BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership to reduce the continent’s reliance on Russian energy, a step top officials characterized as the start of a years-long initiative to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors” and uses the profits from its sale to “drive his war machine.”

Biden said the partnership he announced jointly with a top European Union official will turn that dynamic on its head by reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, as well as the continent’s demand for gas overall.

The president said such a step is not “only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint” but “it’s going to put us on a stronger strategic footing.”

Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.

At the same time, they will try to keep their climate goals on track by powering gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks that can worsen global warming.

Although the initiative will likely require new facilities for importing liquified natural gas, the partnership is also geared toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the long run through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy, according to the White House.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, said it is important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are trustworthy, friendly and reliable.

“We aim to reduce this dependence on Russian fossil fuels and get rid of it,” she said.

Russian energy is a key source of income and political leverage for Moscow. Almost 40% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.

Biden was leaving Brussels after the announcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-warsaw-europe-c905f43858e7966afb3b6cbfbed82b46">heading to Rzeszów in Poland</a>, where U.S. troops are based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border.

He will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and those still suffering inside the country. He also will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.

Biden is then expected to fly to Warsaw for talks Saturday with Polish President Andrzej Duda and an address to the Polish people before he departs for Washington.

While in Brussels, Biden participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-g-7-summit-9f6705e72533496f513c3540881d348e">a trio of summits</a>&nbsp;hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary series of meetings reflects heightened concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.

Although Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion much more successfully than initially expected, the conflict has become a grueling and bloody affair, with thousands of casualties on each side and millions of refugees fleeing the country.

Western leaders are also concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use chemical or even nuclear weapons to regain momentum in the war.

Getting more liquefied natural gas to Europe could be difficult, even though the U.S. has been dramatically increasing its exports in recent years. Many export facilities are already operating at capacity, and most new terminals are still only in the planning stages.

Most U.S. shipments already go to Europe, according to the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an industry lobbying group. Although much of the supply is already contracted out to buyers, there are still opportunities to shift its destination.

“The U.S. is in a unique position because it has flexible LNG that can be rerouted to Europe or to Asia, depending on who’s willing to pay that price,” said Emily McClain, gas markets analyst at Rystad.

Even if the U.S. can ship more gas to Europe, the continent may struggle to receive it. Import terminals are located in coastal areas, where there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing it.

Even if all Europe’s facilities were operating at capacity, the amount of gas would likely be only about two-thirds of what Russia delivers through pipelines.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648203885524.png" alt="Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership to reduce the continent’s reliance on Russian energy, a step top officials characterized as the start of a years-long initiative to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The transatlantic partnership stands stronger than ever. In a world faced with disorder, our unity upholds fundamental values and rules that our citizens believe in. And we are determined to stand up against Russia’s brutal war. <a href="https://t.co/EbO9c3R7Mt">https://t.co/EbO9c3R7Mt</a>&mdash; Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1507282881772765201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors” and uses the profits from its sale to “drive his war machine.”Biden said the partnership he announced jointly with a top European Union official will turn that dynamic on its head by reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, as well as the continent’s demand for gas overall.The president said such a step is not “only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint” but “it’s going to put us on a stronger strategic footing.”Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future.At the same time, they will try to keep their climate goals on track by powering gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks that can worsen global warming.Although the initiative will likely require new facilities for importing liquified natural gas, the partnership is also geared toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the long run through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy, according to the White House.Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, said it is important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are trustworthy, friendly and reliable.“We aim to reduce this dependence on Russian fossil fuels and get rid of it,” she said.Russian energy is a key source of income and political leverage for Moscow. Almost 40% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.Biden was leaving Brussels after the announcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-warsaw-europe-c905f43858e7966afb3b6cbfbed82b46">heading to Rzeszów in Poland</a>, where U.S. troops are based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border.He will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and those still suffering inside the country. He also will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.Biden is then expected to fly to Warsaw for talks Saturday with Polish President Andrzej Duda and an address to the Polish people before he departs for Washington.While in Brussels, Biden participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-g-7-summit-9f6705e72533496f513c3540881d348e">a trio of summits</a>&nbsp;hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary series of meetings reflects heightened concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.Although Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion much more successfully than initially expected, the conflict has become a grueling and bloody affair, with thousands of casualties on each side and millions of refugees fleeing the country.Western leaders are also concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use chemical or even nuclear weapons to regain momentum in the war.Getting more liquefied natural gas to Europe could be difficult, even though the U.S. has been dramatically increasing its exports in recent years. Many export facilities are already operating at capacity, and most new terminals are still only in the planning stages.Most U.S. shipments already go to Europe, according to the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an industry lobbying group. Although much of the supply is already contracted out to buyers, there are still opportunities to shift its destination.“The U.S. is in a unique position because it has flexible LNG that can be rerouted to Europe or to Asia, depending on who’s willing to pay that price,” said Emily McClain, gas markets analyst at Rystad.Even if the U.S. can ship more gas to Europe, the continent may struggle to receive it. Import terminals are located in coastal areas, where there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing it.Even if all Europe’s facilities were operating at capacity, the amount of gas would likely be only about two-thirds of what Russia delivers through pipelines.___

🎥US, EU announce new partnership to undercut Russian energy

WASHINGTON — Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 
billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did 
not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act
 before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service.

"The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed 
their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But 
people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to 
claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. 
We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 
tax return before this critical deadline."

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to 
be $813 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are 
less.

In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, 
the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living 
in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2018. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:

Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">Form 1040 instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 Form 1040, 
1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.

Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.

A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns 
received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA 
contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the 
transcript to file their tax return.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 
billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did 
not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act
 before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service."The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed 
their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But 
people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to 
claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. 
We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 
tax return before this critical deadline."The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to 
be $813 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are 
less.In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law 
provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim
 a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the 
money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, 
the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living 
in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires 
taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is 
postmarked by that date.The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks
 may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. In 
addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the 
IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support
 or past due federal debts, such as student loans.By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just 
their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2018. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:<ul>
 <li>$49,194 ($54,884 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;</li><li>$45,802 ($51,492 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;</li><li>$40,320 ($46,010 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child; and</li><li>$15,270 ($20,950 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.</li>
 </ul>Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">Form 1040 instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 Form 1040, 
1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms and Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (<a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-829-3676</a>). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years
 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or 
other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their 
employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at 
IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns 
received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA 
contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the 
transcript to file their tax return.

Didn't file a return in 2018? IRS has $1.5B in refunds, but deadline nears

By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-24/federal-officials-say-russian-spies-tried-to-hack-into-a-kansas-nuclear-power-plant">Kansas News Service</a>

A federal indictment made public Thursday accuses four men with ties 
to Russian spy outfits of trying to gain control of U.S. nuclear power 
plants — including one in Kansas — through cyber sabotage.

Prosecutors
 contend the defendants targeted both software and hardware to cripple 
critical infrastructure in the U.S., including the Wolf Creek nuclear 
plant near Burlington, Kansas.

The U.S. Justice Department 
describes a pair of concerted attacks that involved, among other 
tactics, planting malware on more than 17,000 devices.

That 
alleged hacking, the indictment says, had some success that gave 
saboteurs unauthorized access to networks and computers across the 
energy sector.

All of the men are Russian nationals accused of 
working for their Ministry of Defense to wreck parts of the global 
energy sector between 2012 and 2018. Justice officials say the hacking 
campaigns sought to infiltrate thousands of computers at hundreds of 
private companies and government agencies across roughly 135 countries.

“Russian
 state-sponsored hackers pose a serious and persistent threat to 
critical infrastructure both in the United States and around the world,”
 Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a news release. 
“The criminal charges unsealed today … make crystal clear the urgent 
ongoing need for American businesses to harden their defenses and remain
 vigilant.”

Although the indictments were unsealed Thursday — amid
 rising U.S.-Russia tensions — they were first filed in secret in U.S. 
District Court in Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Kan., in 2018.

Prosecutors
 said in a news release that Wolf Creek and its owners, Evergy and the 
Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, worked with investigators and 
“provided invaluable assistance.”

The Justice Department contends 
Wolf Creek fell target to attack in a second phase of attacks known as 
“Dragonfly 2.0” focused on specific energy facilities, including 
engineers at the plant. The indictment says the Russian operatives 
targeted more than 3,300 people at 500 U.S. and foreign companies and 
government agencies.

Part of the alleged scheme banked on 
spearfishing hacks that use email to draw people to seemingly legitimate
 websites that were actually traps designed to steal passwords, plant 
malware or otherwise gain ways to bypass cybersecurity defenses.

“When
 the engineers browsed to a compromised website, the conspirators’ 
hidden scripts deployed malware designed to capture login credentials 
onto their computers,” according to the Justice Department.

Officials at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission were also targets of the alleged attacks.

Pavel
 Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat 
Valeryevich Tyukov are charged with conspiracy to cause damage to the 
property of an energy facility and commit computer fraud and abuse, in 
an indictment in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas. A second 
indictment from the D.C. court alleged that Russian national Evgeny 
Viktorovich Gladkikh and unnamed co-conspirators targeted a foreign oil 
facility and a U.S. energy company between 2017 and 2018.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said in a news release that Moscow was responsible for the attacks.

“We will continue,” he said, “to identify and quickly direct response assets to victims of Russian cyber activity.”

News website Politico cited an unnamed Justice official saying <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/russian-spies-indicted-hack-nuclear-plant-00020217" target="_blank">more action</a>
 on the issue could come from the federal government in coming days. The
 same source told Politico that the defendants are unlikely to be 
extradited.

Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648165136249.png" alt="The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington, Kansas. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission " />
 <figcaption>The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington, Kansas. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission </figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-24/federal-officials-say-russian-spies-tried-to-hack-into-a-kansas-nuclear-power-plant">Kansas News Service</a>A federal indictment made public Thursday accuses four men with ties 
to Russian spy outfits of trying to gain control of U.S. nuclear power 
plants — including one in Kansas — through cyber sabotage.Prosecutors
 contend the defendants targeted both software and hardware to cripple 
critical infrastructure in the U.S., including the Wolf Creek nuclear 
plant near Burlington, Kansas.The U.S. Justice Department 
describes a pair of concerted attacks that involved, among other 
tactics, planting malware on more than 17,000 devices.That 
alleged hacking, the indictment says, had some success that gave 
saboteurs unauthorized access to networks and computers across the 
energy sector.All of the men are Russian nationals accused of 
working for their Ministry of Defense to wreck parts of the global 
energy sector between 2012 and 2018. Justice officials say the hacking 
campaigns sought to infiltrate thousands of computers at hundreds of 
private companies and government agencies across roughly 135 countries.“Russian
 state-sponsored hackers pose a serious and persistent threat to 
critical infrastructure both in the United States and around the world,”
 Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a news release. 
“The criminal charges unsealed today … make crystal clear the urgent 
ongoing need for American businesses to harden their defenses and remain
 vigilant.”Although the indictments were unsealed Thursday — amid
 rising U.S.-Russia tensions — they were first filed in secret in U.S. 
District Court in Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Kan., in 2018.Prosecutors
 said in a news release that Wolf Creek and its owners, Evergy and the 
Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, worked with investigators and 
“provided invaluable assistance.”The Justice Department contends 
Wolf Creek fell target to attack in a second phase of attacks known as 
“Dragonfly 2.0” focused on specific energy facilities, including 
engineers at the plant. The indictment says the Russian operatives 
targeted more than 3,300 people at 500 U.S. and foreign companies and 
government agencies.Part of the alleged scheme banked on 
spearfishing hacks that use email to draw people to seemingly legitimate
 websites that were actually traps designed to steal passwords, plant 
malware or otherwise gain ways to bypass cybersecurity defenses.“When
 the engineers browsed to a compromised website, the conspirators’ 
hidden scripts deployed malware designed to capture login credentials 
onto their computers,” according to the Justice Department.Officials at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission were also targets of the alleged attacks.Pavel
 Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat 
Valeryevich Tyukov are charged with conspiracy to cause damage to the 
property of an energy facility and commit computer fraud and abuse, in 
an indictment in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas. A second 
indictment from the D.C. court alleged that Russian national Evgeny 
Viktorovich Gladkikh and unnamed co-conspirators targeted a foreign oil 
facility and a U.S. energy company between 2017 and 2018.FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said in a news release that Moscow was responsible for the attacks.“We will continue,” he said, “to identify and quickly direct response assets to victims of Russian cyber activity.”News website Politico cited an unnamed Justice official saying <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/russian-spies-indicted-hack-nuclear-plant-00020217" target="_blank">more action</a>
 on the issue could come from the federal government in coming days. The
 same source told Politico that the defendants are unlikely to be 
extradited.Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

Feds: Russian spies tried to hack into Kan. nuclear power plant 

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/medical-marijuana-petition-drive-makes-urgent-pitch-for-donors-volunteers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

An
 initiative petition drive seeking to legalize medical cannabis in 
Nebraska has issued an urgent plea for donations and volunteers after 
reportedly losing a major contributor.

In an email to supporters on Wednesday, Nebraskans
 for Medical Marijuana said that due to “personal and tragic 
circumstances,” a “committed donor” is no longer able to fund its 
petition drive this year.

The
 email called on supporters to “show our grit” by volunteering to pass 
petitions, or helping raise $500,000 to finance paid petition 
circulators by May 1.

State
 Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, a leader of the petition drive, said 
Thursday that Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is confident additional 
funds can be raised “to fill the gap.”



	“Our campaign has an incredible amount of grassroots support,” Morfeld said. “We have hundreds of well-organized volunteers who are out gathering signatures, and more supporters sign up to help every day.”

He declined to name the major funder who can’t support the cause, but did say that a terminal illness prevented the donation.

Morfeld called it “possible, but very difficult” to qualify an initiative for the ballot without using paid circulators, but “if any campaign can do it solely with a grassroots signature drive, it’s ours.”&nbsp;

The development is a
 major setback for an effort that collected more than 122,000 signatures
 two years ago to qualify for the ballot, but was kicked off by the 
Nebraska Supreme Court. The court ruled that the initiative’s language 
violated the state’s “single-subject” rule, which requires a ballot 
issue to contain no more than one subject.&nbsp;



	The petition drive faces major pushback from Gov. Pete Ricketts, who 
maintains that legalizing medical marijuana is the first step toward 
legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Ricketts appeared in a 
commercial financed by a group opposing the effort, SAM Nebraska, which 
is an affiliate of a national group called Smart Approaches to 
Marijuana.

While Ricketts maintains that cannabis has 
no medicinal value, dozens of Nebraskans have testified at the Capitol 
about its benefits in treating chronic pain and seizure disorders.

Nebraskans
 for Medical Marijuana, in its email, said it has collected about 15,000
 signatures so far in its attempt to qualify for the 2022 general 
election ballot. It needs to collect about 87,000 signatures.

The
 email said that with 100 days left until the deadline to submit its 
signatures, this is “another all-hands-on-deck moment,” like in 2020, 
when the campaign pushed through the pandemic to qualify for the ballot.

The major funders that emerged in 2020 to finance the petition drive were: Mai Oil, Dallas, Texas, $335,500; Kingfish Investments; Abell, Md., $262,000; Harper Enterprises, Omaha, $89,000; and Sozo Companies of Warren, Mich., $50,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648158696374.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/medical-marijuana-petition-drive-makes-urgent-pitch-for-donors-volunteers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>An
 initiative petition drive seeking to legalize medical cannabis in 
Nebraska has issued an urgent plea for donations and volunteers after 
reportedly losing a major contributor.In an email to supporters on Wednesday, Nebraskans
 for Medical Marijuana said that due to “personal and tragic 
circumstances,” a “committed donor” is no longer able to fund its 
petition drive this year.The
 email called on supporters to “show our grit” by volunteering to pass 
petitions, or helping raise $500,000 to finance paid petition 
circulators by May 1.State
 Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, a leader of the petition drive, said 
Thursday that Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is confident additional 
funds can be raised “to fill the gap.”<h2>Terminal illness</h2>

	“Our campaign has an incredible amount of grassroots support,” Morfeld said. “We have hundreds of well-organized volunteers who are out gathering signatures, and more supporters sign up to help every day.”He declined to name the major funder who can’t support the cause, but did say that a terminal illness prevented the donation.Morfeld called it “possible, but very difficult” to qualify an initiative for the ballot without using paid circulators, but “if any campaign can do it solely with a grassroots signature drive, it’s ours.”&nbsp;The development is a
 major setback for an effort that collected more than 122,000 signatures
 two years ago to qualify for the ballot, but was kicked off by the 
Nebraska Supreme Court. The court ruled that the initiative’s language 
violated the state’s “single-subject” rule, which requires a ballot 
issue to contain no more than one subject.&nbsp;<h2>Ricketts opposed</h2>

	The petition drive faces major pushback from Gov. Pete Ricketts, who 
maintains that legalizing medical marijuana is the first step toward 
legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Ricketts appeared in a 
commercial financed by a group opposing the effort, SAM Nebraska, which 
is an affiliate of a national group called Smart Approaches to 
Marijuana.While Ricketts maintains that cannabis has 
no medicinal value, dozens of Nebraskans have testified at the Capitol 
about its benefits in treating chronic pain and seizure disorders.Nebraskans
 for Medical Marijuana, in its email, said it has collected about 15,000
 signatures so far in its attempt to qualify for the 2022 general 
election ballot. It needs to collect about 87,000 signatures.The
 email said that with 100 days left until the deadline to submit its 
signatures, this is “another all-hands-on-deck moment,” like in 2020, 
when the campaign pushed through the pandemic to qualify for the ballot.The major funders that emerged in 2020 to finance the petition drive were: Mai Oil, Dallas, Texas, $335,500; Kingfish Investments; Abell, Md., $262,000; Harper Enterprises, Omaha, $89,000; and Sozo Companies of Warren, Mich., $50,000.

Neb. medical marijuana drive makes pitch for donors, volunteers

The Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s K9 Search and Rescue Team deployed to Nebraska Wednesday afternoon to support an effort conducted by the&nbsp;Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp; in the disappearance of Linda Dillard who went missing last June in southeast Nebraska

Along with their handlers, K9 Bella Luna, K9 Rusty, and K9 Jinx will search the Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area for Dillard over the next 3 to 4 days. 

The team wanted to highlight their positive working relationship and the continued inter-state cooperation between Kansas and Nebraska.

Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area. As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which led to her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).

Sedgwick County has one of the larger organized K9 search teams in Kansas. It’s not only a vital resource for us but for our neighbors as well. Sedgwick County’s K9 Search and Rescue team provides services including live find, trailing, air scent, water search and human remains detection.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647621696110.jpeg" alt="Linda Dillard -photo Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Linda Dillard -photo Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s K9 Search and Rescue Team deployed to Nebraska Wednesday afternoon to support an effort conducted by the&nbsp;Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp; in the disappearance of Linda Dillard who went missing last June in southeast Nebraska<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648153611035.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Along with their handlers, K9 Bella Luna, K9 Rusty, and K9 Jinx will search the Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area for Dillard over the next 3 to 4 days. The team wanted to highlight their positive working relationship and the continued inter-state cooperation between Kansas and Nebraska.Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area. As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which led to her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).Sedgwick County has one of the larger organized K9 search teams in Kansas. It’s not only a vital resource for us but for our neighbors as well. Sedgwick County’s K9 Search and Rescue team provides services including live find, trailing, air scent, water search and human remains detection.

Kansas K9 team aids in search for woman missing since June

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It began as a lark. Then, it caught fire.

The Peterson Farm Brothers might just be farm kids from
central Kansas, but they have become social media sensations with their
farm-based parodies of popular songs drawing millions of views.

Greg Peterson, a Kansas State University communications
graduate, says these videos might seem light-hearted, but they have a serious
mission.

“Well, it’s kind of two-fold,” Peterson tells KFEQ Ag Director
Dionne Bertling. “Reaching people outside of agriculture and hoping to make a
difference there, but also hopefully providing some inspiration for younger
kids who want to be farmers some day; anyone who’s in agriculture who our
videos give them a sense of pride in what they do.”

Greg and his brother, Nathan, spoke recently to a large crowd
at the 18th Annual Farm City Breakfast in St. Joseph. 

Nathan Peterson says he’s been shocked and pleased by the
success of the videos.

“Seeing other people enjoy the finished product and seeing
some of the comments,” Nathan Peterson says has been the highlight for him. “(Comments)
like, I’ve seen more farming in this video than I’ve have my whole life or
something like that; seeing them actually make a difference and seeing kids
really enjoy them, kids really into farming, because they can go to YouTube and
watch all sorts of different farmers.”

The Peterson Brothers parody of Katie Perry’s Roar, called
Chore, has been seen by more than five million YouTube viewers. Their parody of
AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, called Tractor Struck, has nearly four million views.

Greg Peterson says it does take time to produce the videos.

“Obviously, it varies quite a bit depending on the complexity
of the video,” according to Peterson. “Anywhere from a week to a month, I
guess. We don’t spend full days on the videos.”

That’s because their main job is farming and raising cattle in
central Kansas between Salina and McPherson, where they call Lindsborg and
Assaria, Kansas. They are 5th generation farmers who have become
famous, thanks to music video parodies.

Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PetersonFarmBros">here</a> for the Peterson Farm Brothers YouTube page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648133168539.png" alt="Two of the Peterson Farm Brothers speak to a packed crowd at the Farm-City Breakfast in St. Joseph / Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Two of the Peterson Farm Brothers speak to a packed crowd at the Farm-City Breakfast in St. Joseph / Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It began as a lark. Then, it caught fire.The Peterson Farm Brothers might just be farm kids from
central Kansas, but they have become social media sensations with their
farm-based parodies of popular songs drawing millions of views.Greg Peterson, a Kansas State University communications
graduate, says these videos might seem light-hearted, but they have a serious
mission.“Well, it’s kind of two-fold,” Peterson tells KFEQ Ag Director
Dionne Bertling. “Reaching people outside of agriculture and hoping to make a
difference there, but also hopefully providing some inspiration for younger
kids who want to be farmers some day; anyone who’s in agriculture who our
videos give them a sense of pride in what they do.”Greg and his brother, Nathan, spoke recently to a large crowd
at the 18th Annual Farm City Breakfast in St. Joseph. Nathan Peterson says he’s been shocked and pleased by the
success of the videos.“Seeing other people enjoy the finished product and seeing
some of the comments,” Nathan Peterson says has been the highlight for him. “(Comments)
like, I’ve seen more farming in this video than I’ve have my whole life or
something like that; seeing them actually make a difference and seeing kids
really enjoy them, kids really into farming, because they can go to YouTube and
watch all sorts of different farmers.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648133221915.png" alt="The Peterson Farm Brothers perform some of their parodies during the Farm-City Breakfast / Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>The Peterson Farm Brothers perform some of their parodies during the Farm-City Breakfast / Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The Peterson Brothers parody of Katie Perry’s Roar, called
Chore, has been seen by more than five million YouTube viewers. Their parody of
AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, called Tractor Struck, has nearly four million views.Greg Peterson says it does take time to produce the videos.“Obviously, it varies quite a bit depending on the complexity
of the video,” according to Peterson. “Anywhere from a week to a month, I
guess. We don’t spend full days on the videos.”That’s because their main job is farming and raising cattle in
central Kansas between Salina and McPherson, where they call Lindsborg and
Assaria, Kansas. They are 5th generation farmers who have become
famous, thanks to music video parodies.Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PetersonFarmBros">here</a> for the Peterson Farm Brothers YouTube page.

Petersons: Just some Kansas farm kids with a message ... and it's funny!

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Around 150 people in law enforcement and others are scouring land in southeastern Nebraska in search of a woman who's been missing for nine months. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the search began Thursday at Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area about 40 miles east of Beatrice and will go over some 700 acres in search of the remains of 55-year-old Linda Dillard of Tecumseh. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says those searching include rescue teams, experts in identifying human remains, cadaver dogs and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln forensic anthropologist professor and several students. 

Dillard last was seen near Table Rock on June 16.

 Investigators think she was the victim of a crime, but no one has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Around 150 people in law enforcement and others are scouring land in southeastern Nebraska in search of a woman who's been missing for nine months. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the search began Thursday at Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area about 40 miles east of Beatrice and will go over some 700 acres in search of the remains of 55-year-old Linda Dillard of Tecumseh. The Nebraska State Patrol says those searching include rescue teams, experts in identifying human remains, cadaver dogs and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln forensic anthropologist professor and several students. Dillard last was seen near Table Rock on June 16. Investigators think she was the victim of a crime, but no one has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

Around 150 people scouring Nebraska land for missing woman

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States will expand its sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, targeting members of the country’s parliament and the central bank’s gold reserves, the White House announced Thursday and President Biden confirmed during a news conference.

At the same time, Washington will increase its humanitarian assistance by welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and providing an additional $1 billion in food, medicine, water and other supplies.

The White House announced the initiatives as U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders gathered in Brussels for a trio of summits in response to the Russian invasion, seeking new ways to limit the economic and security fallout from the conflict.

During the news conference,&nbsp; Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong to assume NATO would be divided over Ukraine.

Biden said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has built greater unity within NATO, the European Union and the Group of Seven economies.

Biden says of Putin, “He didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion,” adding that NATO has “never been more united than it is today.”

NATO countries and other allies have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia, crippling that country’s economy. Still, the EU has refrained from taking the same steps as the U.S. by banning oil and natural gas from Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the day’s first meeting, an emergency NATO summit, where he called for “military assistance without limitations.” He pleaded for anti-air and anti-ship weapons, asking “is it possible to survive in such a war without this?”

“It feels like we’re in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,” Zelenskyy said during the video address. “This is the scariest thing during a war — not to have clear answers to requests for help!”

A U.S. official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Western nations are discussing the possibility of providing anti-ship weapons amid concerns that Russia will launch amphibious assaults along the Black Sea coast.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg opened the closed-door summit with a sober warning that the alliance must boost its defenses and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”

“We gather at a critical time for our security,” he said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”

In addition to the NATO summit, Brussels is also hosting separate summits of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and if the European Union. Biden is attending all three meetings and will hold a news conference afterward.

While the West has been largely unified in confronting Russia after it invaded Ukraine, there’s wide acknowledgement that unity will be tested as the costs of war chip at the global economy.

The bolstering of forces along NATO’s eastern flank, almost certainly for at least the next five to 10 years if Russia is to be effectively dissuaded, will also put pressure on national budgets.

“We need to do more, and therefore we need to invest more. There is a new sense of urgency and I expect that the leaders will agree to accelerate the investments in defense,” Stoltenberg said before the summit.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. wants to hear “that the resolve and unity that we’ve seen for the past month will endure for as long as it takes.”

The energy crisis exacerbated by the war will be a particularly hot topic at the European Council summit, where leaders from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are hoping for an urgent, coordinated bloc-wide response. EU officials have said they will seek U.S. help on a plan to top up natural gas storage facilities for next winter, and they also want the bloc to jointly purchase gas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed calls to boycott Russian energy supplies, saying it would cause significant damage to his country’s economy. Scholz is facing pressure from environmental activists to quickly wean Germany off Russian energy, but he said the process will have to be gradual.

“To do so from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz said Wednesday.

Poland and other eastern flank NATO countries will also be looking for clarity on how the United States and fellow European nations can assist in dealing with their growing concerns about Russian aggression as well as a spiraling refugee crisis. More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, including more than 2 million to Poland.

Biden is scheduled to visit Poland on Friday, where both issues are expected to be at the center of talks with President Andrzej Duda. Another significant moment could come shortly before Biden returns to Washington on Saturday. The White House said he plans to “deliver remarks on the united efforts of the free world to support the people of Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and defend a future that is rooted in democratic principles.”

Sullivan said Biden and fellow leaders would aim to “set out a longer-term game plan” for what forces and capabilities are going to be required for the alliance’s eastern flank countries.

Four new NATO battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, are being set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

All the while, national security officials from Washington to Warsaw are increasingly worried that Putin might deploy chemical, biological or even nuclear weaponry. Sullivan said the allies would consult on how to respond to “potential contingencies” of that sort.

Biden said this week that the possibility of chemical weapons use by Russia was a “real threat.”

Stoltenberg declined Thursday to discuss whether such a strike is a red line that would draw the alliance into war with Russia. “I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO allied country,” he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a CNN interview this week said that Russia could consider using its nuclear weapons if it felt there was “an existential threat for our country.”

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, said before Biden’s visit that she wants to discuss the possibility of securing extra deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States for the 27-nation bloc “for the next two winters.”

The EU imports 90% of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. The bloc is looking at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by diversifying suppliers.

Sullivan said the United States was looking for ways to “surge” LNG supplies to Europe to help.

One new sanctions option that Biden is weighing is to target members of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new sanctions would be rolled out in coordination with Western allies.

Biden arrived in Brussels with Americans increasingly accepting of the need for the U.S. to help stop Putin, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But even as concern among Americans has swelled and and support for a major U.S. role in the conflict strengthened in the last month, Biden’s negative approval rating has not budged, the AP-NORC poll found. Few are very confident that he can handle a crisis, and a majority thinks he lacks toughness in dealing with Russia.

Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648129667368.png" alt="President Biden met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Thursday to address Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Thursday to address Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States will expand its sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, targeting members of the country’s parliament and the central bank’s gold reserves, the White House announced Thursday and President Biden confirmed during a news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F3161092110827503%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=32" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>At the same time, Washington will increase its humanitarian assistance by welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and providing an additional $1 billion in food, medicine, water and other supplies.The White House announced the initiatives as U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders gathered in Brussels for a trio of summits in response to the Russian invasion, seeking new ways to limit the economic and security fallout from the conflict.During the news conference,&nbsp; Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong to assume NATO would be divided over Ukraine.Biden said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has built greater unity within NATO, the European Union and the Group of Seven economies.Biden says of Putin, “He didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion,” adding that NATO has “never been more united than it is today.”NATO countries and other allies have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia, crippling that country’s economy. Still, the EU has refrained from taking the same steps as the U.S. by banning oil and natural gas from Russia.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the day’s first meeting, an emergency NATO summit, where he called for “military assistance without limitations.” He pleaded for anti-air and anti-ship weapons, asking “is it possible to survive in such a war without this?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648143875128.png" alt="President Biden held a press conference about his meetings in Europe with Allies and partners on our response to Russia’s war on Ukraine." />
 <figcaption>President Biden held a press conference about his meetings in Europe with Allies and partners on our response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.</figcaption>
 </figure>“It feels like we’re in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,” Zelenskyy said during the video address. “This is the scariest thing during a war — not to have clear answers to requests for help!”A U.S. official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Western nations are discussing the possibility of providing anti-ship weapons amid concerns that Russia will launch amphibious assaults along the Black Sea coast.Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg opened the closed-door summit with a sober warning that the alliance must boost its defenses and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”“We gather at a critical time for our security,” he said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”In addition to the NATO summit, Brussels is also hosting separate summits of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and if the European Union. Biden is attending all three meetings and will hold a news conference afterward.While the West has been largely unified in confronting Russia after it invaded Ukraine, there’s wide acknowledgement that unity will be tested as the costs of war chip at the global economy.The bolstering of forces along NATO’s eastern flank, almost certainly for at least the next five to 10 years if Russia is to be effectively dissuaded, will also put pressure on national budgets.“We need to do more, and therefore we need to invest more. There is a new sense of urgency and I expect that the leaders will agree to accelerate the investments in defense,” Stoltenberg said before the summit.Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. wants to hear “that the resolve and unity that we’ve seen for the past month will endure for as long as it takes.”The energy crisis exacerbated by the war will be a particularly hot topic at the European Council summit, where leaders from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are hoping for an urgent, coordinated bloc-wide response. EU officials have said they will seek U.S. help on a plan to top up natural gas storage facilities for next winter, and they also want the bloc to jointly purchase gas.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed calls to boycott Russian energy supplies, saying it would cause significant damage to his country’s economy. Scholz is facing pressure from environmental activists to quickly wean Germany off Russian energy, but he said the process will have to be gradual.“To do so from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz said Wednesday.Poland and other eastern flank NATO countries will also be looking for clarity on how the United States and fellow European nations can assist in dealing with their growing concerns about Russian aggression as well as a spiraling refugee crisis. More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, including more than 2 million to Poland.Biden is scheduled to visit Poland on Friday, where both issues are expected to be at the center of talks with President Andrzej Duda. Another significant moment could come shortly before Biden returns to Washington on Saturday. The White House said he plans to “deliver remarks on the united efforts of the free world to support the people of Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and defend a future that is rooted in democratic principles.”Sullivan said Biden and fellow leaders would aim to “set out a longer-term game plan” for what forces and capabilities are going to be required for the alliance’s eastern flank countries.Four new NATO battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, are being set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.All the while, national security officials from Washington to Warsaw are increasingly worried that Putin might deploy chemical, biological or even nuclear weaponry. Sullivan said the allies would consult on how to respond to “potential contingencies” of that sort.Biden said this week that the possibility of chemical weapons use by Russia was a “real threat.”Stoltenberg declined Thursday to discuss whether such a strike is a red line that would draw the alliance into war with Russia. “I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO allied country,” he said.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a CNN interview this week said that Russia could consider using its nuclear weapons if it felt there was “an existential threat for our country.”Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, said before Biden’s visit that she wants to discuss the possibility of securing extra deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States for the 27-nation bloc “for the next two winters.”The EU imports 90% of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. The bloc is looking at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by diversifying suppliers.Sullivan said the United States was looking for ways to “surge” LNG supplies to Europe to help.One new sanctions option that Biden is weighing is to target members of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new sanctions would be rolled out in coordination with Western allies.Biden arrived in Brussels with Americans increasingly accepting of the need for the U.S. to help stop Putin, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.But even as concern among Americans has swelled and and support for a major U.S. role in the conflict strengthened in the last month, Biden’s negative approval rating has not budged, the AP-NORC poll found. Few are very confident that he can handle a crisis, and a majority thinks he lacks toughness in dealing with Russia.Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition.___

🎥 US to welcome Ukraine refugees, provide $1 billion in food, medicine

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Papillion man who saw hundreds of animals removed from his home last year has been arrested on animal cruelty charges. 

A Sarpy County official said in a news release Thursday that 56-year-old Edward Luben was booked into the Sarpy County Jail on Wednesday on seven felony counts and five misdemeanor counts of cruel neglect of animals. 

In December, according to the release, the Nebraska Humane Society removed 665 animals from Luben's home, including exotic birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. 

Court records say 69 of the animals were dead, and two more had to be euthanized.

By Associated PressPAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Papillion man who saw hundreds of animals removed from his home last year has been arrested on animal cruelty charges. A Sarpy County official said in a news release Thursday that 56-year-old Edward Luben was booked into the Sarpy County Jail on Wednesday on seven felony counts and five misdemeanor counts of cruel neglect of animals. In December, according to the release, the Nebraska Humane Society removed 665 animals from Luben's home, including exotic birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Court records say 69 of the animals were dead, and two more had to be euthanized.

Papillion man at center of huge animal seizure case arrested

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/24/nebraska-lawmakers-hone-in-on-who-gets-1-billion-in-federal-pandemic-recovery-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — The Nebraska Legislature moved closer Wednesday to distributing more 
than $1 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds — and boosted the 
bounty headed to such efforts as mental health services and bonuses to 
attract nurses.&nbsp;

State
 lawmakers, following a daylong hearing, tweaked the Appropriations 
Committee’s spending proposal for the state’s allotment of federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Their 41-1 vote moved the package of about 40 projects and initiatives to the second round of legislative debate.

Changes adopted Wednesday included a $20 million infusion for construction of mental health treatment and education facilities, on
 top of $20 million Appropriations had already recommended. State Sen. 
John Arch of La Vista pushed for the extra funding. He said COVID-19 has
 only added to mental health problems.



	Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil championed an amendment senators adopted 
calling for $10 million to help cover college debt for rural health care
 workers and nursing students.

Lawmakers
 also supported a $7 million request from Sen. Tim Gragert of Creighton 
for drinking water system infrastructure benefiting at least four rural 
communities.

And
 Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha garnered enough support for an amendment 
that now directs all $150 million of a fund for job training and 
business development to North and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/14/south-omaha-leaders-tell-lawmakers-theyre-fed-up-with-being-left-out/">South Omaha</a>. Before Wednesday, a third of that money would have been open to applications from low-income census tracts statewide.

Both east
 Omaha communities also are set to get the bulk of a $91 million pot of 
ARPA funds devoted to affordable housing projects in the Appropriations 
Committee proposal. The bill also contains another $60 million for a 
North Omaha <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/02/recovery-plan-seen-as-unprecedented-opportunity-to-help-revitalize-north-omaha/">business park</a> near Eppley Airfield.



	Several other funding amendments failed to secure approval from the 
Legislature, including a request by Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue to 
provide bonuses for teachers. She chastised colleagues, saying they 
valued sewers over educators.

Speaker
 Mike Hilgers asked that any senators requesting changes suggest 
spending reductions in other areas. Blood had suggested cutting some 
funds from a sewer project at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island.

The $1.03 billion ARPA package was <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/lively-debate-expected-in-the-legislature-over-divvying-up-federal-recovery-funds/">pared down</a> from about $4 billion in proposals from lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The
 bill, as amended, also funds an array of other initiatives, including 
$100 million for shovel-ready construction projects statewide, $60 
million for a rural health education complex at the University of 
Nebraska at Kearney, rural workforce housing, community college 
workforce development and a state law enforcement training facility in 
Grand Island. 

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/24/nebraska-lawmakers-hone-in-on-who-gets-1-billion-in-federal-pandemic-recovery-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — The Nebraska Legislature moved closer Wednesday to distributing more 
than $1 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds — and boosted the 
bounty headed to such efforts as mental health services and bonuses to 
attract nurses.&nbsp;State
 lawmakers, following a daylong hearing, tweaked the Appropriations 
Committee’s spending proposal for the state’s allotment of federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds.Their 41-1 vote moved the package of about 40 projects and initiatives to the second round of legislative debate.Changes adopted Wednesday included a $20 million infusion for construction of mental health treatment and education facilities, on
 top of $20 million Appropriations had already recommended. State Sen. 
John Arch of La Vista pushed for the extra funding. He said COVID-19 has
 only added to mental health problems.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648132188061.jpeg" alt="State Sen. John Arch of LaVista (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. John Arch of LaVista (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Carrot for nursing students</h2>

	Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil championed an amendment senators adopted 
calling for $10 million to help cover college debt for rural health care
 workers and nursing students.Lawmakers
 also supported a $7 million request from Sen. Tim Gragert of Creighton 
for drinking water system infrastructure benefiting at least four rural 
communities.And
 Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha garnered enough support for an amendment 
that now directs all $150 million of a fund for job training and 
business development to North and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/14/south-omaha-leaders-tell-lawmakers-theyre-fed-up-with-being-left-out/">South Omaha</a>. Before Wednesday, a third of that money would have been open to applications from low-income census tracts statewide.Both east
 Omaha communities also are set to get the bulk of a $91 million pot of 
ARPA funds devoted to affordable housing projects in the Appropriations 
Committee proposal. The bill also contains another $60 million for a 
North Omaha <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/02/recovery-plan-seen-as-unprecedented-opportunity-to-help-revitalize-north-omaha/">business park</a> near Eppley Airfield.<h2>Pared down from $4 billion</h2>

	Several other funding amendments failed to secure approval from the 
Legislature, including a request by Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue to 
provide bonuses for teachers. She chastised colleagues, saying they 
valued sewers over educators.Speaker
 Mike Hilgers asked that any senators requesting changes suggest 
spending reductions in other areas. Blood had suggested cutting some 
funds from a sewer project at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island.The $1.03 billion ARPA package was <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/lively-debate-expected-in-the-legislature-over-divvying-up-federal-recovery-funds/">pared down</a> from about $4 billion in proposals from lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts.The
 bill, as amended, also funds an array of other initiatives, including 
$100 million for shovel-ready construction projects statewide, $60 
million for a rural health education complex at the University of 
Nebraska at Kearney, rural workforce housing, community college 
workforce development and a state law enforcement training facility in 
Grand Island. Cover image courtesy of Pixabay

Neb. lawmakers hone in on who gets $1B in federal pandemic funds

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders opened a trio of emergency summits on Thursday with a sober warning from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the alliance must boost its defenses to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”

Stoltenberg commented as he called to order a NATO summit focused on increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the assault on Ukraine while tending to the economic and security fallout spreading across Europe and the world.

“We gather at a critical time for our security,” Stoltenberg said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”

Over the course of Thursday, the European diplomatic capital is hosting the emergency NATO summit, a gathering of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and a summit of the European Union. Biden will attend all three meetings and hold a news conference afterward.

The schedule left Brussels interlaced with multiple police checkpoints and road closures to help motorcades crisscross the city as the leaders go from one meeting to the next.

Biden arrived late Wednesday with the hopes of nudging allies to enact new sanctions on Russia, which has seen its economy crippled by several weeks of bans, boycotts and penalties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to address the NATO summit by video, said late Wednesday that he wants the alliance to “declare that it will fully assist Ukraine to win this war” by supplying any weapons necessary.

Biden said this week that the possibility of Russia deploying chemical weapons was a “real threat.”

Biden, for his part, was expected to detail plans for new sanctions against Russia and humanitarian assistance for the region.

Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition as he tries to maintain unity among Western allies and brace for potentially even bigger challenges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648126473753.png" alt="President Biden and&nbsp;NATO leaders met Thursday in Brussels — one month since the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and&nbsp;NATO leaders met Thursday in Brussels — one month since the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and world leaders opened a trio of emergency summits on Thursday with a sober warning from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the alliance must boost its defenses to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today in Brussels I’m meeting with our NATO Allies, G7 members, and the European Council to discuss our ongoing response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine. We stand united in defense of democracy and with the people of Ukraine.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1506966779721138179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Stoltenberg commented as he called to order a NATO summit focused on increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the assault on Ukraine while tending to the economic and security fallout spreading across Europe and the world.“We gather at a critical time for our security,” Stoltenberg said, addressing the leaders seated at a large round table. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”He said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”Over the course of Thursday, the European diplomatic capital is hosting the emergency NATO summit, a gathering of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and a summit of the European Union. Biden will attend all three meetings and hold a news conference afterward.The schedule left Brussels interlaced with multiple police checkpoints and road closures to help motorcades crisscross the city as the leaders go from one meeting to the next.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648117303062.jpeg" alt="The Belgian Prime Minister welcomed President Biden upon his arrival in Brussels. -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The Belgian Prime Minister welcomed President Biden upon his arrival in Brussels. -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden arrived late Wednesday with the hopes of nudging allies to enact new sanctions on Russia, which has seen its economy crippled by several weeks of bans, boycotts and penalties.While the West has been largely unified in confronting Russia after it invaded Ukraine, there’s wide acknowledgement that unity will be tested as the costs of war chip at the global economy.The bolstering of forces along NATO’s eastern flank, almost certainly for at least the next five to 10 years if Russia is to be effectively dissuaded, will also put pressure on national budgets.“We need to do more, and therefore we need to invest more. There is a new sense of urgency and I expect that the leaders will agree to accelerate the investments in defense,” Stoltenberg said before the summit.Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the U.S. wants to hear “that the resolve and unity that we’ve seen for the past month will endure for as long as it takes.”The energy crisis exacerbated by the war will be a particularly hot topic at the European Council summit, where leaders from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are hoping for an urgent, coordinated bloc-wide response. EU officials have said they will seek U.S. help on a plan to top up natural gas storage facilities for next winter, and they also want the bloc to jointly purchase gas.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed calls to boycott Russian energy supplies, saying it would cause significant damage to his country’s economy. Scholz is facing pressure from environmental activists to quickly wean Germany off Russian energy, but he said the process will have to be gradual.“To do so from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz said Wednesday.Poland and other eastern flank NATO countries will also be looking for clarity on how the United States and fellow European nations can assist in dealing with their growing concerns about Russian aggression as well as a spiraling refugee crisis. More than 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, including more than 2 million to Poland.Biden is scheduled to visit Poland on Friday, where both issues are expected to be at the center of talks with President Andrzej Duda. Another significant moment could come shortly before Biden returns to Washington on Saturday. The White House said he plans to “deliver remarks on the united efforts of the free world to support the people of Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and defend a future that is rooted in democratic principles.”Sullivan said Biden and fellow leaders would aim to “set out a longer-term game plan” for what forces and capabilities are going to be required for the alliance’s eastern flank countries.Four new NATO battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, are being set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to address the NATO summit by video, said late Wednesday that he wants the alliance to “declare that it will fully assist Ukraine to win this war” by supplying any weapons necessary.All the while, national security officials from Washington to Warsaw are increasingly worried that Putin might deploy chemical, biological or even nuclear weaponry. Sullivan said the allies would consult on how to respond to “potential contingencies” of that sort.Biden said this week that the possibility of Russia deploying chemical weapons was a “real threat.”Stoltenberg declined Thursday to discuss whether such a strike is a red line that would draw the alliance into war with Russia. “I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO allied country,” he said.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a CNN interview this week said that Russia could consider using its nuclear weapons if it felt there was “an existential threat for our country.”Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, said before Biden’s visit that she wants to discuss the possibility of securing extra deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States for the 27-nation bloc “for the next two winters.”The EU imports 90% of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40% of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. The bloc is looking at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by diversifying suppliers.Sullivan said the United States was looking for ways to “surge” LNG supplies to Europe to help.Biden, for his part, was expected to detail plans for new sanctions against Russia and humanitarian assistance for the region.One new sanctions option that Biden is weighing is to target members of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new sanctions would be rolled out in coordination with Western allies.Biden arrived in Brussels with Americans increasingly accepting of the need for the U.S. to help stop Putin, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.But even as concern among Americans has swelled and and support for a major U.S. role in the conflict strengthened in the last month, Biden’s negative approval rating has not budged, the AP-NORC poll found. Few are very confident that he can handle a crisis, and a majority thinks he lacks toughness in dealing with Russia.Biden promised voters that he had the experience to navigate a complicated international emergency like the one unfolding in Europe and his trip will be the latest test of that proposition as he tries to maintain unity among Western allies and brace for potentially even bigger challenges.---

Biden, Western allies hold emergency summit on Russian war

Over the past few years, Jonny Griffis has invested millions of dollars in his legal marijuana farm in northern Michigan, which produces extracts to be used in things like gummy bears and vape oils.

But now that farm — like many other licensed grows in states that have legalized marijuana — faces an existential threat: high-inducing cannabis compounds derived not from the heavily regulated and taxed legal marijuana industry, but from a chemical process involving little-regulated, cheaply grown hemp.

“It’s going to make our farm obsolete,” Griffis, the chief operating officer of True North Collective, testified before Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency recently. “The $3 million or so that I’ve invested ... is going to be wiped out.”

At the center of the issue is THC, marijuana’s main intoxicating component. While marijuana and hemp are the same plant — cannabis — the distinction between the two is a legal one, and comes down to the amount of THC in the plant, specifically the amount of a type of THC called delta-9.

Hemp is defined in federal law by its low delta-9 THC content and is traditionally used for food, clothing and industrial applications. “Rope not dope” was long a motto for those who advocated the legalization of hemp.

But since Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, authorizing the growing of hemp nationwide, there’s been an unforeseen consequence: People exploiting what they see as a loophole in the law have taken that hemp, extracted a non-intoxicating compound called CBD, and chemically changed it — generally by the addition of solvents and heat — into various types of impairing THC.

Unlike the completely artificial, often dangerous drugs known as K2 or Spice and called “synthetic marijuana,” the chemically created THC at issue here consists of molecules found naturally in cannabis, though sometimes in vanishingly small amounts. It’s far cheaper to produce THC chemically from hemp than to extract it from marijuana.

Because it is derived from hemp, that THC — often in a form called delta-8 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-bdef53f20c34fe3adfd17a7808d5b4e6">can wind up in candies, vape oils and other products&nbsp;</a>sold in gas stations, convenience stores and online, even in states where marijuana is illegal. The Food and Drug Administration warned last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc" target="_blank">the substances pose a public health risk</a>&nbsp;due to multiple factors, including the way they are marketed and because of potential contamination when manufactured.

At least 17 states have banned such products, but they remain available in many, including the pioneering legal marijuana state of Washington, where gas station and vape-shop sales of THC created from hemp offer competition to the heavily taxed, regulated and tested marijuana market.

Virginia lawmakers this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-business-richmond-constitutional-amendments-constitutions-6b087beddc55d52b75b83bcd5d51c99e">approved a bill</a>&nbsp;to strictly limit the amount of THC allowed in hemp-derived products; Gov. Glenn Youngkin has not yet signed it. In Kentucky and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-atlanta-lawsuits-e67aff3ade21916638d33768bd094900">Georgia</a>, recent lawsuits have sought to establish that delta-8 products are legal; a Kentucky judge sided with hemp advocates there on Feb. 28, allowing the products to continue to be sold as lawmakers consider a ban.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a hemp industry association, has decried the use of hemp-extracted CBD to create intoxicating products, saying it “undermines the integrity of the hemp industry and intent of the 2018 Farm Bill.”

Supporters call chemically derived THC economical and environmentally friendly. Hemp can be grown in vast fields outdoors, without expensive lighting systems, and can have a lower carbon footprint than marijuana.

Further, processors can make a more consistent product using chemistry to make THC from CBD, they say, and regulators shouldn’t stand in the way of market innovations or pick winners and losers in the industry. They liken it to the synthetically created vanilla or caffeine added to food and drinks.

“Most growers don’t like to hear this, because they feel like it’s taking away from their market, but it’s a great product,” said Abe Fleishman, of Northstar Hemp in Oregon. “It provides an opportunity for companies to scale production, for one, and to make a new product that is, in my opinion, cleaner than your regular THC products.”

For critics, the safety isn’t proven; the process of making it can leave behind trace amounts of unidentifiable compounds. The method also allows for the manufacture of lesser-known cannabis compounds whose health effects aren’t well understood.

Chemically produced THC is unlikely to displace the top-shelf dried cannabis flower preferred by many connoisseurs, but it is so cheap to make that it drastically undercuts marijuana growers who focus on the extract market, and who have spent a lot of time and money adapting to stringent rules for their industry.

Griffis said he’s seen the price of delta-9 distillate drop from $50,000 a liter to $6,000 — and falling — as THC made from hemp floods the market.

“It’s an issue that almost every state cannabis regulator is thinking about,” said Gillian Schauer, executive director of the Cannabis Regulators Association. “It’s presenting a lot of challenges to protecting public health and consumer safety, and also to protecting existing state cannabis markets.”

And, Schauer said, THC chemically made from hemp is only the tip of the iceberg: It can also be made from bioengineered yeast, so regulators will soon find themselves wrestling with that as well.

In Michigan, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency is considering rules that would allow processors to convert CBD into THC with written prior approval from the agency, which would require demonstrations of the conversion method and product testing. They would also have to label their product as synthetic — a suggestion that has angered processors who note that the molecules are found in nature.

Oregon’s Liquor and Cannabis Commission gave marijuana licensees a six-month grace period to sell off intoxicating THC-from-hemp products they had already acquired before a ban takes effect in July.

In California, hemp-derived THC products are not allowed in legal marijuana shops, but regulators are examining the steps necessary to allow them.

Colorado and Washington, which in 2012 became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, last year made clear that synthetically derived cannabinoids, including THC, are not allowed in their legal industries.

After an uproar from licensed growers who said they were being undercut, Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis board seized more than 1,600 pounds (726 kilograms) of chemically created THC products made by a single licensed marijuana company, Unicorn Brands. The board went on to ban them from the regulated market.

For David Postman, the board’s chairman, THC made from hemp represents an industrialization of the cannabis industry that he isn’t sure voters wanted when they passed Washington’s legal marijuana law, which was billed as a harm-reduction measure.

“The LCB and the majority of the cannabis industry do not think the legal market should include mind-impairing, lab-created THC,” Postman said. “Allowing synthetically derived THC in the state’s legal cannabis market could devastate the industry.”

Vicki Christophersen, a lobbyist for the industry group Washington CannaBusiness Association, argues that the board’s approach is stifling innovation in ways that will make it tough for Washington to compete nationally, should the federal ban on marijuana ever be lifted.

“The collaborations that occur between the hemp industry and the adult-use cannabis industry are not only inevitable, but they’re important,” she said. “We need to look at what is going to advance Washington’s industry alongside all the other competitor states that are advancing at a much higher speed than we are.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648118147513.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOver the past few years, Jonny Griffis has invested millions of dollars in his legal marijuana farm in northern Michigan, which produces extracts to be used in things like gummy bears and vape oils.But now that farm — like many other licensed grows in states that have legalized marijuana — faces an existential threat: high-inducing cannabis compounds derived not from the heavily regulated and taxed legal marijuana industry, but from a chemical process involving little-regulated, cheaply grown hemp.“It’s going to make our farm obsolete,” Griffis, the chief operating officer of True North Collective, testified before Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency recently. “The $3 million or so that I’ve invested ... is going to be wiped out.”At the center of the issue is THC, marijuana’s main intoxicating component. While marijuana and hemp are the same plant — cannabis — the distinction between the two is a legal one, and comes down to the amount of THC in the plant, specifically the amount of a type of THC called delta-9.Hemp is defined in federal law by its low delta-9 THC content and is traditionally used for food, clothing and industrial applications. “Rope not dope” was long a motto for those who advocated the legalization of hemp.But since Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, authorizing the growing of hemp nationwide, there’s been an unforeseen consequence: People exploiting what they see as a loophole in the law have taken that hemp, extracted a non-intoxicating compound called CBD, and chemically changed it — generally by the addition of solvents and heat — into various types of impairing THC.Unlike the completely artificial, often dangerous drugs known as K2 or Spice and called “synthetic marijuana,” the chemically created THC at issue here consists of molecules found naturally in cannabis, though sometimes in vanishingly small amounts. It’s far cheaper to produce THC chemically from hemp than to extract it from marijuana.Because it is derived from hemp, that THC — often in a form called delta-8 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-bdef53f20c34fe3adfd17a7808d5b4e6">can wind up in candies, vape oils and other products&nbsp;</a>sold in gas stations, convenience stores and online, even in states where marijuana is illegal. The Food and Drug Administration warned last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc" target="_blank">the substances pose a public health risk</a>&nbsp;due to multiple factors, including the way they are marketed and because of potential contamination when manufactured.At least 17 states have banned such products, but they remain available in many, including the pioneering legal marijuana state of Washington, where gas station and vape-shop sales of THC created from hemp offer competition to the heavily taxed, regulated and tested marijuana market.Virginia lawmakers this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-business-richmond-constitutional-amendments-constitutions-6b087beddc55d52b75b83bcd5d51c99e">approved a bill</a>&nbsp;to strictly limit the amount of THC allowed in hemp-derived products; Gov. Glenn Youngkin has not yet signed it. In Kentucky and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-atlanta-lawsuits-e67aff3ade21916638d33768bd094900">Georgia</a>, recent lawsuits have sought to establish that delta-8 products are legal; a Kentucky judge sided with hemp advocates there on Feb. 28, allowing the products to continue to be sold as lawmakers consider a ban.The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a hemp industry association, has decried the use of hemp-extracted CBD to create intoxicating products, saying it “undermines the integrity of the hemp industry and intent of the 2018 Farm Bill.”Supporters call chemically derived THC economical and environmentally friendly. Hemp can be grown in vast fields outdoors, without expensive lighting systems, and can have a lower carbon footprint than marijuana.Further, processors can make a more consistent product using chemistry to make THC from CBD, they say, and regulators shouldn’t stand in the way of market innovations or pick winners and losers in the industry. They liken it to the synthetically created vanilla or caffeine added to food and drinks.“Most growers don’t like to hear this, because they feel like it’s taking away from their market, but it’s a great product,” said Abe Fleishman, of Northstar Hemp in Oregon. “It provides an opportunity for companies to scale production, for one, and to make a new product that is, in my opinion, cleaner than your regular THC products.”For critics, the safety isn’t proven; the process of making it can leave behind trace amounts of unidentifiable compounds. The method also allows for the manufacture of lesser-known cannabis compounds whose health effects aren’t well understood.Chemically produced THC is unlikely to displace the top-shelf dried cannabis flower preferred by many connoisseurs, but it is so cheap to make that it drastically undercuts marijuana growers who focus on the extract market, and who have spent a lot of time and money adapting to stringent rules for their industry.Griffis said he’s seen the price of delta-9 distillate drop from $50,000 a liter to $6,000 — and falling — as THC made from hemp floods the market.“It’s an issue that almost every state cannabis regulator is thinking about,” said Gillian Schauer, executive director of the Cannabis Regulators Association. “It’s presenting a lot of challenges to protecting public health and consumer safety, and also to protecting existing state cannabis markets.”And, Schauer said, THC chemically made from hemp is only the tip of the iceberg: It can also be made from bioengineered yeast, so regulators will soon find themselves wrestling with that as well.In Michigan, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency is considering rules that would allow processors to convert CBD into THC with written prior approval from the agency, which would require demonstrations of the conversion method and product testing. They would also have to label their product as synthetic — a suggestion that has angered processors who note that the molecules are found in nature.Oregon’s Liquor and Cannabis Commission gave marijuana licensees a six-month grace period to sell off intoxicating THC-from-hemp products they had already acquired before a ban takes effect in July.In California, hemp-derived THC products are not allowed in legal marijuana shops, but regulators are examining the steps necessary to allow them.Colorado and Washington, which in 2012 became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, last year made clear that synthetically derived cannabinoids, including THC, are not allowed in their legal industries.After an uproar from licensed growers who said they were being undercut, Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis board seized more than 1,600 pounds (726 kilograms) of chemically created THC products made by a single licensed marijuana company, Unicorn Brands. The board went on to ban them from the regulated market.For David Postman, the board’s chairman, THC made from hemp represents an industrialization of the cannabis industry that he isn’t sure voters wanted when they passed Washington’s legal marijuana law, which was billed as a harm-reduction measure.“The LCB and the majority of the cannabis industry do not think the legal market should include mind-impairing, lab-created THC,” Postman said. “Allowing synthetically derived THC in the state’s legal cannabis market could devastate the industry.”Vicki Christophersen, a lobbyist for the industry group Washington CannaBusiness Association, argues that the board’s approach is stifling innovation in ways that will make it tough for Washington to compete nationally, should the federal ban on marijuana ever be lifted.“The collaborations that occur between the hemp industry and the adult-use cannabis industry are not only inevitable, but they’re important,” she said. “We need to look at what is going to advance Washington’s industry alongside all the other competitor states that are advancing at a much higher speed than we are.”