Newsletter
Complete look at 36 cannabis ballot measures in 7 states (Newsletter: Oct. 4, 2018)
Uruguay rejects tobacco-style restrictions on marijuana packaging; Mexican legal cannabis bill; Canadian legislation to expunge convictions
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
This issue of Marijuana Moment, and our original reporting that is featured in it, are made possible by the generous support of 336 Patreon sponsors. Cannabis industry professionals receive valuable rewards for pledges of $25 and up.
Check out the perks of being a sponsor on our Patreon page.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Here’s a look at the actual text of 36 separate cannabis ballot questions that voters in seven states will consider when they head to the polls on Election Day next month.
Lawmakers in Uruguay rejected a move to extend strict plain packaging tobacco rules to marijuana products.
/ FEDERAL
Colorado’s U.S. attorney spoke to the Associated Press about his marijuana enforcement views:
- “If somebody is licensed by this state, should they feel at increased risk of federal prosecution now? Yes. They should. We do a public safety analysis, not an analysis of whether someone has a piece of paper from the state… You can do plenty of harm to the community and still be in compliance with state law because those laws have a lot of loopholes and they’re very permissive.”
Separately, the federal prosecutor was announced as a keynote speaker for a summit being hosted by prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana in April. And in a TV interview, he gave examples of the kind of product manufacturers he might go after.
The head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Colombia office is accused of directing drivers working for the U.S. Embassy “to procure sex workers.”
Congress sent President Trump sweeping opioids legislation.
Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) released a statement in response to a marijuana-smoking protest at his office that allegedly caused him to injure his wrist.
The U.S. House bill to shield federal employees from being fired for state-legal marijuana use got two new cosponsors, for a total of seven.
The U.S. House bill to respect state medical cannabis laws got one new cosponsor, for a total of 28.
The U.S. House bill to require the licensing of more cannabis cultivators for research got one new cosponsor, for a total of 43.
The U.S. House CBD medical cannabis bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 33.
Texas Democratic congressional candidate Linsey Fagan supports legalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a gubernatorial candidate, said he disagrees with incumbent Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) veto of a bill to allow safe injection sites for illegal drug consumers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted about the state’s medical cannabis research program.
Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana policy.
Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont said that if elected he would immediately push to legalize marijuana as a budget booster. Separately, a state court is considering a lawsuit seeking to force the state to launch a hemp program.
Utah stakeholders expected to announce a compromise deal on medical cannabis legislation on Thursday.
A Florida judge halted regulators from moving forward with licensing additional medical cannabis dispensaries. Separately, regulators will hold a medical marijuana rulemaking hearing on Friday.
Mississippi activists have so far collected more than 5,000 signatures in support of a proposed 2020 medical cannabis ballot measure.
The Michigan State Police have not yet launched an investigation into alleged bribery of state regulators for medical cannabis licenses.
Rhode Island regulators will begin accepting industrial hemp license applications next week.
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday.
/ LOCAL
San Francisco, California’s mayor tweeted, “We’ll continue to work with our community partners to find a solution to move safe injection sites forward because the status quo is unacceptable.” Separately, the city is launching a Cannabis Oversight Committee.
Dayton, Ohio’s mayor and the leader of the local NAACP chapter spoke in favor of the city’s marijuana decriminalization ballot measure.
Denver, Colorado officials sent an email on educating kids about marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Mexican lawmaker filed a marijuana legalization bill.
An Indian lawmaker is pushing for drug legalization.
A Canadian lawmaker announced plans to file legislation to expunge some marijuana convictions.
Patient advocates fear that a move by Colombia’s president to allow police to punish people possessing drugs will negatively impact medical cannabis access.
/ ADVOCACY
Americans for Safe Access released a medical marijuana scorecard for members of Congress.
The Missouri Farm Bureau opposes the state’s medical cannabis ballot measures.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review found “an overall significant increased risk of lung cancer and cannabis” and “an increased risk of testicular cancer when duration of cannabis smoking exceeded 10 years.”
A study found that “cannabis use, but not alcohol consumption, showed lagged (neurotoxic) effects on inhibitory control and working memory and concurrent effects on delayed memory recall and perceptual reasoning” and concluded that “beyond the role of cognition in vulnerability to substance use, the concurrent and lasting effects of adolescent cannabis use can be observed on important cognitive functions and appear to be more pronounced than those observed for alcohol.”
/ BUSINESS
iHeartMedia Inc. will invest up to $10 million in Hightimes Holding Corp.
Space Tango plans to research how zero gravity in space affects cannabis cultivation.
Tilray, Inc. announced it intends to offer $400 million in convertible senior notes in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers.
/ CULTURE
Musician Ted Nugent spoke about his opposition to Michigan’s marijuana legalization ballot measure, but said he supports medical cannabis.
Drs. Mehmet Oz And Sanjay Gupta spoke about CBD on daytime TV.
A Michigan high school cheerleader is being accused of giving away marijuana brownies as part of a campaign to become homecoming queen.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
