Newsletter
Cannabis legalization helps cops solve other crimes, study indicates (Newsletter: July 18, 2018)
Georgia jury acquits man who admitted cultivation; Poll: marijuana reform support in congressional battlegrounds; OK regulator emailed fake threats
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A study of law enforcement efforts to solve violent and property crimes in Colorado and Washington State found that “legalization produced some demonstrable and persistent benefit in clearance rates, benefits we believe are associated with the marijuana legalization proponents’ prediction that legalization would positively influence police performance.”
A new poll finds that voters in targeted “battleground districts” overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization and are more likely to back congressional candidates who feel the same way.
A Georgia jury acquitted a man who admitted in court to growing marijuana to treat chronic headaches — against the law.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York charged a Honduran congressman with conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow appeared at a forum at which opioid-laced marijuana was discussed.
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said, “If you told me I was going to be in a lot of pain and I had a choice between … an opiate and smoking marijuana … I would smoke the marijuana before I would take the opiate.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) called out House Republicans for “blocking vote after vote on BIPARTISAN cannabis reform amendments.”
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) took to the House floor to bash Republicans for not allowing votes on her measure to let Washington, D.C. set its own marijuana laws and other amendments.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) tweeted, “Legalizing adult use of marijuana is common sense and long overdue. We need to remove marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances, stop turning everyday Americans into criminals, and pass real criminal justice reform now.”
Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) criticized House Republicans for blocking a marijuana banking amendment she cosponsored: “What are they afraid of? Let us vote!”
The U.S. House bill to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks got one new cosponsor, for a total of 95.
/ STATES
The general counsel for Oklahoma’s Health Department resigned after being charged with emailing false threats to herself concerning restrictive medical cannabis regulations approved last week. Separately the secretary of state said it is “extremely unlikely” that a marijuana legalization measure would qualify for the November ballot.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) signed a bill banning the smoking of marijuana or tobacco in indoor public spaces such as bars, restaurants, stores, taxis and buses
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that judges can reincarcerate people on probation for drug use, even if they struggle with addiction.
Ohio regulators are delaying the launch of the state’s medical cannabis patient registry.
The Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee held a hearing on hemp.
Colorado is denying half the workers’ compensation death benefits due to a woman whose husband was killed while working on a ski lift because he had marijuana in his system at the time.
Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly said that people should not be incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses.
The author of Georgia’s limited medical cannabis law is endorsing Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (R) for governor because he is, in his view, the best person to oversee an expansion.
Proposed amendments to a pending New Jersey marijuana legalization bill would remove limits on the number of dispensaries, ban vertical integration and make it easier to expunge prior convictions, among other changes.
/ LOCAL
A Kern County, California supervisor is facing charges over an alleged conflict of interest related to the marijuana industry.
The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania City Council passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to decriminalize marijuana.
The Rogers County, Oklahoma district attorney is recusing himself from a case about whether the local sheriff assaulted a medical cannabis advocate.
A Jackson, Mississippi city councilwoman hosted a town hall meeting on marijuana decriminalization.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador granted his pick for interior minister “carte blanche” to consider drug legalization as a solution to violence.
South Korea’s government is moving to allow the import of cannabis-based medicines.
Canadian diplomats were caught off guard when three Conservative senators flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about marijuana, newly released emails show.
Lebanon’s government is considering legalizing medical cannabis.
Ireland’s first CBD shop opened.
/ ADVOCACY
Prohibitionist Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana seemed to imply that voters don’t know how to read.
- “If you had a ballot with a picture on it, as opposed to written out, I’m sure many more states would’ve voted no than yes.”
The NAACP convention had a panel on the racial justice implications of marijuana legalization.
Here’s a look at how untraceable donations are funding the medical cannabis ballot initiative group Missourians for Patient Care.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study examined the mechanisms behind marijuana’s appetite stimulation properties.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A survey found that 80% of pharmacy students want medical cannabis education to be added to school curricula.
/ BUSINESS
Maryland regulators are allowing MaryMed to compete for a medical cannabis cultivation license after a judge dismissed concerns they wouldn’t be able to secure plants in light of the prosecution of two of its parent company’s former executives for alleged interstate diversion of marijuana.
/ CULTURE
A grenade-shaped marijuana grinder caused the evacuation of an airport in Argentina.
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