Legalization

Marijiuana, a divisive issue that normally resurfaces in Europe during election campaigns, has come home to France's hotly-contested presidential race.

With eight months to go until the 2017 French presidential election, marijuana - or cannabis, as the French prefer to call it - is an honored guest meme in the candidates' discourse, and a subject of intense controversy among the French electorate.

But hold on. The political debate is less about interdiction or legalization but, rather, about the nuances of what many are calling “an unavoidable course:” complete legalization or mere decriminalization.

Read More:http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2017/01/06/marijuana-legalization-in-europe-is-france-next/#17741d8f2dd2

There was $6.7 billion in legal cannabis sold last year in North America, according to a new report by Arcview Market Research. The report isn’t available until February, but was obtained early and reported on by Forbes.

According to the report, the $6.7 billion in legal cannabis sales represents a 30% increase from the prior year, a massive increase for any industry.

“The only consumer industry categories I’ve seen reach $5 billion in annual spending and then post anything like 25% compound annual growth in the next five years are cable television (19%) in the 1990’s and the broadband internet (29%) in the 2000’s”, says Tom Adams, Arcview’s Editor-in-Chief.

Read More:https://www.theweedblog.com/legal-marijuana-sales-reached-over-6-billion-last-year-north-america/

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —

Recreational marijuana is now legal in California, after voters said "Yes" to Proposition 64 in November.

Here are some frequently asked questions to clear up the cannabis confusion:

Q: How much pot am I legally allowed to possess on my person?

A: 28.5 grams or about 1 ounce

Q: How old do I have to be to smoke recreational pot?

A: At least 21 years old.

Q: What other states have legalized recreational marijuana?

A: Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington

Q: Am I allowed to grow my own marijuana?

A: Yes. You are allowed to grow up to 6 plants for personal use.

Read More:http://www.kcra.com/article/clearing-up-cannabis-confusion-in-california-what-you-need-to-know/8555949

A bill to explicitly legalize hemp has been pre-filed for the 2017 legislative session in New Hampshire by a group of Republican lawmakers; the measure will be discussed when the legislature reconvenes next month.

Under the proposed law – House Bill 151 – hemp would be removed from the state’s Controlled Drug Act. This would allow it to be treated like any other agricultural commodity. The proposal was filed by State Representatives. Daniel Itse, J.R. Hoell, and James Spillane; it also has the support of Senators Harold French and John Reagan.

House Bill 151 – which will be formally introduced at the session’s start on January 4th – has been assigned to the House Committee on Environment and Agriculture. To have a chance to move to a vote in the full House of Representatives, it will need to be passed by the committee by March 3rd. If it does pass the committee and House, it will then go to the Senate; if passed by the Senate, it will go to Governor Maggie Hassan for final consideration. Although Hassan is opposed to legalizing cannabis, she has remained neutral on whether or not the state should legalize hemp.

Read More:https://www.theweedblog.com/republican-lawmakers-prefile-bill-legalize-hemp-new-hampshire/

A plurality of adults in Australia support legalizing recreational cannabis according to a new survey conducted at the Australian National University.

According to the poll, 43% of Australian adults support legalizing cannabis, with 32% opposed to the move. This is a huge shift from 2013, when a plurality was opposed to legalization; then support was at 34%, with opposition at 44%.

The newest poll found 25% of respondents to be undecided on the issue, indicating that a heavily marketed public campaign in support, or in opposition, to legalization could have a major impact on determining if which side reaches the 50% mark first (though at this point legalization supporters have every reason to be optimistic, while prohibitionists should be quite concerned).

Read More:https://www.theweedblog.com/australian-adults-favor-legalizing-cannabis/

Legislation to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky – including a system of regulated dispensaries – has been introduced in the state’s Senate.

The Cannabis Compassion Act of 2017 was introduced by Senator Perry Clark, a Democrat from Louisville. The full text of the measure can be found by clicking here.

Under the proposed law, those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician would be legally authorized to possess, cultivate and use cannabis for medical purposes; the limit would be set at three ounces and 12 plants. The measure would authorize a system of licensed and regulated dispensaries accessible by all patients.

Read More:https://www.theweedblog.com/legislation-legalize-medical-cannabis-introduced-kentucky/