As a rapidly growing state-rights movement, cannabis is legal for medicinal usage in half of the United States. Adding to this trend, states are legalizing cannabis for adult-use (recreational). However, the cultivation, production, use, possession, and sale of cannabis, remains illegal (Schedule I) under federal law. The legitimatization of cannabis commerce puts all local and state governments in direct conflict with federal law. The Department of Justice intimates ‘decriminalization’ to states that allow the sale and distribution of medical cannabis, but overall, every other federal agency operates in silent opposition to defiant states. Presentation Milestones; Federal Law v State Law: CSA-Schedule of Drugs & Mandatory Minimum Supremacy Clause Federalism DEA Classification Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment US v McIntosh Cole Memo Medical Cannabis State Laws and Adult-Use Laws Range: Washington State to Washington, D.C. Absent of federal regulations governing cannabis transactions, state governments and their municipalities must determine the following legal infrastructure: Cultivation Manufacturing Dispensaries Delivery Testing Ancillary operations License Types Banking and Business Forensics Bio: Ross Mirkarimi was elected the 35th Sheriff of the City and County of San Francisco, and served to 2016. Throughout his 22 years of public service, Ross has been an outspoken advocate against the failed U.S. war on drugs. Before Sheriff, Ross was a two-term legislator on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In 2005, Ross was the first municipal legislator in California to author a comprehensive regulatory framework for dispensing medical cannabis. He received NORML's "hero of the year" award in 2006. Currently, Ross is consulting governments domestic and abroad (Uruguay) on their regulatory transition to cannabis legalization.

Navigating complex issues in states with legal cannabis programs

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.