Newsletter
DEA releases ‘secret’ cannabis memo in lawsuit (Newsletter: April 30, 2020)
KS gov: Medical marijuana possible for 2020; Dr. Bronner’s gives $1M to OR psilocybin campaign; New long-term cannabis pollen storage method
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Justice agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by scientists who wanted to see a “secret” document allegedly used to justify a delay in approving more growers of marijuana for research. The full Office of Legal Counsel memo has now been published online, and it reveals that the federal government believes its current scheme of licensing cannabis cultivation for research has violated international drug treaties for decades.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said that medical marijuana remains on the table as a possibility for 2020 when lawmakers reconvene following the coronavirus pandemic.
- “I think that discussion continues and I think if it actually was able to come to a vote, I think that it probably would pass the legislature.”
Dr. Bronner’s pledged $1 million to help a proposed Oregon therapeutic psilocybin legalization initiative qualify for the November ballot. Signature gathering has been hampered by the coronavirus outbreak but the new contribution should boost efforts.
Researchers, using funding from the Canadian government, have developed a new method to store marijuana pollen on a “potentially indefinite” basis as well as a test to determine the viability of the pollen before using it to generate seeds for strain maintenance.
/ FEDERAL
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report tracked ads for hemp seeds alongside those for other specialty products.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) tweeted, “By not allowing legal marijuana businesses to access the same #COVID19 relief as other #smallbiz, we are putting hardworking people at risk. The cannabis industry is a part of the North Coast economy, and I’ll keep working to ensure they get equal relief.”
Georgia Democratic congressional candidate Jannquell Peters tweeted her support for legalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) extended coronavirus stay-at-home order allows marijuana businesses to do curbside pickup.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is pushing back the May 1 deadline for regulators to issue new marijuana dispensary licenses.
Massachusetts recreational marijuana shops could be closed until May 18 under Gov. Charlie Baker’s (R) extended coronavirus stay-at-home order. Separately, a regulator who recently resigned is taking a job as U.S. director of public policy for Greenwich Biosciences, which makes CBD drug Epidiolex.
A top Missouri regulator said medical cannabis dispensaries will open in mid-summer.
A Nevada court rejected Caron City’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit from a hemp grower that was denied access to open space land for cultivation.
Washington State regulators suspended the license of Smoking Exodus for alleged violations including improperly manufacturing vapor products, having alcohol on the premises, living on the premises and the presence of drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine.
A Texas representative said he has a plan to legalize marijuana in 2021.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
UK regulators published emergency rules allowing patients to access cannabis-based medicines from pharmacies without a prescription during the coronavirus pandemic.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that in California, “the loss of cannabis that must be destroyed if a batch fails testing accounts for a larger share of total testing costs than does the cost of the lab tests” and estimated “testing cost at $136 per pound of dried cannabis flower, or about 10 percent of the reported average wholesale price of legal cannabis in the state.”
A review concluded that “there is statistically significant evidence to support the use of psilocybin to treat depression” and that “individuals with depression who used psilocybin had a significant decrease in their perceived depressive symptoms, depressive scale scores, and presence of suicidal ideations.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The California State Conference of the NAACP, Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and other organizations are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to temporarily cut marijuana taxes.
Americans for Safe Access is conducting a stakeholder survey to streamline its advocacy efforts.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corp. laid off 200 employees.
Ilera Healthcare is being accused by its former accountant of firing her after she discovered evidence of possible tax evasion and embezzlement.
/ CULTURE
Football player Bashaud Breeland allegedly told police he is a “marijuana enthusiast” during the course of an arrest for possession, pushing an officer and other charges.
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