Trump signals support for legislation easing U.S. pot ban

LOS ANGELES -- President Donald Trump said Friday that he's inclined to support a bipartisan effort in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana, a proposal that would dramatically reshape the nation's legal landscape for pot users and businesses.

The federal ban that puts marijuana on the same level as LSD and heroin has created a conflict with more than two dozen states that have legalized pot in some form.

The legislation would ensure states have the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders, but some U.S. restrictions would remain, including recreational sales to people under 21.

The proposal introduced Thursday has support from members of Congress from both parties, including Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado.

"I support Senator Gardner. I know exactly what he's doing," Trump told reporters in Washington, when asked about the legislation. "We're looking at it. But I probably will end up supporting that, yes."

In a statement released Thursday, Gardner said the proposal would ensure Washington respects the will of voters in each state, whether laws provide for legalization or prohibition.

He said the federal government "is closing its eyes and plugging its ears" to spreading legalization, but Washington should not interfere with any state's legal marijuana market.

Another co-sponsor, Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said in a statement that Washington "needs to get out of the business of outlawing marijuana."

California, home to one in eight Americans, launched the nation's largest legal marijuana marketplace on Jan. 1. Still, businesses that have been licensed across the state are facing the threat of federal prosecution.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trump-signals-support-for-legislation-easing-u-s-pot-ban-1.1090240

Aphria News: "we are ready to serve the recreational adult use market and meet the needs of Canadians"

We are ready to serve the recreational adult use market and meet the needs of Canadians. 

Aphria Welcomes Passage of Bill C-45 in Senate, Ready to Meet Demand for Adult-Use Cannabis in Canada

Canada NewsWire

LEAMINGTON, ON, June 8, 2018

LEAMINGTON, ON, June 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Aphria Inc. ("Aphria" or the "Company") (TSX: APH and US OTC: APHQF) today provided the following statement in reaction to the passage of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, in the Senate of Canada:  

Vic Neufeld, CEO of Aphria, said, "Today's passage of Bill C-45 through the Senate is a historic milestone towards safe and legal recreational cannabis in Canada. We applaud the government's drive to establish a rational regulatory framework for adult-use cannabis that is designed to protect public health and safety, restrict access to youth, and eliminate the black market. It is a significant day that further cements Canada as the preeminent leader in the global cannabis sector."

"While we share the government's goal to create a highly regulated market, we want to ensure that the cannabis industry is well positioned to responsibly meet the needs of Canadians and effectively compete with the black market, which is operating and marketing unbound by ethical or regulatory considerations. To do this, we believe that is critical that licensed producers be allowed to use limited forms of adult focused branding to properly educate Canadians about the differences between illegal and legal products. We also continue to advocate to exempt medicinal cannabis from excise taxes to ensure that it is subject to the same considerations as other medications. We encourage government to consider these changes as Bill C-45 passes through the final stages of legalization."

"As Canada moves one step closer to adult-use cannabis legalization, 

Aphria is well positioned as a global leader in the exciting cannabis market. With growing production capacity, innovative products, R&D expertise as well as talented and experienced people, we are ready to serve the recreational adult use market and meet the needs of Canadians. We look forward to working with government as a long-term partner to continue to position Canada as global success story," added Mr. Neufeld.

About Aphria

Aphria Inc., one of Canada's lowest cost producers, produces, supplies and sells medical cannabis. Located in Leamington, Ontario, the greenhouse capital of Canada, Aphria is truly powered by sunlight allowing for the most natural growing conditions available. Aphria is committed to providing pharma-grade medical cannabis, superior patient care while balancing patient economics and returns to shareholders.

For more information, visit: aphria.ca

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to internal expectations, estimated margins, expectations with respect to actual production volumes, expectations for future growing capacity and costs, the completion of any capital project or expansions, and expectations with respect to future production costs. 

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical marijuana; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the medical marijuana industry in Canada generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability of Aphria to implement its business strategies; competition; crop failure; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Aphria Inc.