Florida’s Marco Rubio has announced that he is seeking the GOP nomination for President of the United States.
Spurred by his desire to help move the country into “another American century,” Rubio presented himself as the greatest agent for change. That change may not extend to drug policy, though. During his tenure, the Republican Senator has offered only tepid support to legalizing non-euphoric cannabis. When was asked about his own use of marijuana, Rubio has refused to answer the question.
Speaking to Fusion’s Mariana Atencio last year, he said “If I tell you that I haven’t, you won’t believe me. And if I tell you that I did, then kids will look up to me and say, ‘well, I can smoke marijuana because look how he made it.’”
A bank based in Oregon was making a name for itself by being one of the few financial institutions that was working with cannabis retailers in the Pacific Northwest.
When the bank opened an office in Colorado, the Feds stepped in. The bank was warned against it’s operations crossing state lines as marijuana is still illegal under federal laws.
The difficulty of dealing with differing compliance laws proved too much and the bank decided to close about 75 accounts that were linked to marijuana dispensaries.
This closure is sure to make other banks think twice before entering what will surely be a lucrative market down the road.
Today, to no one’s surprise, Hilary Clinton announced her White House ambitions. Moving away from a traditional announcement rally, The Democratic front runner chose to make it official using a video called “Getting Started” that featured a diverse group of Americans.
Her website does not discuss her thoughts on drug policy. When asked about a federal end to marijuana prohibition, Clinton advocated a wait and see strategy.
Speaking with KPCC last July, she said “I’m a big believer in acquiring evidence, and I think we should see what kind of results we get, both from medical marijuana and from recreational marijuana, before we make any far-reaching conclusions.”
At a press conference this morning, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer claims his office has closed more than 500 illegal medical marijuana dispensaries.
It’s been said that Los Angeles was once home to over 1,100 such dispensaries.
Feuer’s insists that medicinal cannabis should be available, but companies that are not complying with Proposition D should be shut down.
Proposition D, a measure passed by voters in 2013, restricts operating hours and locations of dispensaries. It also increased taxation on marijuana revenue.
According to ABC 7 News, there are currently about 120 pot shops that meet the city’s guidelines, but we know the number to be more around 135.
President Obama made a brief stop at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica during his trip to the Caribbean island. Obama has made no secret of his affinity for the reggae singer’s music. Even after his death in the early ‘80s, Bob Marley continues to be commercially and artistically influential.
Forbes lists Marley as the fifth top earning dead celebrity in 2014, netting more than $20 million. Expect that number to climb in the coming year as his name is licensed to a new line of marijuana products, Marley Natural.
Advocates hoping to end marijuana prohibition in California are preparing a ballot initiative for next year’s November election. They hope syncing the vote with the upcoming presidential contest will bring a large number of young people to the ballot box.
After legalization failed in 2010 during a midterm election, legalization advocates have been studying how to ensure success this next time. Presidential elections tend to bring a much larger (and younger) turnout. A 2015 Public Policy Institute of California poll showed that 61% of 18 to 34-year-olds thought recreational cannabis should be legal.
Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) and Representative Sam Farr (D-Carmel) have taken a bipartisan stand against the Justice Department’s overreach on medicinal marijuana. Responding to the continued harassment of dispensaries in the Golden State, the Representatives schooled the Justice Department on it’s recent interpretation of an amendment meant to free pot clinics of continued federal coercion.
The two teamed up after an LA Times article on the continued persecution and prosecution of Bay Area cannabis providers.
“Criminal prosecutions … as well as asset forfeiture actions like those mentioned in the recent L.A. Times article against dispensaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, were what motivated us … to approve this measure.”
(h/t LA Times)