Sensi: Marijuana News – Fed. Bills and Celebrity Lines

Leland Rucker, formerly of Weed Between the Lines, is the senior editor at a new online magazine dealing with marijuana news sensimag.com.

This week, he takes a look at the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, legislation that is responsible for funding the federal government through the 2016 fiscal year, which will be heading to Congress for an up and down vote. The bill contains several provisions pertaining to marijuana including a measure that prevents the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from spending money to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. Another measure prevents the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from spending money to interfere with the implementation of state industrial hemp research programs.

The spending bill also contains language prohibiting the District of Columbia from taxing and selling marijuana. Current law allows for residents to grow, possess and share marijuana. But the sale and promotion will be prohibited for at least another year.

Leland Rucker also takes a look at the trend of celebrity branding of marijuana including Willie’s Reserve Pot (by Willie Nelson) and Melissa Etheridge’s wine tincture.