Newsletter
FBI cannabis arrest data called into question (Newsletter: June 1, 2022)
Canadian gov’t approves local drug decrim; MN marijuana party political shenanigans; NC medical cannabis vote
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Canada’s federal government approved a three-year drug decriminalization pilot program in British Columbia. People caught with up to 2.5 grams of certain illicit drugs—including opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA—will not be criminalized.
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is being asked to investigate an apparent discrepancy in how marijuana enforcement data is reported by police departments across the country.
- Some law enforcement agencies appear to count citations issued in decriminalized jurisdictions as arrests, while others don’t—and that distorts how the impact of cannabis policy can be evaluated by lawmakers, the complaint from Montgomery County, Maryland Policing Advisory Commission member Eric Sterling says.
Minnesota Democratic operatives appear to have been caught on tape orchestrating a plot to change the name of a cannabis-focused third party they feared siphoned votes from Democrats so it would instead be called the MAGA Party, undermining GOP candidates—but the plan seems to have faltered.
The North Carolina Senate Rules and Operations Committee is set to take up a bill to legalize medical marijuana on Wednesday, with floor action expected as soon as Thursday. Meanwhile, a new poll shows huge voter support for cannabis reform.
/ FEDERAL
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration noted the spread of cannabis legalization in a notice about an organizational restructuring.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) tweeted, “Due to decades of policy violence and the failed War on Drugs, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Congress has a moral obligation to reform the broken clemency system it built and end the mass incarceration that plagues our nation.”
/ STATES
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed several medical cannabis reform bills into law.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said, “Colorado is a very independently minded, freedom-oriented state, and they don’t want Republicans or Democrats telling them what to do. They value accurate information, they value facts, and people should be empowered to make their own decisions, whether that’s marijuana, whether it’s wearing a mask—we’re a state that values freedom.”
The Massachusetts attorney general’s office reportedly took action against alleged employee tip theft by a marijuana dispensary.
The North Carolina Senate approved a bill to permanently legalize hemp.
A Delaware senator said she believes her chamber has the votes to override Gov. John Carney’s (D) veto of a marijuana legalization bill, but she’s not so sure about the House.
A Pennsylvania representative tweeted, “Decriminalizing marijuana on a local level still allows for over-enforcement through state law. #HB2050, will decriminalize cannabis in PA and work to repair the damages caused by the aggressive, unequal enforcement of the past.”
Louisiana regulators filed changes to rules on hemp products.
Utah regulators filed rules on medical cannabis administrative hearing procedures.
Mississippi regulators will begin accepting medical cannabis patient applications on Wednesday.
Minnesota regulators will begin accepting applications to add new medical cannabis qualifying conditions or delivery methods on Wednesday.
The California State Fair Cannabis Awards posted photos of the trophies it will award to winners.
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/ LOCAL
The operators of New York City’s safe consumption sites for illegal drugs said they have averted 314 overdoses since operations began late last year.
An Evanston, Illinois alderman said he is concerned that a local reparations program will be underfunded due to lower than expected marijuana revenues.
/ INTERNATIONAL
South Africa’s Department of Justice said it should be up to other parts of the government to oversee the commercialization of cannabis.
Activists said that more than half of Jersey States Assembly candidates support “progressive” cannabis reform.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “short-term exposure to hemp extract and CBD promoted gingival fibroblast wound healing, demonstrating that hemp extract and CBD have potential benefits in the treatment of oral inflammation and ulcers.”
A study of research on treatments for cannabis use disorder “showed no significance between funding source and results or conclusions” and “no significance between the presence of [conflict of interest] with the favorability of results or conclusions.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee tweeted, “Massachusetts Dems passed a measure that reinvests cannabis tax revenues into marginalized communities that have been damaged by the War on Drugs.”
The Albuquerque Journal editorial board criticized New Mexico officials for confusion about marijuana taxes.
The Texas District and County Attorneys Association tweeted a link to an article about the unintended consequences of federal hemp legalization, saying, “And, by extension, #txlege, which used the same language when legalizing #hemp in Texas. The result is a confusing proliferation of delta-8-THC, delta-10-THC, and more, none of which can be resolved by local officials w/o legislative clarity on the issue.”
Our Cannabis is a new nonprofit that seeks to help people who are looking for jobs in the marijuana industry.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from people who bought drops that were labeled as a CBD product but actually contained high THC levels.
Harborside Inc. provided details of a plan to integrate operations with three companies it acquired.
/ CULTURE
The Allman Brothers Band launched a branded marijuana strain.
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