Newsletter
FDA exempts some cannabis testing devices from regulatory hurdles (Newsletter: January 8, 2020)
Top Mexican senator: legal marijuana a 2020 priority; Study: Legal medical cannabis makes people have more sex; FL officials oppose legalization vote
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Food and Drug Administration is moving to exempt marijuana testing devices from cumbersome premarket notification requirements as long as they are only used for certain purposes.
A top Mexican senator confirmed that passing a bill to legalize marijuana in accordance with a Supreme Court mandate will be a priority in the 2020 legislative session.
A new study concludes that legalizing medical cannabis makes people have more sex, but is also associated with decreased use of contraceptives and increase birth rates.
- “We find that passage of [medical marijuana laws] result in both increased engagement in sexual activity and decreases in contraceptive use conditional on being sexually active. Jointly, both mechanisms suggest that behavioral responses may be due to increased attention to the immediate hedonic effects of sexual contact, increased willingness to engage in sex, as well as delayed discounting and ignoring the future costs associated with sex.”
/ FEDERAL
Food and Drug Administration Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernathy spoke at a conference about the challenges of regulating CBD “in a space that’s expanding so rapidly.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, spoke about how she’s never done drugs but supports people’s right to consume without being criminalized.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said he is concerned about changing attitudes about marijuana.
Texas Democratic congressional candidate John Biggan tweeted, “#LegalizeIt and expunge the records. Then take the revenue and invest it in the communities most hard hit by failed war on drugs.”
Pennsylvania Democratic congressional candidate Salem Snow tweeted, “It’s time for full federal legalization. 🌲🌬 It’s time to pardon possession charges federally. 🌱🌬 Donate $4.20 to a candidate that wants to legalize both recreational & medical cannabis nationally. 🍁🌬”
/ STATES
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued a posthumous pardon to an attorney arrested for possessing marijuana while fighting for tribal land rights in 1968. Separately, regulators held a public hearing on proposed hemp rules.
The Florida House of Representatives and Senate, along with prohibitionists groups, filed briefs with the state Supreme Court arguing that a proposed marijuana legalization measure should not be allowed to appear on the 2020 ballot. A brief were also filed in a separate case challenging the state’s vertical integration requirement for medical cannabis businesses.
Indiana’s Senate minority leader said his party will push for marijuana decriminalization this session.
The head of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission said that the state’s marijuana legalization referendum could lead to big campaign finance spending this year.
Illinois regulators released applications for marijuana infuser, transporter and craft grower licenses.
The Vermont House Committee on Government Operations discussed legislation to legalize marijuana sales, while the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife is set to consider the environmental impact of cannabis regulation on Thursday.
North Carolina law enforcement agencies are calling on lawmakers to pass legislation banning smokable hemp.
Ohio regulators received a petition to make being “Bengals/Browns Fans” a medical cannabis qualifying condition. They also released updated patient and caregiver numbers.
Oklahoma brought in $7.2 million in medical cannabis tax revenue in December.
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/ LOCAL
New York City officials plan to lobby state lawmakers to legalize marijuana this year.
Portland, Maine officials are moving forward with recreational marijuana regulations.
The Chicago, Illinois mayor’s proposal for marijuana social consumption areas is running into City Council opposition.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Russian President Vladimir Putin is proposing criminalizing the spread of pro-drug propaganda.
Morocco’s government said it will discuss marijuana legalization legislation.
Finnish regulators ordered stores to stop selling CBD-infused foods.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD and CBD-containing compounds such as nabiximols were helpful in alleviating symptoms of cannabis-related disorders, schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, and comorbidities of ASD, and ADHD with moderate recommendation” but that “there is weaker evidence for insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and Tourette syndrome.”
A study identified a “new phytocannabinoid [that] could account for the pharmacological properties of some cannabis varieties difficult to explain by the presence of the sole Δ9-THC.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Maryland voters support legalizing marijuana, 57%-38%.
The Democratic Attorneys General Association tweeted about the marijuana and criminal justice reform advocacy of Virginia’s attorney general.
/ BUSINESS
Beer sales dropped 3% in the first full year of Canada’s marijuana legalization law.
Keep Labs pulled out of CES after it was told it couldn’t mentioning cannabis at its expo booth.
O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport installed amnesty boxes where travelers can dispose of marijuana prior to boarding planes.
Leafly announced an expanded marijuana retailer order integration partnership with Cova.
The Associated Press Stylebook tweeted, “Avoid words like alcoholic, addict, user, abuser, junkie, drunk or crackhead unless they are in quotations or names of organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Instead, choose phrasing like ‘he was addicted,’ ‘people with heroin addiction’ or ‘she used drugs.
Michigan retailers sold nearly $1.8 million in recreational marijuana products last week.
The Associated Press looks at how some pet CBD products actually contain little or no CBD.
/ CULTURE
Method Man and Redman are among the featured performers announced for April’s National Cannabis Festival.
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