Newsletter
Cannabis ballot wins can lead to federal reform (Newsletter: November 5, 2020)
OH cities decrim marijuana; Cannabis votes inspire nearby state officials; NJ AG enforcement discretion memo; NJ gov: congrats to other legal states
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Four more Ohio cities voted to decriminalize marijuana.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) told Marijuana Moment that the fact that every single cannabis and drug policy reform ballot measure was approved on Election Day will encourage more lawmakers from both parties to advance legalization in Congress.
Huge victories for marijuana ballot measures on Tuesday are inspiring top officials in states like Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania to step up the push to enact cannabis legalization.
- “If we do something, we do it on a regional basis. New Jersey has done this, Massachusetts is already legal, Rhode Island is looking at it, New York is looking at it—so I’ll be talking with my fellow governors about what, if anything, we want to do on a regional basis and then talking with the legislature as well.”
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal (D) issued a memo urging police and prosecutors to use discretion when enforcing marijuana laws now that voters have approved legalization. For now, cannabis is still criminalized while lawmakers work on enabling legislation.
Fresh off a resounding victory in his own state for a marijuana legalization referendum that he campaigned heavily for, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) took time to send a series of tweets congratulating other states that also voted to end cannabis prohibition on Tuesday.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted, “Shout out to the hard work of grassroots organizers who successfully led a wave of marijuana legalization, expungement, & drug decriminalization efforts last night.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “The American people continue to lead the way on cannabis reform. It’s past time for Congress to catch up.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) responded to a tweet about marijuana and drug policy reform ballot victories by saying, “This is taking on extra import this AM.”
Rep.-elect Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) spoke about the need to legalize marijuana.
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) tweeted, “Access to safe and legal cannabis is a step forward for social and racial justice.”
New Jersey Assembly Democrats posted a video touting the passage of the state’s marijuana legalization referendum.
Oklahoma regulators sent an alert about a recall of medical cannabis products that failed testing.
Maine regulators sent an advisory about marijuana businesses’ eligibility for the Efficiency Maine energy efficiency incentive program.
Michigan regulators sent guidance about common issues faced by marijuana businesses.
The Oregon Cannabis Commission’s Governance Frame Working Subcommittee met, and the Patient Equity Subcommittee will meet on Thursday.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Tuesday.
/ LOCAL
Portland, Maine voters approved a ballot measure to remove the city’s cap on marijuana retail licenses.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma City Council is considering allowing drive-thru service at medical cannabis dispensaries.
Oakland, California police shot a person following a robbery at a marijuana dispensary.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review of CBD as a therapy for cardiomyopathies and heart failure concluded it can “greatly limit the production of oxygen/nitrogen reactive species, thereby limiting cellular damage, protecting mitochondria, avoiding caspase activation, and regulating ionic homeostasis” and “can affect myocardial contraction by restricting the activation of inflammatory pathways and cytokine secretion, lowering tissular infiltration by immune cells, and reducing the area of infarct and fibrosis formation.”
A study found that “psilocybin-assisted therapy was efficacious in producing large, rapid, and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder.”
/ BUSINESS
Dr. Bronner’s sent a press release touting the success of drug policy reform campaigns it has been supporting.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. reported $34.3 million in quarterly revenue.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company reported that its cannabis-focused division Hawthorne saw $351.9 million in quarterly sales.
Hackers accessed personal information of millions of users of GrowDiaries.
/ CULTURE
Filmmaker Kevin Smith tweeted, “Leaning against the Quick Stop wall all those years shmokin’ weed, Jay and Silent Bob never dreamed this day could be possible! Congrats to the good folks of the great state of New Jersey on legalizing marijuana! The Garden State is finally green!”
Google searches for “how to roll a joint” surged in New Jersey following the state’s approval of a marijuana legalization referendum.
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