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Marijuana
Monday, September 23, 2019
UA hosts first 'Cannabis Symposium' on Sept. 25
Posted By Phillip Bramwell on Mon, Sep 23, 2019 at 4:39 PM
Raphael Gruener, a retired professor with 35 years of experience at the UA College of Medicine, organized the Cannabis Symposium to begin “a movement to make the scientific study of cannabis legal.”
He said strict enforcement by the federal government prevented research into the potential medical benefits of cannabis. He said he hopes state and federal governments continue to loosen laws to allow for in-depth research of the plant.
"In the 1970s and '80s, the federal government classified cannabinoids as schedule one drugs," Gruener said. "It became impossible to study the cannabinoids in an evidence-based scientific method."
The Drug Enforcement Agency calls "Schedule 1" drugs substances that have "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."
Gruener said the speakers do not want to promote a positive or negative opinion of cannabis. Rather, he wants attendees to make informed decisions, not decisions based on hearsay.
"Attendees of the symposium will come away with new knowledge based on science as opposed to knowledge that comes from anecdotal information," Gruener said. "The measure of success is continued interest on the part of university researchers to begin to establish collaborations with other scientists."
Gruener said research shows how cannabis can help manage pain caused by epilepsy and other serious illnesses, as well as the side-effects of chemotherapy.
The presenters include Todd Vanderah, a pharmacology professor at the UA College of Medicine. Vanderah will discuss compounds in cannabinoids that "help people with pain and addiction" in his presentation, The Endocannabinoid System: The Biological Foundation of It All.
Yu-Fung Lin, associate professor of physiology at the University of California-Davis, will discuss the teaching methods and learning objectives of the cannabis courses she teaches in her presentation Teaching the Human Physiology of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
Two international professors are also scheduled to speak: Richard Huntsman, a professor of neurology at the University of Saskatchewan, in Canada and David Meiri, a laboratory professor of cancer biology at the Technion Institute, in Israel.
The Inaugural Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the BIO5 Institute, the College of Medicine – Tucson, and the College of Science. The symposium begins 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. The event is free to attend and open to the public, but registrants must pre-register online. For more information, visit be.arizona.edu/iics
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
High Court Rules Cannabis Extracts Are Legal in AZ
Posted By Nick Meyers on Tue, May 28, 2019 at 3:38 PM
The opinion closes a tumultuous chapter in Arizona cannabis legality that Downtown Dispensary owner Moe Asnani described as “an emotional rollercoaster.”
“The weight of the world is off my shoulders,” Asnani said. “We fought it and prevailed.”
Justices made a straight-forward call, said Alex Lane, criminal defense attorney and owner of Cave Creek Dispensary.
“We start with the statutory language,” the opinion reads. “Because AMMA specifically defines ‘marijuana,’ we apply the statutory definition and look to neither the criminal code nor common understanding.”
Much of the prosecution’s case rested on the idea that “cannabis” is defined as a narcotic in the Arizona Revised Statutes, and that voters did not realize they were voting for concentrates in the AMMA. The Supreme Court shot down that argument.
Harvest of Arizona owner and Arizona Dispensaries Association president Steve White said he feels a combination of relief and vindication.
“Patients in Arizona are going to continue to have options beyond just smoking the flower,” he said. “So we can continue to serve people who don’t want to smoke cannabis flower.”
The saga of questioning cannabis concentrates began with the 2014 conviction of Rodney Jones who was already on probation. Jones had been found guilty of legally possessing cannabis concentrates, but Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk saw it as an opportunity.
Polk, a long-time cannabis opponent prosecuted the case and Jones spent two-and-a-half years in prison without committing a crime.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
It Is Finally Here! The 2019 Tucson Weekly Cannabis Bowl!
Posted By TW Fun & Games Desk on Sat, Feb 16, 2019 at 1:00 AM
Deadline to cast a ballot is midnight Sunday, March 17.
A few ground rules:
• In the Best Budtender category, please include the name of your favorite budtender as well as the name of the dispensaries where they tend bud.
• When voting for best concentrates and edibles, please sure to name a brand and not a strain.
• We have a new essay question: Tell us your favorite strains of flower in 100 words or less! If we really like your essay, we’ll run it in our 4/20 edition.
• You can only vote once—and we can catch multiple votes from the same IP address, so don’t bother trying. Stuff bowls, not ballots!
VOTE NOW!
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Concentrate Commotion: Arizona Appeals Court Deems Marijuana Extracts Illegal Under State Law
Posted By Nick Meyers on Thu, Jun 28, 2018 at 12:11 PM
But don’t panic yet. Industry insiders and professionals seem to have arrived at the consensus that the court made such a heinous decision that the Arizona Supreme Court will reverse it, and extracts will remain on the shelves in the meantime.
“Cannabis will prevail,” said Mikel Weisser, director of Arizona NORML. “I cannot see us losing—it doesn’t seem like a logical conclusion.”
The decision to appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court lies with the defendant, and the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association has already reached out to offer assistance in the appeal, said Gary Smith, president of ACBA.
The court’s decision hinges on a legal discrepancy between the definitions of “marijuana” and “cannabis.”
The Appellate Court decision refers to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act definition of marijuana, which refers to “the genus cannabis” and defines “usable marijuana” as “the dried flowers of the marijuana plant, and any mixture or preparation thereof.”
Court cases concerning concentrates often cite the clause, but judges and lawyers rarely seem to come to an agreement on what the clause means. To most people who work in the industry, the clause undoubtedly protects concentrates as a “preparation” of cannabis.
However, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office argues that “possession and use of cannabis is not protected by AMMA because it is neither marijuana nor a preparation thereof.”
The state defaults to a 1973 definition of cannabis as “the resin extracted from any part of a plant of the genus cannabis.”
According to the court’s opinion, the AMMA does not overwrite the definition of cannabis under state law. Cannabis, meaning just about anything other than bud, remains a “narcotic drug,” according to the state’s drug schedule and carries a class four felony punishment.
Furthermore, the court states its “primary objective” is to support the intent of voters who approved the AMMA and does not believe extracts were considered when voters legalized medical marijuana in 2010.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Ahead of Its Time: How PuraEarth is Redefining the Cannabis Experience
Posted By Taylor Johnson on Fri, Apr 27, 2018 at 5:34 PM
Thanks to the legalization of marijuana across various states, perception isn't the only thing that's changing. New state of the art technology allows for optimal control, allowing Master Growers to produce cannabis with specific medical benefits and effects. Want to have deep conversations with friends? Run a 5k? Give a presentation to the board? Enjoy more connected down-time with your kids? There are strains for that. With this newfound technology also comes a better understanding of this powerful plant's constituents. Cannabis used to come unlabeled in a ziploc bag, but companies like PuraEarth have elevated the playing field by subjecting all of their products to multiple state lab tests and proudly publishes the results for patients. Effectively, remedying the "grey area" with cannabis. Producing medicine patients can trust, that they know is safe. PuraEarth's transparency extends further than testing. Patients can reference the education tab on their website for more information, including how to obtain a medical marijuana patient card.
Modern-day marijuana patients are able to combine in-depth information with a desired effect, and unleash a plethora of experiences. Sure, this may bring back images of the '70s and '80s "Just Say No" days of anti-pot propaganda, where the plant is misunderstood and stigmatized for encouraging slacker behavior. The old slang about cannabis is changing, and for good reason. Some companies are even encouraging cannabis use at work. Take Flowhub for instance, a Colorado-based software company, who allows employees to consume edibles, juices, and sodas that contain THC. In an interview with CNN, Flowhub founder Kyle Sherman said, "Our philosophy at Flowhub is to get s*** done, If [cannabis] helps our employees get work done, then we don't care if they consume at work."
Modern, forward-thinking companies aren't the only ones opening up to cannabis use. UltraMarathoner, Carolyn Ford, says cannabis consumption makes her 100+ mile training sessions more bearable. "Running while stoned is therapeutic" Ford says, "It helps me concentrate on small movements of my body." Carolyn Ford isn't the only athlete talking about cannabis. Former Philadelphia Flyers left wing, Riley Cote, said his hockey career was like "getting punched in the face for a living," and he found unmatched pain relief with cannabis. After retiring from professional hockey in 2010, Cote founded the Hemp Heals Foundation, an organization focused on sustainable agriculture and holistic health through cannabis.
As with all things in life, cannabis is best consumed in moderation. Hal Gibbs, Founder and President of PuraEarth, a cutting edge cannabis concentrates company based in Phoenix, recommends patients start with 1-2 puffs of the Uncut vape cartridge for optimum motivation. "Our vapes are great because patients can easily take small and controlled micro-doses. Pura patients don't worry about wasting medicine, like they might after packing a full bowl or rolling a joint. On top of that, nicotine vapes are becoming increasingly common, so patients are not at risk of standing out with our Uncut vape cartridge product line. There is also no marijuana smell so the (vape) pens are incredibly discrete," Gibbs said. "We encourage our patients to live a life that is fueled by cannabis, with the right combination of knowledge and dose, cannabis can be the spark that lights the flames of success."
Starting in April of 2018, PuraEarth began their "Puradise" campaign, a movement that encourages it's cannabis patients to live enriched lives with passion and confidence. "Cannabis makes the greens greener and the blues bluer, and releases our patients from the burden of their ailment. I think everyone can benefit from a cannabis lifestyle."
The Prime Leaf
4220 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712
Botanica
6205 N Travel Center Dr
Tucson, AZ 85741
Green Halo
7710 S Wilmot Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85706
Hana Green Valley
1732 W Duval Commerce Point Pl
Green Valley, AZ 85614
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Cannabis Bowl 2017: Get Your Vote On, MMJ Folks
Posted By Mari Herreras on Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 10:00 AM
If you are a card-carrying Medical Marijuana patient, it's time for you to tell us about your favorite dispensaries, strains and products. It doesn't take as long as Best of Tucson, and the survey deadline is around the corner—April 7.
Results will be printed in next month's Tucson Weedly 420 issue, which happens to come out on, yep, April 20.
Vote here.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Pick Up Tickets to the Southwest Cannabis Conference + Expo in Phoenix
Posted By Chelo Grubb on Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Want to drive up with Phoenix and spend the weekend learning all about the cannabis business? We've got tickets to the Southwest Cannabis Conference + Expo where you can do just that.
SWCC Expo will be an electric environment for industry members, entrepreneurs, local leaders, companies, job seekers and curious individuals to come learn about the rapidly expanding cannabis industry and our changing culture. This years convention will focus on the potential transitions and changes coming in Arizona marijuana policy in 2016.The conference will be at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd Street).
If you want attend, swing by our office (7225 N. Mona Lisa Road #125) and pick up some tickets. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While you're at the event, find the Tucson Weekly booth, where we'll be giving out the rest of our stash of environmentally conscious condoms.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Learn About Medical Marijuana and the Workplace
Posted By Alyssa Schlitzer on Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Find out at the free information seminar Lovitt & Touché Learning Academy (7202 E. Rosewood Street #200)
is hosting on Thursday, Sept. 29. The seminar will run for an hour starting at 9 a.m. and will be looking at marijuana laws from a business perspective, so CFOs, CEOs, Risk Managers and HR Directors are encouraged to attend.
Some topics that will be covered:
- In-depth overview of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act
- The rights employers have with Medical Marijuana
- Safety Positions
- Recent MMJ cases in Arizona
To register for the seminar, click here.
