Browsing Federal Law

WASHINGTON, DC — Legal cannabis businesses may have found just the solution they’ve been searching for. The US Treasury and Justice Departments introduced guidelines Friday to address the concerns of banks who wish to deal with retail cannabis stores, cultivation facilities, and more. Jennifer Shasky Calvery, director of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, explains that the rules are intended to “move from the shadows the historically covert financial operations of marijuana businesses.” Thus far, banks have been hesitant to do business with the budding cannabis industry. Financial institutions are required to notify federal regulators of any “suspicious activity” on behalf …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The tides seem to be turning, at least as far as cannabis policy in America is concerned. A group of 18 legislators sent a letter to President Barack Obama Wednesday that states the current classification of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance “makes no sense.” As noted in the letter, “Classifying marijuana as Schedule I at the federal level perpetuates an unjust and irrational system. Schedule I recognizes no medical use, disregarding both medical evidence and the laws of nearly half of the states that have legalized medical marijuana.” Congressman …

Editor’s Note: Justin Kander is webmaster of the Phoenix Tears organization and author of the Comprehensive Report on the Cannabis Extract Movement, a 100-page report that examines and analyzes the mounting evidence in support of cannabis extracts as medicine. Over the past several years, abundant evidence has accrued which suggests that cannabis extracts can eliminate cancer in humans. Individuals, dispensaries, corporations, and doctors have all observed these effects. Most recently, the CEO of a biotechnology …

WASHINGTON, DC — The US Senate Judiciary Committee passed groundbreaking drug sentencing reform Thursday. The Smarter Sentencing Act represents an overhaul of drug sentencing in America. If passed by the House and Senate, it will reduce mandatory minimum sentences, give judges more discretion, and release some nonviolent drug offenders from prison early. The Smarter Sentencing Act Receives Bipartisan Support As noted by the Drug Policy Alliance, The Smarter Sentencing Act has received bipartisan support from a “strange bedfellows group of senators.” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), Sen. Ted …

WASHINGTON, DC — As reported Saturday by the Boston Herald, Michele Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), “slammed” President Obama’s recent comments that cannabis is “no more dangerous than alcohol.” Now, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is calling for her to be fired. The organization has started a petition to relieve the Ms. Leonhart of her duties with the DEA. They hope that she will be replaced with an Administrator who follows President Obama’s …

States In Line With 8 DOJ Cannabis Enforcement Priorities Americans for Safe Access (ASA) released a report Monday that analyzed the 8 Department of Justice (DOJ) priorities in the memorandum issued on August 31 by Deputy Attorney General James Cole – the third such memo since President Obama took office. Specifically, the report provides analysis of each medical marijuana state and their level of compliance with the DOJ’s priorities. The ASA report, “Third Time the Charm? State …

NAACP Endorses House Resolution 1523 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officially endorsed House Resolution 1523 – the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2013. If passed, the initiative would amend the Controlled Substances Act so that it may not apply to anyone acting in compliance with state laws. The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act was proposed by Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) and referred to committee in April. According to a statement from the NAACP, “Laws prohibiting marijuana have been unjustly enforced and are largely responsible for …

Poll Shows American Support For Legal Marijuana A recent Gallup poll released on Tuesday found that a majority of Americans are in support of legal cannabis. This is the first time in Gallup’s history that a poll has revealed majority American support for legalizing marijuana. According to Gallup, 1,028 Americans were asked, “Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?” Reportedly, 58% answered ‘Yes’. “58% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.” – Gallup This is almost a 50% increase from when Americans were first asked the same …

According to Lawyers.com, the “mile high club” may take on a completely new meaning as more and more states vote to decriminalize the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis. Everyone has heard the stories of people walking their baby cannabis plants on board airplanes & vaporizing in the terminal, but just how are they getting away with it? The fact of the matter is that cannabis is federally illegal, and for that reason, it’s technically illegal to fly on commercial airlines with cannabis because airports fall under federal jurisdiction. Well, you might be shocked to hear that …

Degenerate art is the direct translation of the German ‘Entartete Kunst’, a term coined by the Nazi regime to describe all art that was deemed modern, demeaning, or rebellious. Entartete Kunst was also the title of a traveling art exhibition that premiered in Munich on July 19, 1937, and remained open until November 30 before making its way to eleven other cities across Germany and Austria. The degenerate art featured in the show was a collection of over 650 works Hitler ordered to be seized from museums and art collections throughout the German Reich. The collection included …