Cannabis

Cancer clusters, pink slime settlement and pets in pain + this day in history w/Franz Ferdinand and our song of the day by Little Dragon on your Morning Monarchy for June 28, 2017.

Last Thursday, a new bill was introduced that would effectively end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis. While I was certainly happy to see this bipartisan effort created, I was also reminded of how frustrating it is that such a bill needs to be introduced in the first place. As an unapologetic capitalist, I believe one of the greatest forces for good is the free market. When an industry has as much economic swagger as cannabis, it becomes difficult for anyone to shut it down. And this is one of the reasons I invest in the cannabis industry.

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law on June 24, 2017 officially making medical marijuana legal for patients with certain debilitating diseases. [1]
Ben Pollara, the executive director of Florida for Care, said:

“This is a good day for sick and suffering Floridians. The signing of this law provides a framework for the future of our state’s medical marijuana system and while it is far from perfect, it will begin providing access to patients.”

(ANTIMEDIA) A recent state court ruling out of Carson City, Nevada, has essentially reaffirmed an effective monopoly for liquor vendors over the pending legal cannabis market. The ruling, which came in response to a lawsuit from holders of liquor licenses in the state, determined that for the first eighteen months of cannabis legalization, only those who already have liquor licenses will be allowed to distribute weed.

(ANTIMEDIA)  — Shattering the stereotype of the lazy pothead, new research suggests cannabis users are actually more satisfied, more successful, and even more likely to volunteer in their communities than their nonsmoking counterparts.
Last week, the Independent described to its readers how the research was carried out:

These days, when Mexico and the United States are mentioned in the same sentence, it usually has something to do with President Trump building a wall. So it’s a little bit ironic that Mexico beat the U.S. to tearing down the wall between its citizens and access to legal medical marijuana. On June 21, 2017, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a decree legalizing medical cannabis in the country, with the strong support of the nation’s Lower House of Congress. [1]

Grocery ambitions, opioid Ohio and the Maryjane Report + this day in history w/Hinckley insanity and our song of the day by Iron & Wine on your Morning Monarchy for June 21, 2017.

Yet another study shows the natural healing power of marijuana, and it could give hope to the millions of people who suffer from chronic migraines.

(ANTIMEDIA) As the age of cannabis prohibition slowly comes to an end — despite the best efforts of drug warriors like Attorney General Jeff Sessions — there is an increasing degree of accountability and transparency in the emerging industry.

Tom Secker and Robbie Martin join me for a very wide ranging discussion on everything from Reality Winner to Dennis Rodman. Tom and I start off the conversation by talking about the Wikileaks Twitter account tweeting about our issue on The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. We talk about the obvious divide right now between Assange and Wikileaks not just in terms of Twitter, but in terms of their media strategy. The three of us then dive into the bizarre case of NSA leaker Reality Winner. We theorize as to whether she is a true leaker, or a truly disgruntled employee.