Newsletter
Biden won’t stop cannabis firings until legalization (Newsletter: March 25, 2021)
NY marijuana deal reached; DE lawmakers approve legalization; MN legal cannabis bill advances; 280E report; Reform dies in 3 states
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden won’t step up and end the policy of firing staff for marijuana until it is federally legalized.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and top lawmakers reached a tentative deal on the provisions of marijuana legalization legislation, with the governor saying that enacting the policy is a top priority to make the state the “progressive capital of the nation.”
The Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee voted to approve a marijuana legalization bill that was just introduced last week.
The Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee approved a bill to legalize marijuana that’s sponsored by the majority leader and speaker.
Despite growing momentum for marijuana reform across the country, legalization bills in three states—Hawaii, Maryland and Wyoming—all died this week as key legislative deadlines passed.
The Congressional Research Service issued a report shedding light on the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses—as well as possible legislative solutions.
/ FEDERAL
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “I’m proud to work with @SenBooker and @RonWyden on legislation for comprehensive marijuana reform. To end the federal prohibition on marijuana. To make criminal justice reforms. To ensure equity for communities impacted by the War on Drugs”
Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Van Taylor (R-TX) filed a bill to allow judges to expunge first-time low-level drug offense records.
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) tweeted, “Even as more states legalize cannabis, federal law still forces cannabis businesses to operate in cash only, endangering workers and communities. I’m proud to support the SAFE Banking Act, which will stop crime by allowing cannabis businesses to access the banking system.”
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) replaced one of his nominees to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission with a staffer for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to address diversity and representation concerns.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vetoed a hemp and CBD regulation bill.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated a new attorney general who led marijuana expungements legislation as a state lawmaker.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “The data is clear: Legalizing marijuana creates jobs, boosts state budgets, hasn’t negatively impacted crime rates, and has had little to no effect on traffic accidents and fatalities.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) tweeted, “We’ve got better ways to get Kansans access to affordable health care. I’ve introduced a plan that will expand health care coverage to 165,000 Kansans and legalize medicinal marijuana. It’s long past time to do both.”
Florida’s agriculture commissioner tweeted, “Cannabis is bringing our farmers & entrepreneurs together to create jobs. We’re building a new green economy here in Florida!”
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner tweeted, “As a result of the work by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, we were able to secure flexibilities in USDA’s final rule for hemp production which will protect our growers.”
The West Virginia Senate approved a bill to allow medical cannabis in edible form.
The Illinois House Labor & Commerce Committee approved a bill to protect medical cannabis patients from workplace discrimination.
Oklahoma regulators added a grace period for patients whose medical cannabis registrations expire.
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
Members of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Common Council are proposing eliminating fines for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana.
The Dallas County, Texas district attorney’s office tweeted, “This office declines to prosecute misdemeanor possession of marijuana cases for first-time offenders whose offenses do not occur in a drug-free zone, involve the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon, or involve evidence of delivery.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed to meet with a lawmaker to discuss medical cannabis access issues.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found “found no evidence between 1991 and 2015 of increases in adolescents reporting past 30-day marijuana use or heavy marijuana use associated with state [medical marijuana law] enactment or operational MML dispensaries.”
A case study highlights medical cannabis “possibly reducing the character, quality, and frequency of [unstable angina], whereas concordantly improving functional cardiac capacity in a patient with [coronary artery disease].”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Louisiana Democratic Party tweeted about the Shreveport City Council’s approval of a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Seattle Times editorial board said Washington State lawmakers should consider a temporary fix to a state Supreme Court ruling overturning the criminalization of drug possession and consider decriminalizing drugs next year.
The New York State Association of County Health Officials and New York State Public Health Association are calling on lawmakers to earmark funds for public health initiatives in marijuana legalization legislation.
The Last Prisoner Project and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers launched a new Cannabis Justice Initiative.
/ BUSINESS
Two former Eaze consultants were convicted by a federal jury on charges of conspiring to trick banks into processing around $160 million in marijuana-related purchases.
FedEx and New York City are being sued over the allegedly improper seizure of a shipment of hemp products.
Charlotte’s Web, Inc. resolved a trademark infringement suit it filed against Balance CBD.
Gage Cannabis Co. is reportedly pursuing a direct listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Viola will be licensing its products to Avicanna for the Canadian market.
/ CULTURE
Mia Farrow tweeted, “To truly create safe communities, we must end the war on drugs.”
The Onion made fun of the White House for firing staffers over past marijuana use.
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