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ST. LOUIS - A mother in Missouri says she found cannabis-derived gummy worms in her 5-year-old’s Halloween candy after a trunk-or-treat event Saturday.

Tiffany Burroughs took her three young boys to the event held at JJ’s Restaurant, which hosts monthly car shows.

Restaurant co-owner Stephen Bell said the Halloween-themed event held in October, in conjunction with trunk-or-treat, always has a big turnout.

“They loved going, dressing up in their costumes,” Burroughs said.

Burroughs said she noticed an unusual package of gummy worms in a candy bowl but didn’t think much about it until she inspected the children’s candy at home.

The package was labeled as “Delta 8,” which is a cannabinoid found in the Sativa plant.

LAS VEGAS - On October 6, 2022, President Biden announced that he will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana and will call on federal regulators to review how the drug is classified.

The pardons will affect approximately 6,500 people convicted of federal offenses for simple possession from 1992 through 2021, as well as thousands of people in Washington D.C., according to senior administration officials. President Biden is also calling on governors to take similar actions.

“Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” Mr. Biden said. “Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities.”

The president wants to end what he calls a failed approach to marijuana that disproportionately affects people of color with simple possession convictions, officials said.

Among additional steps, the president will also direct the attorney general to issue certificates of pardons that individuals can show to law enforcement and employers, two administration officials said.

Mr. Biden also plans to direct the Department of Health and Human Services and attorney general to review the status of marijuana as a schedule 1 controlled substance, a category that also includes heroin and LSD, the officials said.

With the decriminalization of cannabis comes a list of questions and concerns over its medical and recreational use – including figuring out how long the drug's effects actually last for.

While society has had decades to question the relationship between alcohol consumption and intoxication, the duration of impairment from inhaling or ingesting weed has been more anecdotal than scientific.

A meta-analysis of 80 papers published last year narrowed down this timeframe. Depending on factors such as how the cannabis is consumed and how strong it is, the user can remain impaired for between three and 10 hours.

This information can help inform advisory information given to patients, help recreational users make better decisions about performing tasks such as driving after consuming cannabis, and help update the laws to better reflect the reality of cannabis impairment.

"THC can be detected in the body weeks after cannabis consumption, while it is clear that impairment lasts for a much shorter period of time," psychopharmacologist Iain McGregor from the University of Sydney (USYD) in Australia explained in 2021.

"Our legal frameworks probably need to catch up with that and, as with alcohol, focus on the interval when users are more of a risk to themselves and others. Prosecution solely on the basis of the presence of THC in blood or saliva is manifestly unjust."

Biden’s cannabis pardon will affect the lives of thousands of people. Does this mean governors will have to follow the president’s lead?

President Biden’s pardon of non-violent marijuana offenses feels like a prelude to a new cannabis era. Through a hopeful lens, the move represents a time when more and more states are legalizing cannabis and the drug has almost bipartisan approval. Realistically, it’s a little more complicated than that.

Biden’s pardon served as a guidance, one that governors are free to disregard. POLITICO interviewed several experts and politicians who believe Biden’s decision won’t influence Republican governors, especially since elections are within weeks. In the case of Democrats, these governors likely already have pardons in place for these types of offenses.

“I don’t think that it’s going to rise to a high enough level of concern in the short term, and probably not even in the longer term,” said Gregg Peppin, a Republican political strategist, when discussing the Republican party and their plans for the November elections.

“The battle lines have been hardened as it relates to the issues of this election. Republicans are campaigning on economic issues and public safety,” he said.

In theory, Biden’s pardon should affect around 6,500 people with federal possession convictions. It’s unclear how this will occur though since the Justice Department will have to figure out who fits the administration’s criteria and it’s very likely that some people deserving of a pardon will miss out due to bureaucracy.

Dozens of licensed cultivators have about 80,000 marijuana plants growing.

Around 1,100 patients have signed up for medical marijuana, and 96 doctors or nurse practitioners are working to certify them. Small growers are complaining a large one has been allowed to skirt the rules.

But the Mississippi State Department of Health has zero investigators — and only three staffers — overseeing Mississippi’s new medical marijuana program.

So far only one testing facility has been licensed and is only partially ready to test products. Plus, the health department’s program director still has another job — running the department’s Office Against Interpersonal Violence.

Health Department officials told the Board of Health on Wednesday that the agency is in a four-month “provisional” period with licensed marijuana businesses. As it finds problems or violations, it’s typically just issuing “corrective actions,” giving marijuana businesses a chance to straighten up without hitting them with fines or sanctions or calling in law enforcement.

The Health Department in a meeting with its board Wednesday pledged transparency in its oversight of medical marijuana, shortly before going into a closed door session to brief the board on specific active marijuana program investigations. During its public meeting, some board members’ questions were deferred to the upcoming executive session.

Mint Cannabis will soon be the first dispensary in Arizona, and one of a handful of dispensaries in the country, to have the ability to offer 24-hour service, 365 days per year to those 21 and older.

The Mint will operate 24-hours a day at this location on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as a starting point and may expand the extended hours to additional days of the week based on demand.

The celebration of the new, around-the-clock operations will officially start when the clock turns from 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 to midnight on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Mint’s Tempe dispensary on the southwest corner of Baseline Rd. and Priest Dr. (5210 S. Priest Dr.).

The first extended hours offering will take place Friday, Oct. 14, when the clock strikes midnight all the way until 7 a.m. that morning. During this seven-hour timeframe, customers and patients 21 years and older will find a live deejay, a variety of “Midnight Madness” buy-one-get-one deals, and free prizes and giveaways.

Everyone 21 and older who shops at this dispensary location during this 7-hour window will receive 25% off the purchases they make in the entire store. The first 100 people over the age of 21 who shop at this location starting at midnight on Friday, Oct. 14 will receive a medicated goodie bag, and everyone 21 and older who visits the Tempe dispensary between midnight and 7 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 will receive a free pre-roll.

Under the proposal, the city would obligate 1% of marijuana sales tax dollars to grow the fund.

If approved, the fund would be named for Herman Malone, a longtime minority business activist in Denver who died last year.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and the Denver Economic Development & Opportunity department are proposing the creation of a $15 million investment fund for minority- and women-led startups, which would be created using marijuana sales tax dollars. 

The city officially announced the proposal Wednesday and said the investment program would be named the Malone Fund after Herman Malone, a longtime minority business activist in Denver who died last year.

Under the proposal, the city would obligate 1% of marijuana sales tax dollars to grow the fund. The creation of the fund must be decided on by the Denver City Council, which is expected to vote on the issue this month.

If approved, the fund would become Denver's first equity-focused investment tool designed specifically to level the playing field for minority- and women-owned small businesses, the city said.

RAPID CITY - With the general election less than a month away, many South Dakota voters are already casting their ballots.

One issue voters will be deciding on is Initiated Measure 27. If passed, it would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in the state.

According to a report done by the Motley Fool, which broke down the marijuana tax revenue by state, the sales tax from marijuana could potentially generate millions for South Dakota.

In places like Colorado, where marijuana is legal for recreational use, the state reported a sales tax revenue in 2021 of more than $423 million.

The report found that if recreational marijuana is legalized in South Dakota, the state could generate more than $14 million within three years.

By all accounts, it appears the first Camp Cannabis festival, which took place Friday and Saturday at Marquette’s Tourist Park, was a success.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan with the 2018 election, so it probably was a matter of time before somebody stepped up with a festival to celebrate it.

The event marked the Upper Peninsula’s largest cannabis consumption event, with numerous educational sessions and vendors. For example, the program listed events such as a cannabis flower demonstration, “Ingestibles 101,” “What is Clean, Quality Cannabis?” and “Cannabinoids Explained.”

The Fire Station Cannabis Co. put on the event.

Although the city of Marquette police log had a few items that might have been connected to Camp Cannabis, it basically was a peaceful event, and definitely did not resemble “Reefer Madness” — although the smell of weed was in the air.

In fact, the program had a full-page emergency evacuation plan in case an evacuation was needed, with various exits explained. There also were campground rules with set quiet hours, and alcohol permitted only in beer tents so cannabis consumption could take place throughout the park.

One-third of applicants receive funding, many also receive additional TIF funding.

Taurance Thomas has sold hospital scrubs to select customers for more than seven years, but his dream is to open a brick-and-mortar retail store in Springfield that focuses on urban clothing.

The 50-year-old Springfield resident hopes to bring that dream to fruition by the end of the year in a leased building at 2701 Old Rochester Road.

The $40,000 that Thomas' business, Urban Vines, was awarded recently through the city's Business Assistance Cannabis Grant Program, along with an additional $40,000 in tax-increment financing funds that most grant recipients qualified for, were key to the project's progress, Thomas said.

"It means everything to bring that dream to life," he said.

Thomas' future store was among 22 grants to minority-owned businesses in the first round of allocations from the city's share of recreational cannabis taxes.

Recently, New York regulators unveiled proposed marijuana packaging and labeling rules that include provisions to boost sustainability in the state’s recreational industry. (Benzinga)

A Sustainable Program

As part of its sustainability program, New York requires cannabis businesses to incorporate “at least 25% post-recycled consumer content into their packaging and annually report key metrics on the implementation of their sustainability initiatives.”

“I just want to underscore the balance of the wide array of different critical public policy goals in releasing the packaging and labeling regulations,” Hunt added. “We’re really excited to move the needle and to be leading here on the environmental component. We’re really excited to work to help continue those good efforts.”

Taking Care Of The Environment Is A Priority

As Benzinga previously reported, the draft regulation on the packaging and labeling of marijuana products, with strict provisions, must not be attractive to children. That means the packaging must be child-resistant, tamper-proof, and non-toxic.

Since the state began issuing conditional adult marijuana licenses to growers and processors, regulators have been releasing updated guidance as it becomes available to licensees, Hunt said. “When we looked to crafting regulations in New York’s market, we always looked to learn from other states and incorporate best practices [and] lessons learned.”

V.P. Kamala Harris’ comments came days after President Biden’s historic pardons.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday urged both Congress and state governments to follow the Biden administration’s lead and decriminalize marijuana.

Harris’ comments, made during an interview on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” came less than a week after President Joe Biden issued pardons to individuals who have previously been convicted of a cannabis-related offense under federal law.

“Let me just start with saying this. I strongly believe, and the majority of Americans agree, nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed, right?” Harris said, as quoted by Yahoo. “We’re urging governors and states to take our lead and to pardon people who have been criminalized for possession of marijuana. And ultimately though, as with so many issues, if Congress acts, then there is a uniform approach to this and so many other issues. But Congress needs to act.”

On Thursday, Biden announced that he will issue pardons to all individuals with federal convictions of simple marijuana possession, a move that will affect thousands of Americans.

In the announcement, Biden made the same points that his vice president deployed in her late night interview, urging “all Governors to do the same with regard to state offenses.”

A youth marijuana prevention presentation will take place in Reeds Spring on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Laura Stack, the founder and CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors will be the guest speaker at the free community event, which will take place at the Reeds Spring Middle School from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event is being presented by several local organizations, including the Stone County Health Department. 

“Laura Stack is a national speaker that shares her experiences with her son Johnny and how he got into the high potency THC,” Prevention Specialist for the Stone County Health Coalition Sharon Perkins said in an email. “Laura has started an organization called Johnny’s Ambassadors in honor of her son.

Laura speaks how the high potency THC is not like it used to be back in the 1970’s. Laura will share how if our youth use the high potency THC it will change their brain chemistry.” 

According to the Johnny’s Ambassadors website, the organization is on a mission to educate teens, parents, and communities about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. They focus on youth marijuana awareness, prevention, and education.

Primarily, the organization shares data-driven facts and clear messaging with teens and parents to reduce the likelihood they will use marijuana and stop progression to more problematic use. Their goals are to keep youth from using marijuana and increase their perception of harm in using.

GLOCESTER - Police in Rhode Island have a warning for parents ahead of Halloween.

Officers in Glocester pulled over a car and found more than 200 edible marijuana products. They were packaged like cereal snacks similar to Rice Krispies Treats, Cocoa Pebbles and Trix. 

"These treats can easily be mistaken for the popular name brand snacks that you could purchase in the store," the police department said.

Police say this is a good reminder to always check your kids' Halloween candy.

CBS News reported last year that children are increasingly overdosing on marijuana edibles as more states legalize marijuana and edibles become more common in homes with children. 

Most Americans oppose marijuana’s categorization as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, and they support efforts to forgive those convicted of cannabis-related offenses, according to nationwide survey data compiled by USA Today/Ipsos Polling.

Nearly three in four Americans — including majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — support “changing how federal law classifies marijuana.” Since 1970, the US Controlled Substances Act has categorized marijuana in the same classification as heroin — defining it as a substance with a “high potential for abuse, … a lack of accepted safety, … and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.”

NORML has long called for the removal of cannabis from the CSA (a/k/a descheduling) in a manner similar to alcohol as opposed to moving it to a lower schedule like cocaine (Schedule II) or anabolic steroids (Schedule III). “In order to rectify the state/federal conflict that currently exists over marijuana policy, and in order to best maintain the market controls that a majority of states have enacted to promote public health, prevent the distribution of marijuana to minors, ensure safe business practices, and improve public safety, cannabis must be descheduled — not rescheduled — from the Controlled Substances Act,” NORML acknowledges in a position statement.

Public support for either pardoning or releasing those convicted for low-level marijuana-related crimes at either the state or federal level is more partisan with super-majorities of Democrats and Independents supporting such efforts, but only a minority of Republicans.

On Thursday, President Biden announced forgiveness for an estimated 6,500 people with marijuana-related federal convictions on their record. He also called upon Governors to take similar steps. According to archived data from the FBI, an estimated 29 million Americans have been arrested for violating state or local marijuana laws since the mid-1960s.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano praised the President’s actions in a new op-ed, opining, “Biden’s foray into the arena of marijuana reform legitimizes legalization as a subject worthy of consideration — and action — by those at the highest levels of government. Further, it is a recognition — by the president of the United States, no less — that America’s nearly 100-year experiment with cannabis criminalization has been an abject failure.”

Hemp has the potential to make Scotland's agricultural sector carbon neutral as well as providing huge economic benefits, a new report has found.

For the first time a detailed analysis has been carried out on the market opportunities for the Scottish hemp sector with time-bound recommendations to revamp the supply chain provided.

Hemp was once widely grown in Scotland and its cultivation dates back more than 6000 years. It has many uses including offsetting carbon dioxide, as a food, and as an eco-friendly fertiliser and pesticide. It is currently being used in building materials, as a biofuel, textile fabric and even as an alternative to plastic. As a food source it is high in protein, fibre and micronutrients, as well as having an exceptional fatty acid profile.

The report is a collaboration involving the University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), partnering with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) and the Scottish Hemp Association (SHA). It analysed the supply chain for hempseed and fibre in Scotland using data collected from farmers predominantly in the north east of Scotland as well as the Borders.

At present the supply chain for Scottish-grown hemp is underdeveloped with no well-established market routes for farmers. The supply chain is also exposed to many threats limiting its development, including low profitability, lack of technical support, weather limitations, lack of financial assistance, and stringent legislation.

Funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services through a Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI)-Gateway fellowship, the study also looked at HMRC trade data as well as Mintel’s Global New Product Development Data. The trade data shows that the UK is a net importer of hempseed and hemp fibre.