ANYTHING TO DECLARE?
Thousands of kilos of cannabis are being seized by Canada Border Services
The Canada Border Services Agency published new data showing a spike in cannabis seizures since legalization, which they’re attributing to unregulated online purchases, reports CTV.
By the numbers
- 500 kg of cannabis was seized in 2017-18
- 11,800 kg was seized in 2020-21—a 2200% increase
- From 2018-2021, 73% of seizures happened in commercial shipments by air, boat, railway, highway and mail
- There was a 117% increase in the volume of lower value shipments in the last three years
- 90% of seizures were coming into the country, not out
Ivan Ross Vrana, executive director of the Global Cannabis Partnership, said access to regulated cannabis should become easier, with fewer barriers in online ordering. “So as this industry matures, I think that will mature along with it.”
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NON-VIOLENT
Americans are still facing jail time for non-violent cannabis crimes
Hundreds or potentially thousands of Americans are serving prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis crimes. Daniel Muessig, who is facing a five-year sentence for his involvement in unregulated cannabis sales in Pittsburgh, is evidence that incarceration for selling cannabis is still very much a reality in the US, reports Forbes.
According to Muessig:
- The FBI raided a stash house he was at after 404 lbs. of cannabis was delivered on May 24, 2019
- He fled on foot to his home, where his wife was
- Muessig faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison on two counts of 841(c), conspiracy to distribute 100 kg or more of cannabis
- A 62-year-old individual who was also indicted died by suicide in 2019
What does Muessig think about regulated cannabis operators?
“I respect legal entrepreneurs and their vision and enterprise … when I see ‘legal’ operators boasting of profits in the hundreds of millions and many tons of volume—tens of thousands of pounds—and then I look at the ashes of our lives over 400 pounds, I can’t help but be angry.”
PROVINCIAL PLANTS
Kirk Tousaw and Jack Lloyd prep to fight for Manitoba homegrow
Lawyer Kirk Tousaw, who fought for cannabis legalization in Canada, had hung up his lawyer hat and launched his own cannabis brand, Great Gardener Farms. On Friday, he announced on Twitter that he’s coming out of legal retirement to join fellow cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd and Jesse Lavoie fight for the right to grow at home in Manitoba and Quebec.
“I’m standing here in British Columbia with my four legal cannabis plants, which I’m perfectly entitled to grow under federal and provincial law. But as it turns out, two provinces didn’t get on board. They decided to keep it criminal for their residents to grow cannabis,” he said in the video posted to Twitter, with Eminem’s ‘Without Me’ playing in the background. After discussing with Toba Grown’s Jesse Lavoie, he decided to support his legal battle.
“Jack Lloyd and I will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to.”
BOM DIA
What does Portugal’s new Socialist majority mean for cannabis?
The Socialist Party has won a parliamentary majority in Portugal—which could be good news for the cannabis industry, reports BusinessCann.
Here’s why
- Along with then-allies the Left Bloc and the Liberal Initiative, the Socialists proposed cannabis market regulations in June
- That was sidetracked when the Left Bloc aligned itself with the right
- Then Prime Minister Antonio Costa called an election
- Socialists won 117 of 230 seats
The takeaway
The future of cannabis legislation isn’t clear, said Laura Ramos, editor-in-chief of Portuguese cannabis publication Cannareporter. “Hopefully, legalisation will go forward this year, but with the recent changes on hemp – making it more difficult for farmers – and this government gaining power with the elections I really don’t know what will happen. Some members of the Socialist Party are more liberal, others more conservative, so it’s still too early to call.”
