Newsletter
A deep dive into Michael Bloomberg’s cannabis record (Newsletter: November 28, 2019)
Fed health agency hosts psychedelics talk; Colorado gets help on marijuana industry energy efficiency; Congressional candidate smokes cannabis in ad
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Marijuana Moment’s latest presidential candidate overview takes a comprehensive look at the cannabis record of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), from hundreds of thousands of arrests during his tenure to calling legalization “the stupidest thing anybody has ever done.”
The National Institute of Mental Health, a federal agency, is hosting a presentation on the science of psychedelics such as psilocybin next week. It is part of a series of talks that aims to “press for theoretical leaps in science over the continuation of incremental thinking.”
Colorado is getting some help making its legal marijuana industry more energy efficient from the National Governors Association.
Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Anthony Clark—who is running against Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) in the 2020 primary—smoked marijuana on camera in a new campaign ad in which he talks about the importance of legalization with a focus on racial justice.
/ FEDERAL
President Trump donated his third quarter salary to government efforts to address opioids issues.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding a contract to “provide planning, management and technical support for CDC staff in the conduct of marijuana and public health activities including policy tracking activities, technical assistance to states and surveillance activities.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tweeted, “Honored to be named @WholeFoodsMag 2019 Person of the Year. I was recognized as the most influential person in the natural products industry, specifically because of my work to legalize industrial #hemp for farmers in Kentucky and around the country.”
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is hosting a roundtable discussion on proposed federal hemp rules on Monday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “If we can get more research into the types of ailments where marijuana can be helpful, I think that will accelerate the pressure on Congress to join the states that are making progress on medical marijuana.”
/ STATES
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) moved to end his temporary ban on the sale of vaping products early.
Michigan recreational marijuana sales will begin on Sunday, and regulators issued a form for adult-use licensees to request equivalent license inventory transfers.
North Dakota officials advanced pardon applications for people with low-level marijuana convictions.
New Mexico regulators published a hemp program FAQ.
Colorado regulators launched an online portal for hemp license applications and payments.
Louisiana regulators scheduled industrial hemp orientation meetings for next month.
Missouri regulators have approved more than 21,000 medical cannabis patient applications.
California regulators announced Cannabis Advisory Committee meetings for next month.
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/ LOCAL
The Berkeley, California Community Health Commission referred a proposal to decriminalize psychedelic drugs to a subcommittee.
Boston, Massachusetts’s mayor tweeted, “The legal cannabis industry is brand new & has the power to unlock tremendous opportunities in Boston. We can regulate it in a way that works for our communities & creates a standard of equity for the entire country.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis spoke in support of expunging past marijuana convictions.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review found “little support for a potential causal effect of cannabis use on cognition.”
A study found that recent marijuana use “was associated with decreased odds of constipation, counter to the known physiologic effects of cannabinoids on colonic motility.”
A study of media coverage of cannabis found that “articles discussing both benefits and harms were more likely to communicate a favorable impression of marijuana” and that “the proportion of articles with favorable mentions of marijuana increased from 11.1% in 2012 to 65% in 2016.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The president of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana seemed to allege that a number of presidential candidates are lying to the public when they claim they support legalization and told him that they instead secretly agree with the group’s goals.
/ BUSINESS
CannTrust is being warned it could be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange if it does not file required financial statements.
Vireo Health International, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $8 million.
Canopy Growth Corporation previewed the launch of its “Cannabis 2.0” line of products.
Investors are increasingly shorting marijuana stocks.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
