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In this week\u2019s cannabis news round-up, Vice President Kamala Harris criticizes cannabis classification; Germany passes landmark cannabis legalization bill; and New York governor orders review of adult-use cannabis licensing program.<\/p>\n US Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the current federal classification of cannabis as \u201cabsurd\u201d during a\u00a0recent White House event<\/a>, expressing eagerness to await the Drug Enforcement Administration\u2019s (DEA) decision on potential reclassification.\u00a0She emphasized the anticipation surrounding the DEA\u2019s upcoming determination regarding the rescheduling of cannabis, or cannabis with THC levels exceeding 0.3%, within the Controlled Substances Act.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so and we look forward to the product of their work,\u201d Harris said at the start of the discussion, which included Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), along with individuals pardoned for minor cannabis offenses by President Joe Biden and\u00a0rapper Fat Joe<\/a>.<\/p>\n This event is the Biden administration\u2019s latest show of highlighting its efforts to reform federal cannabis policies in the lead-up to the presidential election. President Biden referenced his pardoning of federal cannabis offenders and relaxation of federal cannabis regulations during his recent State of the Union address, aligning with the overwhelming support for cannabis legalization among 70% of Americans, especially prominent among younger voters, a key demographic Biden aims to retain support from.<\/p>\n In October 2022, Biden issued two executive orders pardoning individuals<\/a> convicted of certain nonviolent federal cannabis offenses and directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess cannabis\u2019s potential reclassification<\/a> within the federal controlled substances list. Although HHS recommended moving cannabis to a less restrictive category by late 2023, the final decision from the Department of Justice (DOJ) remains pending. Biden\u2019s subsequent expansion of the pardon declaration in December aimed to provide relief to a broader population, estimated by Harris to be in the \u201ctens of thousands.\u201d<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s Bundesrat has approved<\/a> a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, known as CanG, following its prior approval by the Bundestag in February. Despite facing opposition within the Bundesrat, representing the sixteen L\u00e4nder of Germany, the measure passed without delay and is slated to take effect on April 1.<\/p>\n The decision not to appeal to the Mediation Committee means that Germany\u2019s transition towards a more liberal cannabis policy will proceed as scheduled.<\/p>\n From April 1, 2024, German adults will enjoy the right to cultivate cannabis plants in their homes and possess personal amounts of cannabis. The legislation also permits the establishment of noncommercial cannabis clubs as part of the initial phase of legalization.<\/p>\n German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach\u2019s proactive measures, including a protocol declaration to the Bundesrat, were crucial in averting potential delays in the bill\u2019s approval. With the avoidance of referral to a mediation committee, which could have postponed implementation by up to six months, Germany remains on course for legalization on Easter Monday. Lauterbach welcomed the development in a social media post.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fight was worth it, legalization of cannabis is coming on Easter Monday!\u201d Lauterbach said. \u201cPlease use the new opportunity responsibly and help protect children and young people. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today.\u201d<\/p>\n In response to the challenges faced by New York\u2019s adult-use cannabis licensing program, Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated a\u00a0comprehensive evaluation<\/a>\u00a0to address issues that have hindered the legal market and allowed illicit sellers to thrive. The review aims to streamline license processing times, facilitate faster business openings and thoroughly assess the Office of Cannabis Management\u2019s organizational structure and processes.<\/p>\n Gov. Hochul has openly acknowledged the shortcomings of the state\u2019s cannabis rollout, labeling it a \u201cdisaster.\u201d Despite the legalization law\u2019s provisions to prioritize nonprofits and individuals with prior cannabis convictions for retail licenses, only a modest number of legal shops\u2014a little more than 80\u2014have opened since sales commenced in late 2022. Furthermore, the establishment of a $200 million social equity fund aimed at supporting applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs has not fully addressed the challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n The proliferation of unlicensed storefronts across New York, particularly in New York City, has exacerbated the situation. Gov. Hochul recently called for online platforms such as Google and Yelp to stop listing these illegal operations.<\/p>\n The decision to evaluate the program follows the suspension of a high-ranking official at the cannabis agency amid allegations of selective enforcement against a cannabis processor. As part of the review, Commissioner Jeanette Moy from the state\u2019s Office of General Services, alongside other government officials, will be embedded within the cannabis management agency for a minimum of 30 days. Their objective is to devise strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and establishing performance benchmarks for future progress.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have built a cannabis market based on equity and there is a lot to be proud of,\u201d said Chris Alexander, executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management. \u201cAt the same time, there is more we can do to improve OCM\u2019s operations and we know Commissioner Moy, a proven leader in government, will help us get where we need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Office of Cannabis Management has been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of license applications, with just 32 personnel tasked with reviewing approximately 7,000 applications received since last fall.<\/p>\n The post Week in Review: Vice President Harris Criticizes Cannabis Classification<\/a> appeared first on Cannabis Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In this week\u2019s cannabis news round-up, Vice President Kamala Harris criticizes cannabis classification; Germany passes landmark cannabis legalization bill; and New York governor orders review of adult-use cannabis licensing program. PHOTO @kamalaharris Vice President Kamala Harris Criticizes Cannabis Classification, Anticipates DEA Decision US Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the currentContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":73510,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[50,216,15690,80,137,17449,4211,65,208,17388,3332],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73509"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73509"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73511,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73509\/revisions\/73511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Harris](\"https:\/\/cannabisnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kamala-Harris-Round-Table.jpg\")
<\/a>Vice President Kamala Harris Criticizes Cannabis Classification, Anticipates DEA Decision<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Germany Passes Landmark Cannabis Legalization Bill, Implementation Set for April 1<\/h4>\n
<\/a>New York Governor Orders Review of Adult-Use Cannabis Licensing Program<\/h4>\n
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\nRead More: Week in Review: Vice President Harris Criticizes Cannabis Classification<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"