Cannabis Blog

Good news out of Rhode Island:

Following approval from the Rhode Island House and Senate, a bill that would add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana is headed to Gov. Gina Raimondo who is expected to sign the legislation into law. This is a huge victory for patients!

Veterans and others who suffer from psychological trauma have fought for years to addPTSD to the list of state-approved criteria for medical marijuana. Once this bill becomes law, these patients will no longer be forced into an illegal market to access the medicine that relieves their symptoms.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously in May. The legislation was approved 67 to 1 by the House in a vote yesterday.

It is encouraging to see Rhode Island’s legislature continuing to move in a positive direction by expanding the medical marijuana program. 

Read More:http://www.theweedblog.com/rhode-island-ptsd-bill-passes-heads-to-governors-raimondos-desk/

Skywalker  (Hybrid)

Skywalker is a hybrid product of the blueberry and mazar strains. This 100% indica strain is known to provide above average pain relief, headache management, appetite stimulation and heavy sedation. The skywalker strain is sticky and mildly fragrant with fruity undertones and a flowery scent similar to other indicas. The effects are immediate and last up to two hours.

First social media, now marijuana -- Microsoft Corp. is so hip these days.

Three days after investing in LinkedIn Corp. LNKD, -0.19%  in a record-setting $26 billion deal, the company announced its first venture into the world of marijuana, striking a partnership with KIND Financial to provide seed-to-sale software to state and local governments for the management of cannabis commerce and distribution.

The deal makes Microsoft MSFT, -0.47%  one of the first major technology companies—and one of the first major publicly traded companies -- to acknowledge the rapid legalization of marijuana, with recreational use already legalized in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Washington D.C., and up for vote soon in five other major states, including California.

Major brands have been mute on the controversial topic, but more have started to show their support as acceptance has spread. Last month, Walgreens Boots AllianceWBA, -0.70% posted a blog touting research showing the benefits of medical marijuana, which is now legal in 24 states.

The legal marijuana industry is expected to balloon in coming years. Sales of legalized marijuana are projected to hit $6.7 billion this year, compared with $5.4 billion a year ago, according to industry tracker ArcView Market Research.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/microsoft-gets-into-the-weed-business-2016-06-16

A U.S. Senate committee voted today in support of opening up banking services to state-legal marijuana businesses. By a vote of 16-14, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, forbidding the use of federal funds to penalize financial institutions that serve marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. The amendment was offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

“For the second year in a row, the Senate’s budget writers have voted to address the banking crisis facing our industry,” said National Cannabis Industry Association executive director Aaron Smith. “Access to basic banking services is one of the most critical challenges facing legal cannabis businesses and the state agencies tasked with regulating them.”

“While an appropriations amendment isn’t a permanent fix to the banking problem, it is a significant step to correct a dangerous and unfair burden on responsible small-business owners and regulators.

“Bipartisan coalitions in both chambers have supported these reforms. It’s time to make them the law of the land.”

Read Morehttp://www.theweedblog.com/senate-appropriators-vote-to-open-banking-for-marijuana-businesses/: