Newsletter
Cannabis banking bill will pass by next month, ABA says (Newsletter: September 9, 2019)
Berkeley votes on psychedelics decrim; Study: Overregulation causes continuing illegal marijuana market; FBI busts mayor accused of cannabiz extortion
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The president and CEO of the American Bankers Association predicted that the House of Representatives will pass marijuana banking legislation as soon as this month and no later than October.
- “We’re excited that there’s a possibility to get this done. We’ll be pushing very hard.”
The Berkeley, California City Council is scheduled to vote on advancing a resolution to decriminalize psychedelics like psilocybin, ibogaine and ayahuasca on Tuesday.
A new study concluded that overregulation causes continuing illegal marijuana markets after states end prohibition.
- “Regulation intensity may be one of the main factors that influences or explains the persistence of illegal cannabis transactions after legalization.”
/ FEDERAL
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested the Fall River, Massachuestts mayor on charges he allegedly extorted marijuana businesses for hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for municipal letters of non-opposition.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration officials said they still have not pinpointed a single ingredient in vaping devices believed to be associated with cases of severe lung injury, though they reported that “most of those samples with THC tested also contained significant amounts of Vitamin E acetate.”
A federal judge recommended dismissing a man’s lawsuit against Guam officials over allegedly violating federal law by legalizing marijuana.
The office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) touted his recent work to secure crop insurance and financial services for hemp businesses.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, said he has “always believed we should legalize marijuana.”
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Black & brown communities—who were disproportionately affected by the failed War on Drugs—are being shut out of the legal marijuana industry. My bill would not only decriminalize marijuana but also ensure economic justice for these communities.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, spoke about her support for ending marijuana prohibition and the war on drugs during a speech at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, a presidential candidate, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted about visiting a CBD company’s facility.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana and direct funding toward repairing the harms of the drug war got two new cosponsors for a total of 37.
The House bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got three new cosponsors for a total of 79.
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) said she hasn’t decided yet whether to pursue legalizing marijuana again next session but said she is “inclined to.” Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor said he opposes legalization.
Oklahoma’s attorney general issued an opinion saying that preschools should be counted toward the state’s 1,000-foot barrier for medical cannabis dispensaries near schools.
Oregon officials said that a man who died from vaping-related lung injuries bought cannabis oil from two marijuana retail stores and that investigators are working to find leftover product to analyze. “It doesn’t necessarily mean the individual got sick from products that they had purchased at these dispensaries, we just know that the individual shopped at a couple of dispensaries prior to getting ill,” a health official said.
Massachusetts regulators said they are reviewing the federal indictment of Fall River’s mayor for allegedly extorting marijuana businesses in an effort to “protect the integrity of the Commonwealth’s licensing process.”
Nevada regulators are facing an updated lawsuit about the state’s marijuana business licensing process.
Alabama’s agricultural commissioner said that all hemp batches tested so far have complied with THC limits.
Montana regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed medical cannabis testing rules changes on September 26.
New Mexico regulators reported that 33 patients have been approved to use medical cannabis for opioid use disorder since it was added as a qualifying condition in June. They also issued three medical marijuana cards to out-of-state patients.
Michigan regulators held the first in a series of public information sessions about marijuana business licensing.
California tax officials are scheduled to discuss marijuana at a Thursday meeting.
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/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado officials granted the city’s first cannabis consumption special event license.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK secretary of state for health and social care issued a response to medical cannabis report from a House of Commons committee.
The Canadian government spent $75 million on medical cannabis for military veterans over the past fiscal year, with that figure expected to reach $100 million this year.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “legalizing marijuana might contribute to a modest reduction in opioid prescriptions.”
A study suggested that “marijuana, especially for military personnel experiencing elevated PTSD symptoms may negatively impact suicidal thoughts and behavior.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
AARP published an overview of medical cannabis issues for seniors.
National Expungement Week is being held from September 21 through 28.
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana published a report looking at marijuana industry campaign contributions in Illinois.
/ BUSINESS
CannTrust Holdings Inc. senior staff reportedly brought marijuana seeds from the unregulated market into its growing operations and changed the names of as many as 20 strains to those the company was licensed to sell.
A number of manufacturers of cannabis vape additives are pulling their products offline.
/ CULTURE
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have had initial conversations about randomly testing players for opioids.
Mike Tyson’s marijuana company is reportedly planning legal action against other brands that are falsely claiming an affiliation with the former boxer.
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