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CT legal cannabis bill approved in committee (Newsletter: March 26, 2019)

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Congressional banking bill amendment; NJ legalization stalls; TX marijuana decrim bill advances; POTUS candidate Pete Buttigieg on cannabis

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New Jersey legislative leaders pulled a marijuana legalization bill that had been scheduled for Monday votes from the calendar because it did not have enough Senate support to pass.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), the chief sponsor of a marijuana banking bill up for a congressional committee vote on Tuesday, is proposing an amendment that would require federal agencies to track diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry, among other changes to the legislation.

The Connecticut legislature’s General Law Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill, with the Judiciary Committee expected to vote on related cannabis legislation on Thursday.

The Texas Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved a marijuana decriminalization bill.

Marijuana Moment’s latest candidate overview takes a comprehensive look at where Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg stands on cannabis.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a case seeking to overturn a Washington State Supreme Court ruling that determined regulators properly denied a marijuana business license to an LLC because of the criminal history of its sole member’s spouse.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking a contractor to handle the incineration of seized marijuana, other illegal drugs and additional evidence materials.

Politico takes a look at the Food and Drug Administration’s difficulty in regulating CBD products.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate said that the war on drugs “is a war on American people.” He also tweeted, “It’s not enough to legalize marijuana—we should also: ✅ use tax revenue to reinvest in communities hurt by the failed War on Drugs ✅ penalize states that don’t change their marijuana laws & continue to disproportionately arrest people of color.”

A Maryland student pleaded guilty to charges of illegal wiretapping related to streaming a meeting about marijuana with a staffer for Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) on Facebook.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “New reports show legal marijuana to be the fastest-growing industry in the country: 65,000 full-time jobs added to the US job market in 2018 and 60% of voters supporting legalization. This underscores the fact that it’s time to decriminalize marijuana nationwide.”

PolitiFact ruled that a statement by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), a presidential candidate, about marijuana use rates in his state following legalization is “Half True.”

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) congratulated Connecticut’s new agriculture commissioner nominee, noting that they have worked together on hemp issues.

/ STATES

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he believes the legislature will be able to legalize marijuana even if the issue isn’t addressed in the budget.

South Dakota’s attorney general released a statement clarifying that hemp and CBD remain illegal under state law.

A number of state attorneys general met with Canadian law enforcement officials to discuss marijuana regulations.

The Kansas House of Representatives approved a hemp bill.

The North Dakota Senate did not produce a needed two-thirds majority to approve a bill allowing medical cannabis edibles, but it did pass hemp legislation.

The Connecticut legislature’s General Law Committee advanced a bill adding opioid withdrawal syndrome as a medical cannabis qualifying condition.

The Arizona House Committee on Regulatory Affairs approved legislation aimed at increasing the number of medical cannabis dispensaries in rural areas.

The Florida Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously advanced a hemp legalization bill. The state’s agriculture commissioner cheered the move.

The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee approved hemp legislation.

The Missouri House Rules-Administrative Oversight Committee voted to approve a hemp expansion bill.

The Vermont House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to decriminalize possession of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

The Utah Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case seeking to overturn legislation lawmakers passed replacing the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis initiative.

The Guam Senate is expected to vote on a marijuana legalization bill soon.

The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee was scheduled hear a marijuana legalization bill and legislation to protect employment rights of cannabis consumers on Tuesday, but the proposal to end prohibition is being pulled back for revisions. The House Health, Education and Welfare Committee will hear a bill on Wednesday to add marijuana to laws covering second-hand smoke.

Washington State regulators released an updated list of pesticides that are allowed to be used in marijuana cultivation.

Louisiana regulators are being pressured to make medical cannabis available to patients by May 15.

New Mexico regulators will decide on Friday whether to add opioid addiction as a medical cannabis qualifying condition.

Nevada lawmakers filed a marijuana banking bill.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 900 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

District attorneys from Oklahoma counties disagree with one another about whether people should be able to use medical cannabis while on probation.

Los Angeles, California regulators are hiring someone to run the city’s marijuana equity program.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Kenyan government disputed an American company’s claim that it had been granted a license to cultivate medical cannabis there.

Liberian government officials are reportedly meeting with U.S. medical cannabis business interests.

/ ADVOCACY

The American Bankers Association and the Credit Union National Association sent letters urging Congress to approve marijuana banking legislation.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study suggested that “THC use does not reduce immune function” in people living with HIV.

A study found that hospital “visits attributable to inhaled cannabis are more frequent than those attributable to edible cannabis, although the latter is associated with more acute psychiatric visits and more [emergency department] visits than expected.”

A review concluded that “randomised controlled trials of plant-derived cannabidiol for treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two severe childhood-onset epilepsies, provide evidence of anti-seizure effects” but that “small clinical trials of cannabinoids in other neurological disorders such as Huntington’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dementia, have not found any effect.”

A study of mice suggested “CBD as a pharmacological tool to improve neurological dysfunctions caused by the trauma” associated with traumatic brain injury.

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Guam Daily Post editorial board wants the territory’s voters to be able to decide on marijuana legalization via a ballot measure.

/ BUSINESS

Target said it doesn’t have any immediate plans to carry CBD products.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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