Legalization

Two constants have persisted throughout the push for marijuana legalization in Canada: excitement from Canadians welcoming the big day and criticism for how the federal government is handling the transition.
Case in point, the recent statements made by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.

Immigrant rights activists and attorneys are warning immigrants that states' legalization of marijuana does not prevent federal officials from deporting anyone over marijuana use. Undocumented immigrants who are caught possessing or using marijuana can be deported from the country and prevented from returning.

Marijuana possession “is still a federal offense,” said attorney Russell Jauregui. “Federal law controls immigration and thus people will still face severe immigration consequences for marijuana conviction/use.”

In January, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center issued a flier advising immigrants not to use or carry marijuana until they become full U.S. citizens.

The queen of Canada’s movement to legalize marijuana has not been afraid to cultivate her undeniable girl-next-door charm – or invite controversy – for the cause. And now, an escalating series of police raids that have shut down the Cannabis Culture chain of dispensaries she helped build may put her behind bars for a long time. But Jodie Emery is still talking about the next fight, even while others in the movement wonder if her free-for-all style is doing more harm than good.

Around a year ago, it was announced that the Canadian government planned to legalize cannabis in Canada. Last week, the Canadian government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, unveiled its plans to do so.The Cannabis Act is an act that was introduced to Canadian Parliament in 2017 that would legalize cannabis in Canada. It is a milestone in the legal history of cannabis in Canada, alongside the 1923 prohibition.
Should the Cannabis Act pass in Canadian Parliament, this country would become the second nation in the world, after Uruguay, to regulate a legal marijuana market.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania one year ago, but the program is not planned to go into effect until next year. As the program ramps up, entrepreneurs have been setting up new marijuana businesses while local governments are tweaking …

Despite a number of marijuana advocates having expressed concern over Canada planning to send some pot offenders to prison after it makes weed fully legal next year, Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says she refuses to apologize for moving forward with policies intended to keep the herb out of the hands of children.

During a recent interview with CTV’s Question Period, Wilson-Raybould said the intention of Canada’s marijuana legalization bill, which dictates a 14-year prison sentence for anyone who knowingly sells pot to kids, was created to put the offense in the same ranks as serious crimes, such as

A new poll conducted by Marist in partnership with Yahoo News concluded that a majority of adult Americans have dabbled with marijuana experimentation at some point in their lifetime.
According to the Yahoo News/Marist Poll’s conclusions, 52% of those surveyed acknowledged having tried marijuana at least once – while 56% viewed consumption of the plant’s psychotropic cannabinoids as “socially acceptable.”
Despite the fact that eight out of ten Americans expressed an elevated support for legalizing medicinal cannabis, the hazy reality of adult-use marijuana had those surveyed split down the middle;

If the American population had any influence on Capitol Hill, marijuana would be made federally legal, at least for medicinal purposes, according to the latest Yahoo/Marist poll.

The new “Weed & the American Family” survey finds a whopping majority (83 percent) of the United States believes marijuana should be legalized for medical use.

At least one Trump administration official isn’t spewing the same anti-marijuana comments as his colleagues are.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly told host Chuck Todd that marijuana is “not a factor” in the ongoing drug war, reports the Washington Post.
In the interview, Todd asks Kelly if marijuana legalization would alter border efforts to control drug smuggling.
“Yeah, marijuana is not a factor in the drug war,” answered Kelly.
Kelly then went on to explain which illegal substances are actually worth the concern:

It’s three things.

Although the alcohol industry has been one of the most staunch opponents against cannabis legalization, small-scale liquor distributors in Nevada have decided to try and take advantage of the impending market. Back in November, the state voted to legalize recreational marijuana via Question 2, creating an array of exciting opportunities in the region.  

Local distribution companies were major backers of this measure, donating almost $88,000 to launch a campaign that placed marijuana on the same level as alcohol. With this support, they also expected to be given first dibs on cannabis distribution licensing.