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Legislation
&
Enforcement
Are the laws and enforcement practices in place to protect the general public from the increased harms that come from cannabis legalization and normalization? Consider intoxicated driving under the influence of cannabis. Multiple studies show this has increased considerably since legalization, creating an increased public safety risk. However, no detection exists to detect cannabis impairment, making it difficult to enforce sober driving laws.
Below are articles that cover cannabis-related legislation and enforcement issues.
California Proposition 65 Recognizes Cannabis as a Carcinogen and Developmental Toxin
The Proposition 65 List notes all chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity. This list notes that: Marijuana smoke causes cancer (added June 19, 2009) THC causes developmental toxicity (added January 3, 2020) Cannabis (marijuana) smoke causes developmental toxicity (added January 3, 2020) From the Proposition 65 List introduction: "The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.), also known as Proposit
Jan 51 min read
Controversial Minnesota law to prevent driving under the influence of marijuana
In Minnesota, “all cannabis products — including flower, vape pens, wax and edibles — must be in the trunk (or trunk area in the case of SUVs) unless they’re sealed in their original, labeled packaging from a dispensary.” Many Minnesota residents are unaware of the law and therefore unaware that they are doing anything against the law when cannabis products are not in the trunk of the car or are in unsealed packaging. Defense lawyers are concerned about the potential for raci
Jan 31 min read
Dr. Phillip Drum on Cannabis, Impaired Driving, Legislation & More
Dr. Phillip Drum, a Doctor of Pharmacy, discusses a variety of topics related to cannabis - impaired driving and testing, failure of our legislators to legislate, concerning effects of CBD, and historical and current marijuana potency. Dr. Drum notes that there is an accurate way to test for marijuana impaired driving, contrary to popular belief. More details below: CBD CBD was approved by the FDA as the drug Epidiolex for very rare seizure symptoms. In a study of 500 childre
Jan 14 min read
Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Criticizes Rescheduling
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board offers multiple criticisms on rescheduling marijuana in this article and video interview published December 19, 2025. This summary includes details from both the article and the 25 minute video. A Schedule I drug, marijuana’s current classification means there is “No currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”. A Schedule III drug has some legitimate medical uses and “a moderate to low potential for physical and psyc
Dec 23, 20252 min read
Cannabis industry expects financial benefits from rescheduling; Rescheduling timeline
Law firms and business consulting firms that serve the cannabis industry are expecting financial benefits for cannabis businesses - specifically in taxes and banking - as a benefit of rescheduling marijuana. One business consulting firm notes, "If the federal government moves cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, it won’t legalize the industry outright, but it will reshape how cannabis businesses operate, grow, and access capital." Bank
Dec 22, 20252 min read
No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act
Context: If marijuana is successfully rescheduled to Schedule III, Internal Revenue Code 280E, which prohibits business tax deductions for Schedule I and II substances would no longer apply to marijuana businesses, therefore allowing them to take tax deductions for normal business expenses. Those opposed to this have reported a few concerns, including: 1. Many illegal marijuana businesses, such as foreign drug cartels who have found clever ways to disguise their operations as
Dec 20, 20251 min read
Marijuana Rescheduling, Commercial Driver's License, and Testing Standards
Currently the Department of Health and Human services sets drug testing guidelines for the Department of Transportation. These guidelines authorize testing for Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances. If marijuana is rescheduled to Schedule III, it will no longer be included in mandatory drug tests, and “DOT would have no legal basis to require testing.” “Through April 2025, there have been 184,839 positive marijuana tests recorded since the database launched in 2020
Dec 19, 20252 min read
Invasion of the Homeland: How China is Using Illegal Marijuana to Build a Criminal Network Across America
On September 18, 2025, the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability held a hearing regarding the vast and sophisticated criminal network Chine is building across the United States using illegal marijuana grows as its infrastructure. Highlights China has created and is growing a vast, complex, and sophisticated criminal network using illegal marijuana grows. Chinese TCOs (Transnational Criminal Organizations) are more sophisticated
Nov 26, 20257 min read
Debunking the myth: Every dollar of marijuana tax revenue is associated with $4.50 in costs
A lot is made of marijuana’s tax revenue, but no one discusses the costs and if the costs outweigh the revenues. As with tobacco and...
May 18, 20251 min read
THC: The Human Cost
ABC news investigated the human toll of illegal marijuana grows for a year. The reporter shines light on the horrific conditions imposed...
Jan 9, 20231 min read
How Foreign Drug Operations Are Taking Over California’s Desert Towns: Jorge Ventura
Jorge Ventura reports on illegal marijuana grows in southern California. When Prop 64 passed in 2016, California reduced the penalty on illegal marijuana grows from a felony to a misdemeanor with a $500 fine and no jail time. This has opened the gates to drug cartels and a black market. The investigation focuses on the Antelope Valley, which has gone from a family-friendly community to one where residents are scared and threatened with violence. Criminal organizations buy pr
Jan 7, 20231 min read
How Cartels Successfully Take Over Northern California: Interview with Jorge Ventura
In this interview Jorge Ventura (reporter and producer of “Narcofornia”) talks about how Siskiyou County in northern California has been overtaken by cartels running illegal marijuana grows. He notes that there are 7,000 illegal grows in this county alone, supporting a $49 billion black market. Jorge addresses the impact and danger of these groups (e.g. violence, murder, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, water theft, devastation of the land, threatening of local residen
Dec 10, 20221 min read
Closing the Loophole on Hemp-Drived Cannabis Products: A Public Health Priority
The 2018 Federal Farm Bill legalized the growth and sale of hemp. It contains a loophole which opens the door for the unregulated...
Nov 26, 20221 min read
Illegal marijuana farms take scarce water from Oregon, California
In many western states, illegal marijuana farms are diverting water from licensed users, drying up wells and streams, harming plants and...
Oct 13, 20211 min read
Marijuana Legalization is NOT a Grassroots Movement, It's About Big Drug Investors
Key Finding: The drive to legalize marijuana is funded by out-of-state PACs and “Addiction-for-Profit Big Money” investors who want...
Jan 14, 20211 min read
The Failures of the States to Regulate Marijuana
Key Finding: State regulation of marijuana (pushed by the profit-hungry marijuana industry) has been a “sorry spectacle” even in the...
Nov 8, 20201 min read
California black market has increased since marijuana legalization
Due to the expense of having a legal marijuana grow, legal grows are not making much profit and black market activity has increased. California anticipated earning a substantial amount of tax dollars from legalization, but this has not occurred. The state has a surplus of marijuana, and some of it is illegally being sold across state borders all over the country. According to Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, California doesn't have the appetite to prosecute illegal cannab
Aug 6, 20201 min read
U.S. House Passes Spending Bill Loaded with Big Pot Giveaways - press release from SAM
Press release from Smart Approaches to Marijuana For Immediate Release: July 31st, 2020 (Alexandria, Va) - Today, the House of...
Jul 31, 20201 min read
Most U.S. marijuana too potent for pain relief
Summary: Most marijuana being purchased in the U.S. for neuropathic pain is too potent to be effective. Typically containing two to three...
May 22, 20201 min read
Increased impaired driving and fatalities in CO since legalizing marijuana
Discusses increase in impaired driving and fatalities since marijuana was legalized in CO. Published by The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Read Full Sept 2019 Report Download PDF Note: these reports are updated periodically, so the above report may no longer be available at the linked address. If this is the case, find the most recent report here: The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Reports
May 22, 20201 min read
Pot Industry Isn't ‘Essential,' Has Health Risks, and Yet Is Lobbying for Federal Aid
This article is a criticism of the status of marijuana dispensaries as "critical" during COVID restrictions and warns of the potential...
Apr 21, 20201 min read
Medical Marijuana Cultivation In California's Central Valley Poses Serious Risk to Public Health
This article & video highlight public health risks associated with cannabis cultivation in California, as well as inadequate regulation...
Apr 10, 20201 min read
A Consortium of Clinicians and Scientists Sign “Statement of Concern” on Marijuana Policy in MA
This group of clinicians and scientists believe that marijuana is being improperly regulated. Rather than being regulated as an “ordinary...
Apr 10, 20201 min read
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