis interstate commerce was formed in September. Dubbed the Alliance for Sensible Markets, the group of activists and industry representatives has two primary goals. First, the group is working to bring two or more states with legal marijuana together to join in an interstate compact outlining the parameters for legal cannabis commerce between them. Secondly, a path to federal approval of the plan would have to be determined and executed. Paired with a federal policy that would permit state-legal cannabis businesses to operate without interference, interstate cannabis commerce could be a more politically viable path to many of the goals of full legalization.

The Flaws Of A Fragmented Market

Adam Smith, the founder and president of the alliance, said in a telephone interview that the current system of regulated cannabis trade, with each state that has legalized pot operating its own siloed market of production, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, is unsustainable. And in the real world, it’s also a system that is unworkable.

Cannabis has been illegal at a federal level in the US since 1970, when the Controlled Substances Act was passed by the Congress. Things started to change in 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medicinal use of marijuana. Since then it has been a long and treacherous road, but most states (35 to be more exact) have legalized the medical use of cannabis. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational use of cannabis and some other states follow suit. Currently, 15 states legalized the recreational use of cannabis and in 16 other states the consumption for recreational purposes is de-criminalized, and more reforms in this area are expected in the nearest future.

2020 has been particularly baked. Instagram feeds have been overloaded with photos of breads, cookies, pies and other comfort foods—even more than usual—in our attempts to manage Covid-related stress and stay occupied while trying out a new recipe. Let’s call it what it is—anxiety baking.  

Now it’s that time of year when we get extra cozy indoors and start whipping up even more delicious baked goods than we do the rest of the year in an attempt to help us all get through the chill of winter. Do we bake out of boredom? Or because brownies are delicious? Or both? It seems that the world is baking extra right now because our activity options are more limited. And because, let’s face it, anxiety baking, or any kind of baking, is fun.

Baking can be solitary or social; it can be done to pass time, or it can be attached to a special occasion. Like any hobby or activity, it’s always exciting to experiment, which you can do in baking by tinkering with new (or old) recipes, playing with temperature, and adding or removing ingredients, among other things.

Photo credit: Alex M. Smith

One way that people are experimenting with baking this season is by mixing all the many varieties of CBD oils, tinctures, sweeteners and more into breads, cakes, muffins, and beyond. 

The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor on this first-of-its-kind federal cannabis decriminalization bill. It was a partisan vote despite marijuana being a bipartisan issue. Democrats voted 213 YES and 6 NO, while Republicans voted 5 YES 156 NO.

Just after an election that saw four states legalize marijuana and two states legalize medical marijuana, it’s become clear that most Americans have a progressive view on marijuana. In fact, Pew Research reports that 67% of Americans support marijuana legalization.

As Steven Hawkins, executive director at the Marijuana Policy Project purports, “The prohibition and criminalization of marijuana has led to decades of injustice and devastating consequences, and it’s clear that a strong majority of Americans do not support the status quo.”

And the issue is bipartisan, with two of the legalizing states being Montana and South Dakota. But it’ll take a progressive Senate to pass such a progressive policy. And that’s where the MORE Act may run into trouble.

What is the MORE Act?

The MORE Act is the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act, a historic bill that was approved by the House Judiciary Committee for a floor vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Dec 2, 2020.

According to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, Canada’s hemp acreage and export value are both up more than 20% this year.

“The Canadian hemp industry continues to grow in 2020 despite the challenges posed by COVID-19,” CHTA board chairman Keith Jones said in a statement after the group’s annual meeting, held online this year. “Canada seeded some 92,000 hemp acres in 2019, with exports exceeding $110 million Canadian dollars ($85 million).”

The South may be quietly adjusting to the new legalization landscape. But for now, the good ol’ white guys prevail, and Christians have righteous morality straight from the Bible on their side.

As of the November elections, there are now 15 states and the District of Columbia who have legalized adult use. There are some 36 states that enacted or voted to enact medical marijuana laws.

In the years leading up to this November, voters decided affirmatively on 28 separate ballot measures legalizing cannabis (18 measures legalizing medical marijuana, 10 measures legalizing adult use), according to National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

This amazing progress in the U.S. began with a soundly defeated voter initiative on November 7, 1972 in California, finally leading to legalization of medical marijuana in California in 1996.

The 2020 legalization progress in the U.S. comes as Mexico joins Canada to completely legalize medical and adult-use marijuana.