Newsletter
Cannabis measures cleared for House floor votes (Newsletter: June 19, 2019)
FAA CBD/marijuana guidance for pilots; Senators press against anti-cannabis immigration policy; NY legalization still in flux
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House Rules Committee cleared several drug policy amendments for floor action, including measures to shield all state and territory marijuana laws from federal interference, extend protections to tribes, support CBD regulations and allow military veterans to get medical cannabis recommendations from government doctors.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a bulletin clarifying CBD and marijuana rules for pilots.
A group of 10 U.S. senators sent a letter calling on the Trump administration to end a policy that says immigrants who work in the marijuana industry don’t have “good moral character” and are not eligible for citizenship.
The question of whether New York lawmakers will vote to legalize marijuana this week remains a very fluid situation, with indications that the session could be extended beyond Wednesday’s initial deadline through Friday.
Killer Mike said that rappers should get more credit for the legalization of marijuana:
- “A lot of people are going to get credit for it—a lot of activists, a lot of workers. But I can show you a line that leads straight back to Cypress Hill, that leads straight back to Snoop Dogg.”
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles office tweeted, “#marijuana remains illegal throughout California and is extremely dangerous. Schedule I controlled substance!! Don’t end up in federal prison! #justsayno”
Rep. French Hill (R-AR) spoke about his support for marijuana banking legislation.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Together we are going to end the prohibition of marijuana in the United States.”
/ STATES
The Washington, D.C. Council unanimously approved emergency legislation to protect some, but not all, government workers from employment discrimination over medical cannabis use.
Rhode Island’s House speaker said that there was “no appetite” among lawmakers or constituents to legalize marijuaan this year.
The New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a revised medical cannabis expansion bill aimed at avoiding a potential veto from Gov. Phil Murphy (D).
Connecticut regulators are approving hemp cultivation licenses.
Ohio regulators scheduled a public hearing on medical cannabis rules for July 23.
Arkansas regulators approved a third medical cannabis dispensary to open.
Lawmakers from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota discussed marijuana policy at a conference.
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/ LOCAL
The Hattiesburg, Mississippi City Council approved a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Louisville, Kentucky Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee will consider a proposed ordinance to make marijuana possession the lowest law enforcement priority on Wednesday.
The Monroe County, New York district attorney said her office will no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian Senate Legal Committee approved a bill to expedite marijuana pardons, setting it up for third reading before the full body this week.
Maltese President George Vella said he has “major reservations” about legalizing marijuana.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar gave a dismissive response when asked by a lawmaker for a status update on medical cannabis access.
Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babiš hosted a medical cannabis seminar.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “arrest rates of youths significantly decreased in states that decriminalized cannabis possession for everyone but did not decrease in states that legalized adult use.”
A review concluded that “pain (64%), anxiety (50%), and depression/mood (34%) were common reasons for medical cannabis use.”
A study found that “prevalence and frequency of past-month cannabis use among pregnant women increased between 2002 and 2017 and were higher for the first trimester than later trimesters.”
/ BUSINESS
The Global Cannabis Partnership brought together 45 marijuana companies to set environmental, social and governance standards for the industry.
High Times Holding Corp. is being sued for allegedly failing to pay up to $4 million owed as part of its acquisition of Culture Magazine.
/ CULTURE
Martha Stewart spoke at a marijuana conference and said that “the dialogue around cannabis is finally going positive.”
Woody Harrelson will play Timothy Leary in a television series.
Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted to ask people to oppose New York bills that he said could “impair the hemp industry, particularly the retail sale of hemp-derived CBD.”
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