Breaking News: Polynesia Embraces CBD and Medical Cannabis

In a groundbreaking development, Polynesia is set to usher in a new era of cannabis legalization. After the first 100 days of his presidency, Moetai Brotherson announced the readiness of the Polynesian CBD legalization project. This monumental move marks a significant step towards the acceptance of both CBD and medical cannabis in the region.

The LP3 Bill: A Paradigm Shift in Cannabis Regulation

Under the LP3 bill, officially known as Article LP3, a pioneering framework for hemp’s use and importation is established. This legislation grants Polynesian residents the right to “transport, import, export, possess, offer, transfer, acquire, transform, and use products containing or derived from hemp seeds.” However, there is a crucial stipulation: these products must be “devoid of narcotic properties,” which translates to a current THC content of less than 0.3%.

Despite the tropical Polynesian climate, which results in hemp plants producing an abundance of phytocannabinoids, it remains challenging for the local industry to adhere to France’s stringent 0.3% THC threshold. Philippe Cathelain, president of the Polynesian Hemp Syndicate, has passionately advocated for raising this limit to 1%, taking into account the unique local conditions. This recommendation stems from a mission of inquiry by the French National Assembly, emphasizing the need for tolerance in overseas territories, similar to the existing policy in Reunion.

A Tripartite Legislation with Far-reaching Implications

This new legislation comprises three pivotal components. Beyond the legalization of CBD, the Ministry of Agriculture has crafted a second directive addressing the cultivation and transformation of hemp. However, the most eagerly awaited aspect is the third one, centered around medical cannabis. While CBD offers stress-relief properties, healthcare professionals are primarily interested in THC’s potential for pain management.

Philippe Dupire, a pharmacist at the French Polynesian Hospital Center, highlights THC’s value in treating persistent pain and neurological conditions such as epilepsy. Nevertheless, the bill specifies that products containing hemp or cannabinoids can only make therapeutic claims if they receive authorization as medications. Presently, only three cannabis-based medicines are available in mainland France, and this new legislation will enable their importation into Polynesia.

The legislation carves out exceptions for select medications, allowing their “exceptional use” when “implementing the treatment is likely to benefit the patient” and when “the efficacy and safety of these medications are strongly presumed based on current scientific knowledge.” The Polynesian Council of Ministers will compile a list of these exceptional medications, likely encompassing cannabis extracts and flowers.

The comprehensive bill is poised to be unveiled to the public in the coming days.

FAQs

Q: What does the LP3 bill entail?

A: The LP3 bill in Polynesia establishes a pioneering framework for the use and importation of hemp products. It grants residents the right to engage in various activities related to hemp, provided that these products have a THC content of less than 0.3%.

Q: Why is there a push to raise the THC limit to 1%?

A: The push to raise the THC limit to 1% is based on the unique climatic conditions in Polynesia, where hemp plants naturally produce higher levels of phytocannabinoids. Advocates argue that this adjustment is necessary to accommodate the local hemp industry.

Q: What are the key components of the new legislation in Polynesia?

A: The legislation encompasses three main components: the legalization of CBD, regulations regarding the cultivation and transformation of hemp, and provisions for medical cannabis use.

Q: How will medical cannabis be regulated in Polynesia?

A: Medical cannabis in Polynesia will be subject to strict regulations, and products can only make therapeutic claims if they receive authorization as medications. Exceptions may be made for certain medications deemed beneficial to patients.

This transformative development in Polynesia holds immense promise, paving the way for a new era in cannabis acceptance and regulation. Stay tuned for further updates as this progressive legislation unfolds.

Cannabis Legalisation in Thailand Explained

cannabis legalisation in Thailand explained

Recently, Thailand legalised cannabis. It is no longer a narcotic, but the government has yet to pass any regulations on the plant and there are no drug-impaired driving laws. But the country wants to make a splash in the medical marijuana market. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of legalisation.

The rapidly growing world of legal cannabis

Thailand has long been infamous for its harsh anti-cannabis laws. However, the country has changed dramatically in recent years, and medical use of cannabis is now legal. Although it is still illegal for personal use, the Thai Food and Drug Administration has removed cannabis from its ‘Category 5’ list, which means that it can be used for medicinal purposes. The country has also decriminalized possession of cannabis up to six grams, making it easier for tourists to buy it and consume it in licensed bars.

Thailand’s health ministry has announced that it will offer free cannabis plants to Thai households on June 9. The country could become a regional leader in high-quality cannabis production, and a multi-billion-dollar industry in a few years.

Japanese attitudes towards marijuana are relatively new. However, the Japanese government has stepped up efforts to counter propaganda from foreign countries that encourage the use of cannabis. In 2013, Japan legalized CBD, and CBD oil products have been selling in Japanese cafes since 2013. It has a legal loophole that allows cannabis stems and stalks to be imported. It is also available online on two of the country’s largest domestic e-commerce sites, enabling people to purchase products from a licensed provider.

As marijuana becomes increasingly legal in states and countries across the globe, attitudes are shifting. Even though marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, public opinion polls show that public support for its legalization has reached its highest level in history. Although the current Trump administration remains unclear on marijuana policy, state legislators are taking action to legalize the drug.

Problems with smoking marijuana in public

Cannabis legalisation in Thailand has sparked concerns in some quarters. While it is expected to boost national income and small farmers’ livelihoods, it could also be used to benefit large corporations. The Thai government’s new narcotics legislation was drafted with international bodies in mind, but it could not agree on specific limits for cannabis use.

Although the bill has passed its first reading in parliament, it may still be months before it becomes law. Until then, the central government has issued piecemeal rules on cannabis use and distribution. Last Friday, new regulations were introduced that ban the sale and consumption of cannabis in public. They also prevent the sale of marijuana to children and pregnant women.

Benefits of legalising cannabis in Thailand

Legalising cannabis in Thailand would benefit the country in two ways. First, it would give Thais the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits of this plant without fear of being charged for the drug. Second, it would bring in a large number of tourists, which is a benefit for the country’s economy. Lastly, legalising cannabis would allow for research into its benefits and use for medicinal purposes.

While many participants supported the legalisation of cannabis, some remained wary about its effects on the Thai society. For example, they noted that there was evidence of the medicinal benefits of cannabis in other countries. In addition, they said they were worried about the risk of increased youth usage of the drug. And they noted the need to establish a proper legal system to ensure safe cannabis use.

Thais have long been wary of drug use and have been willing to overlook human rights abuses in order to prevent drug use. Moreover, it has overcrowded prisons, where three-quarters of the population are jailed for minor drug offences. The prison conditions are poor, and the costs are extremely high.

A draft bill has been submitted to the parliament, which will set out the rules on how cannabis will be used. The legislation will specify guidelines for commercial, recreational and personal use of cannabis. A new bill is likely to be passed within the next few months.

When new cannabis opportunities drive Wall Street crazy

This noise coming from the New York Stock Exchange lately responds to the explosion of the cannabis market in the US mainly but in the world eventualy.

Wall Street brokers enthusiastically welcomed the arrival this week on the official Nasdaq market of the first company specializing solely in cannabis, the Canadian Cronos.

First observation here: the title of Cronos jumped 20% since its listing on the stock market!

The company’s stock, which grows and distributes therapeutic and recreational cannabis on four continents, could already be traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange as well as over-the-counter in New York in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), certificates allowing a foreign company to trade in the United States without having to comply with the country’s massive regulatory requirements.

However, since Tuesday, the company has been allowed to list its shares on the official Nasdaq platform, the electronic stock exchange overlooking Times Square in New York, in the same way as Apple or Amazon. This implies that it now meets all the requirements of the American financial markets policeman, the SEC.

Cronos CEO Mike Gorenstein described this development as “a major step forward for the company.” In a statement issued last Monday, he noted:

“We believe this will increase long-term shareholder value by improving visibility, liquidity, and attractiveness to institutional investors.
Cronos gave up nearly 2% the day he arrived on the Nasdaq but jumped 20.34% Wednesday.

An explosion of the cannabis market

This fanfare on the New York Stock Exchange responds to the explosion of the cannabis market in the world. In December 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the production, distribution, and consumption of cannabis.

In the United States, although soft drugs are still banned at the federal level, several states have authorized their marketing.

Several countries have also legalized cannabis for therapeutic use. In Canada, recreational use will become legal on July 1, 2018.

North American investors capitalizing on the commercial potential of cannabis can also invest in other specialized over-the-counter companies such as Aphria, Canopy Growth Corp or Aurora Cannabis, whose shares are also traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

It is also possible for them to bet on companies with a foot in the soft drug sector, such as the American alcoholic beverage distributor Constellation Brands, which recently acquired an equity stake in Canopy Growth.

Who is behind cannabis growers in Canada?

Faced with a booming market, old politicians see this as an opportunity for a new career.

The lucrative cannabis market in Canada is creating new vocations. In a country where, in 2017,4.9 million people were thought to have spent about C$5.7 billion (€3.8 billion) on cannabis, old policies saw it as an opportunity for a new career.

Chuck Rifici, former Treasurer of the Canadian Liberal Party (CLP) in the election of Justin Trudeau, is President of Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. He was one of the founders of Canopy Growth, the largest Canadian and global producer. It is chaired by Mark Zekulin, a former adviser to Ontario’s Liberal finance minister, Mark Zekulin. Also worth mentioning is Herb Dhaliwal, former minister of Jean Chrétien’s government, now president of National Green BioMed, a producer in British Columbia, and former national director of the LPC, Adam Miron, director of Hydropothecary.

Former police officers

Former senior officials from Health Canada, the federal government’s licensing agency, also work for the cannabis industry. Former researcher Thomas Shipley, for example, is director of quality control at Canopy. At Hydropothecary, customer service is managed by Max Cyr, who supervised the cannabis case at Health Canada. Others, such as Brian Wagner and Ivan Vrana, are consultants for this industry, after having been involved in marijuana coaching….

To ensure the safety of their facilities, several producers hired former police officers. Such as the former head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Norman Inkster, director of Mettrum, and Timothy Humberstone, an ex-drug fighter who became the director of ABcann.

 

Some investments don’t look good. According to Le Journal de Montréal, at least C$165 million from tax havens has been invested in cannabis production companies. Over the past two years, 35 of the 86 producers licensed by Health Canada have received offshore funding.

List of the Latest Countries that Have Legalized Cannabis

Cannabis which is also known as marijuana or weed is a substance that’s derived from a plant called cannabis sativa. This substance can be used for several purposes, including health, recreational and economical, thanks to its unique characteristics and effects. Weed is a psychotropic substance that offers advantages and disadvantages in equal measure. It offers health, economic and life-improving benefits as well as setbacks in equal parts.

For a very long time, the society has focused on marijuana disadvantages alone as opposed to everything. It has notably ignored the advantages of this psychotropic substance until just recently. Due to the negative publicity, marijuana use has been banned in many countries around the world for decades. However, going by the recent developments, it seems that many countries are beginning to have a positive attitude towards cannabis. The following countries have recently legalized weed;

1. Canada

Although in Canada cannabis usage is legal for medicinal purposes only, the nation could soon allow its citizens and residents to use weed for purposes other than this. There is currently a bill in parliament seeking to decriminalize weed usage for none medicinal purposes. The bill is at an advanced stage, and sources indicate that its likely to pass.

2. Some US States

Although marijuana usage remains an illegal activity except for medicinal and research purposes in many US states, there a few states that have completely legalized it no matter the purpose. The states where weed usage is completely legal are Alaska, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washing and Washington DC. It is highly likely that other states could soon follow suit.

3. Argentina

In Argentina, weed is partially legal, depending on the purpose. While it is legal to use weed for medicinal purposes here, you could be put behind bars for using the substance for purposes other than this.The sentence for illegal weed usage is often between 1 and six years.

4. North Korea

Did you know that you can do weed in North Korea without getting arrested? Despite being a totalitarian state with strict laws and harsh sentences, North Korea has a very positive attitude towards cannabis. It is completely legal to do weed in this jurisdiction.

5. Australia

In Australia, marijuana is legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. However, some parts of Australia such as Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and South Australia have gone a step further to decriminalize cannabis for personal use.

6. Austria

Austria is one of the few countries that have recently changed their laws regarding cannabis usage. The Eastern European country decriminalized marijuana for personal use two years ago. It’s still illegal to grow marijuana or sell marijuana within the jurisdiction though.

Conclusion

These are some of the countries where cannabis usage is entirely or partially legal. Places where marijuana use is entirely legal to include North Korea, the US states above, the Australian territories above, and Austria. The rest allow weed usage for medicinal and research purposes only. Many other countries could also soon review and change their laws regarding marijuana.

In California, thousands of amnesties related to marijuana.

The City of San Francisco will review up to 8,000 convictions and offenses under the new legislation, authorizing recreational cannabis.

In opposition to the Trump administration, the city of San Francisco, California, has instituted an amnesty for all convictions related to cannabis for over forty years. The agglomeration prosecutor’s office has thus indicated that it will “retroactively apply the measure (…) legalizing the possession and use of recreational marijuana”, adopted in November 2016,”to criminal offenses and convictions dating back to 1975″. Up to 8,000 convictions and offenses will be examined.

“Although drug policies are taking a step backward at the federal level, San Francisco is once again taking the initiative to repair the damage caused by the disastrous (…) war on drugs,” prosecutor George Gascon commented.” A criminal conviction can be a barrier to employment, housing, and other subsidies.”

The San Diego prosecutor’s spokesperson, Summer Stephan, told Agence France-Presse that the seaside resort on the Mexican border has been taking similar steps to erase cannabis-related criminal records for the past year.

Persons who have sold drugs to minors or involved in violence, particularly sexual assaults and rapes, cannot benefit from these amnesties.

“Restorative Justice”

Gavin Newson, an assistant to the governor of California and former mayor of San Francisco, highlights the “lives shattered by an expensive and racially discriminatory marijuana criminal justice system.

hvfiosfissvfospsapProsecutor Gascon points out that the “war on drugs,” the nickname of federal counter-narcotics policy for years, has resulted in “uneven arrests across racial groups.” With Black and Hispanic people being the subject of more frequent arrests and incarceration than Whites, although “multiple studies have shown that drug use and sale is equivalent.”

In California, several cities such as Los Angeles or Oakland, and Portland, Oregon, are working to address these disparities and are implementing “restorative justice” measures, such as prioritizing African Americans or Hispanics in commercialization licensing.

Eight states, including Colorado and Washington State in addition to Washington DC, have already legalized recreational soft drugs, and thirty states with the federal capital have legalized them for therapeutic use. However, it remains illegal at the federal level in the US.

If the Obama administration had lifted the stakes on marijuana arrests and prosecutions, the Trump administration and its justice minister, Jeff Sessions, have raised the stakes.