Pubdate: Thu, 03 Sep 2015
Source: North Coast Journal (Arcata, CA)
Copyright: 2015 North Coast Journal
Contact:  http://www.northcoastjournal.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2833
Author: Grant Scott-Goforth

GENERATION W

School's back in session and a new study reports that more college 
students are smoking pot frequently.

Six percent of students told University of Michigan researchers that 
they smoked weed daily or nearly daily in 2014, according to a 
Reuters article, nearly double the number in 2007. (Quick math: If 6 
percent of 20 million students smoke a modest eighth ounce per week 
at $10 per gram, we're looking at $630 million in pot sales a 
semester - or more than 2 billion ramen packages.)

The study associates rising usage with shifting marijuana morals 
around the U.S. and slackening prohibitions in some states, but 
Reuters reports that regular pot use is actually down from 7.2 
percent of college students in 1980. That is, of course, before 
Ronald Reagan took the presidency and began a concerted War on Drugs.

The study also reports that 41 percent of students admit to using 
illicit drugs, up from 34 percent in 2006, an increase that 
researchers dubiously suggest was "driven mostly by the uptick in 
marijuana use," Reuters reports.

As reported in the Aug. 27 Week in Weed, staff members for state Sen. 
Mike McGuire and assemblymen Jim Wood and Rob Bonta were scrambling 
to get final amendments into their legislation so they could be 
reviewed in time for the Sept. 11 Senate and Assembly voting deadline.

All three bills came out of committees with approval, and with 
"intent language," meaning they still have time to refine some 
specifics in the bill. Wood's spokesman Paul Ramey said he expects 
the bill to go the Assembly floor for a vote soon. The three bills 
have been tied together, which means all of them must pass in order 
for any of them to pass.

"We're feeling optimistic," Ramey said.

If the bills pass, they will go to Gov. Jerry Brown for approval. 
Ramey said the governor's office is working with Wood to ensure that 
the final language of the bill is to the governor's liking.

McGuire is optimistic as well, saying senate and assembly staff have 
put in thousands of hours on the bills in recent months. "We've been 
working hard to make sure that there's going to be a comprehensive 
statewide program for medical cannabis that recognizes the unique 
role the North Coast plays in the industry."

McGuire said he expects his bill and Bonta's assembly bill will end 
up merged, with Wood's assembly bill, which focuses more specifically 
on regulating cannabis cultivation, going forward on a "parallel track."

He said there are more similarities than differences between his and 
Bonta's bills. "I'm optimistic that after nearly two decades, 
legislation will finally be advanced in 2015. We're making up for 20 
years of inaction and it takes a lot of work on all sides to be able 
to draw consensus."

Discussing his soon-to-be-launched personal marijuana brand in GQ, 
Outlaw Country pioneer Willie Nelson gave a little love to Humboldt 
County buds.

Asked about his preferred weed, Nelson said, "Oh, wherever I am there 
are favorites. You know, you got your Maui Wowie, you got your 
Humboldt County in California, and you got the purple, you know, uh, 
in Florida. ... Lot of different places that have their own brand 
that's from the area. The growers and the farmers around can tell you 
what grows best in their area."

His ambiguity may have been cautious - it's unclear where his own 
brand will be sourced and what strains will make up his eponymous 
assortment of weed, and unlikely that it'll come from the hills and 
hollers of Humboldt County. But thanks for the shout out anyway, Willie!
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom