Decriminalized Possession of Hard Drugs Takes Effect in Oregon
by Kat Helgeson
The Maryland Black Caucus laid out their priorities for the 2017 General Assembly session, including diversifying the medical cannabis industry, eliminating the cash bail system and reforming education during a press conference on Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
Although Maryland lawmakers passed a law allowing private medical marijuana businesses in 2014, none of the 102 pre-approved businesses are led by African-Americans. The Maryland Black Caucus wants to overhaul the 15-member commission to ensure racial and geographical diversity are considered going forward. The caucus is also fighting to reform the state’s cash bail system. Maryland’s current money-based system can set unaffordable amounts for many poor defendants, leaving them to await trial in jail. The system often disproportionately affects the lives of the working poor and minorities in the state, according to Douglas Colbert—a University of Maryland law professor. The Maryland Court of Appeals considered Jan. 5 a change to the current system by ordering judges to set bail at a cost the defendant can afford.
The Maryland Black Caucus members outlined their plan to draft legislation that would encourage minority-owned businesses in Maryland’s long-awaited medical cannabis industry. Although Maryland lawmakers passed a law allowing private medical businesses in 2014, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission has not issued any final licenses to grow, process or dispense cannabis, according to its website.
However, the MMCC announced Dec. 9 it awarded pre-approvals for 102 businesses to sell medical cannabis, drawing from a pool of 811 applicants. None of the businesses selected are led by African-Americans. (More on the Maryland program here: https://www.veriheal.com/states/#Maryland)
“We will not accept the fact that the medical cannabis industry will be up and running in the state of Maryland with no minority participation,” said Delegate Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore.
Regarding education, the Maryland Black Caucus issued its support of a lawsuit that asserts students who attend historically black colleges to continue to face violations of their rights and segregation within higher education. Remedies are being used by the caucus to solve these issues, while they also intend to ban pre-K suspensions and return of control of the Baltimore City Public Schools System to the Baltimore City government.
This blog was originally written by Anthony Dutcher but has been updated with new information as states continue to change their regulations nationwide. Looking to find your medical cannabis in a state that hasn’t yet legalized it? It may be tempting to drive across neighboring state lines with more cannabis-friendly laws. However, the number of states…
Transporting cannabis is a tricky business, thanks in large part to the fact that cannabis is still illegal at the federal level. Even when you’re transporting cannabis from a state where it’s legal to another state where it’s legal—for example, driving across the border from California to Oregon—there’s a chance you might run into trouble….
Note: Veriheal does not support or endorse any political candidate or their policies. We merely report on the facts as they are presented and their implications in regards to cannabis. The state of California has a very lucrative illicit cannabis market despite legalizing it long ago, but proposed legislation might help the state combat it….
Asthma can cause permanent lung damage due to persistent coughing and wheezing- which is exactly why patients should take preventative measures to minimize coughing and wheezing. A recently published study, which includes a survey, found that a surprising amount of asthma patients smoke cannabis, despite the fact that it may induce coughing. The cannabinoids from…
Vaporizers such as vaping pens have become popular methods of cannabis consumption, especially since cannabis legalization gained ground over the last couple of years. Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe, America was facing a vaping epidemic they referred to as EVALI, which stands for “E-cigarette or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury”. There…
We kind of already knew that the Queen of England was a pretty amazing woman. Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom,…
Jamaica is facing a major cannabis shortage. Spanish Town, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, and the island capital, Kingston, are all running short…
Note: Veriheal does not support illegally consuming therapeutic substances like cannabis and psilocybin but acknowledges that it transpires because of the current…
