Newsletter
Court orders DEA to explain cannabis research block within 30 days (Newsletter: July 31, 2019)
FL legal marijuana ballot measure clears first hurdle; New psychedelic decrim effort; Study: opioid Rx dropped after CO legalization
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A federal court gave the Drug Enforcement Administration 30 days explain its refusal to issue more licenses to grow marijuana for research.
Florida activists cleared the first major hurdle to placing a marijuana legalization measure before voters on the state’s 2020 ballot by collecting enough signatures to trigger a state Supreme Court review of its language.
Activists behind Denver, Colorado’s successful psilocybin decriminalization measure formed a new group called the Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform and Education (SPORE), which aims to help pass psychedelics reform measures in cities around the country and the globe. They also plan to work with that they are calling the “Psychedelic Caucus” in Congress.
A study found a “significant decrease in the prescription opioid distribution after the legalization of marijuana in Colorado.”
- “This finding was particularly notable for opioids indicated predominantly for analgesia such as hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl.”
/ FEDERAL
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb suggested the agency should “approve the sale of some CBD products immediately, while effecting a framework for their safe and proper regulation and a pathway for an enforceable market for these goods.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “It makes no sense for young people to be denied jobs because they were arrested for smoking marijuana. It is time to decriminalize marijuana, expunge past marijuana convictions and end the failed war on drugs.”
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) suggested during a hearing that states should have stricter requirements regarding marijuana consumption by school bus drivers.
Rep. Barbra Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Marijuana is a legitimate industry. And a legitimate industry should have legitimate access to banking services to start successful businesses. Especially for people of color who have been disproportionately incarcerated from marijuana criminalization.”
/ STATES
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a bill legalizing hemp and CBD.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) tweeted, “It’s time to legalize marijuana. For years, marijuana possession has been a pipeline to prison for people of color. We must replace that pipeline with jobs, equity, and pathways to prosperity.”
Utah lawmakers are considering a special session to pass legislation revising how medical cannabis will be distributed after attorneys from large counties recommended that local agencies not do so themselves. Regulators are reportedly planning to solicit proposals from private pharmacies to handle sales.
A Washington State law allowing people to apply to have their past low-level marijuana convictions cleared from their records went into effect on Sunday.
Texas crime lab officials warned lawmakers that a hemp legalization bill could complicate marijuana prosecutions, but their concerns were largely ignored.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board recommended that regulators remove a requirement in draft rules that marijuana delivery personnel wear body cameras.
Oklahoma regulators sent an update on the process to apply for medical cannabis waste disposal licenses.
Missouri regulators approved more than 4,000 medical cannabis patients in the first month of registrations.
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/ LOCAL
A Cleveland, Ohio judge said she supports a proposed local marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
Here’s a look at how Texas county district attorneys are handling marijuana prosecutions in light of complications created by the state’s new hemp legalization law.
Illinois municipalities are considering whether to ban or allow marijuana businesses.
Los Angeles, California regulations received more than 1,800 applications for eligibility in the city’s marijuana business social equity program.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s justice minister warned people not to grow marijuana until rules allowing cultivation for medical or scientific uses are promulgated.
/ ADVOCACY
The Texas District and County Attorneys Association tweeted about Ohio’s new new law, saying, “Uh-oh. Hey @OHProsecutors, you might want to check our timeline for #hemp tweets and then give us a call, we may have some bad news for you…”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “adolescent cannabis use is not associated with structural brain differences in adulthood.”
A study suggested that “manipulating the [endocannabinoid] system may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of kidney disease and injury.”
A study found that “participants expected cannabis to decrease the incidence of sleep-related problems, including allowing participants to have an earlier bedtime, to fall asleep more quickly, and to have a longer night’s sleep” and suggested that “individuals believe using cannabis might positively influence their sleep quality and believing so may be protective against cannabis problems.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that UK adults support legalizing marijuana, 53%-32%.
/ BUSINESS
Facebook is being sued by the owners of Oklahoma medical cannabis dispensaries over its restrictions on marijuana-related pages.
A MarketWatch analysis suggests that Snapchat and Twitter are risking a Canadian government crackdown by accepting ads for marijuana brands.
The Verge takes a skeptical look at the cannabis-infused beverage market.
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