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Examining Biden’s long anti-cannabis record (Newsletter: April 26, 2019)

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Congress considers protections for universities studying marijuana; State hemp bills advance; SC medical cannabis vote delayed

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Marijuana Moment looks at the long anti-drug record of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Among other findings we dug up, here are a few particularly notable quotes and legislative actions:

  • In 1974 he said, “I’m about as liberal as your grandmother… I don’t think marijuana should be legalized.”
  • In 2010 he said, “I still believe it’s a gateway drug… I think it would be a mistake to legalize.”
  • He cosponsored a 1998 resolution that said state medical cannabis laws send “ambiguous cultural messages about marijuana use [and] are contributing to a growing acceptance of marijuana use among children and teenagers” and expressed support for federal authorities enforcing prohibition “through seizure and other civil action, as well as through criminal penalties.”
  • He was the lead Democratic cosponsor on a number of anti-drug bills filed by segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC), including proposals to create new mandatory minimums, expand asset forfeiture and charge juveniles as adults.
  • He championed the creation of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and voted for legislation requiring the drug czar to oppose marijuana legalization.

There’s a lot more in our nearly 5,000-word deep dive into Joe Biden’s drug war record.

Twenty-six members of Congress sent a letter to House appropriations leaders asking that they include language in an upcoming funding bill to protect universities from being punished for researching marijuana.

/ FEDERAL

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that the number of people incarcerated in prisons and jails declined slightly in 2017.

The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama seems open to local moves to decriminalize marijuana.

Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz declined state his position on marijuana legalization in response to a C-SPAN’s caller’s remarks.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Our justice system continues to target and imprison young Black and Latinx Americans at high levels due to outdated, unjust marijuana laws. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: we must legalize marijuana across the country.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted in support of the right to vote for people convicted of drug offenses.

/ STATES

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s (R) administration appears cool to the idea of requiring a warrant for saliva tests to detect marijuana impairment in drivers.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) called legalizing marijuana a “sucker’s bet.”

Washington State lawmakers sent a hemp bill to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee (D).

Iowa lawmakers sent a hemp bill to the desk of Gov. Kim Reynolds (R).

Wisconsin legislative leaders said that medical cannabis and marijuana decriminalization proposals submitted by Gov. Tony Evers (D) will not be included in the state budget.

West Virginia’s treasurer issued a request for proposals to provide medical cannabis banking services.

The Florida Senate unanimously passed hemp legislation.

The Oklahoma Senate approved a CBD bill. Separately, a bill concerning local enforcement of medical cannabis laws and tax rates is advancing.

The Connecticut Senate approved a hemp pilot program.

The Colorado Senate Finance Committee approved a bill to allow social consumption of marijuana at hospitality establishments.

The Louisiana House Agriculture Committee advanced a hemp bill.

The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee delayed an expected vote on medical cannabis legislation until next year.

Massachusetts regulators are considering implementing scriter oversight of ownership restrictions for marijuana businesses.

Alaska regulators are working to launch an industrial hemp program by the fall.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

The Jefferson County, Alabama sheriff halted a plan to end low-level marijuana arrests.

A Lynwood, California failed to disclose her role as a paid consultant for Weedmaps.

/ BUSINESS

Trading app Robinhood said that more than 420,000 of its users own Aurora Cannabis stock.

High Times is being accused of violating a registered trademark for “Women of Weed.”

Vireo Health won a patent for “tobacco products infused with cannabis.”

Payment processing service Stripe tweeted, “We want to support as many business types as possible, but we don’t have any news on CBD yet. It’s currently restricted by our financial partners.”

The New York Times looks at the marijuana industry’s job creation potential.

/ CULTURE

Diddy said in an Instagram post, “The time for economic inclusion is now. The cannabis industry is on alert. We can’t continue to stay in jail for something that is now legal in a industry that we helped start. We only have 1% of the licenses and we are the ones that helped make it popular. Why are most of the licenses going to older white men? When will this ever end? This is apart of our culture, we started this, many of us went to jail and are in jail. It’s legal now. We should all have a fair opportunity.”

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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