Even with California, the sixth biggest economy in the world, legalizing pot, incongruities in state and federal law hinder growth in the marijuana market.
That’s according to Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
“Californians, like most Americans, believe that it’s preferable to have the commercial marijuana market governed by licensed businesses, rather than by cartels and drug dealers,” Armentano said.
“But unfortunately these businesses, even when they are state compliant and locally compliant, largely cannot act in a transparent manner, because they do not have access to banking. They can’t run credit cards, and we see little accountability or transparency because of this conflict with the federal government.”
But there might be some progress. Legalizing marijuana on a federal level has gained bipartisan support in Congress, with Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introducing a bill last March calling for an end to marijuana prohibition on the federal level.
The “Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” would put legislative power in the hands of states and remove cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Knowingly taking marijuana to a state where it’s prohibited, though, would still be subject to criminal penalties.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/weed-across-america-federal-vs-state-laws).
President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could hit Americans in an unexpected place: grocery aisles.
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday allowed the president to temporarily continue collecting the tariffs under the emergency powers law while he appeals the trade court’s decision.
President Donald Trump wants the world to know he’s no “chicken” just because he’s repeatedly backed off high tariff threats.
Wall Street is rallying after President Donald Trump delayed a 50% tariff on goods coming from the European Union.
Almost four dozen Venezuelan workers who had temporary protected status have been put on leave by Disney after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to strip them of legal protections.
U.S. stocks are falling after President Donald Trump threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union that could begin in a little more than a week.
House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package.
President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his budget.
American businesses that rely on Chinese goods are reacting with muted relief after the U.S. and China agreed to pause their exorbitant tariffs on each other’s products for 90 days. Many companies delayed or canceled orders after President Donald Trump last month put a 145% tariff on items made in China. Importers still face relatively high tariffs, however, as well as uncertainty over what will happen in the coming weeks and months. The temporary truce was announced as retailers and their suppliers are looking to finalize their plans and orders for the holiday shopping season. They’re concerned a mad scramble to get goods onto ships will lead to bottlenecks and increased shipping costs.
Senate Democrats have blocked legislation to regulate a form of cryptocurrency after arguing that the bill needed stronger protections.
