Newsletter
Congress to vote on cannabis research this week (Newsletter: December 8, 2020)
CBO: Federal marijuana bill would boost budget by billions; GOP lawmakers complains to Pelosi about Dem’s cannabis mask; NE 2022 legalization effort
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…
Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming year and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on.
Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today:
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Just days after passing a federal marijuana legalization bill, the House of Representatives is set this week to vote on a cannabis research bill that would—among other things—let scientists study products from state-legal dispensaries for the first time.
The Congressional Budget Office projected that the marijuana legalization bill the House passed last week would add $13.7 billion in net revenue to the federal budget over 10 years. It would also cut 73,000 years worth of prison time and save $1 billion in incarceration costs.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) sent a letter of complaint to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) about the marijuana mask that Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) wore during last week’s floor debate on a cannabis legalization bill.
- “Legality aside, it’s unbecoming for a House member to wear clothing that promotes the use of any recreational drugs on the House floor… Speaker Pelosi, you’ve allowed facemasks to be worn on the House floor that wouldn’t be allowed in a High School assembly hall.”
Nebraska senators and activists announced they will collect signatures to put a recreational marijuana legalization initiative—in addition to a separate medical cannabis measure—on the state’s 2022 ballot.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold an event about its “Kingpin Strategy” on Thursday.
A federal marijuana legalization bill was the most viewed piece of legislation on Congress.gov last week.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “Our failed drug policies don’t reflect our values. We should legalize marijuana & reinvest the tax revenue in communities that have been disproportionately targeted by the failed drug war—for education, for drug treatment, for job training. We must focus on restorative justice.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, “Glad to see the legislature and Governor strike a deal to regulate legal cannabis in New Jersey. It is now time to right the wrongs of years of cannabis policy in our state that overwhelmingly harmed vulnerable communities.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Four states voted to legalize marijuana in November, two of them deeply red. Americans all across the country are in favor of legalization. It’s time we listen to them and repair the harm and injustices of the failed War on Drugs.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about the House’s passage of a federal marijuana legalization bill in an MSNBC interview.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “We talk all the time on the right about the need to empower people and empower states. Right now, the federal policy on cannabis constrains our people and limits our states.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Our fight to end the war on drugs is far from over, but we are on our way. We must deliver restorative justice for the communities most devastated by our harmful cannabis laws.”
/ STATES
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “Pennsylvania’s recreational cannabis revenue? $0.00. Now more than ever, we need to take that money away from illegal dealers and use it to offset the burden to taxpayers.”
Rhode Island’s State Police superintendent supports legalizing marijuana.
The New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a bill to reduce penalties for psilocybin.
A Florida senator is introducing a bill to expunge misdemeanor marijuana possession records.
Alaska regulators filed rules concerning the presence of infants on the premises of marijuana businesses.
Testimony from Missouri’s top medical cannabis regulator provides clues about the target of an ongoing Federal Bureau of Investigation inquiry.
Texas regulators published a list of registered hemp processors.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Tuesday.
Washington State regulators will consider rules on THC vapor products and marijuana certificates of compliance on Wednesday.
California’s Cannabis Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
Wilmington, North Carolina City Council members spoke about their support for decriminalizing marijuana.
The Greensboro, North Carolina City Council is also discussing marijuana decriminalization.
/ INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand’s High Court is being asked to overturn the results of the marijuana legalization referendum narrowly defeated by voters due to alleged misinformation distributed by opponents during the campaign.
Ontario, Canada’s auditor general found that regulators don’t have enough resources to effectively oversee the marijuana industry.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of palliative cancer patients found that “CBD-dominant oil treatments were similar to THC-dominant treatments in their beneficial effects for most secondary outcomes” and that “THC-dominant treatments showed significant superiority in their beneficial effect only in sleep duration compared to CBD-dominant treatments.”
A study of mice found “pre-clinical evidence that the phytocannabinoids THC and CBD alone may be useful as an adjunct therapy for treatment of neuropathic pain, and provides insight as to the ideal ratio and differing benefits and challenges of different administration routes.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Review editorial board is calling on congressional Republicans to stop blocking marijuana reform.
Marijuana Moment and NORML will be co-hosting a webinar on cannabis legislation with BillTrack50 on December 15.
ACLU of New Jersey, Weedmaps, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Minority Cannabis Business Association, New Jersey CannaBusiness Association and other organizations sent a letter urging New Jersey lawmakers to include a greater focus on equity in marijuana legalization enabling legislation.
/ BUSINESS
MedMen Enterprises Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $35.6 million and a net loss of $32.8 million.
Organigram admitted that cooling towers on top of its New Brunswick, Canada cannabis production facility caused a legionnaires’ disease outbreak that sent 15 people to the hospital last year.
Cybin Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Adelia Therapeutics Inc.
HEXO Corp is revising a plan to consolidate its shares.
/ CULTURE
Miley Cyrus spoke about her experience using ayahuasca and said she would consider taking psilocybin.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
