Newsletter
Cannabis protections cut from congressional spending bill (Newsletter: December 17, 2019)
NJ 2020 marijuana referendum approved; Yang backs psychedelic access; Patrick endorses legal cannabis; Polls show legalization support
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Congressional negotiators cut House-passed measures protecting state marijuana laws from federal interference and allowing cannabis banking from 2020 spending legislation. The bill also continues a rider blocking Washington, D.C. from spending its own money to regulate marijuana sales.
The New Jersey Senate and Assembly voted with supermajority support to place a marijuana legalization referendum on the 2020 ballot. Lawmakers also approved separate legislation to create a process for expedited expungement of prior convictions.
Two new national polls—from Fox News and Marist/PBS/NPR—both show that a supermajority of Americans support legalizing marijuana.
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang says he wants to make psychedelic mushrooms “more freely available” after speaking with a military veteran who treated his depression with psilocybin.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), a presidential candidate, says he now supports federal marijuana legalization after previously opposing simple decriminalization and saying he wished his state didn’t even have medical cannabis—past opposition he seems to have forgotten about in a new interview.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Agriculture tweeted, “Want to grow #hemp? We can help.”
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) held a roundtable meeting with hemp growers and processors.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) tweeted, “Good thing about cannabis legalization movement is that it’s bipartisan. We need to address disproportionate impact of cannabis laws on communities of color. That’s why I support the #MORE Act.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Raise the wage. Legalize marijuana. Make college free. Pass Medicare for All.”
/ STATES
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) appointed Rhode Island’s former top medical marijuana regulator as the state’s new director of cannabis programs.
The administration of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and lawmakers are warning the marijuana industry about potential product shortages and price hikes that could harm medical cannabis patients.
Organizers behind one proposed Florida marijuana legalization measure announced they will not be able to collect enough signatures to qualify for the 2020 ballot.
North Dakota’s secretary of state approved a proposed marijuana legalization ballot measure for signature gathering.
Colorado regulators approved four new hemp seed varieties.
Oregon regulators will consider a proposal to prohibit the mixing of alcoholic beverages and CBD products at retail liquor licenses for on-premises consumption on Thursday.
Maryland has a new top medical cannabis regulator.
Oklahoma regulators reopened a call center to answer questions about medical cannabis.
An Indiana senator filed legislation to decriminalize marijuana, create a cannabis consumer protection agency and allow smokable hemp.
Guam regulators approved a new marijuana legalization fact sheet.
Utah regulators have received more than 130 applications for just 14 available medical cannabis pharmacy licenses.
The Nevada legislature’s Committee to Conduct an Interim Study of Issues Relating to Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana will meet on January 17.
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/ LOCAL
Chicago, Illinois’s mayor wants to open a city-owned marijuana cultivation co-op that entrepreneurs could invest in.
Atlanta, Georgia’s mayor ordered courts to restrict access to low-level marijuana possession records.
Los Angeles, California regulators revealed that some marijuana business license applicants were able to enter an online system to submit their proposals earlier than was intended, giving them what some say is an unfair advantage in the approval process.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Zambia’s cabinet approved a proposal to legalize the production of marijuana for medical use and exports.
Trinidad and Tobago’s attorney general said he was unaware of relatives’ cannabis company as he pushes for marijuana reform in the country.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “residents in recreationally legal states were most likely to believe marijuana has benefits, marijuana smoke is safer than tobacco smoke, and have the highest rate of marijuana use.”
A study found that “the prevalence of cannabis use in the U.S. increased from 2005 to 2017 among persons with and without depression and was approximately twice as common among those with depression.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Virginia voters support decriminalizing marijuana, 83%-14%.
/ BUSINESS
FSD Pharma received approval to trade on Nasdaq.
Lowell Farms LLC is being sued by California regulators for allegedly engaging in commercial marijuana activity without a license.
/ CULTURE
Actress Mia Farrow tweeted about the murder of a New York City student, saying, “People wouldnt be in dangerous areas at odd hours buying marijuana if could be purchased legally.”
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