Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the notorious drug kingpin known as El Chapo, was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison for his convictions on federal drug, murder, and money laundering charges earlier this year. The sentence marks the end of a 30-year drug trafficking career that saw Guzmán rise to the top of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa drug cartel.

Addressing the court at his sentencing hearing at the Federal District Court in Brooklyn, New York, Guzmán said he had not been given a fair trial and complained about being held in solitary confinement at Manhattan’s federal correctional facility before and during his three-month trial. He characterized his incarceration there as “psychological, emotional and mental torture 24 hours a day.”

“Since the government of the United States is going to send me to a prison where my name will never be heard again, I take advantage of this opportunity to say there was no justice here,” he said.

Judge Brian M. Cogan then imposed the life sentence, mandatory under federal law due to the nature of the “overwhelmingly evil” crimes, plus 30 years. Although Cogan did not specify where Guzmán will serve his sentence, he is expected to be incarcerated at the United

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New Jersey’s Department of Health announced on Monday that it’s expanding the state’s medical-marijuana program.

“The New Jersey Department of Health is seeking new applicants to operate up to 24 additional Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs): Up to 8 in the northern region of the state, up to 8 in the central region, up to 7 in the southern region, and up to 1 “at-large” to be determined during the award process”, says the New Jersey Department of Health. “Three types of permits/endorsements will be available for ATCs: cultivation, dispensing and vertically integrated permits. In total, the Department will seek up to 5 cultivation endorsements, up to 15 dispensary endorsements, and up to 4 vertically integrated permits.”

Vertically integrated permits include “1 cultivation endorsement, 1 manufacturing endorsement, and 1 dispensary endorsement.”  Applicants may seek up to 3 endorsements total, and may only submit one application per region.  Applicants for vertically integrated permits, because they constitute 3 endorsements, may only submit one application total.  Application forms will be posted on or before July 15th and applications will be due on August 21st (Dispensary) and August 22nd (Cultivation and Vertically Integrated).

The applications are due on August 22 and cost $20,000

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Known for its treasure troves of exclusive eyewear across four flagship boutiques in Aspen, New York, Nashville, and Kansas City, Barton Perreira’s latest launch pays homage to the pot leaf. Inspired by the recent opening of Barneys luxury cannabis store-within-a-store concept, The High End, Barton Perreira tapped Los Angeles-based artist Kenton Parker to dream up three different designs: Aerial, Kahuna, and Thurston.

The frames feature a small marijuana symbol, etched directly onto the lens, which make for an understated style statement for cannabis enthusiasts this summer. Ranging in price from $490 to $565, each pair comes with a hand-painted case, which Parker also designed, complete with a discreet pocket for your own flower supply and is intended for double usage as a stash case to store your ganja on-the-go. A branded microfiber cleaning cloth is also included.

– Read the entire article at Forbes.

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The medical marijuana program in New Jersey was recently expanded to accommodate more patients and allow for more dispensaries.  Assembly Bill 20, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on July 2, significantly amended the state’s medical-marijuana program, previously considered one of the country’s most restrictive.

The Highlight Include: Adds conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy and menstrual cramps to the current list. Physicians’ assistants and nurse practitioners can prescribe medical marijuana to patients. Hospitals are allowed to obtain cannabis for patients. Patients only have to visit their doctor once a year for authorization instead of every three months. Patients can purchase three ounces a month rather than two. Hospice and terminally-ill patients have no limit on the amount they can obtain on a monthly basis. Prevents hospitals from denying patients organ transplant eligibility due to their medical cannabis use. Edibles (infused food products) will be available for adults in addition to minors, who previously had access. Patients are protected against public-housing and workplace discrimination and the state will no longer interfere in child-custody cases. Patients can designate two caregivers instead of just one, Out-of-state patients can obtain medical marijuana for up to six months after receiving approval from an in-state physician. Dispensaries

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A Senate legislative committee has scheduled a hearing on a bill that would give cannabis businesses operating legally under state law access to the U.S. banking industry. The hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on “Challenges for Cannabis and Banking: Outside Perspectives” will be held on Tuesday, July 23 and will include testimony from sponsors of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019 (S. 1200) and representatives of the cannabis, banking, and credit union industries.

Under federal drug and money laundering regulations, even those cannabis businesses operating legally under state laws are usually not able to obtain access to common financial services. Consequently, companies in the cannabis industry often do business only in cash, putting the firms and their employees at risk of crime. The SAFE Banking Act would prohibit federal regulators for penalizing financial institutions and their employees for providing services to legal cannabis businesses, likely making more banks willing to serve the industry.

Witnesses Set to Testify

Witnesses scheduled to testify at next week’s hearing include Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the sponsor of the SAFE Act, and Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado who is one of

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On Tuesday, West Hollywood stepped out in front of the cannabis dining and entertainment market by approving the country’s first licensed restaurant featuring THC and CBD-infused food. Lowell Farms — a project of marijuana company Lowell Herb Co. — will also offer an open-air smoking area. While cannabis industry types and users rejoiced over the decision, not all neighbors were pleased.  

Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and Elevation VIP Coop founder Andrea Drummer has been tapped to put together a menu for Lowell Farms that features CBD, THC, or both in every dish, with an emphasis on highlighting cannabis’ benefits for personal wellness. Customers will not be able to order alcoholic beverages (which aren’t allowed at sites selling cannabis comestibles per California law), but will be able to snag tea, coffee, juice, and smoothies with their meal. 

“Anyone who has one of those licenses should feel an enormous sense of responsibility—and there should be—not only to the city of West Hollywood but to the country,” Drummer told a local website in April. “There are eyes on us in doing this and executing it.”

The location will offer the first brick and mortar cannabis restaurant in the United States, but this will

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Company under creditor protection as Health Canada finds ‘unauthorized activities’.

B.C. cannabis producer Agrima Botanicals Corp. has had its licences revoked by Health Canada, months after the company disclosed the regulator’s finding that “unauthorized activities” with pot took place at the firm.

Agrima is now listed on Health Canada’s website of licensed producers with the status “revoked,” after having its licences suspended last fall.

– Read the entire article at CBC News.

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Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis has received a processing licence from Health Canada for its Aurora Air facility located near the Edmonton International Airport and two outdoor cultivation licences for sites in Quebec and British Columbia, the company announced Monday.

“Our team plans to use these areas to ensure we are able to consistently grow the high-quality cannabis Aurora has become known for around the world. We’re proud to be a Canadian company and this is a further commitment to research and job creation in Canada,” said Aurora CEO Terry Booth in a release.

Located near Aurora Sky, the company’s cannabis growing operation with a capacity of 100,000 kilograms per year, the Aurora Air facility will produce edible products, such as gummies and chocolates, set to hit the Canadian consumer market in December 2019.

– Read the entire article at Edmonton Journal.

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The city council in Columbus, Ohio is considering cannabis policy reforms that would significantly reduce the penalties imposed for possession of small amounts of marijuana. The council has scheduled a public hearing on a proposed city ordinance to enact the reforms for Thursday evening.

Under the proposed ordinance, possession of up to 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of marijuana would be subject to a fine of up to $10. Those caught possessing between 100 and 200 grams (approximately seven ounces) of cannabis could be fined up to $25. Possession of more than 200 grams would still be a felony.

The fine for possession of marijuana paraphernalia would be reduced to $10. The ordinance would also increase funding to help those with previous convictions for marijuana possession offenses have their criminal records sealed.

The fines for cannabis possession would not apply to “any person who obtained the marihuana pursuant to a lawful prescription issued by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs,” according to the ordinance.

Punishments More Severe Under State Law

Under Ohio state law, possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis can be punished with a fine of up to $150 while possessing 100 to 200 grams

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On Monday, New Jersey’s Department of Health announced plans to accept applications for individuals and entities interested in opening operational and cultivation facilities. The agency said that it is seeking applicants to operate as many as 24 Alternative Treatment Centers, with the aim to place eight in the northern part of the state, eight in the central region and seven in the south. An additional facility will be placed in a yet-to-be-determined region, the department said. 

Moreover, the department said it intends to grant licenses for an additional 15 dispensaries, five cultivation centers and four “vertically integrated permits,” which would involve a combination of cultivation, manufacturing and dispensary. The applications, which were made available on Monday, are due on August 22; it costs $20,000 to apply, though failed applicants will receive a reimbursement of $18,000. 

All applicants “must submit a security plan and an environmental impact statement,” and demonstrate “experience in cultivating, manufacturing or retailing marijuana and provide quality control and assurance plans,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

The permit expansion was put in motion earlier this month when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a bill to grant an additional 24 licenses. It’s part of an ongoing

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