COLUMBUS — A new panel is taking shape that will help guide Ohio agencies as they build a system of growing, testing, and dispensing marijuana for medical use.
The 14-member Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee — heavy on representation from central Ohio, including its chairman — will exist for five years to help the Ohio Pharmacy Board, State Medical Board, and Department of Commerce as those members create rules for a new medical cannabis industry.
The panel will be chaired by Curtis L. Passafume, Jr., of Hilliard near Columbus, vice president for pharmacy services at Ohio Health and a member of the state pharmacy board.
Gov. John Kasich and Senate and House leaders gradually named their appointees in advance of Friday’s deadline. House Bill 523, which took effect Sept. 8, laid out the general makeup of the committee.
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Colorado Anti-marijuana Mailers Spark Lawsuit
A pro pot group is filing a lawsuit over some mysterious marijuana mailers.
Pueblo's ballot Issue 200 has caused a lot of controversy. The issue asks voters if the sale of recreational marijuana should be legal in Pueblo County.
"Growing Pueblos Future" is a pro pot group, strongly opposed to issue 200, so when flyers began circulating Pueblo encouraging citizens to vote yes on 200, many people assumed anti-issue 200 group "Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo" was behind them. They tell me the flyers aren't theirs.
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Pueblo's ballot Issue 200 has caused a lot of controversy. The issue asks voters if the sale of recreational marijuana should be legal in Pueblo County.
"Growing Pueblos Future" is a pro pot group, strongly opposed to issue 200, so when flyers began circulating Pueblo encouraging citizens to vote yes on 200, many people assumed anti-issue 200 group "Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo" was behind them. They tell me the flyers aren't theirs.
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Damian Marley Converts Calif. Prison to Medical Marijuana Farm
Damian Marley is launching a multi-million dollar medicinal marijuana business and turning the policing of the herb on its head.
The musician announced plans Monday to buy out a California prison and put a dispensary in its place. In an interview with Billboard, Marley revealed he and partnering company Ocean Grown Extracts paid $4.1 million to convert Claremont Custody Center.
Marley and Ocean Grown’s hefty purchase price of the property not only relieves the city of its $3.3 million debt, but it will create 100 jobs for residents.
“Many people sacrificed so much for the herb over the years who got locked up,” Marley told the magazine. “If this [venture] helps people and it’s used for medicinal purposes and inspires people, it’s a success.”
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The musician announced plans Monday to buy out a California prison and put a dispensary in its place. In an interview with Billboard, Marley revealed he and partnering company Ocean Grown Extracts paid $4.1 million to convert Claremont Custody Center.
Marley and Ocean Grown’s hefty purchase price of the property not only relieves the city of its $3.3 million debt, but it will create 100 jobs for residents.
“Many people sacrificed so much for the herb over the years who got locked up,” Marley told the magazine. “If this [venture] helps people and it’s used for medicinal purposes and inspires people, it’s a success.”
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Calif. Marijuana Czar Tours State for New Rules
California’s Wild West of medical marijuana is about to be tamed, on the eve of a historic vote that could greatly expand recreational use of cannabis.
Just as labeling allows consumers to trust the difference in potency between a strawberry-rosé spritzer and 190-proof grain alcohol, new state regulations will demand testing, labeling, certification and licensing medical marijuana — every step along the way, from seed to sale.
The new rules, starting in 2018, could also boost pot prices, as businesses face more paperwork, permits, licenses and other new requirements, driving up their costs — and likely pushing some mom-and-pop growers and dispensaries out of business.
While the changes may complicate doing business, the goal is simple, said Lori Ajax, the state’s first weed czar.
“We are looking to protect patients, the public and the environment,” Ajax said during a “pre-regulatory” meeting in Oakland last week for the commercial cannabis industry hosted by her fledgling state Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation.
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Just as labeling allows consumers to trust the difference in potency between a strawberry-rosé spritzer and 190-proof grain alcohol, new state regulations will demand testing, labeling, certification and licensing medical marijuana — every step along the way, from seed to sale.
The new rules, starting in 2018, could also boost pot prices, as businesses face more paperwork, permits, licenses and other new requirements, driving up their costs — and likely pushing some mom-and-pop growers and dispensaries out of business.
While the changes may complicate doing business, the goal is simple, said Lori Ajax, the state’s first weed czar.
“We are looking to protect patients, the public and the environment,” Ajax said during a “pre-regulatory” meeting in Oakland last week for the commercial cannabis industry hosted by her fledgling state Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation.
Read more
Justin Bieber Condemns Big Pharma Over Medical Marijuana Legalization Blocks
Medical marijuana advocates have a new ally and he’s tweeting his support to a massive audience.
Justin Bieber criticized pharmaceutical companies on Twitter Sunday to raise awareness of the industry’s attempts to block medical marijuana legislation.
“This is important,” the singer wrote. “I’m going to be talking more about this. We all need to pay attention.” And with 88.6 million followers, it’s safe to say he got some people to pay attention.
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Justin Bieber criticized pharmaceutical companies on Twitter Sunday to raise awareness of the industry’s attempts to block medical marijuana legislation.
“This is important,” the singer wrote. “I’m going to be talking more about this. We all need to pay attention.” And with 88.6 million followers, it’s safe to say he got some people to pay attention.
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