Washington — The United States Narcotic Enforcement Administration is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less harmful narcotic. The Justice Department’s proposal would recognize cannabis’ medical purposes but not legalize it for recreational use.

The proposal would shift marijuana from the “Schedule I” category to the less stringent “Schedule III.”

So, what does this mean, and what are the implications?

Technically, nothing has happened. The White House Office of Management and Budget must first examine the idea, followed by a public comment period and an administrative judge’s assessment, which could be a lengthy process.

Nonetheless, the change is considered “paradigm-shifting, and it’s very exciting,” Vince Sliwoski, a Portland, Oregon-based cannabis and psychedelics attorney who runs well-known legal blogs on those topics, told The Associated Press when the federal Health and Human Services Department recommended it.

What Marijuana Reclassification Means For The United States

“I can’t emphasize enough how big of news it is,” he said.

It came after President Joe Biden last year requested that HHS and the attorney general, who controls the DEA, investigate how marijuana was classified. Schedule I legalized it alongside heroin, LSD, quaaludes, and ecstasy, among other substances.

Biden, a Democrat, is in favor of legalizing medical marijuana “where appropriate, consistent with medical and scientific evidence,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday. “That is why it is important for this independent review to go through.”

No. Schedule III medicines, such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and several acetaminophen-codeine combos, are still considered controlled narcotics.

What Marijuana Reclassification Means For The United States

They are subject to a variety of restrictions that allow for some medical usage as well as federal criminal punishment of anyone who traffics in the medications illegally.

Medical marijuana programs, which are already regulated in 38 states, and legal recreational cannabis markets in 23 states are expected to remain unchanged, but they are unlikely to meet federal production, record-keeping, prescribing, and other Schedule III drug criteria.

There haven’t been many federal prosecutions for simply possessing marijuana in recent years, even with marijuana’s existing Schedule I designation, but reclassification would have no immediate impact on those currently in the criminal justice system.

“Put simply, this shift from Schedule I to Schedule III is not keeping people out of jail,” said David Culver, senior vice president of public relations of the United States Cannabis Council.

However, rescheduling would have an impact, especially on research and marijuana business taxes.

Because marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, it has been extremely difficult to undertake permitted clinical trials involving its administration. This has produced a Catch-22 situation: there is a need for further study, but there are hurdles to doing so. (Sometimes, scientists rely on people’s claims of marijuana use.)

Schedule III medications are easier to study, although reclassification would take time to remove all hurdles to research.

“It’s going to be really confusing for a long time,” says Ziva Cooper, director of the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. “When the dust has settled, I don’t know how many years from now, research will be easier.”

Among the unknowns include whether academics will be permitted to study marijuana from state-licensed shops and how the federal Food and Drug Administration would regulate this.

Some researchers remain optimistic.

“Reducing the schedule to schedule 3 will allow us to conduct research with human subjects using cannabis,” said Susan Ferguson, director of the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute in Seattle.

Firms involved in “trafficking” marijuana or any other Schedule I or II substance are not allowed to deduct rent, payroll, or other expenses that other firms can. (Yes, despite the federal government’s prohibition on marijuana, at least some cannabis firms, particularly those permitted by states, pay federal taxes.) According to industry associations, tax rates frequently reach 70% or more.

The deduction regulation does not apply to Schedule III medications, so the proposed amendment would significantly reduce cannabis companies’ taxes.

They claim it would treat them like other industries and let them compete with unlawful competitors that frustrate licensees and officials in locations like New York.

“You’re going to make these state-legal programs stronger,” says Adam Goers, an executive at Columbia Care, a medicinal and recreational cannabis provider. He co-chairs a group of corporate and other stakeholders advocating for rescheduling.

According to Beau Kilmer, co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Center, deducting those expenditures could result in greater cannabis marketing and advertising.

Rescheduling would have no direct impact on another marijuana business issue: limited access to banks, particularly for loans, due to federally regulated institutions’ concerns about the drug’s legal status. Instead, the sector has focused on the SAFE Banking Act. It has frequently passed the House but is stuck in the Senate.

What Marijuana Reclassification Means For The United States

Yes, there are, notably the national anti-legalization organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. President Kevin Sabet, a former Obama administration drug policy official, said the HHS suggestion “flies in the face of science, reeks of politics” and gives a disappointing nod to an industry “desperately looking for legitimacy.”

Some legalization supporters argue that rescheduling marijuana is too modest. They want to keep the focus on totally removing it from the controlled substances list, which does not include alcohol or tobacco (although they are regulated).

According to Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, simply reclassifying marijuana would be “perpetuating the existing divide between state and federal marijuana policies.” According to Kaliko Castille, President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, rescheduling simply “re-brands prohibition,” rather than giving state licensees the green light and bringing an end to decades of arrests that disproportionately affected people of color.

“Schedule III is going to leave it in this kind of amorphous, mucky middle where people are not going to understand the danger of it still being federally illegal,” the senator stated.

Peltz reported from New York. Associated Press writers Colleen Long in Washington and Carla K. Johnson in Seattle contributed to this story.

SOURCE – (AP)

New York: On Tuesday, Donald Trump was found in contempt of court and was imposed a fine of $9,000 for persistently disregarding a gag order that prohibited him from publicly discussing anybody involved in his New York hush money case, including witnesses and jurors. The judge cautioned that he may face imprisonment if he repeats the offense.

New York Judge Juan M. Merchan determined that there were nine infractions, although prosecutors had initially claimed there were ten. Trump gazed downward at the table before him while the judge pronounced the ruling, displaying a faint frown.

The verdict served as a strong criticism of the Republican former president’s claim that he was using his freedom of expression, and as a reminder that he is a defendant in a criminal case and must adhere to the strict procedures of a trial. The judge’s implicit warning to incarcerate a former president indicated that Trump’s already tenuous legal position could deteriorate further based on his conduct throughout the trial.

Judge Holds Trump In Contempt, Fines Him $9,000 And Raises Threat Of Jail In Hush Money Trial

Merchan expressed a strong awareness and defense of Trump’s First Amendment rights, especially considering his campaign for the presidency.

“Preserving the defendant’s lawful freedom of speech is of utmost significance. It is imperative that he is allowed to actively engage in campaigning for the office he aspires to, and that he has the opportunity to counter and protect himself from political assaults,” expressed Merchan.

However, he cautioned that the court would not tolerate deliberate breaches of its legal directives and that, if deemed necessary and suitable given the circumstances, it would impose a punitive measure involving imprisonment.

By making that statement, the court brought the possibility of Trump being the first former president of the United States to be imprisoned closer.

Trump is accustomed to having uninterrupted access to his social media platform to criticize opponents and express his thoughts. Following his ban from Twitter in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident, Trump established his platform to ensure that his messages would not be subject to blocking or restrictions.

The Trump campaign was already soliciting donations based on the breaches. He has consistently attempted to disassociate himself from problematic comments that he has shared with his large number of followers by claiming that they are only “retweets.”

However, he does possess prior knowledge and familiarity with gag orders, as they were previously enforced during his civil fraud prosecution. Upon being discovered to have breached those directives, he remitted fines exceeding $15,000.

The ruling was issued on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the second week of testimony in the landmark case. Manhattan prosecutors contend that Trump and his allies engaged in an illicit plot to manipulate the 2016 presidential campaign by buying and subsequently suppressing unfavorable reports. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

Trump was instructed to remit the penalty by the end of Friday’s working day. Merchan also decreed that he must delete seven objectionable posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, as stated by Merchan. The judge is considering more purported breaches of Trump’s gag order and will listen to arguments on Thursday.

Out of the 10 posts, the one that Merchan had authority over and was not considered a violation was made on April 10. This particular post referred to witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels as “sleaze bags.” Merchan expressed that Trump’s claim of responding to previous posts by Cohen gives him enough reason to hesitate and question whether the post was a violation.

Merchan determined that Trump’s statement, in which he quoted Fox News commentator Jesse Watters’ assertion that liberal activists were dishonestly joining the jury, clearly breached the gag order. Merchan observed that the statements in Trump’s post on April 17 in quotation marks inaccurately represented what Watters truly said.

Judge Holds Trump In Contempt, Fines Him $9,000 And Raises Threat Of Jail In Hush Money Trial

“Therefore, according to the court’s perspective, this post represents the defendant’s own words,” Merchan wrote.

Merchan warned against the misuse of the gag order, emphasizing that it should not be employed as a weapon rather than a defense by possible witnesses. He further stated that if individuals, such as Cohen, who are safeguarded by the order, persist in attacking Trump, it becomes evident that they no longer require the protection provided by the gag order. Cohen has stated his intention to abstain from making any remarks about Trump until he gives testimony during the trial.

Testimony continued on Tuesday with Gary Farro, a banker who assisted Cohen, Trump’s previous lawyer, in establishing accounts, including one that Cohen utilized to purchase the confidentiality of adult entertainer Stormy Daniels. She claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, an allegation that he denies. Farro testified on Friday, recounting how Cohen requested the establishment of two accounts, but one was never officially opened.

Shortly after establishing a second account under Essential Consultants LLC in October 2016, Michael Cohen transferred $130,000 from his home equity loan to this account. Within the same day, he wired the exact amount of $130,000 to Keith Davidson, who was, as evidenced by the paperwork, an attorney representing Daniels at the time. The 2016 presidential election took place on November 8.

Farro stated that Cohen suggested the transaction was connected to a real estate deal rather than being associated with a political candidate, an adult film star, or the acquisition of a possible media story.

“That could be perceived as a reputational risk,” he stated.

Thus far, the jurors have been presented with testimony from two additional witnesses. Rhona Graff, Trump’s former executive assistant, remembered seeing Daniels at Trump’s office suite in Trump Tower and assumed she was a prospective candidate for one of Trump’s “Apprentice” shows.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker disclosed his agreement to act as the Trump campaign’s informant, responsible for suppressing unfavorable rumors and allegations against Trump and women. Pecker detailed his payment of $180,000 to acquire and withhold reports from a doorman and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, but he did not participate in the payment to Daniels.

Judge Holds Trump In Contempt, Fines Him $9,000 And Raises Threat Of Jail In Hush Money Trial

Trump asserts that all of the stories bought were untrue. The defense lawyers employed cross-examination to imply that Trump’s true intention was to safeguard his reputation and his family rather than to manipulate the presidential election result.

Trump is facing 34 criminal charges for manipulating corporate documents about the hush money payments. He has refuted any misconduct and entered a plea of not guilty.

The comprehensive evidence regarding corporate transactions and bank accounts prepares the groundwork for Cohen’s testimony. Cohen, who was incarcerated following his guilty plea in 2018 for campaign finance violations and other offenses, will provide his story. The timing of his testimony remains uncertain.

The trial, the first of Trump’s four criminal matters to be presented to a jury, is anticipated to continue for at least another month. As Trump spends more time in court, his frustration intensifies as the November election draws nearer.

Trump has been engaging in campaign activities during his free time. However, he is obligated to attend court sessions four days a week. On Tuesday, he again expressed his disapproval of the matter outside the courtroom.

“This is a case that should never have been initiated,” he stated.

SOURCE – (AP)

Bumble, a dating app that revolutionized the industry a decade ago by introducing the concept of women initiating talks, is now allowing males to engage in chats on its platform.

Bumble is introducing a new tool dubbed “opening moves” that allows female users to establish a prompt for male suitors to reply to to start a conversation. The function overturns the app’s long-standing mandate that women initiate the first message to their matches. Bumble claims this change empowers women by granting them greater control over their dating experiences.

Dating App Bumble Will No Longer Require Women To Make The First Move

Lidiane Jones, the new CEO of Bumble, unveiled the new feature on Tuesday as part of a comprehensive app redesign. Jones took over the reins from creator Whitney Wolfe Herd earlier this year. This decision comes at a time when dating apps are striving to maintain their relevance as some users are feeling fatigued from online dating and are craving more in-person interactions.

Jones perceives the Bumble redesign as an opportunity for the platform to respond effectively to the current situation.

“There is an increasing demand for genuine human connections,” Jones stated in an interview with CNN before to the launch. “I expect that the number of people using online dating will increase rather than decrease, but there is a higher standard…” Therefore, focusing our attention on our objective is a significant call to action.

According to Jones, adding the new “opening moves” feature is a means by which Bumble is progressing while remaining faithful to its initial objective of empowering women. Now, female users can either keep starting discussions with their matches or establish an initial move, such as asking a question about their match’s ideal dinner guest, to indicate that they prefer their match to make the first contact. (Non-binary users or those interested in same-gender pairings have the option for either person to initiate and reply to an initial action.)

Bumble’s makeover incorporates enhanced “dating intentions” badges that enable users to specify on their profiles whether they are seeking a “life partner” or simply “fun, casual dates.” Bumble has implemented a new policy mandating members to provide more photographs in their biographies.

Dating App Bumble Will No Longer Require Women To Make The First Move

The application will prioritize and emphasize shared interests at the beginning of potential matches’ profiles to facilitate connections between individuals and increasing the likelihood of finding compatible companions.

The modifications have the potential to be crucial in restoring Bumble’s profitability, as the company, which also possesses dating applications Badoo and Fruitz, recorded a net loss of $1.9 million in the previous year. The company’s stock price has experienced a significant decline of 86% since its first public offering in February 2021.

According to Wall Street experts, Bumble is projected to profit $12 million for the first quarter of this year when it releases its earnings on May 8. This is a significant improvement from the $2.3 million loss recorded during the same time last year. The company anticipates a 14% increase in paying consumers, reaching over 3.9 million.

Dating App Bumble Will No Longer Require Women To Make The First Move

“We are extremely fortunate to possess robust financials that enable us to invest in the company’s expansion while also ensuring profitability for our shareholders,” Jones stated. “We are currently at a significant turning point where we have achieved a substantial level of growth and have ample opportunities for further expansion. At this juncture, we can effectively pursue both objectives simultaneously.”

SOURCE – (CNN)