Politics

Congressional bill would protect students from losing financial aid over drug convictions

Titled the Financial Aid Fairness for Students Act, or FAFSA Act. It would repeal a law that renders students ineligible for federal loans, grants and work-study assistance if they’ve been convicted of possessing or selling drugs. Besides repealing the anti-drug penalty itself, the legislation would add a section stipulating that the Secretary of Education could…

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Politics

…Governor will pardon thousands of former cannabis offenders

Unlike the expungement process, which must be handled by the court system, executive clemency allows the governor to pardon or exonerate anyone who’s committed a crime. After the pardons are issued… Attorney General… will ask a circuit court judge to expunge the criminal records for every individual who’s been granted clemency. As a result, hundreds…

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Biography/Memoir

…looking to decriminalize

Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, stated, “The potential harms associated with any of these drugs is worsened when people are pushed into a position where they have to produce, obtain and consume those drugs illegally.” Trudeau was asked whether he would be open to decriminalization in the context of the opioid overdose…

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Politics

Sale of magic mushrooms up for debate at Vancouver City Hall

The motion was questioned for hours… and was ultimately rejected. [A] Councillor suggested council work with police and public health officials to address businesses and dispensaries that may… selling psilocybin whole mushrooms… powders, tablets or capsules. Her hope was the group would file a report back to the city on criminal activity, possible public health…

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Politics

U.S. House of Representatives passes… marijuana banking bill

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday (9/25/2019) to let federally-insured banks work with cannabis shops and related companies in states that have legalized marijuana, marking the first ever federal vote on a stand-alone cannabis bill. Some local banks and credit unions have quietly begun working with the industry in states where cannabis is legal. A…

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Politics

…psilocybin mushrooms up for debate at Vancouver City Hall

The motion was questioned for hours… and was ultimately rejected. [A] Councillor suggested council work with police and public health officials to address businesses and dispensaries that may… [be providing access to] psilocybin whole mushrooms… Her hope was the group would file a report back to the city on criminal activity, possible public health impact…

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Politics

Efforts to decriminalize magic mushrooms beginning to sprout nationally

After the Oakland measure passed, an organization called Decriminalize California is working on a statewide decriminalization measure for the 2020 election. As it stands, the government prohibits using federal funds for any Schedule I [fungi] like magic mushrooms, [however, a patented synthetic psilocybin has been approved for clinical trials by the FDA]. Original Article (Forbes):…

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Politics

Psychedelic decriminalization bids gain momentum in cities nationwide

“There is a lot of tension right now between the city and the unhoused community,” said Alex Williams, an organizer on the Berkeley campaign. “And obviously there are many people struggling with debilitating mental illnesses, and so the incredible power of these sacred medicines to expand consciousness and empathy can be very powerful in bridging certain cultural…

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