Newsletter
Congress blocks DC cannabis & drug reforms (Newsletter: May 28, 2018)
FL med cannabis smoking ban overturned; McConnell discusses “cocaine Mitch” moniker; NY legalization study “soon”
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government passed a bill that continues restrictions on Washington, DC spending money to further legalize marijuana — and adds a new prohibition on the use of funds to support safe consumption sites for illegal drug users.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said his image was “sorta softened” by a tweet his office sent referencing another politician’s attack on him as “Cocaine Mitch.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly urging states to regulate CBD products.
U.S. senators are pushing to broaden the reach of House-passed prison reform legislation.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris’s (D-CA) campaign organization is using her support for a congressional cannabis descheduling bill to build a fundraising list. She also tweeted, “Too many lives have been ruined because of the War on Drugs. Federal marijuana legalization and restorative justice are about stopping our country from repeating the same mistakes of the past.”
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a press release about their support for legalizing hemp.
Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) said he will host a debate on medical cannabis.
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “If legalizing marijuana would raise this much revenue [$772 million annually] for New York state, imagine how much we could reinvest in the communities most impacted by the ‘war on drugs’ if we legalized nationwide.” He also tweeted about the collateral consequences of marijuana convictions.
Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “Since Nevada voters decided to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in 2016, our state has enjoyed an economic boom. It’s time federal laws got on board with this growing industry.”
The U.S. House bill to respect state marijuana laws got one new cosponsor, for a total of seven.
Virginia Democratic congressional candidates voiced support for marijuana law reform in a forum.
/ STATES
A Florida judge overturned the state’s ban on smoking of medical cannabis. Separately, the state Supreme Court denied a request to take up a case concerning the right of medical cannabis patients to grow their own marijuana. And here’s a look at where the state’s gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana.
Some Michigan Republican lawmakers’ plan to amend and enact a marijuana legalization proposal instead of allowing it to appear on the November ballot appears to be picking up momentum, but doesn’t yet have enough votes to pass.
The New York Health Department said a study on legalizing marijuana will be released “soon.”
A California Assembly bill to provide workplace protections for medical cannabis patients stalled. A proposal to lower marijuana excise taxes was also killed. But a bill to expunge old marijuana convictions advanced, and so did legislation to charter banks to serve the cannabis industry.
A vehicle that West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) was riding in was struck by a motorist who was allegedly under the influence of marijuana.
Friday is the deadline to register to vote on Oklahoma’s medical cannabis ballot measure. And here’s a look at where Republican attorney general candidates stand on marijuana.
A police chief named to Alaska’a marijuana regulatory body said that cannabis prohibition has been a “waste of time” and law enforcement resources.
The Associated Press looks at Ohio’s coming medical cannabis rollout.
Colorado regulators sent a bulletin regarding recommendations on the use of marijuana for pregnant women.
The New York Times looks at the growing trend of prosecutors levying murder charges against people who supplied drugs — without necessarily selling them — to others who fatally overdosed.
/ LOCAL
Allentown, Pennsylvania’s mayor signed a marijuana decriminalization ordinance into law, but the police say they will continue enforcing state criminalization.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian Senate Social Affairs Committee is expected to make changes to the pending marijuana legalization bill’s homegrow provisions.
Jamaica’s minister of industry, commerce, agriculture and fisheries said that the country is well-positioned to export medical cannabis products to Canada.
/ ADVOCACY
The Connecticut Democratic Party endorsed marijuana legalization in its 2018 platform.
The American Pain Society endorsed pending U.S. Senate legislation to remove roadblocks to marijuana research.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “there is a sub-community of physically active individuals using cannabis with their [physical activity], many who believe that cannabis use has a positive effect on their performance.”
A study of joint arthroplasty patients suggested that “legalization of marijuana has led to either more users or more patients who are willing to report its use given the lack of legal ramifications.”
Twenty-five Pennsylvania dispensaries will help collect data for a study on medical cannabis and chronic pain.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Star-Ledger editorial page editor predicts that New Jersey lawmakers will vote to legalize marijuana by June.
The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board says voters deserve a chance to decide on a medical cannabis ballot measure.
/ BUSINESS
Colorado marijuana retailers have a higher age check compliance than do than stores that sell alcohol or tobacco.
MedMen Enterprises plans to be listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange through a reverse takeover of Ladera Ventures Corp.
Colorado data shows that the market for medical cannabis, as opposed to recreational marijuana, is shrinking.
/ CULTURE
The NCAA won’t let a high school football star play for Auburn University because he uses cannabis oil to treat epilepsy.
Woody Harrelson spoke about his evolving relationship with marijuana.
Snoop Dogg spoke about marijuana policy at a Canadian technology conference.
CBS Sunday Morning looks at the involvement of celebrities in the marijuana industry.
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