Newsletter
DEA says vaping cannabis more dangerous than smoking (Newsletter: June 1, 2018)
CA gov candidates on marijuana; Feds grant hemp water rights; Canadian Senate debates legalization at final stage
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Here’s a look at where top contenders in California’s Tuesday gubernatorial primary stand on marijuana.
A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration online marijuana quiz for teens claims that vaporizing cannabis oil is more dangerous than inhaling combusted plant matter into their lungs.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation granted water rights to a Montana hemp farmer.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington says that the state needs to dedicate more funds to stopping illegal marijuana growing operations.
U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) opposes Oklahoma’s medical cannabis ballot measure:
- “No one will convince me that our families will be better if only more parents and grandparents smoke more marijuana.”
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said that Florida regulators should allow patients to smoke medical cannabis, but added that he opposes legalizing recreational marijuana.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said that despite her past opposition to legalizing marijuana, “now it’s my job to see it’s well-regulated.”
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted, “Too many lives have been ruined because of the War on Drugs. Federal marijuana legalization and restorative justice are about stopping our country from repeating the same mistakes of the past.”
Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) spoke about his evolution on marijuana:
- “You can see where this is going. Over the next five or ten years, this will be available all over the country.”
Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) toured a CBD product factory.
An Oregon marijuana business owner pleaded guilty in federal court of willfully failing to file income tax returns.
The U.S. House bill to require the licensing of more marijuana growers for research got four new cosponsors, for a total of 34.
New Mexico Democratic congressional candidates spoke in support of marijuana reform during a forum.
Iowa Democratic congressional candidates debated marijuana policy.
/ STATES
Michigan’s House speaker said it would take a “miracle” for the legislature to amend and enact marijuana legalization and prevent it from going to the November ballot. The Senate majority leader says his chamber has enough votes for the move and is blaming the House for inaction. Separately, two of the state’s gubernatorial candidates debated legalization.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said it will be “a matter of days” until the state’s marijuana legalization study is released. Separately, an assemblyman filed a bill to allow medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids. A senator introduced a similar bill that applies to CBD.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a bill allowing additional medical cannabis dispensary locations. Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Molly Kelly is on board with legalizing marijuana.
Illinois lawmakers sent Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) a bill to let people prescribed opioids access medical cannabis. Separately, a representative who led efforts to enact medical cannabis stepped down from House leadership positions after being accused by a medical marijuana advocate of inappropriate behavior.
California Treasurer John Chiang (D), a gubernatorial candidate, spoke about his views on cannabis in a lengthy Marijuana.com interview. Also, the Assembly approved a bill to allow marijuana growers to sell directly to consumers at events.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham called for marijuana decriminalization.
Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis, currently a congressman, tweeted, “Colorado has proven that allowing responsible adults to legally purchase marijuana gives money to classrooms, not cartels; creates jobs, not addicts; and boosts our economy, not our prison population.” Separately, about half of the state’s “Adopt a Highway” signs are sponsored by cannabis companies.
Ohio regulators will announce medical cannabis dispensary license winners on Monday.
Arkansas regulators denied a petition to add bipolar disorder as a medical cannabis qualifying condition.
The Vermont Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case concerning the legality of police searches based on the alleged scent of marijuana.
Iowa lawmakers say the state could legalize industrial hemp next year. Separately, regulators received four applications for medical cannabis manufacturing licenses.
The New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee will hold a Monday hearing on legislation to expedite expungement of marijuana conviction records. Meanwhile, the Senate president said he smoked marijuana once and “ate a whole pizza and went to sleep.”
Washington State regulators released an explanatory statement about license forfeiture rules going into effect this month.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian Senate began third reading consideration of the government’s marijuana legalization bill, and rejected amendments to ban or restrict homegrow.
/ ADVOCACY
The chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party is on board with adding support for marijuana legalization to the party platform.
Prohibitionist Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana seemed to hint that he might be starting a PAC to support candidates who want to repeal Colorado’s cannabis legalization law.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is pushing for racial equity in the marijuana industry.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
An analysis concluded that “states that have legalized marijuana tended to have higher estimates of adolescent marijuana use,” but it didn’t track changes in use over time.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Utah adults support medical cannabis, 72% – 25%. It also showed that the Mormon church’s “grave concerns” about the state’s medical marijuana ballot measure make almost as many adults more likely to support the initiative as oppose it.
The Houston Chronicle editorial board is calling on Texas lawmakers to broaden the state’s medical cannabis policies.
/ CULTURE
Actress Minnie Driver is treating the pain from shoulder surgery with medical cannabis.
A Southwest flight had to make an emergency landing after a passenger reportedly smoked marijuana in the bathroom.
Netflix is launching a marijuana-themed competitive cooking show called “Cooking On High” this month.
The Onion made fun of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s anti-marijuana stance again:
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
