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A major investigation by The Center for Investigative Reporting’s Reveal project found “ dozens of accounts of sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking” in the northern California grow regions. In Humboldt County alone 352 people went missing, more per capita than any other county in California.

Every year visiting workers flock to northern California. Some of these “trimmigrants,” say they have been held against their consent, sexually assaulted or sexually exploited to receive their pay. It’s common for female trimmers to be paid extra to work topless. It appears that the vast majority of these cases never get reported.

“There’s a lot of wilderness here, and dirt roads and acres of forest,” said Amy Benitez, a victims’ advocate in Humboldt County. “There’s a lot of nooks and crannies you can hide in. You add this criminal element to it, where there’s money, and there’s just more ways that you can abuse power and control.”

Insys Therapeutics, an Arizona pharmaceutical firm, contributed $500,000 to oppose REC in the state. The company’s only available product is a powerful opioid painkiller approved for cancer patients.

In a prepared statement, the company said the proposed law “fails to protect the safety of Arizona’s citizens, and particularly its children.” Insys is also developing at least one cannabinoid-based drug. The whole story in Arizona Capital Times is worth a read.

The Arizona Supreme Court rejected a bid to repeal rules that can disbar lawyers who work with cannabis companies.

Further MED delays are possible in Maryland as regulators seek to increase the diversity of business owners. The state awarded the first batch of licenses without regard for race.

An anti-REC group in California reported almost $1.3M in contributions from a retiree named Julie Schauer.

At Inc., Will Yakowicz looks at how the next president could reschedule marijuana.

The Compton (Calif.) Herald asked locals what they think of legalization.            

In SFWeekly, I wrote about what pot opponents should say and the things we don’t know about legalization.


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Michigan almost certainly won’t vote on REC this year. The state’s Senate advanced regulation for MED dispensaries.

Both MED initiatives that will appear on the Arkansas ballot “ are simply recreational marijuana masquerading as medicine," according to Jerry Cox, executive director of the conservative Christian group Family Council. If both initiatives pass, the one with more votes prevails.

The fight over REC is heating up in Massachusetts. MED is now legal in Ohio. Dispensaries are expected to open in about two years.

Regulators in Alaska are holding up social consumption. Colorado became the first state to certify hemp seeds. The Boston Globe visits Pueblo Country, Colo. where there’s a “ revolt” over REC sales.

The New York Times reports on veterans who’ve found new dignity and purpose working in cannabis. The American Legion, the country’s largest veterans’ group, called on the federal government to reform pot laws. The Washington Post’s Christopher Ingraham also revisits the long debated question ‘ Which is more dangerous, weed or alcohol?

Legalization opponent Kevin Sabet began a term at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Bloomberg View’s Paula Dwyer says weed taxes could replace declining tobacco taxes.

Marijuana Business Daily dives into the industry implications of Weedmaps’ bogus-reviews scandal.

Business Insider profiles Emily and Morgan Paxhia, the sister-brother team at cannabis hedge fund Poseidon Asset Management. In Canada, industry consolidation could be in store.

Ah Warner, CEO of Washington-based Cannabis Basics, said she has a tentative deal to distribute her low-THC products in major grocery stores.

Marijuana Business Daily interviews former NASA researcher Neil Yorio on the future of growlight technology.

Illinois entrepreneur Nicole Van Rensburg writes about the four things she’s learned working in the industry.

A CDC study confirms that older Americans are the fastest growing group of users in the country.  Use by Americans over 65 climbed 333% between 2002 and 2014. For those 55 to 64, it climbed 455%. See the study here.

Stanford researchers have developed a THC test that uses saliva and provides results in three minutes.

Among college students, past-year marijuana use was 38% in 2015, up from 30% in 2006, another study found. Use of several other drugs, including abuse of prescription narcotics, fell over the same span.


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A review of 31 previous studies found no correlation between smoking marijuana during pregnancy and health risks to the baby.

A study from the University of Washington looked at what factors attract kids to edibles. Canna Law Blog adds some analysis.

Journalist Emily Willingham wades through the data on using MED to mitigate symptoms associated with autism.

In Forbes, Jacob Sullum called a new report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area biased against legalization and “dishonest.” See the report here.

A new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that more Americans are using cannabis as fewer consider it harmful. For more see here.

The Oregon agency charged with approving testing labs is reportedly “ on the verge of collapse.

Delaware’s MED program is a hassle for patients.

Prosecutors in Texas are throwing out more minor possession charges. Memphis, Tenn. may reduce possession penalties.

Investigators in Wales say a Vietnamese man found dead in 2014, may have been electrocuted at an illegal grow.

Albanian authorities say they have destroyed more than 1.7 million illegal plants this year as part of a crackdown on organized crime.

In a superbly reported narrative, the L.A. Times tells the story of a suburban supermom who was framed for drugs.

The Washington Post takes a deeper look on the case law regarding pot use and gun ownership. Pacific Standard has more.

Italy’s largest police union supports REC legalization.

Willamette Week says this summer has been the break out moment for pro-athletes and cannabis. Is exercising high a good idea? Science says ‘meh.’

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson will serve a four-game suspension after testing positive for marijuana. Seantrel suffers from Crohn’s Disease and had bowel surgery early this year.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not happy that rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott visited a pot shop in Seattle. Elliott didn’t buy anything according to TMZ. The Cowboys start the season tomorrow with three players suspended for substance abuse violations.

Vanity Fair critic James Wolcott, likes the new Web series Cannabis Moms Club. (One mom says, “This is my Lexapro. My -- what are you on Kim?”) Variety likes High Maintenance’s new HBO incarnation.

Five-year-old Sagan Bocskor, son of cannabis entrepreneur Leslie Bocskor, became the youngest recipient of a Burning Man Global Art Grant. The younger Bocskor ignited his Jedi Dog Temple at this year’s desert festival.

The New Yorker says the South American psychedelic Ayahuasca is popular in Silicon Valley. Ayahuasca “is like having a cup of coffee here,” business and self-help gadfly Tim Ferriss said.

Travel guide writer Arthur Frommer says pot-tourism will be big.

Whoopi Goldberg talked about her cannabis line with the New York Times magazine. Rapper The Game is a partner at a SoCal dispensary.

The new e-book “ Humboldt Stories” by Sharon Letts is a series of fictionalized vignettes about life in grow country. Letts spoke to Civilized.
 
Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Iman Shumpert was arrested for possession and DUI in metro Atlanta.

The New Mexico State Fair evicted “Dorothy,” a pot plant on display. A mini tornado whipped through an Oregon pot farm. There’s video.
 
Here's the WeedWeek list of pot journalists on Twitter and the new list of cannabusiness people on Twitter. Both are works in progress. Recommendations welcome.

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Bye,

Alex 

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