Author: Gaspard Le Dem
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Federal Cannabis Prosecutions Hit New Lows As Fentanyl Cases Skyrocket
Federal cannabis prosecutions continued to decline in 2021, hitting fresh lows as fentanyl and methamphetamine cases climbed to record highs, according to a preliminary report released this week by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC). Over the last decade, prosecutions by the U.S. government for weed trafficking or possession have steeply and consistently declined. The USSC…
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Cannabis Banking Reforms Delayed Once Again After Being Stripped From Defense Bill
In a 363 to 70 vote, House lawmakers on Tuesday night passed a new version of a bicameral defense spending bill that doesn’t include cannabis banking reforms, sparking disappointment and frustration among advocates and stakeholders. Back in September, the House had approved an initial version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with provisions to…
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AOC Joins Forces With GOP Lawmaker On Bill To Help States Expunge Cannabis Records
The number of cannabis bills making their way through Congress keeps growing. A bi-partisan pair of House lawmakers, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), introduced federal legislation on Thursday that would offer states financial and administrative support to expunge pot-related offenses. The Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act would allow the U.S.…
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D.C. Council Holds First-Ever Hearing On Legalizing Cannabis Sales As Congressional Ban Lingers On
The D.C. Council on Friday held a much-anticipated hearing on a bill to legalize recreational cannabis sales, getting live input from more than 100 witnesses on a wide range of questions, from how to tax weed businesses, to where they should be located and how to create an equitable industry. The crux of the bill,…
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Friday Is Weed’s Big Day At The D.C. Council. Here’s What To Expect.
Cannabis is about to have its big day in the D.C. spotlight. On Friday, the D.C. Council will hold its first-ever hearing on the Comprehensive Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Act, a bill to legalize recreational weed sales. Introduced last March by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, the 72-page bill has been long in the making.…
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Republicans Unveil Competing Cannabis Reform Bill With Lower Taxes, Less Focus On Social Equity
House Republicans led by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Monday unveiled a cannabis bill that is poised to compete with similar legislation proposed by Democrats earlier this year. Dubbed the States Reform Act, the bill is being framed by Republicans as a compromise or middle-ground between the simple descheduling of cannabis and wide-ranging reforms sought…
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Biden Admin Insists Public Housing Residents Can’t Use Cannabis, Even For Medical Purposes
Cannabis users still aren’t welcome in public housing, according to the Biden administration. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says it will keep denying federally-assisted public housing to those who use weed, whether or not they reside in a state that has legalized the plant. Earlier this year, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton,…
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We’ve Revamped Our Website!
Dear readers, As you may have noticed, The Outlaw Report has gotten a bit of a makeover. Today, we’re proud to announce the launch of a fully redesigned website with a sleeker look, streamlined navigation and an updated set of tools and features. We hope you’ll take a moment to browse around, and that you’ll…
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D.C. Council Lifts Restrictions on Medical Cannabis Industry, Backs Off Gray Market Crackdown
The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an emergency bill that aims to bolster the District’s medical cannabis program by easing restrictions on its patients. The measure, proposed last week by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, extends the validity of patient registrations, creates two-year medical cannabis cards, doubles the amount of cannabis patients can legally carry…
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Facing Public Backlash, Mendelson Backtracks On Gray Market Crackdown
After an immediate public backlash from advocates and business owners, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on Monday scrapped part of an emergency bill that would have tightened the screws on unpermitted weed shops and delivery services. The updated version of the bill, which the council will consider on Tuesday, no longer penalizes gray market cannabis…
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D.C. Council Chairman Proposes Emergency Bill To Crack Down On Unlicensed Cannabis Shops
The D.C. Council will consider an emergency measure next week that would give local authorities more power to crack down on the dozens of businesses that sell cannabis without a medical permit in the District — also known as the gray market. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on Thursday requested to add the emergency bill to…
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Senate Budget Bill Ditches D.C. Cannabis Rider, Opening Door For Recreational Sales
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled a spending bill on Monday that omits a controversial provision banning D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales. Though D.C. residents voted to legalize weed back in 2014, the provision — informally known as the Harris rider — has for years blocked District officials from using local funds to launch…