Cannabis

Border & Immigration

Officials Seize Marijuana Mixed With Jalapeño Peppers

The Associated Press

A CBP news release says officers discovered more than 7,500 pounds of marijuana in the peppers' pallets.
Hidden In Plain Sight: California Illegal Pot Market Booming

Michael R. Blood / Associated Press

California kicked off broad legal sales in 2018. But hefty tax rates and illicit sales have been blamed for slower than expected activity in the new licensed market.
Health

Is Pot Safe When Pregnant? Study Seeks Answer, Draws Critics

The Associated Press

There's no proof that cannabis can relieve morning sickness, and mainstream medicine advises against use in pregnancy because of studies suggesting it might cause premature birth, low birthweight and infant brain deficits. But the National Institute on Drug Abuse is pressing for more solid evidence.
KPBS Midday Edition

SANDAG: Drug Use In Juvenile Offenders Highest In 19 Years

City News Service

Drug use among youth booked into Juvenile Hall reached its highest rate since 2000, with 58% of those interviewed testing positive for an illicit substance last year, according to a report released last week by the San Diego Association of Governments.
Public Safety

Police Bust Illegal South Bay Pot Dispensary

City News Service

Chula Vista authorities Friday raided and shuttered an illegal marijuana dispensary near Otay Valley Regional Park, seizing its stock and arresting its staff.
Politics

California Pot Regulators Struggling With Job, Audit Says

The Associated Press

About two-thirds of the 219 staff positions authorized for the Bureau of Cannabis Control remain unfilled, according to an audit by the state Finance Department. A shortage of staff in the enforcement unit is hindering the agency's ability to conduct investigations.
City Heights Activists Call For More Regulation Of Billboards Advertising Marijuana

Priya Sridhar

Activists and community leaders from City Heights want more regulation of billboards advertising marijuana.
Health

Medical Pot Laws No Answer For US Opioid Deaths, Study Finds

The Associated Press

A new study shoots down the notion that medical marijuana laws can prevent opioid overdose deaths, challenging a favorite talking point of legal pot advocates.
KPBS Midday Edition

UC San Diego Scientists Push For Regulations On Marijuana Advertising

Jade Hindmon

UC San Diego researchers are calling on the federal government to regulate marijuana advertisements.
Politics

California Lawmakers Nix Temporary Marijuana Tax Cut

The Associated Press

An effort to jumpstart California's licensed marijuana retailers failed to clear a key legislative committee on Thursday, likely dooming its prospects for the year as the country's largest legal cannabis industry continues to flounder in the shadow of the illegal — and tax free — black market.