Newsletter
Baseball players banned from cannabis sponsorship or investment (Newsletter: March 4, 2020)
Bloomberg: marijuana can “ruin” lives; DC psychedelic activists want online petitions due to coronavirus; HI Senate passes drug defelonization bill
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), a presidential candidate, discussed his past marijuana use in a new interview and said he would support changing federal cannabis laws while raising concerns that legalization could increase domestic violence and would mean letting “young people ruin their future.”
Citing coronavirus concerns, a Washington, D.C. psychedelics decriminalization campaign is asking officials to let them gather ballot signatures online instead of in person only.
Although Major League Baseball recently removed marijuana from its banned substances list, a top official clarified in a new memo that players are still barred from being sponsored by—or investing in—the cannabis industry and that team doctors can’t recommend medical marijuana. However, the league is launching a program to test and certify CBD products.
The Hawaii Senate passed a bill to remove the possibility of being charged with a felony for possessing small amounts of illegal drugs.
/ FEDERAL
President Trump again praised countries that use the death penalty against people who sell drugs.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the smell of marijuana emanating from a house is sufficient evidence “to search the entire house for evidence of marijuana possession …including any safes and locked boxes.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a Federal Register notice making changes to insurance program rules for hemp crop eligibility.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’s Veterans Health Administration tweeted, “Marijuana: natural = safe, right? Not necessarily.”
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on legislation to address substance misuse issues.
Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) bashed marijuana reform comments from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got one new cosponsor for a total of 71.
The House bill to remove barriers to marijuana research got one new cosponsor for a total of 18.
New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Brigid Callahan Harrison is hosting a public forum on marijuana legalization on Wednesday.
Virginia Democratic congressional candidate Qasim Rashid tweeted, “We will fight for marijuana decriminalization, record expungement, & legalization for adults pending prioritization for Black & Brown entrepreneurs.”
/ STATES
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and lawmakers have projected differing costs for implementing a legal hemp program.
Washington State’s treasurer reported that the state collected a total of $395.5 million in legal marijuana income and license fees in fiscal year 2019.
The West Virginia Senate approved a bill allowing medical cannabis patients to access flower and edibles and making other changes to the state’s program.
The Oklahoma Senate approved a bill to clarify localities’ authority to regulate smoking and vaping medical cannabis in public places.
The Pennsylvania House Health Committee held a hearing on the state’s medical cannabis program.
A Florida representative filed an amendment to limit the THC potency of medical cannabis products for most patients under 21, days after a similar proposal stalled in the Senate.
Missouri regulators proposed revisions to medical cannabis rules.
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday.
Michigan regulators will hold a public hearing on marijuana issues on March 26.
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/ LOCAL
Aurora, Colorado’s mayor supports increasing marijuana taxes to fund city programs.
Henderson, Nevada officials touted how marijuana tax revenue helps fund schools.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS said that “it’s time for countries to take the bold step towards [drug] decriminalization.”
Colombia’s minister of justice and law hosted a meeting about medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that medical cannabis “offers a possible clinical advantage in [fibromyalgia] patients, especially in those with sleep dysfunctions.”
A study found that “legalization of recreational cannabis use in Canada had little effect on youth perceptions of cannabis legalization.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug Policy Alliance has hired staffer Kassandra Frederique as the organization’s new executive director.
A poll of South Carolina voters found that when given options, 40% support legalizing marijuana, 29% back medical cannabis, 17% want decriminalization and 14% support full prohibition.
The Boston Globe editorial board is calling on Massachusetts lawmakers to take steps to ensure equity in the marijuana industry.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America called for expanded access to medical cannabis in congressional testimony.
/ BUSINESS
Tilray, Inc. shares dropped after it failed to meet quarterly earnings expectations.
Nature’s Care Company, LLC signed a legally enforceable community benefits agreement with the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition.
/ CULTURE
Filmmaker Louis Theroux spoke about his enjoyment of cannabis and support for legalization.
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