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Late last March, the backbone of stoner bro comedy, Seth Rogen, and screenwriter Evan Goldberg announced the launch of their new recreational cannabis company, “Houseplant.” In other news, water is wet.

The company, in partnership with Ontario-based Canopy Growth Corp. released a single sativa strain in April, and later in the year will roll out hybrid and indica strains, as well as softgels and pre-rolled joints.

“Houseplant is a passion we’ve brought to life through drive and dedication,” Rogen said in a press release. “Every decision we’ve made for the business reflects the years of education, first-hand experience and respect we have for cannabis.”

Of course, the actor leaped at the chance to star in a series of retro-style educational videos on Houseplant’s website. One teaches new users about different strains.

“This man has smoked a sativa joint,” Rogen narrates as an office worker in 1970s-era attire picks up a curly-corded telephone at his desk. A robotic grin is plastered across his face. “His day is flying by. Look at him go!”

Other videos inform the website’s visitors on topics ranging from understanding portion control, how to ingest edibles, and how to roll a joint.

The company is also releasing limited edition “Houseplant” vinyl records. There are three – each corresponding with a specific strain of marijuana – and come with a playlist intended to match the strain’s effect. Upbeat, mellow, or somewhere in between? You decide!

“We have a sincere love for cannabis, and think it should be treated with the reverence it deserves,” reads the company’s slogan.

Who are the other celebrities hopping on the cannabis trend? We rounded up a list of actors, musicians and influencers that might surprise you.

Melissa Etheridge

This Grammy Award winning folk rock star says she began using cannabis in 2004 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Medical marijuana helped dispel the effects of chemotherapy, reducing her nausea and giving her an appetite. Since then, she decided to become an advocate and start her own business. “I wanted to be in the front of this because I feel that there’s not a representation for middle-aged women in the cannabis industry,” she told CBS Sunday Morning in 2018.

Etheridge Farms produces flower, edibles, oil cartridges and topicals for dispensaries. Etheridge also revealed that her latest album, “The Medicine Show,” released last April, was “totally fueled by cannabis.” Its title track croons, “A little remedy never do you no harm / Come on down to mama’s farm.”

Mickey Hart

The Grateful Dead drummer says he wants his new line of 1/3 gram mini-joints to allow the mind to travel. Partnered with Oakland-based cannabis company IC Collective, his launch of “Mind Your Head” features the Chemdog strain. As the legend goes, this particular strain was discovered outside of a Grateful Dead show in 1991.

“You’re able to function well on it. You can do your work. And it’s a lot of fun!” he told High Times. “It’s really about adventure and exalting the consciousness. Like a superhighway of the senses. That’s what this whole thing is about. It’s about consciousness raising. Just like the Grateful Dead is. We raise consciousness. We move minds.”

Post Malone

The multi-platinum hip-hop artist known for “beerbongs & bentleys” also announced his entry into the weed business last month with new brand “Shaboink.” The line will feature flower, pre-rolls and vapes, manufactured in California by cannabis lifestyle brand “Hemper.”

“Weed is good for everybody,” he told TMZ in 2016 after voting to legalize marijuana with Proposition 64. “Ain’t nobody died from that s—. People die from drinking and driving every day.”

“Shaboink” will also include CBD products and accessories like paper, grinders and other miscellaeneous merch from the young rapper. The brand will launch on July 4, Malone’s 24^th birthday. 

Martha Stewart

Weed mom alert! The Internet exploded when they discovered this celebrity lifestyle mogul’s unexpected friendship with Snoop Dogg in 2016. The pair first got together in 2008, when she taught him how to make her mother’s mashed potatoes. A year later, he taught her how to make green “holiday brownies” (wink.)

Now, Stewart is finally staking a claim in her own cannabis venture. She will serve as an adviser to Canopy Growth (yep, the same company working with Rogen) to help them develop cannabis products for people and their pets. 

Wiz Khalifa

It wasn’t really a shock that this Pittsburgh rapper chose to start his own cannabis brand, “Khalifa Kush” in late 2018. Several of his songs openly reference marijuana, and even has a “Farmville”-inspired mobile game, “Wiz Khalifa’s Weed Farm,” which was released on 4/20 this year.

Interestingly enough, though, Khalifa partnered with streetwear brand Supreme to develop and launch the line of cannabis products, including “Taylor Gang” grinders, rolling papers, bongs and vape accessories. 

Whoopi Goldberg

When the “Sister Act” star asked a friend in the cannabis industry if there was any marijuana designed for menstrual cramps, and he said no, she decided to make it happen herself. Collaborating with Maya Elisabeth, founder of “Om Edibles,” the pair unveiled “Whoopi & Maya,” a cannabis brand consisting of Epsom salts and menstrual relief rubs to help alleviate pain in women on their periods.

“Our goal is to make you feel better, not get you high,” Goldberg told Forbes. “We want to help women who have bad cramps be able to work a full work day without excruciating pain.”

Gwyneth Paltrow

Some of this actress’ health endorsements in the past could be considered a bit, shall we say, gimmicky? From being stung by bees on purpose to vaginal steaming with mugwort, her introduction of cannabis in her health brand “Goop” is a welcome diversion.

Released last year, the company’s mission is to shed the stoner stereotype and raise awareness about cannabis as a wellness supplement. Working in conjunction with MedMen dispensaries, some of its offerings include vape pens, infused teas, edibles, as well as CBD bath bombs and transdermal patches.

Amber Rose

Last year, the model, reality TV star and sex-positive activist teamed up with Arizona-based Kandy Pens to release a line of champagne and white gold vaporizers. These pens were the first to use a quartz bucket and coil, preventing a burning sensation from the vapor.

“I want it to feel like a celebration when they inhale,” Rose said. “I want the pen to not only represent my fans, but to be inclusive, so that anyone coming across my pen will resonate with it.”

Joe Montana

This Hall of Fame quarterback made headlines in January when he invested in Caliva, a San Jose-based cannabis manufacturer. The retired athlete says he believes in investing in an industry that “can provide relief to many people and can make a serious impact on opioid use or addiction.” Similarly in 2017, he invested in Herb, a company that produces and releases marijuana-related news and entertainment.

Now, the NFL may lift its ban on medical marijuana in order to study it for pain treatment.

Have comments on this article or questions about cannabis? Ask GreenState or send inquiries and tips to amanda.bartlett@sfchronicle.com

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“Hey, stoner, why don’t you get off your ass, make a short film, and make some cash?”

Such was the motivational tagline for SPLIFF. The new pot-oriented film festival premiered this spring for stoners of all stripes – provided they were able to get off the couch to witness it.

Created by advice columnist and podcast host Dan Savage, SPLIFF is the first festival of its kind. Filmmakers, animators and artists were given a runtime limit of four minutes and 20 seconds for their submissions, which were received by an audience of approximately 3,000 in the festival’s first year.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS: California’s ‘Northern Nights’ to be first overnight festival to allow marijuana use and sales

Savage explained, “You get stoned and you go to the movies. Or, you get stoned and you binge watch TV. Or, you get stoned and you go lay in the park and look at the clouds.”

“A lot of being stoned is putting something in front of your face to let it roll into your brain. So, we thought, there’s probably a film festival in that too!” Savage said.

 

Topics ranged from trippy animation to comedic shorts, brief documentaries and even faux-propaganda films – “think ‘Reefer Madness’ ridiculousness or D.A.R.E. scare tactics,” explains the festival’s submission page.

“Munchies Massacre” explores the plight faced by a personified throng of Doritos and Oreos, who commiserate over the friends they’ve lost to late-night snacking. Eventually, they end up running away in horror from a stoner monster.

In the stop-motion animation “Joint Heights,” roaches come to life and do yoga, thrash to heavy metal, and even hook up with each other. Huh? Hey, it’s a festival “made by stoners, for stoners,” so the nonsensical is to be expected.

PODCAST: ‘Gringo’ director Nash Edgerton made a cannabis comedy, never touched the stuff

SPLIFF premiered in Denver on April 13, just in time for 4/20. From there, the festival ventured to Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, and just wrapped up last weekend in Bellingham, Wash. Viewers across these weed-friendly cities voted for their favorite films in four categories – ‘Trippiest,’ ‘Funniest,’ ‘Stupidest,’ and ‘Best in Show’ – and over $10,000 in cash prizes was doled out by SPLIFF this month.

 

‘Trippiest’ was awarded to “Fully Froggo,” the relatable saga of eating too many edible gummies from the perspective of a frog. ‘Funniest’ went to Oakland-based ASMR artists Sayuri and Gabby La La for their tingle-inducing “Candy Sandwich.” The esteemed award of ‘Stupidest’ was received by Courtney Kehr for “Kevin’s Proclamation,” a distorted, kaleidoscopic view of a presumably stoned man yelling out, “I love you, man!”

The top prize of $5,000 for ‘Best in Show’ went to “Smokescreen,” about a woman who gets stoned just to experience some excitement after a dull date. Unluckily for her, she winds up trapped in the reality of online dating.

Following April’s decriminalization in New Mexico, SPLIFF will make its way to Albuquerque on September 21-22.

Have comments on this story or questions about cannabis? Send inquiries and tips to amanda.bartlett@sfchronicle.com

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Blue Dream. Sour Diesel. Maui Wowie. Chem Dawg.

Visit any dispensary, and you’ll instantly be greeted by a vast spread of different cannabis strains, all promising varying effects, flavors, and ratios of THC and CBD.

Whether you’re being introduced to a new strain or returning to a tried-and-true favorite, you might seek out a certain type to boost your creativity. Or, maybe you want something to help you wind down and veg out in front of the TV. There are even strains out there that allegedly improve performance in the bedroom.

But is the science behind this solid? Dr. Alisha Holloway isn’t so sure. In fact, her research on cannabis strains suggests that some of the varieties being sought out by consumers – Sour Diesel, for instance – may be something completely different than the name on their label.

IT’S AN ART: Epic cannabis strain art exhibit at world’s largest dispensary

GreenState had the opportunity to talk with the scientific expert on comparative genomics at the San Francisco Exploratorium’s AfterDark event on Cannabis. Her lecture primarily focused on unlocking the genetic mysteries of cannabis as she shared an interactive 3D visualization of the world’s largest genetic database of cannabis varieties, known as the Phylos Galaxy.

“There’s a little bit of clinical and pre-clinical trial work that’s been done to test effects of mostly THC and CBD on medical patients,” Holloway said. “But a lot of the work is in very small sample sizes. I think that we have a really long way to go before we can understand it, and figure out how we can actually increase levels of terpenes and cannabinoids to achieve a desired effect for patient and consumers.”

Terpenes are the compounds that give cannabis plants their smell, flavor, and more generally, the promised effects. Cannabinoids are a type of terpene that specifically occur in cannabis. As it stands, according to Holloway, cannabis isn’t really working in the way it’s intended for medical patients, consumers or growers. But, due to her ongoing research with the Phylos Galaxy, it’s likely that we’ll be able to get there in years to come.

“We can start to apply all of the modern agricultural methods that we have to select a natural variation in the plant, and furthermore, those precise levels of cannabinoids and terpenes,” she said.

But how do we get there? For starters, researchers need to have solid data on the chemical properties of the plant. They also need to know the plant’s phenotype and genotype, or its physical properties and genetic information, respectively.

Basically, phenotypes are the observable physical characteristics of a plant: how much it yields, how tall it is, and how long it takes to flower. There’s also differences in shape and size – cannabis comes in extremely tall, reedy varieties or smaller, bushy varieties.

What Holloway and other researchers want to figure out is whether that wide variation in phenotype is reflected in the cannabis plant’s underlying genetics – or if it’s the way plants are being grown that’s generating diversity. Just as people develop a certain eye or hair color based on genetics, the physical characteristics of different strains of cannabis are based on its genotype and environment.

“I want to know whether the genetic component is really driving this difference, and if we can use that knowledge to breed strains of cannabis that do very specific things,” Holloway said.

That’s where the Phylos Galaxy comes in. The publicly accessible map – you can actually go look at it right now from your Internet browser – shows thousands of samples of strains and their relations to one another. People from all over the world send in samples of their strains for DNA testing – Sour Diesel, for example. Holloway describes the strain as easy to identify because of its fuel-like smell, yellow leaves and thin leaflets.

CBD Guide: 12 important facts you should know right now

“But really, when you go out to a dispensary and see that they have Sour Diesel, it’s not clear that you’re actually getting what you think you’re getting,” Holloway said.

She says she has the data to back up her claim. When the team of researchers looked at all of the samples that had been submitted to them under the name Sour Diesel, they discovered that only about 50 percent of the samples fell into a genetically identical clone group.The rest were all over the map, so to speak. In many cases, some weren’t even related to Sour Diesel.

“Part of the reason we developed the Phylos Galaxy was to really help clarify what is in dispensaries and what people have, and we’re really starting to shed light on the variation that’s out there,” Holloway said. The Galaxy is also helping scientists learn what the closest relatives are to a certain strain, how unique it is, and how many variants there are.

“It’s really the first time ever that anyone’s had the ability to go in and understand what they’re growing,” she said.

The next step of Holloway’s research is to compare each strain’s genome, or its set of chromosomes, with a plant genome that scientists are already familiar with, such as tomatoes, corn or wheat.

By rigorously collecting this data, growers and scientists can not only breed plants faster, but also figure out how to allow them to work in the way they’re intended for medical patients and recreational users.

“This is a really exciting time to be in cannabis, because all of these modern agricultural tools were developed around a decade ago. Now, we can use the ‘tool set’ and apply it to a cannabis plant, which has a lot of diversity. Then, we can use genetics to actually make the strains we want,” Holloway said.

Want to test it out yourself? Learn how to identify your own marijuana genotypes here.

Have comments on this story or questions about cannabis? Send inquiries and tips to amanda.bartlett@sfchronicle.com

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By HANNAH GRABENSTEIN

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Two and a half years after Arkansans voted to legalize medical marijuana, qualifying patients could begin buying the product Saturday morning when the state’s first dispensary opened, though the celebratory mood was dampened by confusion about operating hours and fears the dispensary wouldn’t be able to serve all the patients by closing time.

Doctor’s Orders RX in Hot Springs was the first dispensary to be officially licensed by the state and is currently the only one operating. It sold marijuana to a patient Friday to test its software and officially opened Saturday.

STAMP OF APPROVAL: Medical marijuana also legalized in Alabama

Another Hot Springs dispensary, Green Springs Medical, was approved Friday and plans to open Monday morning. Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin said no other dispensaries are scheduled for inspection and approval, but he expects that to change over the next week.

Voters approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana for certain conditions in 2016. The product currently available is from one of the state’s five licensed cultivators, the only one has harvested the plant. Two other cultivators have begun growing and expect to harvest by summer.

Dr. Rhonda Henry-Tillman, who chairs the Medical Marijuana Commission, said in a statement Friday that the commission was “pleased” dispensaries were opening and is “glad that patients will be able to access the appropriate cannabis product and possible relief they have patiently been awaiting.”

By 8 a.m., when patients expected Doctor’s Orders RX to open, around 100 people stood in a line that wrapped around the building and into an adjacent field. Despite the early hour and the rain, dozens turned out, from places like Jacksonville, Heber Springs, Saline County and northwest Arkansas. They brought folding chairs, umbrellas and ponchos, and used crossword puzzles, books and cellphones to pass the time. Some had been waiting since pre-dawn and had forgone restrooms.

DECRIMINALIZE IT: Psychedelic ‘magic mushrooms’ soon to join weed as legal drugs in Denver

But as 8 a.m. came and went, dispensary employees explained to the crowd that last-minute reports were wrong and the dispensary wouldn’t be opening until 10 a.m. They said they were getting ready as quickly as possible, and they distributed marijuana “menus” that listed potency, price, and descriptions, such as “earthy pine flavor” and “fruity zesty aroma,” for each of the five available strains. Each cost $105 for 7 grams.

The mostly mellow crowd became frustrated after another employee explained that the state-required electronic system that tracks patients’ purchases would take time to set up for each buyer. He told those waiting that he would be “thrilled” to process six patients an hour, though the line had grown to about 150 people.

As of Thursday, the Arkansas Health Department had approved medical marijuana cards for more than 11,700 residents.

Doctor’s Orders RX owner Don Sears said in a statement Friday that “processing schedules are unpredictable and out of our control,” and warned patients to expect long lines and limited product.

Eventually, employees allowed in, one at a time, patients who had been at the dispensary Friday and had been registered in the system. Those who’d camped out since before sunrise expressed frustration.

At about 9:20 a.m., people cheered as an employee let in Gerard Wimer, a 38-year-old construction worker from Jacksonville who takes hydrocodone for back pain and arthritis and who was first in line. After he saw on the Friday night news the dispensary was opening, he drove down with a tent to camp out, though he ended up sleeping in his truck. Behind him stood his retired mother, 67-year-old Gena Hunter, whose spot he saved.

After around 10 minutes, Wimer left the facility carrying a paper bag that contained half an ounce of medical marijuana, which cost $220, he said.

Hunter, who followed her son out, said the employees were courteous and helped her choose strains good for her neuropathy and arthritis. She got a quarter ounce each of “Blue Dream” and “Cookies and Chem.”

“I have no idea what that means,” she said.

Wimer said his experience was “pretty easy,” but that he would try Green Springs Medical next time, when he hopes prices come down. Still, he was glad he came.

“It means maybe I won’t have to be taking pain pills,” Wimer said. “I’m excited. I’m very excited.”

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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http://bit.ly/2I68Fi3 May 12, 2019 at 08:28PM, 420GrowLife, KahliBuds

In the most crowded slate in history, twenty-one Democratic presidential candidates have thrown their proverbial hats into the proverbial ring that is the 2020 election. While one previously perceived front-runner called it a “gateway drug” and doesn’t approve of marijuana, it’s clear that federal legalization of cannabis is a major factor linking most presidential hopefuls. Here’s where they stand:

Michael Bennet

In support. The most recent to announce his candidacy and the second Coloradan to enter the race, senior U.S. senator Michael Bennet advocates for federal legalization. While he opposed his state’s 2012 legalization initiative, he’s since turned over a new leaf (no pun intended) and co-sponsored several cannabis bills. A significant focus of his, however, appears to be hemp development. Bennet wants to fight the stigma against hemp so that it’s viewed as more of a legitimate crop, removing it from the definition of marijuana under the CSA and seeking its legalization.

In 2018, he lashed back at a report stating the Trump administration was counteracting support for legal cannabis. Bennet said, “At a time when we should be investing in objective and peer-reviewed scientific research on marijuana and the effects of legalization, the White House is instead using taxpayer money to spread a politically-driven narrative. What’s perhaps most unfortunate is that my state and others stand ready to work as partners with the federal government to gather the data and research necessary to ensure we are protecting public health and safety.”

Joe Biden

Not in support. Former vice president Joe Biden was initially considered a longtime front-runner for the 2020 campaign. When it comes to marijuana, he’s been against the substance for decades, even going so far as to call it a “gateway drug” in 2010, long after such talk became unpopular. In 2014, he restated his belief, but also commented that “…the idea of focusing significant resources on interdicting or convicting people for smoking marijuana is a waste of our resources.”

Cory Booker

In support. Booker announced his candidacy in an interview on the Tom Joyner Morning show, and asserted that cannabis reform is a key component of his platform. “It means changing our drug laws, ending prohibition against marijuana, which has led—black folks are no different in their usage rates or even the dealing rates, but are almost four times more likely to be incarcerated for marijuana,” he said. “We do not have equal justice under the law.”

Pete Buttigieg

In support. While he did not act on any legislation during his time as mayor of South Bend, Ind., Buttigieg has verbally expressed his support since announcing his candidacy. “The safe, regulated and legal sale of marijuana is an idea whose time has come for the United States, as evidenced by voters demanding legalization in states across the country,” he told The Boston Globe.

During an interview at South by Southwest, he addressed a time when he was a student at Harvard University and got caught with a joint. While the cop berated and searched him, Buttigieg was eventually let go. He acknowledged his white privilege as the reason: “A lot of people probably had the exact same experience, and would not have been believed, and would have been a lot worse than yelled at, and would not have slept in their own beds that night — and maybe would have been derailed in their college career because of it,” he said. “It’s one of many reasons why I think we have to end the war on drugs and move towards the legalization of marijuana.”

Julian Castro

Tentatively in support. The former San Antonio mayor and President Obama’s U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary doesn’t exactly have an extensive record on marijuana policy. However, under his leadership for the latter role, a 2014 memo said owners of federally assisted housing facilities are required to deny entry to people who use marijuana. This even pertained to individuals using the substance for medical purposes in accordance with state law.  That said, he’s spoken out on social media, discouraging the federal government from cracking down on recreational crime. “A mistake,” he said in a 2017 tweet. “Colorado and other states have shown we can sensibly legalize marijuana with reasonable controls.” He echoed similar sentiments in a Facebook post.

John Delaney

In support. The former U.S. Representative of Maryland co-sponsored a few marijuana-related bills while he was in Congress. One intended to keep individuals in legalized states safe from federal interference. When answering questions about illegal drugs at a CNN town hall discussion at South by Southwest in March, he commented that “having these things sold in the shadows” was a reason for trafficking, adding that marijuana should be regulated so it could be labeled, taxed and distributed appropriately.

He explained, “It is why, in many ways, there’s such a movement at the state level to legalize marijuana, to decriminalize it, and at a minimum to allow it to be legal for medical purposes. And I think the federal government should get out of the way and let that movement continue. Because right now the federal government is blocking it by keeping marijuana as a scheduled substance.”

Tulsi Gabbard

In support. The U.S. Representative for Hawaii’s second congressional district told BuzzFeed News she believes “there are new opportunities to actually pass this piece of legislation.” She proposed two bills to back this up. One is the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would take marijuana off the list of nationally prohibited drugs. It wouldn’t be banned by the Controlled Substances Act, meaning states would be able to maintain their own preferred laws — an attractive policy to Republicans. She also proposed the Marijuana Data Collection Act, which would research each state’s cannabis legalization programs in order to achieve unbiased federal reports. She said it would “dispel myths and stigma” that have previously blocked marijuana law reform.

Kristen Gillibrand

In support. The junior U.S. senator from New York has become a vocal advocate for federal marijuana reform in Congress, despite the fact that she did not co-sponsor any cannabis-related bills during her time in the House from 2007-2009. In fact, she voted against a floor amendment to protect state laws from federal interference. But people can change. In recent years, she’s signed onto several significant bills in support of cannabis, including the Marijuana Justice Act. It would not only remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, but also penalize states that enforce laws disproportionately against people of color using marijuana.

Kamala Harris

In support. It’s no secret that the junior U.S. senator from California and Oakland native has received some criticism due to her past as a prosecutor who was against marijuana reform. When running against Republican Ronald Gold for re-election as state attorney general in 2014, she was asked to respond on her opponent’s stance on wanting to legalize recreational marijuana. She laughed, stating that he was entitled to his own opinion. Since then, she’s changed her tune, from admitting that she smoked in college to co-sponsoring the Marijuana Justice Act. “Half my family’s from Jamaica, are you kidding me?” she said on the morning show The Breakfast Club. “Listen, I think it gives a lot of people joy. And we need more joy.”

John Hickenlooper

Says he’s in support, but legalization advocates aren’t so sure. On the eve of 4/20 this year, the former Colo. governor told the Denver Post he would sign a bill decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level. “A lot of states, certainly at the minimum, want to legalize medical marijuana,” he began. “Let’s get the FDA involved and research what are the different medical conditions where it’s effective and what are the side effects… let’s make it possible.” He previously opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012, yet oversaw its successful implementation once it was passed. He did make a comment that made some legalization advocates raise their eyebrows: “That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”

Jay Inslee

In support. This climate change advocate wants to save more than one type of tree. When announcing his candidacy, the Washington governor addressed that his state was one of the first to legalize cannabis, and “it’s about time we do it nationwide.” This is a change in tune from when he was running for his role in 2012, but despite that, he voted in favor of floor amendments to protect states that legalized medical cannabis from federal interference every year from 2003-2007. Most recently, he launched a program that intends to expedite “expungements of misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions” going back to 1998. He’s also repeatedly boasted that Wash. state has “the best weed in the United States of America.”

Amy Klobuchar

Lightly in support. In a statement released by her presidential campaign, the senior U.S. Senator from Minnesota declared her support for legalization. She hasn’t introduced any bills herself, and held a “hard on drugs” stance while she was a prosecutor, but has co-sponsored other bills in support of it. The bills would not only prevent the federal government from interfering with state level cannabis policies, but also allow banks to provide services to cannabis businesses while ending the national prohibition of industrial hemp. In a statement to the Washington Post, she said, “I support the legalization of marijuana and believe that states should have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders.” She has yet to make a comment on federal legalization.

Wayne Messam

In support. The mayor of Miramar, Fla. does not include cannabis reform as one of his top priorities on his campaign website, but in his statements on criminal justice reform, he calls the war on drugs “a failure,” especially in communities of color. “I believe states that have decided to move forward with marijuana legalization should be allowed to do so and other states should feel free to join the ranks without threats from the federal government. As long as those states that choose to do so continue to enforce DUI laws, spread economic benefits throughout all communities, and expunge records for those arrested for selling marijuana, they would have my full support as president,” he wrote.

Seth Moulton

In support. A former Marine Corps officer and U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ sixth congressional district, Moulton has been the chief sponsor of three medical marijuana-related bills for military veterans. These bills would require the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to survey veterans about marijuana use, and provide training on cannabis to primary care doctors. Another would require the department to shield veterans from losing VA benefits due to state-compliant marijuana laws. He confessed to smoking pot while at Harvard, and told WGBH, “I support legalization, but we do need to make sure it’s done right. We have an obligation to regulate it and make it as safe as possible.”

Beto O’Rourke

In support. The former Texas congressman has expressed that marijuana reform is a priority of his, speaking on it at an Iowa coffee shop just hours into his campaign. He expressed the country “should end the federal prohibition on marijuana.” While in Congress, he was the chief sponsor of one piece of drug reform legislation, The Better Drive Act, and supported many others. The bill would “repeal a law reducing highway funding for states if they did not automatically suspend drivers licenses of anyone convicted of a drug offense.” Being in a punk rock band in the ‘90s, he was adjacent to cannabis culture and admits to smoking it himself. O’Rourke also seeks to expunge criminal records for prior cannabis possession convictions in states where it’s legalized.

Tim Ryan

In support. The Ohio congressman has shown his support for marijuana legalization in his co-sponsorship of several cannabis reform bills in recent years. Among them is the Marijuana Justice Act, as well as legislation that supports the federal regulation of marijuana like alcohol, and another that would provide tax fairness for the cannabis industry. His commentary on the issue is limited in comparison to his peers, but he’s advocated for legalization in all 50 states, calling our current laws “morally wrong, economically nonsensical, and an unnecessary strain on our already strained law enforcement officials.”

Bernie Sanders

In support. The former mayor of Burlington, Vt., junior U.S. senator and 2016 presidential candidate was the first to endorse marijuana legalization during his last bid. In 2015, he filed the first-ever Senate bill to end federal marijuana prohibition. In his latest presidential bid, he announced that the government “needs to end the destructive war on drugs.” He added, “I am running for President because we need to invest in jobs and education for our kids, not more jails and incarceration. We need to end the destructive war on drugs private prisons, and cash bail, and bring about major police department reform.”

Eric Swalwell

In support. The U.S. Representative from the San Francisco Bay Area has not been the lead sponsor of any cannabis bills, but endorsed the state’s adult-use legalization measure before it was passed in 2016. He’s also supported bills to end federal marijuana prohibition. His original co-sponsorship of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019 would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act. The second would “shield federally insured banks and credit institutions from being punished by federal regulators for serving cannabis businesses.”

Elizabeth Warren

In support. The senior U.S. senator from Massachusetts recently reaffirmed that she “voted in favor of legalizing marijuana” in her state and that she believes “we should legalize it nationally.” It was a necessary clarification, given that she claimed she endorsed the Massachusetts initiative publicly, which was untrue, according to Marijuana Moment. Her sponsorship of the STATES Act would end the federal prohibition on weed by allowing states to decide their own marijuana laws, though it has received pushback from Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for its lack of a restorative justice component.

Marianne Williamson

In support. The author, lecturer and activist who might be more famously known as Oprah’s ‘spiritual adviser’ has long been a supporter of legalization. “My opinion is we are so beyond worrying about marijuana. We are onto something so much bigger than marijuana,” she told the New Hampshire Valley News, addressing the opioid epidemic and issues individuals face with heroin and fentanyl.

Andrew Yang

In support. The tech entrepreneur lists the legalization of marijuana as one of the foremost policies on his campaign website, writing, “This would improve safety, social equity, and generate tens of billions of dollars in new revenue based on legal cannabis businesses.” He also pledged to issue mass pardons for non-violent drug offenders, saying that after legalizing marijuana he would “pardon them on April 20, 2021” and “high-five them on the way out of jail.”

Have comments on this story or questions about cannabis? Send inquiries and tips to amanda.bartlett@sfchronicle.com

The post 4/20 in 2020: Presidential candidates’s views on cannabis legalization appeared first on GreenState.

http://bit.ly/2I68Fi3 May 7, 2019 at 03:10AM, 420GrowLife, KahliBuds

The circumstances were perfect: I was meeting up with one of my best friends from college for our first visit to Portland, Oregon, and held the eager anticipation of what kind of antics we would get into during the exciting weekend ahead. Yet, preparing for this short vacation led me to Google something I’ve never searched for before:

Is it legal to bring marijuana on a plane from one state to another if it’s considered legal in both states?

Most websites’ answers were a resounding, seemingly obvious “no.” Go ahead, laugh at my naivety all you want, but after spending most of my life in the Midwest where recreational marijuana legalization seems to be a far-off pipe dream, I honestly didn’t have a clue. Sure, I knew I could just buy whatever I wanted when I arrived in Portland, but after spending money on plane tickets, a few nights’ stay in a hostel, and knowing I had other pending expenses ahead, I didn’t want to drop even more cash on something I already had – legally.

SAVE MONEY: How to sprout your own marijuana seeds

I even took to Reddit to ask people on r/trees (if you haven’t checked it out, it’s a go-to subreddit for everything related to cannabis with over 1.3 million subscribers.) Most of the responses there ranged from caring – “I wouldn’t risk it, your weed will be waiting for you when you get back home :)” – to curt – “good luck getting caught and going to jail LOL.”

So, I went the safe route and left my edible gummies I was planning on bringing at my apartment and begrudgingly purchased more when I got to Portland. Still, I knew I wasn’t the only one questioning this legality. Whether you’re traveling to Portland like I was, or other big cities where recreational marijuana is legal – say, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, or Boston – it seems contradictory to have to leave your cannabis products at home when the law is giving you the green light in both your own city and destination.

That’s not to mention medical patients who need certain strains in order to combat chronic pain or alleviate symptoms of an illness. It was simple for me to just leave my weed at home, but what about the people whose lack of marijuana usage can be detrimental to their health and well-being?

EXPLAINED: Here’s the science behind cannabis therapies for pain, inflammation

Long after I returned from the trip, I had the answer to my question, but still wanted the details. Are CBD products okay? Is a TSA dog really going to sniff me out? Jenny L. Burke from the Transportation Security Administration provided me with some answers that might help you on your next journey.

The short answer:

As soon as you head into that airport, marijuana is considered a controlled substance and is therefore illegal from a federal perspective.

 So, carrying a joint through the TSA checkpoint at a California airport is illegal?

Yes – but that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily get in trouble if you get caught. TSA says that officers are required to report “any suspected violations of law, including possession of marijuana and cannabis infused products.” That being said, your weed likely isn’t their priority – the safety of everyone else is. TSA’s screening procedures are security-focused and designed to look for “potential threats” to aviation and passengers.

What about my CBD oil that I use for pain relief?

Yup, still illegal according to TSA guidelines. Again, they’re not looking for it though.  

What if I just kept my marijuana or CBD-infused products in my checked luggage?

This is also illegal in the eyes of the law, and you don’t want to mess with the random searches that TSA conducts. Still, the searches there prioritize heavy metal objects and bottles full of liquid – frequent suspect objects that call for further inspection again, for security reasons.

Do TSA dogs sniff for weed?

No. While most people think the primary purpose of airport sniffer dogs is to seek out illegal drugs, they’re predominantly trained to protect planes from bombs and ecosystems from invasive species. There’s more to it, though. These dogs are trained to sniff for drugs in general, but gradual state court rulings on legal marijuana mean that their keen noses for pot have an impact on their work on other drug cases. They can’t always be counted on to smell the right thing, and some are actually being eased out of the labor force.

The bottom line:

TSA officers are required to report any suspected violations of law, including possession of marijuana and cannabis infused products. While they don’t search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, in the event they find an illegal substance, they will refer the matter to a police officer to enforce state law. So, if you’re in a state where cannabis is legal, no problem – as long as you don’t have eight pounds of weed chocolate.

It’s up to you to decide whether to play it safe or be a little daring, but you’re likely safer than you might have previously perceived. Safe travels!

http://bit.ly/2uEgYtD April 11, 2019 at 03:51AM Amanda Bartlett, KahliBuds