Newsletter
Bloomberg evolves to back cannabis decrim (Newsletter: December 5, 2019)
Yang: spend fed money on safe injection sites; Booker super PAC touts marijuana record; Virginia AG says summit might get gov to back legalization
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
By starting a $10 per month pledge on Patreon—or about 45 cents per issue of this newsletter—you can help us rely less on ads to cover our expenses, hire more journalists and bring you even more marijuana news.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), a presidential candidate, endorsed marijuana decriminalization and letting states set their own laws without federal interference—marking a bit of an evolution from when he said earlier this year that legalizing marijuana is “perhaps the stupidest thing anybody has ever done.”
Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang said he supports investing federal money in safe consumption sites for illegal drugs as a harm reduction measure.
- “I would not only decriminalize opiates for personal use but I would also invest in safe consumption sites around the country.”
A super PAC backing the presidential candidacy of Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) released several ads touting his support for legalizing marijuana, two of which call out former Vice President Joe Biden’s (D) opposition to ending cannabis prohibition.
Virginia’s attorney general said that a marijuana summit he is hosting this month will give decriminalization-backing Gov. Ralph Northam (D) more information to potentially come out in support of broader cannabis legalization.
/ FEDERAL
The National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration hosted a meeting at which researchers told officials that current federal marijuana policy blocks them from effectively studying that cause of vaping-related lung injuries.
The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is launching a database to track commercial drivers license holders who have violated federal drug and alcohol testing requirements.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture official spoke at a Kentucky hemp summit.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted, “The #marijuana of today is stronger and recent ⬆️ in access to #marijuana and in its potency, along with misperceptions of its safety endanger our most precious resource – our youth. #WednesdayWisdom”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joked about his “Cocaine Mitch” nickname.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), a presidential candidate, cheered federal guidelines on hemp business banking access and cited a letter he sent to regulators earlier this year requesting the move.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted about federal hemp banking guidance, saying, “This is a good step forward and will help Colorado’s hemp industry and hemp businesses across the country. Now we need to pass the #SAFEBankingAct to ensure greater access to the banking system for all marijuana, hemp and CBD businesses.”
Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), in a letter announcing his retirement from the House, cited his work on marijuana banking legislation as a highlight of his congressional service.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of 36.
The House bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of 93.
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a bill making tweaks to the state’s marijuana legalization law and tweeted about the importance of equity in the cannabis industry. Meanwhile, regulators approved another medical cannabis dispensary to conduct recreational sales.
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and other officials are working on a plan to let regulators seize illegal vaping products and issue emergency bans on specific additives.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said she didn’t include hemp regulation money in her budget proposal because it’s “not a priority,” though she seemed to recognize that lawmakers plan to pursue the issue again next session following her veto of a legalization bill this year.
Vermont’s attorney general will host a discussion on lessons learned from neighboring states’ marijuana legalization laws on Thursday.
Activists behind one proposed Florida marijuana legalization ballot measure say they’ve collected nearly 600,000 signatures, while a separate campaign is conceding it is unlikely to qualify.
A U.S. Virgin Islands senator suggested that lawmakers may not take up a marijuana legalization proposal from Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. (D) because there is already pending legislation on the topic in the Senate.
A Pennsylvania judge ruled that a worker terminated for medical cannabis use can pursue litigation.
Missouri regulators released information about how to apply for hemp licenses.
Maine regulators are pushing for changes to proposed federal hemp rules.
Rhode Island regulators are considering hiring an outside firm to handle medical cannabis business license awarding.
The Washington, D.C. Council Health Committee will consider legislation to allow students to use medical cannabis in schools on Thursday.
California regulators scheduled Cannabis Advisory Board meetings for next week.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 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
The Chicago, Illinois City Council held a hearing on a proposal to delay recreational marijuana sales until July, but did not vote on it.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Water and Sewer Authority is being sued for firing a medical cannabis patient who tested positive for marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she hasn’t taken a position on the 2020 marijuana legalization referendum. Meanwhile, a lawmaker held up a bag of oregano during a speech in Parliament outlining her concerns about the proposal.
Jamaica made its first cannabis export to Canada.
Singapore officials gave what is believed to be the country’s first approval to use cannabis-based medication to a young girl with epilepsy.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “street segments with recreational dispensaries experienced no changes in violent, disorder and drug crime but did experience an 18% increase in property crime” while medical dispensaries demonstrated no significant crime changes” and that a “cost-benefit analysis found the associated crime costs were largely offset by sales revenue.”
A study of marijuana use in Jamaica found that “decriminalization positively correlates with the likelihood of first time and general use for youths” but that “there is also some evidence that the legislation results in a substitution away from alcohol towards marijuana consumption for youths.”
A study found that “cancer survivors are increasingly interested in using medical cannabinoids for symptom relief and treatment-related side effects.”
/ BUSINESS
Vicente Sederberg LLP is bringing on new partners from the firm Frontera Law Group.
New Frontier Data is moving forward with plans to acquire Civilized Worldwide Inc. and says it has “temporarily” laid off its staff to “allow an effective and successful restructuring.”
CB Therapeutics, Inc. announced it biosynthesized psilocybin, psilocin and related tryptamine-based compounds and has filed a patent for the production process.
Questions are being raised about how so many marijuana businesses working with the firm 4thMVMT were granted initial approvals in Los Angeles, California’s marijuana licensing process.
/ CULTURE
HBO released a teaser trailer for the new season of “High Maintenance.”
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
