Newsletter
Alabama legislative commission backs medical cannabis legalization (Newsletter: December 24, 2019)
McConnell celebrates hemp legalization anniversary; Elon Musk’s $420 marijuana joke; USDA makes hemp eligible for new insurance program
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) celebrated the one-year anniversary of hemp’s federal legalization in a video in which he touts the achievement and brandishes the hemp pen he used to officially sign off on the Farm Bill around this time last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that hemp growers in certain states will be able to take advantage of a new crop insurance program starting next year. Plants that are cultivated for fiber, grain or CBD oil would all be eligible for coverage.
A study commission created by the Alabama legislature recommended that the state legalize medical marijuana.
- “There is strong scientific evidence that both hemp and marijuana contain compounds that provide significant relief for symptoms of certain specified medical conditions.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a marijuana joke in response to the company’s stock price hitting $420.
/ FEDERAL
Maryland’s U.S. attorney charged a former state lawmaker who abruptly resigned last week with allegedly taking bribes in exchange for voting for legislation to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses available to out-of-state companies.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, reiterated his pledge to legalize marijuana in every state and “end the destructive war on drugs.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), noting that legislation to raise the age for tobacco sales to 21 was recently enacted, tweeted, “When did ‘liberals’ decide they oppose liberty? Yes, smoking is bad for you, but why should it be ILLEGAL for adults to make that choice? And why does the fed gov need to make the rule, rather than each state? Shouldn’t there have been at least a debate in the Senate on those Qs?”
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) said it is “great” that Fiscal Year 2020 spending legislation included a rider blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing marijuana sales.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate Sema Hernandez tweeted, “When we decriminalize and legalize marijuana, there will be less of a danger and incentive of black market selling deadly versions of it. It’s basic common sense and economics.”
Arizona Democratic congressional candidate Eva Putzova is encouraging people to make $4.20 donations to her campaign, and tweeted, “✅ Federally legalize marijuana ✅ Expunge all records”
/ STATES
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) highlighted the lieutenant governor’s statewide marijuana listening tour in a year-in-review post.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature’s Finance Committee issued a report with details about the roll-out of the territory’s medical cannabis program.
A New Jersey court ruled that regulators must stop reviewing medical cannabis business license applications amid a challenge to the denial of some proposals over technical issues.
Michigan regulators are facing a lawsuit from medical cannabis dispensaries that want to be able to sell recreational marijuana.
An Arizona representative filed a bill to add autism spectrum disorder as a medical cannabis qualifying condition.
Illinois regulators announced that all cannabis cultivation centers in the state have been licensed to grow recreational marijuana.
Here’s a look at the failure of proposed Ohio legislation to defelonize drug possession.
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/ LOCAL
The Collinsville, Oklahoma School District rejected a donation from a medical cannabis dispensary that wanted to help pay for lunch debt out of concern that it could jeopardize federal funding.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana submitted a preliminary report with cannabis policy recommendations.
Uruguay’s government and police disagree on whether marijuana trafficking has declined since legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “higher rates of marijuana use do not negatively impact academic performance, but could be interpreted to, in fact, be associated with higher levels of school-related stress.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Psychedelic pioneer Baba Ram Das (formerly Richard Alpert) has died.
The U.S. Hemp Growers Association is a new farmer-directed hemp trade association.
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc. touted the launch of its new marijuana products, but its stock dropped on news that an executive left the company.
Akerna named a new CFO.
/ CULTURE
Federal agents searched a private plane that had rapper Lil Wayne on board, finding cocaine and a gun.
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