Cannabis Blog

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Latest on U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke announcing his 2018 U.S. Senate run (all times local):

11:40 a.m.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has begun his longshot 2018 Senate run by praising immigrants, saying America draws strength from refugees and suggesting it’s time to “end this failed war on drugs.”

The 44-year-old, third-term congressman told supporters Friday on a rooftop in his hometown of El Paso that he will support policies embracing people coming to the U.S. as immigrants or refugees.

He promised to halt the “paranoia coming out of the White House.”

O’Rourke has been a longtime critic of U.S. drug policy. On Friday he also criticized Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, saying the state needs a “senator working full-time for Texas” rather than “serving his own interests” running for president.

O’Rourke spoke about “comprehensive immigration reform” than repeated the words in fluent Spanish.

Read More:http://hightimes.com/news/texas-orourke-decries-failed-war-on-drugs/

The DEA, for many, is high up on the list of the government’s most corrupt, mismanaged and ill-equipped organizations. And it sure knows how to squeeze money out of innocent victims.

According to a report issued Wednesday by the Justice Department’s Inspector General, the DEA has seized more than $4 billion in cash from people suspected of involvement in the drug trade since 2007.

The scope of asset forfeiture is outrageous: Since 2007, the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Fund skyrocketed to $28 billion.

In 2014 alone, authorities seized $5 billion in cash and property from individuals—more than the amount of all documented losses to burglary that year.

Read More:http://hightimes.com/news/dea-squeezing-money-and-property-out-of-people-at-record-rates/

The Purps (Hybrid)

This scrumptious purple plant comes out of Mendocino County, in northern California, where it began as a clone-only plant among the medical marijuana community. The Purps high soars into a long-lasting purple haze of playful euphoria. It produces an active, awake feeling with a very low burnout factor.

What is the California market worth? Let’s look at what we know from 2016; Washington did just under $1.2 billion and Colorado did $1.3 Billion, both with roughly 2,500 licenses each. The two markets combined are worth $2.5 billion with 5,000 licensees; and 2019 California will be five times bigger? Ten times? On the low-end, that’s $10 billion. The smart money is making moves in the background laying the groundwork to be a first mover to capitalize and capture customer loyalty.  

But that’s the fun and exciting part, the other side…not so much. As a licensee or business operator, now you have to figure out reporting to the Cannabis Activity Tracking system (CAT), comply with several agencies, know your local jurisdiction’s regulations, hire some staff, make some mistakes, and figure out how to make it all work while keeping your head above water.

Read More:http://www.theweedblog.com/cannabis-activity-tracking-californias-cannabis-maze/