Vicente Fox
Marijuana Industry News October 18, 2013
California Marijuana Legalization Ballot for November 2014 Filed…
Residents in California have waited for the state lawmakers to fix their vague marijuana laws for years. Activists are trying to rectify the situation. A ballot initiative to be possibly be voted on in November of 2014 that would legalize marijuana has been filed. The proposed law is aimed at addressing many issues including raising new tax revenues, preventing sales to minors, to ensure growing safety, and to reduce the power of illegal dealers. There has been a growing push for residents to come up with their own plan, as elected officials have been unable to properly create marijuana laws since 1996, 17 years after medical marijuana became legal in the state.
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Dali Lama Supports Medical Marijuana Use…
The Dali Lama is a symbol of peace for many people around the world but we at marijuana.net do not recall many instances where he has commented on marijuana. He is currently on a three week tour of Mexico where the Tibetan spiritual leader was invited to a forum created by former Mexican President Vicente Fox. The forum was a pro marijuana event, as legalization gains momentum in Mexico, due to the reaction of out of control cartel violence/power. The Dali Lama doesn’t care much for the recreational use but does join a growing list of influential figures calling for reform, as he see’s the medicinal potential in marijuana.
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Washington State Approves Rules for Legal Marijuana…
There has been considerable excitement and curiosity over how exactly Washington and Colorado will oversee their legal marijuana’s industries. Legal sales are expected to begin sometime in the middle if 2014. The issue is complex with tax rates, security, and trying to keep marijuana from being taken out of state leading the concerns. Production will be capped at 80 metric to a per year and 334 dispensaries will be permitted state wide. The states liquor board has held public hearings for the past year and hopes they have agreed on the best procedures. The state hopes to generate tens if millions in new tax revenue.
Marijuana Industry News September 27, 2013
Poll: Majority of California Residents Support Legal Marijuana…
While many think that support for marijuana legalization in California is a foregone conclusion, that has not always been the case. Residents have supported medical marijuana for years. At times, residents against recreational legalization have seemed to outnumber those for it. That trend is starting to change and recent polls show a majority of residents do support legal marijuana. With what happened last year in Colorado and Washington, and the DOJ’s recent admission that they will not prosecute those in accordance with state law, it may not be a surprise if the trend continues all over. A recent poll conducted by Public Policy Institute of California, indicated that 52% of California residents would like to see marijuana legalized. Democrats favored legalization by a margin of 64-33 while Republicans favored keeping marijuana illegal by a margin of 53-45%. The poll also found significantly more support for federal authorities to respect state laws, 68% of likely voters said the federal government should not interfere with state marijuana laws. California has encountered considerable financial and budgetary problems, perhaps making the idea of green lighting new tax revenues popular.
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NORML Makes Attempt at Getting Marijuana Ad to Air During Superbowl…
The NFL may not be able hide under its archaic marijuana policy for much longer. Calls to reduce mandatory suspensions for marijuana violations
are coming from all over. There is no mandatory suspension for Dui related arrests. Marijuana Policy Project recently put up a billboard outside of the Denver Broncos stadium that questioned the NFL’s pro alcohol and anti-marijuana policies. The billboard received a great deal of press. Now there may be a chance NORML takes the issue to even newer heights. Intuit is running a contest where the organization that receives the most votes will have a Superbowl ad paid for. NORML’s ad is currently the leader in votes. It will be interesting to see if Intuit will award NORML or refuse to help the ad air. Fox, the television host of the Superbowl may also elect not air the commercial. Unfortunately for Intuit, they may find that you cannot send an open offer to the people if you are not prepared to discuss what is truly on their minds.
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High Profile Mexicans Urge Decriminalization In Newspaper Ad…
Former Mexican president Vicente Fox has been beating the marijuana legalization drum for years. The country is experiencing devastating cartel violence and the idea of legalizing marijuana to reduce cartel power is popular. Earlier this week, a newspaper advertisement was printed with many highly successful Mexican residents including a Nobel prize scientist, businessmen, actors, and lawmakers coming together to call for marijuana decriminalization. The ad had a caption that read :
“Mexico has paid a high cost for applying the punitive policy of prohibition. We know well that neither decriminalization nor any other individual measure represents a panacea to end the violence, corruption and lawlessness in Mexico. But effective decriminalization of marijuana consumption by raising the dose permitted for personal use is a step in the right direction.”
Marijuana Industry News August 9, 2013
Older Generations Trying Marijuana in Higher Numbers Than Younger…
Earlier this week Marijuana.net reported on a recent Gallup survey that found the number of teens co summing marijuana has remained steady for years. The conversation revolved the perceived notion that legal medical and recreational marijuana would lead to a spike in usage by the teen to 29 year old bracket. In 1985, 56% of of those ages 18-29 had tried marijuana. Now, according to the new Gallup data, that number is just 36%. Of from the ages of 30-49, 49% have tried cannabis. As much or more of a surprise is that those from the 50-64 age bracket are smoking marijuana at much higher rates. In 1985 only 9% of Americans from the age of 50-64 smoked marijuana. Now that number has risen to 44%. The makeup and attitudes of this age group is considerably different. In 1985, many people from this group were World War 2 and Korean War vets. Today many from this age group were part of the Hippie Movement. Additionally, critics of legal marijuana dismiss the chance that regulation works. Any marijuana to them will result in waves of zombie like teens willing to anything for access with caregivers driving around in vans willing to distribute. Perhaps medical cards has been a deterrent for teens.
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Chilean Psychologist Leads Push To Follow Uruguay’s Legal Marijuana Path…
Recently we learned that Uruguay has moved very close to legalizing marijuana. The impact may be spreading thought Central and South America as there seems to be even more interest in Chilean marijuana activist, Dr. Milton Flores. He is considered to be the most well known marijuana reform advocate in Chile. The psychologist has been a long time advocate of legalizing marijuana. He is trying to end the criminalization of those who are non violent or require medical relief. Dr. Flores has been He recently said “Cannabis is neither good nor bad. Its use can be appropriate or inappropriate. It’s a tool that can have very significant effects.” While Dr. Flores had been trying to bring awareness the issue for decades, he has found much more support in recent years. There has been growing support for legalization in Chile as of late. Mexico may also consider legalization soon as their former president, Vicente Fox had been quite vocal on the issue. With Uruguay’s plans to move forward on marijuana legalization, the idea seems to be generating momentum all over South and Central America.
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Arkansas Activists Revise and Resubmit Medical Marijuana Ballot…
The Deep South may represent the last stronghold of marijuana reform opposition. When it comes to reform, the west was first, the northeast has been on fire, and medical marijuana has even made its way to the Midwest. However, with Florida having an elderly population in need of medicine and already producing the highest quantities of illegal marijuana, there clearly is demand in the sunshine state. While reform in Florida may be on the way, it is Arkansas who may be the first to drastically alter marijuana laws. The group Arkansans for Medical Cannabis are working hard to get the decision into the hands of the people. A previous ballot proposal was rejected by state Attorney General Dustin McDaniels lady month. If approved this time, which is certainly not guaranteed, those with Arkansans for Medical Cannabis would have the opportunity to collect enough signatures and put medical marijuana to a vote of the people in 2014.