Newsletter
DC adds medical cannabis delivery during COVID (Newsletter: April 15, 2020)
DEA seized more marijuana plants last year; Hemp farmers push for coronavirus aid; Mass. recreational shutdown in court
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Washington, D.C. regulators are moving to allow medical cannabis deliveries and curbside pickup during the coronavirus pandemic.
A new report from the Drug Enforcement Administration shows that the number of marijuana plants the federal agency seized last year rose 43 percent from 2018, but that the number of individual cannabis cultivation sites it busted and arrests it made dropped.
While hemp companies qualify for some Small Business Administration programs that the marijuana industry is blocked from utilizing, hemp farmers are still left out of certain disaster relief loans. A coalition of industry groups sent a letter urging the agency to change that.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration released an updated version of its Drugs of Abuse publication, which reports that it’s still the case that “no deaths from overdose of marijuana have been reported.”
Oregon Democratic congressional candidate Albert Lee tweeted, “Legalize cannabis banking access. Legalize cannabis nationwide. Stop the senseless waste of resources on attempts to control personal health & liberties. Expunge marijuana records. End the War on Drugs. Make families & lives whole again.”
Virginia Democratic congressional candidate Qasim Rashid tweeted, “The first year Dems take the VA legislature—this happens. Governor Northam signs bill decriminalizing marijuana. Last year VA saw a 20 year high in pot arrests—disproportionately targeting Black & Latino Virginians. This Reform is Dems getting the job done.”
Virginia Republican congressional candidate Heerak Christian Kim tweeted, “Marijuana kills! Weed lovers like @TheDemocrats tried to debunk science but science wins! Recreational marijuana use will kill you if you get COVID-19! God is so fair! Illegalize marijuana, states! It is the right thing to do! Wages of sin is death! Amen!”
/ STATES
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R) office said there is not yet a timetable for submitting the state’s hemp plan for federal approval.
The Massachusetts attorney general’s office defended Gov. Charlie Baker’s (R) temporary coronavirus shutdown of recreational marijuana businesses from a lawsuit filed by industry operators. Meanwhile, officials are being urged to ask the attorney general to issue an opinion on whether the governor can amend the order to allow only state residents to patronize the businesses.
Nebraska activists said they are “confident” they will be able to qualify a medical cannabis measure for November’s ballot if they can resume signature gathering in May.
Missouri regulators settled two lawsuits filed by businesses appealing medical cannabis license denials.
The Elko Band of Te-Moak, located in Nevada, is set to open a marijuana dispensary on tribal land despite a local ban on cannabis commerce.
Florida regulators plan to start accepting hemp license applications on April 27 and expect federal approval of the state’s plan as soon as this week.
Texas misdemeanor marijuana possession prosecutions dropped 14% in 2019.
Utah regulators published guidance on the sale and transfer of industrial hemp waste to medical cannabis cultivators.
Alaska regulators will consider marijuana business issues related to the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday.
Colorado’s Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee will meet on April 20.
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/ LOCAL
The Denver, Colorado City Council approved the creation of a new marijuana research and development license.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD is well tolerated and has relatively few serious adverse effects, however interactions with other medications should be monitored carefully.”
A review concluded that “cannabis withdrawal syndrome appears to be common among regular users of cannabis, particularly those in outpatient and inpatient settings and individuals with substance use disorders.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Case Western Reserve University is hosting a forum on marijuana federalism on April 21.
/ BUSINESS
Organigram Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $26.9 million and a net loss of $6.8 million.
CannTrust Holdings Inc. received a cease trading order by the Ontario Securities Commission after it failed to file required financial statements.
Orthogonal Thinker, Inc. filed a patent application for its psilocybin product.
/ CULTURE
Actress Rose McGowan tweeted, “Virginia just decriminalized marijuana! Who would have thought? This is a smart move for finance and freedom! Great job!i feel like Trump with all my !!!!”
Former baseball player Curt Schilling tweeted, “The idiots liberals elected HONESTLY believe there is logic to keeping marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores open but want laws against Christians going to church. How about this though. Ask any followers of Allah if the government has closed their mosques…..”
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
