Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign.
As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state.
Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients.
He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm.
His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.
Full disclosure right off the bat: I have been friends with Chelsea and Joseph Hopkins, the owners of the Greener Side in Eugene, for a couple of years now and have found them to be two of the best people you will meet anywhere. They are kind, compassionate and truly care about patients and the marijuana movement as a whole. They are fun to hang around and one of my regrets in life is that I don’t get the chance to hang out with them more. The Greener Side offers great products, special deals every Tuesday, discounts to veterans and they host vendor days twice a month to get knowledge from the source. They even take the time to give to charity as they organize the Oregon Cannabis Classic Golf Tournament to benefit the Oregon Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The 2nd annual Oregon Cannabis Classic will be held on September 4th at the Mallard Creek Golf & RV Resort.
“We met representatives from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland and we have an employee whose mother has MS, so it was a perfect fit. We actually found that many charities won’t accept money from a cannabis business, so it was great to find a good charity that is willing to be associated with the cannabis community, benefiting both our causes,” Chelsea informed me.
Ms. Hopkins continued, “We were looking for something different from the usual cannabis event, something unique that allows people to have fun and network. We also wanted to reach out to a new venue to help show the professionalism of the cannabis industry, while having a great time. Who doesn’t want to take the day off or get off of work early to go golfing?”
I could not endorse this event more, even though I am not a golfer. Okay, I’ve golfed like twice in my life and I’m pretty sure that I may be the worst golfer in the world, but even I can participate in the Oregon Cannabis Classic. The charity event is open to golfers of all abilities as it uses a scramble format where each team uses the best shot from one of their players. There will be various prizes to keep things interesting as well, such as: longest drive, closest to the pin, any hole-in-ones ($50,000 prize last year), prize to the sponsor who donates the most, etc. And we did legalize it after all, so there will be private cannabis consumption areas for adults over the age of 21 as well.
Registration for the Oregon Cannabis Classic is $165 for individuals and $550 if you sign-up a foursome. A few sponsorship packages are also available. Get your tickets or sign up to be a sponsor while you still can. You can help out a great charity, assist great people doing great work while having fun. It is truly a win-win-win for everyone involved. You can find out more info about the Greener Side and the Oregon Cannabis Classic through their websites, as well as on check out the Greener Side’s Facebook page and the Facebook event set up for the charity golf tournament.
The Oregon cannabis community was rocked when The Oregonian’s Noelle Crombie released her in-depth report on the lack of standards regarding the testing of marijuana products in Oregon. Crombie, who regularly reports on all things cannabis was noticeably absent from the scene for a bit, causing many to wonder what she was up to. When “A tainted high” hit The Oregonian/Oregonlive, with the tagline “LAX STATE RULES, INCONSISTENT LAB PRACTICES AND INACCURATE TEST RESULTS PUT PESTICIDE-LACED POT ON DISPENSARY SHELVES”, we learned that the talented reporter was investigating the very essence of the medical marijuana industry–the safety of cannabis products consumed by sick and disabled patients battling debilitating medical conditions.
The results of Crombie’s extensive report didn’t completely shock industry insiders in the know, but it certainly provided cause for concern among patients, particularly those with compromised immune systems. Fortunately, marijuana flowers, still the most popular way to utilize cannabis, didn’t contain the same high levels of pesticides and contaminants. Concentrates, such as hash oils, ever-growing in popularity, were the much bigger problem. The safety of cannabis flowers compared to concentrates and other products is one of the reasons the state is moving forward with the early sale of flowers to all adults on October 1st, but not allowing the sale of concentrates and other products.
As Crombie uncovered, some labs didn’t catch pesticides that others did and some marijuana items contained potentially harmful contaminants that weren’t pesticides. I must admit, even as someone with extensive knowledge of the cannabis industry, that I never expected to learn that products would contain “chemicals used to enhance the appearance of ornamental plants.”
The Oregonian/OregonLive shopped at Oregon dispensaries, bought cannabis that had passed pesticide tests and sent the samples to independent labs for further screening. Two labs performed the analysis: OG Analytical, a marijuana testing lab in Eugene, and Pacific Agricultural Laboratory, a Portland lab that specializes in detecting pesticides on foods and agricultural commodities. Both confirmed in blind testing the presence of pesticides that should have triggered red flags from previous labs.
Ten marijuana concentrates, popular extracts made from the plant’s leaves and flowers, were screened. Pesticides were found in nearly all of them. Many of the pesticides detected aren’t regulated by Oregon’s medical marijuana rules, which means products that contain these chemicals still can be sold.
A total of 14 chemicals were found in eight of the samples, including a half-dozen the federal government has classified as having possible or probable links to cancer.
I had heard that many dispensaries, understandably, pulled products off of their shelves and stopped trusting certain labs as the tremors and aftershocks from Crombie’s report reverberated throughout the Oregon marijuana industry. Longtime grower William Simpson, quoted in Crombie’s piece, stated that he stopped using Eagle 20 “after researching the product on his own.” It only made sense that the Oregon marijuana industry would learn from Crombie’s work and change up business practices for the better.
To do a simple, quick test on how much had changed, I stopped into the Powell House Cannabis Club, owned by William Simpson and had just a handful of products tested that were produced by prominent companies. I purchased CBD Kush and Shark Shock, both CO2 extracts processed by the CO2 Company (who weren’t tested in Crombie’s piece, I believe); Blue Dream CO2 extract processed by Golden Xtrx; and Oregon Pineapple flower grown by Simpson’s Chalice Farms. I purchased two products from the CO2 Company because one extract was in a cartridge that patients use in a vape pen and another was in a syringe, commonly used for full extract cannabis oils that patients often consume orally.
I submitted the products to OG Analytical, one of the labs that Crombie utilized. A disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a scientist and am not making any claims on the safety of these products, everyone should consult with their own doctor or physician before ingesting any products. I had the products tested for pesticides, not for THC or CBD or mold or mildew. Just as I expected after reading Crombie’s piece the cannabis flower from Chalice didn’t test positive for any alarming amounts of pesticides or residue.
Potentially concerning for patients, especially those with compromised immune systems, is the fact that CO2 Company’s extracts tested positive for higher levels of piperonyl butoxide than the federal government allows upon food. Again, the highest levels allowed on foods is 20 parts per million. The CO2 Company’s CBD Kush, contained in a cartridge, tested at 29 parts per million, 9 ppm above the highest levels federally allowed on food commodities. The Shark Shock CO2 extract, contained in a syringe, tested at 92 ppm, more than 4 times the amount legally allowed on food in the United States. These levels of piperonyl butoxide were higher than any tested in Crombie’s report, where the highest levels reached 24 ppm.
The CO2 Company’s Shark Shock and CBD Kush were both originally tested by Kenevir Labs before hitting the shelves at the Powell House Cannabis Club. In all fairness to Kenevir Labs, testing for piperonyl butoxide apparently isn’t required by the state and while the lab offers additional screening services above and beyond state requirements, most clients don’t want to pay the extra costs. (See comment below the blog).
I asked Todd Dalotto of CAN! Research, who graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Research from Oregon State University, about patients ingesting the 29 ppm and 92 ppm of piperonyl butoxide in the CO2 extracts and he responded via email that:
I don’t know what the safe or acute lethal doses are for human ingestion, but I attached the MSDS fyi. I would be concerned about it at any level.
It’s a major ingredient in pyrethrins & pyrethroids (insecticides). Pyrethrins are often OMRI-listed insecticides (certified organic), but they cannot be OMRI-listed if they contain piperonyl butoxide.
***
Also, because CO2 has high selectivity for many contaminants and low selectivity for cannabinoids & terpenes, and because butane is the opposite, it’s more likely for it to be residual in CO2 extracts, while BHO extracts of the same contaminated material may contain little or none.
(Emphasis added)
After reading this blog Mr. Dalotto emailed me, “Glad you investigated this – it’s an issue that underlies the flaws in the current testing rules and will hopefully push the OHA/OLCC into promulgating better testing rules. And perhaps a good research subject for OLCC Research Certificate applicants.”
The lack of lab standards led many advocates to work on new legislation and to ensure that a regulated, legalized system would mandate proper standards, something that would carry over to the medical regime. It certainly must be concerning for many patients that they can’t necessarily trust the test results of the products they currently purchase. Hopefully, upcoming rules promulgated by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) regarding lab standards and licensing will put into place the proper regulations that will protect Oregon’s consumers and patients, especially those most vulnerable because of their compromised immune systems. In the meantime, with some labs and companies more than others, it is definitely buyer beware.
Well, that didn’t take long. After news hit that a commercial for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) was going to be the first ever marijuana commercial aired during the network news in Portland, Oregon, ABC affiliate KATU decided to flip-flop and prohibit the ad. A KATU Senior Account Executive emailed OMMBC producer Alex Rogers at 10:20am Tuesday morning, stating that the ad was good to go. At 1:59pm, Rogers got another email from the executive, stating, “Loved your press release, very cool being part of history. Bring it on!!!” Unfortunately, higher ups in the network weren’t as excited about being on the right side of history.
“At 3:45pm, my ad rep called me in a frantic state, saying that ‘something was going on’ and that ‘General Manager John Tamerlano needed to speak with me as soon as possible,'” Rogers told me. “I ended up speaking with Mr. Tamerlano about 30 minutes later and he told me that he had ‘no problem with the ad for the conference’ and that he was ‘happy to OK it’ but since the ad was getting media attention as the “first marijuana commercial” on Portland network news, he was ‘going to pull it.'”
“After further review, we have decided to step back,” said Tamerlano. “We don’t accept advertising for marijuana.”
Tamerlano clarified that network officials were aware of the content of the ad when they agreed to air it, but decided that it was acceptable strictly as a business commercial. When it became clear earlier today that other media sources were reporting it as the first-ever marijuana commercial, KATU reversed course.
When asked why KATU continues to reject marijuana ads despite legalization in Oregon, Tamerlano said the law was changed very recently, and cited the continuing prohibition of marijuana at the federal level.
It is a shame that they shied away from the ad. While marijuana does remain illegal under federal law, the OMMBC doesn’t sell marijuana or even promote the use of marijuana, it merely informs people about local, state and federal law. In fact, the OMMBC actually helps the federal government’s priorities listed in its Cole Memo, as it helps provide guidance for cannabis industry entrepreneurs and those thinking of joining the industry, in how they can stay within the state-regulated system and the federal tax code.
Pulling the commercial off of the airwaves, while KATU airs commercials for beer, vodka and pharmaceutical drugs with horrible potential side effects, further demonstrates the second-class citizenship of the cannabis community. We won an important victory with the passage of Measure 91, but there is clearly more work to be done to change our culture and our laws, demonstrating just how important events that help professionalize and organize the cannabis industry, like the OMMBC, are important for our cause. KATU probably created more buzz about the conference (which I help organize) by pulling the ad, than if the station would have just aired it, so get your tickets while you can.
The first marijuana business commercial to air on network television in Portland, Oregon, will air this Wednesday. A commercial for the upcoming Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) will be on during the evening news on KATU, the ABC affiliate in Portland (full disclosure, I help organize the OMMBC). While the cannabis industry and movement has made great strides in recent years, the fight for equal treatment continues on many fronts, including advertising outlets. Even though medical marijuana legalized first in California, all the way back in 1996, it made national news when the first medical marijuana dispensary billboard in the Bay Area went up in December of 2014. Network television has been very hostile to the marijuana industry, as a cannabis commercial was yanked from the TV schedule before ever airing in Denver.
It makes a lot of sense that the first cannabis commercial on network television isn’t for a vape pen or a dispensary, but on a conference designed to help people navigate the rapidly changing cannabis industry. The OMMBC commercial doesn’t advertise that anyone should use marijuana, but that those in the industry, or thinking of joining the burgeoning industry need to know the latest developments with medical and recreational regulations while also networking with the top attorneys, professionals and experts in the field.
The landmark spot will run on KATU this Wednesday between 5pm and 7pm and run Monday thru Friday until September 10th. Alex Rogers, founder of the OMMBC and Marijuana Politics, hopes that the first cannabis commercial on network news will help educate people about the medicinal and economic benefits of the plant.
“When educated on its use, cannabis can and does help millions of people. This is the start of something that has been a long time coming,” my good friend Alex told me. “It’s only a matter of time before cannabis is treated the same as beer in regards to advertising. It only makes sense as cannabis is less toxic than beer and pharmaceutical drugs advertised on television.”
The trailblazing commercial:
Network television, particularly the evening news, is still very important in our culture and society. Many people have their worldview shaped by television and too often they see stoner stereotypes that perpetuate Reefer Madness myths. The more that everyday people see that the cannabis industry and community is just like every other segment of society, if not a bit nicer, then the more they come around personally and politically. Commercials like this and more and more talented people coming out of the cannabis closet will only add to the momentum we are seeing across the nation for sensible cannabis law reform. Hopefully soon, it won’t be big news that a cannabis commercial breaks into a media sector; but each time we break down a barrier, we are one step closer to freedom and equality. Just as the OMMBC helps people succeed and break into the cannabis industry, the fact that this commercial is airing during the network news, shows that the cannabis community is breaking through the cultural divide step by step.
The Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference is September 12-13, purchase early tickets by August 28th and save $100. See www.ommbc.com for more details.
Despite Bernie Sanders’ surge, particularly in the first primary state of New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton remains the Democratic frontrunner and the odds-on favorite to be the next President of the United States. Thus, it remains extremely important that cannabis law reformers lobby Clinton to support sensible federal marijuana policies that build upon gains made under the Barack Obama Administration. Secretary Clinton hasn’t voiced the most progressive stances on marijuana policy in the past, actually out of step with her Democratic constituents. The Democratic frontrunner was confronted by an Iowa mother who made a desperate plea for the legalization of medical marijuana to help her daughter while Clinton was campaigning at the Iowa State Fair.
A 30-something Iowan mother named April Stumpf asked her to support legalizing medicinal marijuana nationally. Stumpf’s three-year-old daughter, Quinn, has a severe case of epilepsy and is about to die, she explained to Clinton. Her doctors recommend medical marijuana to ease the pain, but it’s hard to get because it’s illegal to sell in Iowa. The state allows residents to get medical marijuana cards and purchase the drug out of state — but often states that sell it require patients to be present for purchase, and Quinn is too sick to travel.
“She’s not expected to live past … ” her voice trailed off. “I mean, she can go at any time.”
Clinton agreed that there should be more research on the subject. And when Stumpf walked away, she dispatched her aides to get her contact information as the crowd continued onward.
I can only imagine the pain of any parent who has to witness their child suffering. It is an outrage that medical cannabis isn’t available to patients in need, from children with epilepsy to veterans battling post-traumatic stress to patients battling a host of debilitative conditions. It is imperative that the next President of the United States be on record as supporting medical marijuana federally as too many people are needlessly suffering. Geography shouldn’t determine whether you or your child gets the best medical treatment available. Hopefully, the plight of April Stumpf and her daughter will help convince Hillary Clinton to get on the right side of history on this issue.
The opening day of the Seattle Hempfest was cancelled for the first time in the event’s historical twenty-four year run. A downpour of rain, unlike what organizers had seen, along with some lightning, made it unsafe. However, the weather has turned for the better and the Hempfest is back on, starting with an all-star panel on the Ric Smith Hemposium stage that includes Cyd Maurer, the former KEZI Channel 9 news anchor out of Eugene, Oregon, and Charlo Greene, the Anchorage, Alaska, anchor that famously quit on live television to focus on (successfully) legalizing cannabis in “America’s Last Frontier”. Their panel, “Cannabigotry: We Legalized, Why Are We Still Fighting” included cannabis activist heavyweight’s Allison Holcomb (leader of Washington State’s I-502 legalization campaign); Leland Berger (longtime Oregon cannabis advocate and attorney; you can pick his brain at the upcoming OMMBC); Washington medical marijuana activist Stephanie Viskovich; and moderated by Dominic Corva, of the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy.
The topics the “Cannabigotry” tackles are very important for states that have legalized cannabis. While our first step is to end the arrest and prosecution of cannabis consumers, cultivators and providers, much work remains regarding employment law, real estate options, health care decisions and child custody law, just for starters. All of the bigotry that the cannabis community faces following legalization need to be tackled in the same way that legalization measures passed: education and organizing. Ending cannabigotry is really a continuation of legalization campaigns and is harder in many ways. It is much easier convincing voters that legalizing marijuana is a good policy decision for them, even if they don’t use marijuana, because they can realize that legalization saves them tax dollars and generates revenue for issues that they do care about, such as education and health care. It is harder to convince them that employers shouldn’t be able to fire marijuana users or that a medical marijuana patient shouldn’t lose custody to a parent that doesn’t use marijuana.
The private citizens, public officials and bureaucrats need to be educated on how cannabis actually works in one’s body and the latest science regarding its health benefits as well as the real-world facts on the ground (that communities that embrace sensible cannabis policies don’t have the sky fall down on them). After the facts are widely available and disseminated, then we must organize, both politically and culturally.
We must organize politically to push common-sense legislation, possibly starting with proposals that prohibit an employer from discriminating against an employee because he or she is a registered medical marijuana user or going even further to protect private, adult-use on an employee’s own time, especially if they don’t work in hazardous jobs. Additionally, we should organize with our dollars. We need to support businesses that have sensible cannabis policies and refuse to give our hard-earned money to corporations that unnecessarily discriminate against the cannabis community. We have to follow the lead of many people, like Charlo and Cyd, that have come out of the cannabis closet. The more that everyday Americans see talented, articulate people shattering stoner stereotypes, the closer we get to true freedom and equality and defeat cannabigotry once and for all.
Charlo Greene’s famous quitting on live TV (Warning: possibly NSFW language):
Cyd Maurer’s “coming out of the cannabis closet moment” (you can follow her journey at www.AskMeAboutMarijuana.com):
Cyd Maurer, who made national headlines after being unjustly fired for using marijuana on her own personal time, will be speaking at the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) in Portland, September 12-13. Specifically, Ms. Maurer will be on a media panel providing insight into how the TV news media works, very valuable information for both cannabis advocates and marijuana businesses. Television, and the local news, are still instrumental media outlets for the burgeoning cannabis industry as so much of what local marijuana businesses do is very news-worthy as opening up a dispensary or hosting a benefit for veterans that utilize medical cannabis marks a shift in culture and could very well be the first time such an event has happened in the locale.
Fortunately, for the cannabis community, Cyd has taken a rather unfortunate personal ordeal and has turned it into a positive for the marijuana movement. While ending criminal arrests and prosecutions are the first step towards equality, there are several more steps to go, including the ability of cannabis consumers to use cannabis on their own personal time, just as alcohol drinkers are allowed, particularly in jobs that aren’t hazardous. Stereotypes demeaning people that happen to utilize cannabis are still rampant in our society and having an over-achieving spokesperson like Cyd really helps us overcome harmful caricatures that have permeated through our culture.
As Noelle Crombie noted recently at Oregonlive.com, Ms. Maurer, who will also be speaking at the Seattle Hempfest this weekend, has received an outpouring of support for coming out of the cannabis closet and that she has been blogging here at Marijuana Politics:
“Hundreds of people have reached out to me,” said Maurer, 25. “So many people have reached out and thanked me, it’s been mind-blowing.”
***
“The important thing to focus on is that this dialogue is happening and that is what I wanted,” she said.
While the future is bright for the cannabis community and industry, we must always remain vigilant. Setbacks can occur for any political movement or business, for that matter. How we react with the media is so very important, whether we are trying to convey why a marijuana measure is good public policy or why cannabis consumers should support your particular business. Cyd Maurer is in a great position to help advocates and businesses to portray ourselves to the TV media and audience effectively, making her appearance at the OMMBC pertinent and timely. Additionally, Cyd wants to help move our law forward so employees don’t have to suffer the same fate that she did; she is the mix of industry knowledge and activism that is so crucial to our cause.
The cannabis industry is certainly a growing industry that will only continue to grow as marijuana moves mainstream and expands from state to state. However, competition is getting more fierce as those that have been working in the cannabis industry, whether in the black, gray or (state) legal markets, are seeing more and more competition from entrepreneurs jumping into the burgeoning industry following success in other industries. Leafbuyer works for cannabis business and consumers by consolidating the marketing tactics for businesses while saving consumers their hard-earned dollars by letting would-be customers know where to get the best deals.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mark Breen, Vice President of Business Development for Leafbuyer. This interview has been edited for clarity:
How and where did Leaf Buyer get started?
3 years ago myself and a group of entrepreneurs from the tech world saw a need for a service that could help consumers connect with the companies that sell and manufacture cannabis related products.
Other companies help cannabis consumers find nearby dispensaries and specials, what sets Leaf Buyer a part?
We focus on searchable offers. Instead of just putting offers on a page, we allow the consumer to search for what they are looking for, first by area then by product. We also allow manufacturers to post information about their products and where the consumers can find them. Since there are a lot of consumers learning about cannabis for the first time we want to provide as much information on products, dispensaries and the industry as we can.
Which states do Leaf Buyer assist cannabis consumers? Where are the next states to expand?
California, Colorado, and Washington. Continuing to expand into California and other states is the main goal. California from a market perspective is 5 times larger than the nearest state which creates a lot of opportunities.
Any new developments for the service on the horizon that you can discuss? In addition, or conversely, any other products or services offered currently or coming from you or the company?
Yes, the mobile app will be launching soon as it is in beta testing. We are constantly making improvements and additions to the site based on the feedback from our clients. We have Bi-Annual meetings with our clients to discuss new features and receive feedback from them on improvements or what they would like to see.
When and why did you see the cannabis industry as a viable industry to enter?
It is no secret that the market is a multi-billion dollar industry. As an ancillary company we felt this would be a better fit for our backgrounds as well as offer a different perspective when it comes to marketing the products in this industry.
Do you see marijuana legalization spreading rapidly across the country over the next few years? If so, why?
Maybe not as rapidly as we would like, but as long as it is regulated properly I do see more and more states adopting the legalization of cannabis. With public opinion polls increasing in favor and the tax revenue potential I only see this as a plus for the spreading of legalization.
Cannabis consumers and entrepreneurs should certainly check out Leafbuyer.com and see the services first-hand. When you visit Leafbuyer.com, you’ll notice that it is tailored to the state the consumer is in and that the site allows the consumers to search for dispensaries, products, head shops and grow stores, letting the potential customers know if there is a special deal in their area. Customers can even sign up to win free prizes and be emailed about latest specials and sales. Leafbuyer is the type of ancillary business that will succeed in the marijuana industry because it caters to the needs of businesses and price-conscious consumer. Whether you are an old pro or a newbie to cannabis or the industry, you should certainly check out Leafbuyer.com and see what the company has to offer; you can also follow the company on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The ResponsibleOhio marijuana legalization measure has been a controversial one within the cannabis law reform community, both in Ohio and across the country, and the controversy isn’t over as ResponsibleOhio has collected the requisite number of signatures to qualify for the November 2015 ballot. Many advocates are concerned about the fact that the 2015 ballot measure puts the cultivation of cannabis in the hands of just 10 wealthy backers. The concerns regarding this oligopoly even galvanized the Ohio Legislature that sent a measure to the 2015 ballot giving voters a chance to deny business interests from writing themselves into the Ohio Constitution (it should be noted that lawmakers didn’t do the same for casinos a few years back). I was alerted of the marijuana measure making the ballot by the Center for Public Integrity:
The initiative would change Ohio’s constitution to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana use and also give the exclusive right to grow and sell wholesale pot to 10 farms, all of which are owned by the ballot measure’s financial backers.
But the measure, which critics say amounts to a “marijuana oligopoly,” won’t be alone on the ballot. Opponents in the Ohio legislature sent a competing amendment to voters that would outlaw constitutional changes that benefit limited economic interest groups, like those behind the marijuana proposal.
“Hopefully the people of Ohio will decide to protect the clean constitution,” said state auditor Dave Yost, a critic of the marijuana measure. “The door remains open for cannabis legalization by petition by initiative. What we won’t have is this current system that’s poorly thought out and favors a few rich investors.”
I, for one, hate it when the cannabis community fights amongst itself, but this can’t be avoided in this campaign. The entire campaign will be interesting as will be the legal battle if both the ResponsibleOhio measure and the proposed amendment preventing constitutional changes that benefit a particular economic interest both pass; my hope would be that the Ohio Supreme Court would rule that all of the legalization and regulatory measures remain, but that Ohio must open up cultivation licenses to more qualified applicants. I am on record as supporting any measure that results in fewer arrests and improves the status quo of prohibition; laws and amendments can always be improved. However, I understand that reasonable minds can disagree, but I just urge that all sides involve debate respectfully and keep on topic; there are too few of us fighting to end cannabis prohibition and while we may differ on certain policies, we need each other in the end.
Bernie Sanders has certainly captured the hearts of progressives in the Democratic Party and many of those that have been fed up with politics as usual. Many in the cannabis law reform community have rallied around the Vermont Senator, prompting the establishment of the Facebook group Cannabis Advocates for Bernie since he was the first mainstream candidate to state that he or she will consider legalizing marijuana if elected President of the United States. Sanders garnered huge crowds on his West Coast swing through cannabis-friendly locales all the while, some political pundits try to downplay Sanders’ campaign, waiting for his support to peak as the conventional wisdom is that he won’t appeal to any constituency beyond his liberal base. It should now be obvious that Bernie Sanders’ momentum continues, as he surges past Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire poll released by Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald; Sanders is currently supported by 44% of likely Granite State primary voters while Clinton sits at 37%.
To put the poll in perspective, I checked back to the Franklin Pierce polling in the 2008 Democratic election. A poll conducted by Franklin Pierce that finished up on September 14, 2007, 116 days before the 2008 New Hampshire Primary, had Hillary Clinton doubling Barack Obama , 36% to 18%; Clinton’s percentage of the vote ended up at 39% in New Hampshire while Obama came in second with 36%. These latest poll numbers, especially in consideration with the history of the 2008 election, should have the Clinton machine worried and Sanders’ supporters excited that the long-shot candidate, may just not be that big of a long-shot anymore.
Mark Halperin, managing editor of Bloomberg Politics, stated that he wasn’t surprised by the Sanders surge in the polls on MSNBC’s Morning Joe:
The Bernie Sanders campaign had this to say about the poll in an email to supporters:
A new poll came out this morning, and I wanted to make sure you saw it right away.
New Hampshire Democratic Primary
Bernie Sanders: 44%
Hillary Clinton: 37%
This is the first poll that shows us in the lead, but it won’t be the last. Last weekend over 65,000 people showed up to see Bernie in Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle, and supporters recently hosted over 3,500 organizing meetings attended by over 100,000 people.
These poll numbers should energize Cannabis Advocates for Bernie and everyone that supports Sanders. Cannabis Advocates for Bernie have secured a booth at the Seattle Hempfest this weekend, an event that brings in more than 100,000 cannabis and hemp activists from around the country. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Sanders and figure out how you can help the best candidate for cannabis law reform win his party’s nomination and the presidency. Now, every time I post a Bernie blog, I get comments from Rand Paul supporters, and I do hope that Paul wins the Republican primary, but the libertarian conservative is shrinking in the polls as Donald Trump has galvanized the support of the anti-GOP establishment voting bloc that Paul needed to be successful. Hope to see many of the cannabis community that support Sanders at Hempfest this weekend as we #BernBabyBern or #FeelTheBern or #BernDownTheHouse, #BernDownForWhat whatever the kids are hashtagging these days.
As we have covered a lot, Congressman Earl Blumenauer has been one of the foremost leaders on marijuana law reform at the federal level. The Portland, Oregon, representative has been helpful to the cannabis law reform cause at all levels of government and he is continually working to expand the number of elected officials joining his support for practical improvements of federal cannabis law.
Blumenauer has even reached across the political aisle and divide bringing in Republicans and conservatives to rally around a common cause. Bringing in Oregon’s United States Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley show his commitment to Oregon voters, the marijuana legalization movement and continues to demonstrate how Oregon is helping lead the way. From Congressman Blumenauer’s Facebook page:
Joined Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden this morning for a press conference on the need for legal marijuana businesses to have access to banking services. There is absolutely no justification for forcing thousands of legal marijuana business here in Oregon and across the United States to do their business on an all cash basis. Not only does this stifle the ability of people to actually grow their businesses, this is a serious public safety issue that will only continue as more states reform their laws. Senators Merkley, Wyden and I support legislation that will fix this problem. Congress must take action and pass the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act.
The Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act is a common sense proposal that should be supported by every elected official and citizen, regardless of how they feel about marijuana or marijuana legalization. Preventing businesses from accessing banking services forces businesses to keep large amounts of cash, increasing the likelihood of robberies. Thus, even if you don’t support marijuana legalization, surely you support safer neighborhoods. Additionally, all-cash businesses can more easily hide profits. Thus, even if you don’t support putting an end to cannabis prohibition, surely you support those businesses paying taxes.
Each and every day, support for cannabis legalization increases and we will only see more and more politicians support sensible reforms like the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act. It is good to know that elected officials like Congressman Blumenauer are working hard for our cause and Oregonians should be proud that the Beaver State is a true trailblazer on cannabis law, helping lead the rest of the nation away from Reefer Madness into an era of cannabis sanity.
UPDATE: From Senator Jeff Merkley’s Facebook page:
Today, I joined with Senator Ron Wyden, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and leaders from local credit unions to speak out about…
The Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) is just over a month away. Attendees will get the latest info on both medical marijuana regulations and upcoming recreational regulations as the conference bridges the gap between the two Oregon systems. This is the fourth OMMBC, tickets are still available, but you should get them soon as the previous events in Ashland and Eugene sold out. While the OMMBC organizers (full disclosure: I’m one of them) have hosted an International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) in Portland, this is the first time that the OMMBC has ventured into the cannabis-friendly Rose City. I am greatly looking forward to the event as I love helping the cannabis community network and brainstorming with advocates about how we can keep improving our marijuana laws.
With the passage of Measure 91 last November, House Bill 3400 that altered both Measure 91 and the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and Senate Bill 460, the landmark October 1st “early start” to recreational sales, there are new cannabis laws to brush up on for experienced marijuana industry entrepreneurs, let alone new business people looking to enter the market. Additionally, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) Rules Advisory Committee and subcommittee meetings are advising the OLCC on rules and regulations that will be finalized in a couple of months. Throw in the local zoning ordinances and outright bans, and it is clear that anyone in the industry, or thinking of joining the industry, would be wise to hear from cannabis industry lawyers and experts to learn the ins and outs of the Oregon marijuana industry landscape as well as information that will help any business, such as branding, employment law and how the media, both mainstream and alternative, covers stories.
For even the most experienced cannabis industry professional, I think that tax attorney Henry Wykowski may be the most important speaker at the conference. Wykowski is the foremost expert on cannabis 280e issues as his cases have established what the cannabis industry can and cannot deduct from federal taxes. Since the federal landscape regarding taxation should change, Congressman Earl Blumenauer will discuss his important work in Congress and how we can help him help us. Longtime cannabis attorneys Paul Loney and Leland Berger will be on hand to answer questions about local marijuana laws and regulations, including those pesky city councils and county commissions in locales that may not be as cannabis-friendly as Portland. Since politics must be your business if marijuana is your industry, the insight from Representative Ann Lininger and Senator Floyd Prozanski will be invaluable as they will discuss legislative changes and give us a glimpse into the future of cannabis legislation, along with some tips into how we can help them develop sensible marijuana laws that are effective for the entire state.
All of us organizing the OMMBC see a booming future for the Oregon marijuana industry as we follow in the footsteps of Oregon microbrewery and winery industries. However, we are all activists at heart and understand that keeping people out of prison for marijuana is our number one goal. Thus, we are honored to have Judge Jim Gray, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and former (and likely future) Libertarian Party vice-presidential candidate. A former criminal defense attorney, California Superior Court Judge and federal prosecutor, Judge Gray has been on all sides of the issue, including the industry as he is now a board member of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. Judge Gray has been one of our most effective Drug War reform advocates for more than three decades and we can all learn a lot from him as we move forward as an industry and as a movement.
In addition to all of the great information about the industry and activism, the OMMBC always provides great networking events and is just plain fun. I hope that you won’t miss this opportunity to join us at the OMMBC as we help take the Oregon marijuana industry into the future in a way that benefits all Oregonians and provides a model for the rest of the country to follow.
Jeff Mizanskey, a nonviolent Missouri man sentenced to die in prison for marijuana, granted parole today following great advocacy work by his family, Show-Me Cannabis and Missouri NORML! Mizanskey’s attorney, Dan Viets, is the Show-Me Cannabis Chairman, the longtime leader of Missouri NORML and my first cannabis law reform activist mentor. I am so happy for Jeff Mizanskey, his family and everyone that has cared for and supported Mizanskey during his tragic ordeal. Jeff’s sentenced was commuted, thanks to some amazing cannabis advocates, many of whom I am proud to call friends and colleagues.
One of the things that I admire most about the cannabis community is how we manage to turn tragedy into motivation to work that much harder to legalize marijuana and end the failed and harmful policies of the Drug War and Mizanskey’s case is just the latest example of good folks rallying around a good person unjustly persecuted by the War on Drugs. People around the world couldn’t believe that a nonviolent man could be sentenced to life in prison over cannabis. I had friends and family who aren’t marijuana law reformers by any stretch who signed petitions asking for Mizanskey’s release. The #FreeJeff movement sprung out of compassion and love and it is great to see that the hard work and passion of the cannabis community help win freedom for Mizanskey.
The press release that brought tears of joy to my eyes this morning:
NEWS FROM NORML
The Missouri Affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
For Immediate Release: For More Information Contact:
Monday, August 10, 2015 Dan Viets, 573-819-2669,
DanViets@gmail.com,
JEFF MIZANSKEY GRANTED PAROLE
This morning, Jeff Mizanskey was informed by the staff of the Missouri Department of Corrections that his application for parole has been granted. He is expected to be released within the next ten to 25 days. His release could come sooner.
Following a parole hearing last Thursday at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, the Parole Board indicated it might be six to eight weeks before a decision was reached. However, the strong expression of support for Jeff’s release by members of the Missouri General Assembly and members of the general public may have accelerated the speed of the decision.
Jeff’s attorney, Dan Viets of Columbia, said that he spoke this morning with Jeff’s brother Mike Mizanskey of Chicago and his son Chris Mizanskey of Sedalia. Viets said that Jeff’s family is thrilled that Jeff will soon be back at home after 21 years of incarceration for non-violent, victimless marijuana law violations.
Jeff was sentenced to serve life without parole under Missouri’s “prior and persistent drug offender” law. He has never been convicted of any felony other than relatively small marijuana law violations. He has never even been charged of any act of violence toward any other person.
Missouri NORML and Show-Me Cannabis have worked together to support Jeff’s petition for clemency and his application for parole. The original clemency petition was filed by attorney Tony Nenninger of Bourbon. Missouri NORML Coordinator and Show-Me Cannabis Chair Dan Viets represented him in the parole process.
Viets also served on the Missouri Bar Committee which revised the Missouri Criminal Code and recommended to the Missouri General Assembly that the “prior and persistent drug offender” law be repealed. The Missouri General Assembly did so last year. The repeal will become effective in January 2017.
The New York Times call to repeal federal marijuana prohibition was a monumental event for advocates and the mainstream media’s coverage of of all things cannabis. Once derided in the media, the support of the Gray Lady. While more and more people move away from traditional media, like print newspapers, the “newspaper of record” still means a lot to politicos and other media outlets. The New York Times’ influence still permeates across the political and cultural spectrum.
Since the paper’s endorsement we have seen several improvements at the federal level, but the Congressional action has been too slow for advocates of sensible marijuana policies. Not one to rest on its laurels, The New York Times has prodded Congress and President Obama (“Congress and Obama Are Too Timid on Marijuana Reform“) to be reflect the will of the voters and implement sensible cannabis laws:
Lawmakers who hope their colleagues in Congress will act face an uphill struggle. For example, a bill introduced in the Senate by Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrats of New Jersey and New York, respectively, and Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, would allow states to legalize marijuana for medical use. It would also allow banks and credit unions to provide financial services to cannabis-based businesses in states that have legalized the drug. The bill has 16 sponsors, including two Republicans, but the Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, has not scheduled it for a hearing or a vote. An identical bill in the House with 17 sponsors, eight of them Republican, is also languishing in committee.
Congress has taken a few positive steps, like approving a provision that would prevent the Justice Department from using federal funds to keep states from carrying out their own medical marijuana laws. And some senior Republicans, including Mr. Grassley and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, have expressed support for the medical use of a compound known as cannabidiol, which is found in the cannabis plant but is not psychoactive. The Obama administration recently made it easier for scientists to study marijuana by removing a requirement that studies not funded by the federal government go through an additional review process, beyond what is required for researchers working with other drugs.
But both Congress and the White House should be doing more. Specifically, marijuana should be removed from the Controlled Substances Act, where it is classified as a Schedule I drug like heroin and LSD, and considered to have no medical value. Removing marijuana from the act would not make it legal everywhere, but it would make it easier for states to decide how they want to regulate it.
The Times’ coverage of George W. Bush’s case for the Iraq War provided cover for W’s cabinet members as they marketed the ill-fated quagmire. The Bush Administration’s shameful era of torture was assisted by the Times’refusal to even call waterboarding torture. I can tell you first hand the that paper’s endorsement of Measure 91 (as well as legalization measures in Alaska and Washington, D.C.) meant a lot to our campaign team as it uplifted the campaign, gave us a couple of good news days and it certainly impacted the media members covering the marijuana beat. Quite strangely, the person most responsible for the attention directed towards the testing, dosage levels and packaging of marijuana-infused edibles may just be The Times’ Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Maureen Dowd.
It would be great if this editorial is as influential on Congress as the paper’s coverage of the Iraq War or as impactful of Dowd’s tale of her long, strange trip, but unfortunately most politicians are years behind the people. But the times are changing, as they say and many members of Congress may just find themselves losing to challengers who decide to represent the majority of Americans that want to legalize marijuana. Many people tend to call politicians “bold” for supporting marijuana regulation, but really there isn’t anything bold about representing the majority of the people; in this case, sensible marijuana regulations are good policies and good politics.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had an eventful little Saturday in Seattle to say the least. In a much-publicized encounter a couple of apparent Black Lives Matter protestors took over the stage at an afternoon anniversary celebration of Medicare and Social Security, decrying Seattle as a racist city and demanding a moment of silence to commemorate the death of Michael Brown (a four-and-a-half minute moment of silence, to be exact, to symbolize the amount of time that Brown laid on the streets of Ferguson before anyone tended to him). A majority of the crowd didn’t appreciate the disruption of Sanders’ speech and the activists didn’t relent the mic to him. Sanders ended up leaving without addressing the crowd.
The altercation has been the subject of much debate among progressive activist circles as many are wondering why a progressive champion, who marched in the Civil Rights movement, has been subjected to Black Lives Matter protests when other candidates seem like more appropriate targets. The ordeal has even split Black Lives Matter supporters and advocates. I understand the passion of the Black Lives Matter movement and I share the frustration of advocates that haven’t seen the necessary reforms or enough politicians care about the issue. However, I sincerely believe that Bernie Sanders is the wrong target as he has the best policies to address the plight of the poor and people of color. I do hope that the protest helps bring the issues to the forefront of Sanders’ campaign and political discourse in general.
Following the Medicare and Social Security event, Sanders spoke in front of a packed crowd in Seattle, with a 12,000 maximum capacity audience at the Hec Edmunson Pavillion, where the Washington Huskies play basketball. In addition to the capacity crowd inside the arena, an estimated 3,000 people or so outside the pavilion. In a sign that Sanders understands the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement in the Democratic primary, the anti-establishment Democratic candidate briefly referenced the altercation and told the Seattle crowd that, “on criminal justice reform and the need to fight racism there is no other candidate for president who will fight harder than me.”
“Too many lives have been destroyed by the war on drugs,” Sanders said. “Too many lives have been destroyed by incarceration.”
Some of his biggest applause lines came when he declared that college education should be tuition free and that the United States should move to a single-payer, “Medicare for all” health-care system.
Saturday night’s rally was the latest around the country where Sanders has filled arenas and convention halls. By contrast, Clinton’s largest crowd, which her campaign estimated at 5,500, came at her formal kickoff in June in New York.
Bernie Sanders continues his West Coast tour and I expected that he would touch on the Drug War, since he was speaking in states that have legalized sales of marijuana (recreational in Seattle and Portland; medical in Los Angeles). Based upon his record and his willingness to discuss the War on Drugs and the fact that he is willing to consider the legalization of cannabis if elected President of the United States, I consider Sanders the best mainstream candidate on marijuana policy, Drug War reform and civil liberties in general (with Rand Paul second). In due time, I, and other drug law reform advocates will want to hear specifics, just as the #BlackLivesMatter activists want to see specific political solutions. The democratic socialist hasn’t ran from controversial political stances in the past, so I expect we will see specifics soon. Stay tuned to Marijuana Politics as we update all presidential politics impacting the cannabis community, including Sanders’ speech in Portland that is expected to match, if not surpass the crowd in Seattle.
