Newsletter
Cannabis legalization bill goes to governor in Guam (Newsletter: March 27, 2019)
Congressional marijuana banking vote delayed a day; Mexican government legalization survey; Study examines factors associated with state cannabis laws
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Guam’s Senate approved a bill to legalize marijuana, making it the first U.S. territory to send legislation ending prohibition to a governor’s desk in 2019.
The House Financial Services Committee delayed scheduled Tuesday vote on a bill to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks until Wednesday due to a packed agenda. Some lawmakers, including Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), did take time to discuss the cannabis legislation during their meeting, however.
- The bill “addresses an urgent public safety concern for legitimate businesses that currently have no recourse but to operate with just cash,” Waters said. “However, I also consider this bill as part of a holistic approach toward providing criminal justice reform to those who have been harmed by criminalization of marijuana and should not by any means be the only bill the House takes up on the important issue of cannabis reform.”
A Mexican cabinet official—the secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, who is responsible for overseeing federal police, intelligence agencies and prisons—launched a poll asking citizens whether they support legalizing marijuana.
A study looking at factors that shape marijuana laws, found that that states with legalization have bigger immigrant populations, higher support for same-sex marriage and more Democratic state lawmakers, but that differences in state cannabis policy are not correlated with gun laws.
/ FEDERAL
Drug policy experts are taking issue with White House Counsellor Kellyanne Conway’s claim that marijuana is being laced with fentanyl.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved a bill to bar federal agencies and federal contractors from requesting that job applicants disclose criminal records before receiving a conditional offer of employment.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and seven cosponsors filed a House resolution congratulating the U.S. Border Patrol, the Office of Field Operations, and the Air and Marine Operations of the Department of Homeland Security on their seizures of marijuana and other illegal drugs.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, spoke about marijuana law reform during a BET town hall event. (About 33 minutes into the linked video.)
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 144.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana got one new cosponsor, for a total of 23.
The House bill to require the federal government to study the impact of state marijuana laws got one new cosponsor, for a total of 26.
The House bill to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got two new cosponsors, for a total of 51.
The House bill to prevent federal employees from being fired for state-legal marijuana use got one new cosponsor, for a total of 10.
/ STATES
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed a medical cannabis banking bill into law.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he is still trying to get marijuana legalization included in the budget. But some advocates say they’ve heard talks on putting cannabis reform in the budget have already ended.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) was planning to move to greatly expand the state’s medical cannabis program but instead delayed the effort while he and lawmakers rework a marijuana legalization plan. He also said that the legalization bill lawmakers pulled from a scheduled vote this week probably just needs “tweaking” rather than “wholesale changes.”
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is supporting legislation to require greater transparency in marijuana licensing. He tweeted, “As our marijuana industry has evolved & flourished, it’s more important than ever that the industry & public enjoy the benefits of a completely open & transparent process from licensing to operation so that our marijuana industry can become the gold standard in the nation.”
Michigan’s attorney general dissed her former Democratic primary opponent, a former U.S. attorney, for medical cannabis enforcement. Meanwhile, the Impaired Driving Safety Commission recommended that the state not set a THC limit to determine driving under the influence of marijuana.
Florida’s agriculture commissioner criticized SunTrust bank for closing the account of a medical cannabis lobbying group. She also cheered the advancement of hemp legislation.
The Georgia Senate approved a bill to allow hemp cultivation and CBD extraction.
The Kansas House of Representatives approved a CBD medical cannabis bill.
The Iowa House of Representatives approved a bill to change how THC levels in products under the state’s limited medical cannabis law are measured.
The North Dakota Senate again fell short of a needed super-majority vote needed to approve legislation allowing medical cannabis edibles.
Maryland regulators are being sued by a medical cannabis company seeking to stop the awarding of additional cultivation licenses.
Washington State regulators issued a report finding that “both indoor and outdoor canopy space is underutilized.”
The Wisconsin legislature released an analysis of the marijuana decriminalization and medical cannabis provisions of Gov. Tony Evers’s (D) budget proposal.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s mayor said he thinks state lawmakers will legalize marijuana by the end of the session but probably not via the budget.
The Suffolk County, Massachusetts district attorney endorsed allowing safe consumption sites for illegal drugs, among other reforms.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK health secretary responded to a lawmaker’s question about medical cannabis access.
/ ADVOCACY
The Texas Police Chiefs Association held a press conference to advocate against marijuana law reform.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cancer patients were more likely to use the sublingual tincture form of cannabis, while noncancer patients were more likely to use the vaporization form.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Illinois voters support legalizing marijuana, 66%-32%.
/ BUSINESS
Actor Seth Rogen, screenwriter Evan Goldberg and Canopy Growth Corp. are teaming up to launch a marijuana brand called Houseplant.
Instagram shut down and then reinstated the page of an Arizona medical cannabis dispensary.
Molson Coors said in a regulatory filing that marijuana legalization could cut into its profits.
Cronos Group reported that its second quarter revenue is up 248% compared to a year ago, but its losses also grew.
The Wall Street Journal looks at the growing number of mainstream companies that are helping to push for marijuana banking access.
/ CULTURE
Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw said he uses medical cannabis to help deal with back pain.
Michael Pollan and Tim Ferris discussed psychedelics and drug policy reform.
DJ Sasha posted about his positive experiences with CBD.
Comedian Chelsea Handler tweeted a picture of her uncle and said, “He has cancer. Guess what makes him happy and gives [him] relief? Cannabis. Most people should be smoking it.”
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
