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Arizona legal cannabis measure qualifies for ballot (Newsletter: August 12, 2020)

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VP Pence slams marijuana banking in COVID bill; Joe Kennedy: Psychedelics have medical ‘promise’; Blumenauer talks Biden, cannabis & psilocybin

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Arizona’s secretary of state certified that activists collected enough valid signatures to place a marijuana legalization measure on the November ballot.

Vice President Mike Pence criticized Democrats for including cannabis banking provisions in their latest coronavirus relief bill.

  • “The bill that they passed actually mentions marijuana more than it mentions jobs.”

Formerly anti-marijuana-legalization Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) now says that psychedelics are “quite promising” for treating depression and PTSD. He voted against a House amendment last year to expand psilocybin and MDMA research.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke to Marijuana Moment about his view that a President Joe Biden will be a “constructive player” on cannabis He also discussed Oregon ballot measures to decriminalize drugs and legalize psilocybin therapy.

  • Marijuana Moment Patreon supporters can listen to the audio of the full interview, including an unpublished answer about how the House could vote on a bill to deschedule cannabis as soon as next month, and how that would procedurally work.

New Jersey’s attorney general announced an administrative order allowing patients to get medical marijuana recommendations via telehealth services.

A Wyoming judge dismissed drug charges filed against hemp farmers who had successfully lobbied to legalize the non-intoxicating cannabis crop but were later accused by police of growing marijuana. Top state officials and lawmakers testified on their behalf in the case.

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration is being criticized for not acknowledging former Federal Bureau of Narcotics Director Harry Anslinger’s racist comments in its museum exhibits and presentations about his legacy.

Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) said in a telephone town hall meeting that she wasn’t familiar with marijuana provisions in House coronavirus legislation.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) said, “Instead of spending three trillion dollars on things like marijuana banking, early release for criminals, and sending checks to illegal immigrants, we must work together on smart, targeted policies that help American businesses and workers.”

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) tweeted about a study showing a correlation between maternal marijuana use during pregnancy and autism, saying, “Yet another reason recreational use of marijuana should not be allowed.”

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Adrienne Bell tweeted, “It is hypocritical to penalize license applicants for marijuana crimes, when the use has become legal in several states. Sentences should be expunged, forgiven, and opportunities created for minority business owners to enter this industry. The war on drugs was a war on communities of color. These same communities should benefit from the profits now being made from the legalization of marijuana.”

/ STATES

Virginia’s attorney general said that building momentum toward legalizing marijuana is one of his priorities for this month’s special legislative session.

South Dakota regulators submitted the state’s plan for federal approval.

The New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners suspended the license of a doctor for alleged “negligence, malpractice or incompetence” related to his recommendations for medical cannabis.

An Arkansas judge denied a motion from Green Thumb Industries to block regulators from issuing a medical cannabis license to another business.

Nevada regulators met with law enforcement to discuss marijuana rules.

Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board met.

California’s Cannabis Advisory Committee is meeting on August 20 and 21.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor issued his first marijuana pardon.

Richmond, Virginia’s mayor sent a letter calling on the governor and top lawmakers to pass marijuana legalization legislation during this month’s special session.

/ INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is refusing to reveal how she plans to vote on an upcoming marijuana legalization referendum. Meanwhile, the opposition National Party says it wouldn’t necessarily enact legalization even if voters approve the ballot measure.

South Africa’s justice and correctional services minister published a draft bill to legalize marijuana possession and home cultivation.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study suggested that “whole dried Cannabis flower may be an effective medication for treatment of migraine- and headache-related pain, but the effectiveness differs according to characteristics of the cannabis plant, the combustion methods, and the age and gender of the patient.”

The University of Pittsburgh and Parallel are collaborating on research on the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis, with an initial focus on treating sickle cell disease symptoms.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Republican Party of Virginia tweeted, “The @vademocrats & @JoeBiden are lying to you when they tell you that they support criminal justice reform. As California AG, Harris worked to keep inmates in overcrowded prisons so they could be used for cheap labor. She also sent almost 2,000 people to jail on marijuana charges, then later joked about smoking weed.”

/ BUSINESS

Acreage Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $27.1 million and a net loss of $44.4 million.

Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $55.7 million and net loss of $18.3 million.

The CEO of Canopy Growth Corp. said the company’s partnership with rapper Drake has “not been progressing as originally intended.”

Workers at Cultivate Holdings in Massachusetts voted to organize with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Vireo Health International, Inc. sold its equity in Pennsylvania Medical Solutions, LLC to Jushi Inc.

/ CULTURE

Snoop Dogg said that if New Jersey voters approve a marijuana legalization referendum, he will “will definitely be there to cut the ribbon.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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