Newsletter
Elizabeth Warren’s new cannabis plan (Newsletter: February 24, 2020)
NM gov open to putting legalization on ballot; Fed Reserve hemp banking update; Congressional candidate hosts ‘weed party’
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a presidential candidate, gave Marijuana Moment an early look at a new plan that includes promises to begin the process of federal cannabis legalization within 100 days of taking office, involve communities harmed by the drug war in the marijuana industry, respect other nations’s drug laws and allow Washington, D.C. to enact legal sales.
At the end of a legislative session in which lawmakers failed to legalize marijuana, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) said she is open to referring a cannabis question to the ballot as a constitutional amendment so that voters can decide on the issue.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis issued a reminder that hemp businesses can get bank accounts in light of the crop’s federal legalization and previewed that “banks should be looking out for additional guidance” on federal hemp rules from financial regulators soon.
Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Anthony Clark hosted what his campaign is calling the “first-ever congressional weed party.”
- Marijuana “has literally saved my life, he told the crowd, a blunt in one hand and a shot glass in the other. “I’m a veteran with PTSD.”
/ FEDERAL
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent was arrested on charges of conspiring to launder money with a Colombian drug cartel.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City tweeted, “Year-over-year #marijuana sales growth of about 16 percent YTD in 2019 is much lower than the growth rates experienced in the first few years of legalized sales, and indicates growth in sales is moving toward a more sustainable, yet still robust, path.”
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke about efforts to end the practice of evicting people from housing for drug convictions.
Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) tweeted about visiting a CBD oil business.
The House bill to require the Food and Drug Administration to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got two new cosponsors for a total of eight.
Virginia Republican congressional candidate Heerak Christian Kim tweeted about “why it is important to oppose Democratic effort to legalize marijuana, which will hurt children’s future and the American society.”
/ STATES
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said he will “certainly do what I can” to help build Senate support for a House-passed medical cannabis bill.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he will not sample any marijuana on his tour of legal states, but will bring a “taster” with him.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said she is comfortable with regulators’ recommendation to let medical cannabis patients purchase 4.5 grams of THC in a 90-day period.
Massachusetts’s attorney general and marijuana regulators are recommending that lawmakers “provide additional civil enforcement tools and resources to address the illicit market” but “do not advise establishing any additional criminal penalties at this time.”
The Virginia House Appropriations Committee approved a Senate-passed marijuana decriminalizaiton bill.
A Connecticut lawmaker leading the charge for marijuana legalization said “the votes still aren’t’ there” in the legislature.
Nevada regulators issued a public health and safety advisory about marijuana products that failed secondary microbial testing.
New Mexico regulators are investing economic development money into a hemp farm.
Pennsylvania regulators approved additional clinical registrants to participate in the state’s medical cannabis research program.
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/ LOCAL
The Denver, Colorado City Council Finance and Governance Committee will consider marijuana research licenses and other cannabis issues on March 17.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving to clear tens of thousands of past marijuana convictions and is creating a committee to study adopting a Canadian-style legalization policy.
Philippine regulators clarified that marijuana remains illegal in the country despite the fact that they are considering allowing CBD to treat severe seizure disorders.
The Manipur, India government plans to legalize marijuana cultivation for medical and industrial purposes.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “THC use is associated with small increases in testosterone.”
A study concluded that “there are correlations between anxiety symptoms and social functioning in people with autism, and that this can be successfully treated using a combination of MDMA and psychotherapy.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of likely Nevada voters found that 66% think the state’s marijuana legalization law has had no impact on use of other drugs, 23% say it has led to less drug use and 15% say more drug use has resulted.
/ BUSINESS
Colgate subsidiary Hello Products LLC is launching a line of CBD oral care products.
DLA Piper launched a dedicated global cannabis practice.
Leafly closed its Germany-based operation.
A manager at Marijuana Club 99 in Washington State used bear spray to ward off people trying to rob the dispensary.
Business Insider looks at Instagram cannabis influencers.
/ CULTURE
The NFL Players Union delayed an expected vote on approving a new collective bargaining agreement that includes lower marijuana penalties and less stringent drug testing requirements.
Rapper Ralo is asking a federal judge to let independent experts test “alleged marijuana” that was seized from his private jet.
A TV news station sent a Mr. Rogers impersonator to a Chicago marijuana dispensary.
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