My news-hounding nose had to work overtime this week. It’s killing his family, but the time-and-a-half ain’t hurting the bank account. I’m convinced that the media’s increasingly favorable and constant coverage of cannabis is a sign that someone in a suit has signaled to a bunch of other men in suits somewhere that legalization is inevitable. Over the last year, a noticeable change came over the country, and now no one seems afraid to admit that they think federal law is in desperate need of reform. My grandmother wants to see marijuana legalized. Pretty soon, I’ll have nothing left to write about. Sometimes I sort of miss former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.No, wait—I take that back. I just miss describing his insectoid visage in gruesome detail. His public appearances were pure pornography to someone with my job. He played the perfect foil—a monstrous little man mouthing the dying hiss of an old guard. His successor, William Barr, has been unconvincing in his stance against marijuana legalization (despite a history of anti-cannabis villainy during his time in Bush the First’s administration). In April, he told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee he would “still favor one uniform federal rule against marijuana, but if there is not sufficient consensus to obtain that, then I think the way to go is to permit a more federal approach so states can—you know—make their own decisions within the framework of the federal law.” Beg pardon?He was answering a question made about his stance on the STATES Act, which would give state governments control over whether they want to enforce federal cannabis laws. While he didn’t outright voice his current support of the bill—he claimed he hadn’t read it—he did say he would “much rather” take the approach laid out in the STATES Act than the one his office currently takes.Speaking of the dying hiss of an old guard, Joe Biden (who I recently railed on over his Silver Age views on marijuana law) took his hands off the staff interns long enough to put a finger in the air and realize that he was headed for ruin. According to CNN, Biden is in favor of decriminalizing cannabis, but isn’t ready to legalize. He reportedly told some folks at a house party (seriously) that “nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana.” Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates told reporters that the presidential hopeful was in support of “decriminalizing marijuana and automatically expunging prior criminal records for marijuana possession.” It probably won’t be enough to win the presidency, but good for him.Good for everybody. Pat yourselves on the back.Product Shortages Plague NMAccording to KRWG, a recent increase in marijuana patients has drained the state’s supply, leaving many without access to their meds. At the end of April, the Department of Health reported that 72,375 patients were enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program, up by 39 percent over the previous year.But a press release from Ultra Health says cannabis sales only increased 16 percent in the same time and blame the incongruence on program restrictions like plant count limits, purchase limits and the banning of discounts by volume. As the release rightly points out, this means some patients might run the risk of getting their cannabis through the black market. The issues of limitations on the number of plants that producers can grow and the amount of cannabis patients can buy are currently under review by the state, but some worry that leaders are taking too long.Even at current limits—patients can purchase up to eight ounces in a given three-month period—Ultra Health says there was only enough product statewide to fulfill a 10-day supply of medical cannabis to each patient at the end of March. There were reportedly only 1,863,730 grams in stock statewide at the end of the quarter for over 70,000 patients. According to the release, to meet the legal requirements of providing adequate medical supplies to patients, the state would need a total exceeding 16 million grams.Strain CornerLast week I went by Southwest Organic Producers (3504 Montgomery Blvd. NE) for a gram of Bayside Purple (THC: 16.8%—$9/gram). The air conditioner in my apartment had been out for two days and I was a grumpy, sweaty mess.I packed a bowl of the hybrid and sat with the soles of my feet pointed at the box fan I’d shoved into an open window. I had to dodge the artificial windstorm to light the bowl. It smelled swampy and tasted floral.Immediately I felt the hard edges of my bad mood rounding out. My skin felt more alive than usual, and the fan seemed to be blowing a cooling arctic wind over my feet. With my eyes closed, I pictured a tundra and sighed. The edginess I’d been suffering all afternoon slipped away on the breeze, and I relaxed into a sluggish, contented heap on the floor to let the air hit my face.While not heady or overwhelming, the indica side of this hybrid really stood out to me, and I’m sure it would be helpful for those who are suffering from pain but don’t want to get put down for the count.
Baked Goods: Testing The Wind
Even Cannabis Opponents Are Giving In
5 min read