Newsletter
CT legal cannabis vote pushed to special session (Newsletter: June 10, 2021)
Poll: US voters back drug decrim; New TX effort to put marijuana on local ballots; Cannabis prisoner says MORE Act falls short
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Connecticut’s House speaker decided to take up marijuana legalization in a special session in the coming days after Republicans threatened to run out the clock on debate until the end of the regular session at midnight on Wednesday.
A new poll from the ACLU and Drug Policy Alliance found that two-thirds of American voters support decriminalizing drugs. The survey is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon declaring the war on drugs.
The new organization Ground Game Texas is planning to put marijuana and other progressive issues on local ballots across the state after the Republican-controlled legislature blocked reform this session.
A man who received clemency from President Donald Trump says a pending federal marijuana legalization bill would leave many cannabis prisoners behind with its resentencing provisions. He’s asking lawmakers for amendments.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Energy is funding research and development projects, including one on hemp fiber insulation.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) tweeted, “Thank you, @DrugPolicyOrg, for leading a letter urging Congress to remove the rider prohibiting DC from spending local funds on commercializing recreational marijuana. The letter was signed by 44 local, state + national justice reform, liberty + public health organizations.”
/ STATES
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia (NPP) signed a bill preventing medical cannabis from being considered a violation of probation.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) issued a proclamation declaring Hemp Week, and a U.S. flag made out of hemp is flying over the state capitol.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) made an appointment to the Cannabis Control Board Advisory Committee.
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor posted to Facebook about visiting a marijuana exhibition at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Wyoming’s attorney general is defending a police officer whom the state Supreme Court found lied on the stand during a case accusing hemp farmers of growing marijuana.
New Mexico Senate leadership said, in response to a complaint from the state’s health secretary, that the body will not investigate a senator’s involvement with a medical cannabis business.
The Delaware representative sponsoring a marijuana legalization bill up for a vote on Thursday says he is “uncertain” if it has enough support to pass.
The Alabama senator who sponsored a successful medical cannabis bill spoke about the implementation of the program.
Ohio regulators added Huntington’s disease, terminal illness and spasticity as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Montana’s top marijuana regulator said she hopes to release draft legalization implementation rules by September.
New Jersey officials discussed cannabis research with scientists from Israel.
Tennessee regulators sent a reminder about the need to renew hemp licenses.
Oklahoma regulators reported new medical cannabis tax revenue data.
/ LOCAL
The Sioux Falls, South Dakota City Council is moving to put medical cannabis business applications on hold until state officials issue regulations.
Denver, Colorado’s official Twitter account posted, in response to a discussion about people’s desire for a cannabis dispensary at the airport, “Come downtown! Denver’s A-Train departs the airport on a regular basis.😉 It’s federally illegal to transport marijuana in a plane. Thus, @DENAirport’s policy on not allowing marijuana consumption or possession.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “prolonged medical cannabis treatment is associated with quality of life improvement and reduction of analgesic medication consumption in chronic pain patients.”
A study found that “drivers in states that legalized medical marijuana self-reported driving after marijuana use slightly more than drivers in states where both medical and recreational were illegal” but that “marijuana users in states that legalized [recreational marijuana] self-reported driving after marijuana use less than their counterparts [in states that haven’t enacted legalization]” and that “no predominant pattern suggesting that those in states with liberal marijuana policies were more tolerant of driving after marijuana use.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapters sent a letter calling on congressional leaders to vote on a federal marijuana legalization bill this month.
The National Cannabis Industry Association published an overview of the science, history and uses of medical cannabis.
/ BUSINESS
Freshly Baked made Massachusetts’s first legal recreational marijuana delivery.
Jushi Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $32.3 million and a net loss of $156.7 million.
Goodness Growth Holdings, Inc’s subsidiary Resurgent Biosciences is expanding its intellectual property development and clinical research efforts into psychedelic medicine.
HEXO Corp won dismissal of a shareholder class action lawsuit.
Mydecine Innovations Group said it has discovered more than 40 compounds with pharmacological potential in various species of mushrooms, including varieties of psilocybe cubensis.
Cresco Labs asked a federal judge to dismiss a breach of contract claim from a proposed class action lawsuit alleging it did not pay workers for the time spent putting on and taking off required personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Watco Companies is being sued by a former employee for allegedly improperly firing him over medical cannabis use.
Arkansas dispensaries have sold more than $330 million worth of medical cannabis since the program began.
/ CORRECTION
Wednesday’s issue incorrectly reported Illinois’ total year-to-date medical cannabis sales as the tally for May. The correct figure is $34.2 million.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
