A number of state legislative sessions recently adjourned leaving several new cannabis bills awaiting governors’ signatures. Two states in particular—Louisiana and Texas—made moves towards legalizing cannabis. Their bills have a lot in common. They are highly restrictive, CBD only, and allow access for a very limited number of conditions. Most importantly, they suffer from the same fatal flaw—they require doctors issue “prescriptions” for medical cannabis.

LOS ARRIEROS, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande Sector successfully seized more than 1,600 pounds of marijuana late Wednesday night.

The seizure occurred when Border Patrol agents working with game wardens noticed an abandoned Chevrolet Suburban in the brush near Los Arrieros.  

As agents approached the Suburban, they found 72 bundles of marijuana.

The seizure had an estimated value of more than $1.3 million. 

FILE - This April 18, 2014 file photo shows edible marijuana products on display at a medical marijuana dispensary in Denver. Colorado's marijuana experiment is under threat by the very popularity of eating it instead of smoking it, so the pot industry is joining health officials and state regulators in studying the problem of consumers eating too much too quickly. They plan to meet Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Children's Hospital Colorado to discuss the potency and serving size of pot edibles. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File) Related Coverage

With New York State beginning to accept applications for medical marijuana providers last week, criticism of the hyper-strict program negotiated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been plentiful. Hinged on concerns about arbitrary regulations and insufficient patient access, advocates for medical marijuana access worry the program will be too small and restrictive to be effective.

ROMA, TX (PRESS RELEASE) -- Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 600 pounds of marijuana early Friday Marijuana seized by Rio Grande City Agents morning. 

The seizure occurred when agents spotted several smugglers crossing the Rio Grande with bundles of marijuana. As agents responded to the area the smugglers fled back to Mexico, leaving behind seven bundles. The marijuana has an estimated value of $480,000 and was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382
 

Shortly before 10 p.m. on a Wednesday in April, Tammy Castro was describing the heartbreaking story of her son’s losing battle against drug abuse. The crowded Capitol conference room, packed with marijuana-rights activists, fell silent.

Marijuana started her son on a downward spiral to his death, Castro said, holding back tears. “If you pass this bill, you are sentencing more youth to certain death.”

The regulation of cannabis for use by certain qualified individuals presents many unique challenges for state governments, particularly in an environment in which federal law considers cannabis illegal — except in the case of rare and typically short-term clinical trials. When it comes to participation of physicians and other members of the medical community, state medical marijuana laws must be carefully crafted to avoid placing them at risk of federal penalties. This is due to the way federal laws regulate controlled substances and the doctors who prescribe them for use as medicine. A “prescription” for the medical use of cannabis is illegal and carries significant penalties for doctors.

With summer just around the corner, many legislative sessions are nearing an end, but that doesn't mean the end for cannabis progress! This week brings surprising and heartwarming news from down on the bayou in Louisiana, while California’s discussing legalization, New York is gearing up to select growers for their medical program, and India just held their first ever medical cannabis conference.

U.S. Updates

CALIFORNIA

By Eva Hershaw.

Offering what he said would be "healing and hope for children who are afflicted by relentless seizures caused by epilepsy," Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation Monday legalizing low-THC cannabis oils as treatment for certain medical conditions.

Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill to allow cannabis oil for some medical treatments but says he opposes
legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use. Office of the Governor

Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill allowing epilepsy patients to use medicinal oils containing a therapeutic component found in marijuana. Could this be the toe in the water for legal medical marijuana use in Texas?

Not as long as Abbott is governor, he vows. How disappointing.

If you had asked me at the start of the session whether this bill had a chance, I would have said “no.” Texas and 15 other states have archaic laws to prohibit both medicinal and recreational use.