Author: Gaspard Le Dem
-
Super Potent Opioid ‘Iso’ Hits D.C. Amid Surging Overdose Deaths
Federal authorities are warning a new drug as potent as fentanyl — a synthetic opioid partly responsible for a nationwide surge in fatal overdoses — is now circulating in the D.C. region. Per a Wednesday report by FOX 5, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says it discovered isotonitazene — known as “Iso” or “Toni”…
-
Activists Urging Psilocybin Access For Terminally Ill Patients Arrested At DEA Headquarters
Around two-dozen activists rallied on Monday outside the headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Arlington, Va. to protest the agency’s refusal to grant people with terminal illnesses access to experimental drugs like psilocybin and MDMA. For several hours, the demonstrators blocked entrances to the federal building, shouting slogans like “DEA, get out…
-
D.C. Mayoral Debate Glosses Over Cannabis, Zeroes In On Opioid Epidemic
The top three candidates for D.C. mayor duked it out on Wednesday evening during a debate on WAMU’s The Politics Hour moderated by local radio legend Kojo Nnamdi and news veteran Tom Sherwood. Over the course of 90 minutes, incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser, At-Large Councilmember Robert White and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White argued their…
-
Virginia Lawmakers Drop Bill To Create New Weed Crimes, Crack Down On Delta-8
The Virginia Senate on Wednesday voted to shelve a bill that would have created new crimes for possessing weed while imposing stricter restrictions on the commonwealth’s hemp industry. S.B. 591, introduced in January by Sen. Emmett Hanger, a Republican representing Mount Solon, initially sought to prohibit the sale of weed edibles shaped like candy in…
-
How A Group Of D.C. Weed Activists Ended Up On A Relief Mission To Ukraine
Adam Eidinger’s activism has taken on many forms over the years. At home in D.C., he’s best known as the Phrygian-cap wearing, 51-foot-joint carrying local who in 2014 successfully spearheaded I-71, a historic ballot initiative that legalized the use of recreational weed in the District. But Eidinger has never stopped at just pot proselytism. He’s…
-
D.C. Council Advances Bill Banning Cannabis Testing For Most Jobs
The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to advance a bill barring most employers from testing job applicants for cannabis, except when hiring for positions that require an extra degree of safety. The measure, introduced last year by Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, was approved by all 13 members of the council’s Committee of the…
-
Eight Ways To Celebrate 420 In The DMV
It’s that time of the year when the sun pokes its head out, flowers start to bloom and the gentle spring breeze carries a subtle, yet unmistakable odor: the sweet smell of cannabis. That’s right — the week of 420 is upon us. And this year the DMV is going all out to ring in…
-
D.C. Council Narrowly Rejects Bill To Shut Down Cannabis Gifting Economy
The D.C. Council on Tuesday voted down an emergency measure to ramp up enforcement against the District’s many unregulated cannabis businesses – storefronts and delivery services that “gift” weed with the purchase of other goods, like t-shirts and potted plants. The bill, introduced late last week by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, would have granted D.C.’s…
-
D.C. Council Creates Tax Holiday For Medical Weed Businesses To Counter ‘Threat’ Of Gray Market Competition
The D.C. Council on Wednesday unanimously approved an emergency bill that establishes a tax holiday week for medical weed businesses around April 20, and allows seniors to sign up for a cannabis card without a doctor’s note. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who introduced the temporary measure, said it was necessary in light of an ongoing…
-
After Spate Of Deadly Fentanyl Overdoses In D.C., ‘Harm Reduction’ Advocates Say It’s Time To Decriminalize All Drugs
Advocates say tragic incidents like last week’s deadly spate of overdoses in Southwest D.C. could be avoided by decriminalizing drugs and implementing policies that seek to protect, rather than punish, people suffering from addiction. Three people died near Nationals Park on Friday after a potent batch of fentanyl led to at least 10 overdoses, according…
-
Culta Joins Sustainable Cannabis Coalition With Goal To Eliminate Carbon Emissions
Culta, one of Maryland’s largest medical cannabis businesses, is getting on board with an emerging green movement in the weed industry. The company announced on Monday it has joined the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition, a group of weed firms that promotes more environmentally friendly practices in the industry – from the way pot is cultivated to…