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2015 and Cannabis


As we wrap up 2015, we'd like to look back and see all the progress made on cannabis prohibition and legislation. Although 2015 wasn't as big of a year as 2014 in terms of cannabis legalization, this year has still witnessed massive policy changes across the States that have made huge impacts on cannabis law, use, users, and it's market. Here are some of the victories seen this year for Cannabis, and here's to another wonderful year around the corner!

January

As policy in Washington D.C. began to change as promised, with the legal medicinal and recreational cannabis victories that passed previously, Congress — and one Maryland senator in particular — went out of their way to try to stop legalization from going into effect. Lawmakers blocked any District funding for recreational implementation and made sure cannabis sale remained unlawful. Despite these efforts, the District of Columbia prevailed. Although dispensaries and other forms of retail still don't exist, possession is legal- and supporters (and clearly friendly people) hand out cannabis seeds free as it is legal to grow in limited quantities.

February

How incredibly just is it, that a law that effectively legalized cannabis for medicinal and religious use in Jamaica, on the 70th birthday of famous musician and activist Bob Marley?! Jamaica has since begun licensing official growers as well as accepting applications for consumers who qualify for the program. Jamaica’s law is the first in the world to legalize cannabis for religious reasons, as the Rastafari religion uses “ganja” for spiritual and meditative purposes. One Love for All!

March

It became more and more clear that there had to be some national-level regulatory framework and consult for this framework. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, known as the CARERS Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Sen. Corey Booker, D-N.J.; and presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY. The bill would've provided formal protection for patients, doctors and businesses in states where cannabis is legal. The measure has since gained additional bi partisan sponsorship - But so far it's stalled in the Senate thanks to Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley. This continues to gain support- this surely isn't the last we will hear of it!

April

Lawmakers in cannabis-conservative Georgia debated over giving patients access to cannabis extracts. Representative Allen Peake, who saw numerous efforts fall short, continued to lobby for compassionate medicine in the state. He eventually secured passage of the Haleigh’s Hope Act, which legalizes the possession and use of cannabis oil for patients who qualify under nine qualifying conditions. There's still no system for patients to obtain the medicine aside from procuring it in another legal state, but Rep. Peake is pushing to bring cannabis oil production to Georgia.

May

Efforts for medicinal cannabis in Puerto Rico paid off when Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla issued an executive order authorizing cannabis for such use.

June

Texas reviewed six cannabis bills this year- the one they chose to approve gives limited access to CBD oil to for patients with severe epilepsy and seizure disorders. A step in the right direction, and moving cloer to where Kentucky is at with cannabis legislation.

July

In Washington state, Senate Bill 5052, otherwise known as the Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act drew expected protests from patients: Within a short time of the law being signed, more than 60 dispensaries were forced to shut down, and patients under the age of 21 were left without their medicine. Some major positive benefits did stem from the change: Safety regulations are now in place establishing testing standards and quality control, edibles will be more carefully regulated and therefore easier to dose properly, and, the Washington State Cannabis and Liquor Control Board recently announced granting more than 200 new retail licenses to be distributed to dispensaries. Meanwhile in Louisville, KY, Senator Perry Clark lobbies for medicinal cannabis in the state during the MENSA event early in the month.

August

A low-level cannabis offender who had been sentenced to life in prison finally recieves justice. Jeff Mizanskey gained enough support from the community and the state that he was released after 20 years behind bars. Mizanskey’s son started a petition that gained nearly 400,000 signatures and started a movement. Gov. Jay Nixon granted Mizanskey clemency and, he was shortly released from a Missouri prison. This is a major victory- it points out how absolutely unjust cannabis scentencing has been across the nation in a time where it's starting to become as acceptable as alcohol.

September

The U.S. government's principal agency for cancer research, the National Cancer Institute, published one small scentance that changed public views forever. The phrase was found in the federally funded, government operated Institute's list of “Complementary and Alternative Medicine,” in a section on Cannabis and Cannabinoids. It simply states: “Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.” Finally, the government is beginning to aknowledge that previous hypothoses on Cannabis and cancer are true- and the benefits of medicinal cannabis are glaring. Officially.

October

Oregon legalized marijuana for recreational purposes in 2014’s general election, but did so much differently than Washington and Colorado. Rather than wait for the time-consuming process of drafting regulations, issuing licenses and waiting for harvests, Oregon stepped right into legalization by opening medical dispensary doors on Oct. 1 to anyone over 21. More retail shops will open, but until then customers with valid identification can purchase up to an ounce of cannabis for personal use. Dispensaries are to prioritize medical patients over recreational consumers. While regulations are being set, Oregon has already been ensured they will enjoy the fruits (or flowers) of their overall lawchanges in the meantime.

November

During a month where polotics and policy is nearly unavoidable, Bernie Sanders, Senator of Vermont and current Democratic Presidential Candidate, proclaimed that one of the biggest obstacles facing the country is the high population of prisoners behind bars for nonviolent drug offenses. Sanders broached the topic of federal legalization during a rally in November, then went a step further by introducing groundbreaking legislation, on par with the CARERS Act, to remove cannabis entirely from the Controlled Substances Act, a measure that would essentially remove all existing federal crimes surrounding cannabis.

December

Canada ended the year strong, electing a pro-cannabis prime minister, on a campaign platform of federal legalization. As Justin Trudeau took office, changes were immidiately being made. He welcomed Syrian refugees into the country, rearranged his cabinet to be gender-inclusive, and ordered Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould to begin developing a process for legalizing the cultivation, distribution and purchase of cannabis for recreational consumers.

As the year draws to a close, it's high time for a legislative push- especially as the presidential election approaches. 2015 was great, but 2016 looks to be an even bigger year for cannabis!

*Highlights of the year sourced from Leafly.com. You can find the etire original article here.*

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