Joe Biden Calls Marijuana A Gateway Drug and Flavored Vapes Back on Shelves

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Dec. 10, 2019 - PRLog -- In domestic news, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden faces backlash from competitors after calling marijuana a potential gateway drug. In response, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, as well as Senators Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris reiterated their support for ending federal cannabis prohibition and promoted related social equity reform. As the only contender in the democratic primary against legalization, many are questioning Biden's chances of winning the nomination.

In Oregon, flavored cannabis vape products are back on shelves after marijuana company Dyme Distribution sues the state over its temporary ban on the cartridges. The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled in favor of blocking Governor Kate Brown's six-month ban after considering its economic impact, in conjunction with the recent CDC announcement. They identify Vitamin E as the likely cause of health issues, as opposed to flavor additives.

In Michigan, state regulators accelerate the launch of the state's recreational cannabis market from Spring of next year to December 2nd, allowing MMJ operators to transfer part of their inventory to adult-use facilities. Although almost 80 percent of municipalities are currently banning rec sales, experts predict many will eventually participate, and the state's industry could generate up to 1.7 billion dollars annually.

In New Jersey, lawmakers give up on legalizing recreational cannabis through the legislature and push for a voter referendum. The constitutional amendment, which would permit adults 21 and older to use marijuana and subject retail purchases only to the state's sales tax, is proposed for the 2020 general election ballot.

In finance, Oklahoma's MMJ market reaches over 258 million dollars during its first 10 months, with a skyrocketing patient count of 5 percent of the state's population. Experts attribute the nascent market's booming success to its more free market approach to regulations, including no cap on the number of business licenses, doctor discretion of qualifying conditions, and a restriction against local bans.

In Canada, British Columbia's government allocates 676,000 Canadian dollars out of an employment fund toward a program aimed at bringing gray-market marijuana companies into the regulated sector, called the Cannabis Business Transition Initiative. The project will focus primarily on the Kootenay region, and will help many small-scale cannabis producers navigate the rules of the legal industry.

Overseas, the state of Western Australia allows general practitioners to prescribe medical cannabis without the need for referral to a specialist, following the lead of Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. The move is expected to significantly improve patient access, bolstering estimates of 10,000 patients in the country by the end of the year.

Written by: Jacqui Verdura

https://youtu.be/gmgtRjfZ_zA