Newsletter
Connecticut governor files cannabis legalization bill (Newsletter: February 7, 2020)
Biden’s confusing marijuana remark; NH Senate OKs medical cannabis homegrow; New USDA hemp insurance programs; KY poll shows big legalization support
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Connecticut’s Senate president and House speaker filed a new marijuana legalization bill on behalf of Gov. Ned Lamont (D).
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D), a presidential candidate, said marijuana is “at the point where it has to be basically legalized” but he’s “not prepared to do it as long as there’s serious medical people saying we should determine what other side effects would occur.”
The New Hampshire Senate passed a bill—SB 420—to let medical cannabis patients grow their own medicine at home. Lawmakers approved a similar proposal last year but Gov. Chris Sununu (R) vetoed it and an override vote fell just short.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that hemp farmers are eligible for two more crop insurance programs.
A poll found that 59% of Kentucky residents back legalizing marijuana “under any circumstances,” while medical cannabis gets 90% support as a House hearing on that topic approaches next week.
/ FEDERAL
President Trump signed a bill to temporarily extend the Drug Enforcement Administration’s emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) said that the House-passed marijuana banking bill “cannot build the bipartisan approach that cannot in this Congress to make it all the way to law.”
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted, “Aligning state & federal laws re: #cannabis banking is an important step toward making our communities safer. Supporters of the #SAFEBankingAct share many of the same goals as Sen. Crapo & look forward to working w/him & other Senators to continue moving forward on this issue.”
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said GenCanna’s bankruptcy filing “has certainly given a black eye to the industry.”
Florida Democratic congressional candidate Chris Eagle tweeted, “I support the Federal Legalization of Cannabis both Medical & Recreational. I will correct the errors of Sheriff’s like @RepRutherfordFL and erase the criminal records of all that have been hurt by these archaic laws. #legalizeit”
/ STATES
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, “Legalizing recreational adult-use cannabis will bring undeniable economic benefits to New Mexicans all across the state, generating 11,000 jobs & hundreds of millions of dollars in sales & tax revenue. It’s time we get ahead of the curve instead of playing catch up.”
New Hampshire Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andru Volinsky tweeted, “As Governor, I will not only pass progressive policies towards legalization but also expunge those with cannabis-related crimes on their records.”
Virginia’s attorney general tweeted about discussing marijuana reform with a local Democratic group.
The Florida Supreme Court scheduled April 22 oral arguments in a case challenging the state’s requirement for medical cannabis businesses to be vertically integrated.
The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill to ban adding vitamin E acetate in marijuana or e-cigarette vape cartridges.
The West Virginia House of Representatives rejected moves to advance a medical cannabis bill from an unfavorable committee.
The South Dakota House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved a hemp bill.
Maine regulators awarded a six-year marijuana track-and-track contract to Metrc LLC.
An Oklahoma representative said that if states are legalizing marijuana even as federal prohibition continues they should be able to effectively ban almost all abortions even though it might violate the U.S. Constitution.
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/ LOCAL
Chicago, Illinois’s mayor tweeted, “We’re working closely with state and community leaders to make sure the new recreational cannabis industry is not only successful, but also equitable, particularly for Black and Brown communities.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis sent lawmakers a marijuana commission report that recommends legalization of medical cannabis and decriminalization of marijuana possession.
Panamanian lawmakers approved medical cannabis importation legislation.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review found that “cannabis may offer therapeutic advantages to behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and to the severe nausea and vomiting in hyperemesis gravidarum.”
A review concluded that “multiple contemporary studies have demonstrated safety and possible benefit of psychedelic drugs in multiple psychiatric illnesses refractory to conventional treatments.”
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s CEO is stepping down and the company is laying off close to 500 full-time equivalent staff, including approximately 25% of corporate positions.
PAX Labs, Inc. has a new president and CEO.
The Smokin Gun will open one of Colorado’s first marijuana tasting rooms inside a replica jail cell.
/ CULTURE
Rapper Sonny Digital is starting a cannabis brand.
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