Cannabis and Virginia

'Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, said the commonwealth’s approach is among the strictest in the nation. But among the states operating under “hyper-restrictive models, Virginia is sort of the best of the worst,” Pedini said, noting that the state will allow the oils to contain up to 5 percent THC, compared with 0.5 percent in Texas.'

 

'Virginia has joined a growing number of U.S. states clearing the way for products that come from the leaves and flowers of industrial hemp. Two separate bills recently signed into law in the traditional tobacco state allow CBD in food and food supplements, and set rules for smokable hemp.

About 20 U.S. states have laws that specifically allow the sale of foods and food supplements infused with hemp extracts such as CBD, or allow their sale under certain guidelines and conditions.'

 

At least 35 US states have legalized cannabis for medical use so far. The federal US government however continues to keep cannabis in the Schedule 1 list of banned substances saying that it has no medicinal value. The list of US states that have legalized adult recreational cannabis is available here. All these states have legalized cannabis for adult recreational use, aimed specifically at improving public health, ensuring equity,  reducing crime, decreasing the black market, improving law enforcement, reforming criminal justice, improving the economy, agriculture and industry, to name just a few reasons.

Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article. 

 

'Virginia has joined a growing number of U.S. states clearing the way for products that come from the leaves and flowers of industrial hemp. Two separate bills recently signed into law in the traditional tobacco state allow CBD in food and food supplements, and set rules for smokable hemp.

 About 20 U.S. states have laws that specifically allow the sale of foods and food supplements infused with hemp extracts such as CBD, or allow their sale under certain guidelines and conditions.'
https://hemptoday.net/virginia-cbd-regulation/


'“We’re pleased the legislature made the right choice to reject a proposed delay in the legalization workgroup’s final report,” Jenn Michelle Pedini, NORML’s development director who also serves as executive director of Virginia NORML, told Marijuana Moment. “Decriminalization is a victory worth celebrating, but as we have said repeatedly, it is not a public policy solution for marijuana prohibition.”

“While decriminalization will reduce arrests by about half, it will not address the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws,” they said. “It is imperative the Commonwealth work swiftly to legalize and regulate the responsible adult-use of cannabis and begin undoing the damages done by prohibition.'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-lawmakers-reject-governors-delay-of-marijuana-legalization-study/

'Three medical cannabis bills cleared the Senate Committee on Education and Health this morning and are headed to the Senate floor.'
https://blog.norml.org/2019/01/24/virginia-medical-cannabis-bills-clear-senate-committee/


'West Virginia’s governor signed a medical cannabis banking bill into law that will allow financial institutions in the state to bid on providing banking services for MMJ businesses, clearing an obstacle to the rollout of the state’s program.

House Bill 2538, which Gov. Jim Justice signed Tuesday, also institutes the Treasurer’s Medical Cannabis Fund to allow the state treasurer to collect funds for banking services and for the Medical Cannabis Program Fund to gather MMJ program-related fees, MetroNews reported.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/west-virginia-governor-medical-marijuana-banking-bill/


'Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, said the commonwealth’s approach is among the strictest in the nation. But among the states operating under “hyper-restrictive models, Virginia is sort of the best of the worst,” Pedini said, noting that the state will allow the oils to contain up to 5 percent THC, compared with 0.5 percent in Texas.'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/dozens-compete-for-a-piece-of-virginias-limited-medical-marijuana-market/2018/08/20/d8b62aac-a16d-11e8-93e3-24d1703d2a7a_story.html


'Besides the four who spoke about marijuana in major addresses on Tuesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) again committed to fully legalizing cannabis during his inaugural address on Monday. And last week, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) said in his State of the State speech that the lack of action on medical cannabis was “hurting” patients, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) advocated for decriminalization in his State of the Commonwealth address and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) touted hemp and legal marijuana during his State of the State address.'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/four-governors-talk-marijuana-reform-during-major-speeches-in-a-single-day/


'On Wednesday, lawmakers in Kentucky and West Virginia put forward pieces of legalization legislation, the latest in a growing list of states where the thought of lawmakers even considering full legalization would have been implausible just a couple years ago.

Legislatures in Indiana, Missouri, Texas and Virginia could also vote on legalization bills that have already been introduced this year.'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-bills-already-filed-in-half-a-dozen-red-states-for-2019-sessions/


'Hops aren’t the only green O’Connor Brewing Co. wants its customers to support.

The Norfolk-based brewery will host a five-day festival beginning Monday on marijuana policy changes. The event, dubbed the Legalize Virginia Festival, includes panel discussions and workshops each night on topics such as “Marijuana Saved My Life: Cannabis as Medicine in Virginia” and “Activist School: Becoming a Kick Ass – and Majority Effective – Marijuana Reform Advocate.”'
https://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/article_791b50e6-b12f-11e8-ada1-3b0fa4ca9ccf.html


'Researchers at the Medical College of Virginia discovered that cannabis is an incredibly successful herb for reducing many types of tumors, both benign and malignant (cancerous). The DEA and other federal agencies had ordered these tumor studies done after hearing erroneous reports of possible immunicological problems associated with cannabis smoke. But, in 1975, instead of health problems, an apparent medical breakthrough occurred and successful tumor reductions were recorded! Following this remarkably positive discovery by the Medical College of Virginia, orders were immediately handed down by the DEA and the National Institutes of Health to defund all further cannabis/tumor research and reporting! Millions of Americans who might be alive today are dead because of these and other DEA orders regarding marijuana. In 1996 and 2006, the Medical College of Virginia again applied to receive grants for cannabis research and again were turned down by the DEA' - The emperor wears no clothes by Jack Herer


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