Newsletter
DEA directs agents not to go after hemp products (Newsletter: May 25, 2018)
OK medical cannabis poll looks good; House panel targets welfare in dispensaries; NYC mayor predicts legalization as early as 2019
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a directive to its agents, telling them that they cannot go after industrial hemp products that don’t fall under the definition of marijuana.
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill that contains a provision prohibiting welfare recipients from accessing cash benefits at stores that sell marijuana.
/ FEDERAL
The director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons resigned after being marginalized and caught in a battle over criminal justice reform between U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and White House advisor Jared Kushner.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report finding that a women killed by an Uber self-driving car had marijuana and methamphetamine in her system.
Air Force personnel in charge of nuclear missiles were convicted of using and distributing LSD on their base.
Congressman Tom Garrett (R-VA), who is the lead sponsor of House marijuana descheduling legislation, is considering not running for reelection this year.
U.S. Sen Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) met to discuss marijuana law reform.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) again claimed on the Senate floor that marijuana is being laced with fentanyl.
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “I have cosponsored the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 so that we can move forward on marijuana research and its medicinal effects as more states move towards its legalization. We must end the stigma around this substance.”
The U.S. Senate bill to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks got one new cosponsor, for a total of 17.
The U.S. Senate hemp legalization bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 24.
Here’s a look at where New Mexico Democratic congressional candidates stand on marijuana.
/ STATES
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands House Committee on Judiciary & Government Operations will hold a hearing on marijuana legalization on Tuesday.
The Illinois House Executive Committee approved a bill to let people with opioid prescriptions qualify for medical cannabis. Separately, the state treasurer is trying to convince more banks to work with the marijuana industry.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) tweeted, “On medical marijuana: ‘Let’s have the debate!'”
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated medical cannabis.
Here’s a look at where Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana policy. Separately, regulators made hemp cultivation research applications available.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is proposing to fund teacher salary raises with legal marijuana tax revenue. Separately, regulators held a hearing on proposed rules to add new medical cannabis business licenses.
New Jersey’s health commissioner is delivering a series of lectures about medical cannabis to clinicians, students and medical educators.
The newest member of Alaska’s marijuana regulatory body is the police chief of Sitka.
A California senator filed legislation to exempt medical cannabis donated to seriously ill patients from excise taxes.
A Minnesota judge is weighing a motion to dismiss a case against a former medical cannabis business executive who is accused of illegally shipping product to the company’s New York property.
Here’s a look at continuing efforts to enact a medical cannabis banking solution in West Virginia.
/ LOCAL
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said he thinks the state may legalize marijuana “as early as next year.”
The Milwaukee County, Wisconsin County Board voted to place an advisory marijuana legalization question on the November ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian government’s lead marijuana policy staffer discussed the timeline for legalization.
Meanwhile, a Senate subcommittee held a hearing on medical cannabis use by military veterans.
UK members of Parliament who are doctors are stepping up the push for medical cannabis.
/ ADVOCACY
An anti-marijuana New Jersey reverend called the governor’s proposal to legalize marijuana “just another lynching of the African-American community” and “worse than Jim Crow.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Oklahoma likely voters support the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure, 58% – 30%.
The Tulsa World editorial board endorsed the medical cannabis initiative.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corp. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and its shares fell 6.7%.
Investors are betting against marijuana stocks at a record rate, with the total value of short positions approaching $2.1 billion.
A number of California marijuana retailers are collecting and storing information on customers even though it is not legally required.
/ CULTURE
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow said she sometimes consumes cannabis.
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