Newsletter
Federal cannabis farm head confused about potency in marketplace (Newsletter: September 4, 2019)
Mexican marijuana legalization bill filed; Psychedelic activists clash over ballot language; Former New Zealand PM backs cannabis referendum
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The head of the U.S.’s only legal marijuana farm, at the University of Mississippi, says he thinks 8 percent THC cannabis is “extremely” potent—which raises questions about approved studies’ applicability on the marijuana that consumers are actually using in the marketplace.
- “Why people want to smoke or use 20 percent or 15 or 18 or any of those high amounts is just beyond me. It’s not for a good reason.”
The chairman of the Mexican Senate Justice Committee filed a new marijuana legalization bill.
Oregon psychedelics activists are clashing over revisions to the language of a proposed medical psilocybin mushroom ballot initiative. Some changes to provisions lowering penalties for non-medical use were made, the campaign behind the measure says, because the Drug Policy Alliance is exploring broader state proposals to decriminalize all drugs.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark’s foundation published a report urging voters to approve a marijuana legalization referendum next year.
/ FEDERAL
Customs and Border Protection reversed a lifetime ban on visiting the U.S. it had previously imposed on a Canadian woman caught with CBD oil at the border.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams posted a Twitter thread reiterating his concerns about marijuana.
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “Every bank or financial institution, including those banking marijuana dollars, must comply with federal reporting requirements and file required Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) related to suspected illegal activity. Those reports are critical obligation to aid enforcement.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service tweeted about discussing hemp at a Kansas conference.
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) tweeted about discussing “the future of the hemp and CBD markets in the US” during a tour of Highland Laboratories.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “We’ve come a long way in the fight for #MarijuanaJustice, but there’s still more to be done. It’s past time to end our archaic federal prohibition on marijuana and do right by the communities of color devastated by the War on Drugs.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Chicago has just joined Los Angeles and San Francisco in partnering with @codeforamerica to automatically expunge thousands of previous marijuana convictions. A great example of how technology can be linked to bold criminal justice reform.”
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) tweeted, “I’m thankful @Surgeon_General is raising awareness about the harmful effects of cannabis on pregnant women and adolescents (up to age 25). There’s a false perception that marijuana isn’t dangerous, & we must educate the public about health hazards caused by recreational marijuana.”
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) wrote on Facebook, “Last week, the nation’s largest hemp processing facility opened up in Colorado City in Pueblo County! It will bring 250 new jobs and help cement Colorado’s leading role in the growing hemp economy.”
The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) asked the state Supreme Court to take up a case challenging medical cannabis regulations.
Oregon health officials said that a man who died in July apparently following vaping-related complications “had recently used an e-cigarette or vaping device containing cannabis purchased from a cannabis dispensary” but that they “don’t yet know the exact cause of these illnesses — whether they’re caused by contaminants, ingredients in the liquid or something else, such as the device itself.” Meanwhile, Minnesota officials said people in that state who have experienced severe lung injuries “used an illegal THC product.”
Pennsylvania’s agriculture department tweeted that hemp is “the crop of a million uses.”
Ohio’s House speaker removed the Ohio Medical Marijuana Committee’s patient representative.
The New Hampshire Legislative Budget Assistant issued a critical audit of the state’s medical cannabis program.
West Virginia’s top medical cannabis regulator said he’s confident the program will roll out successfully once the state treasurer finalizes a banking bid.
Missouri regulators announced they received 2,163 medical cannabis business license applications.
A South Dakota representative is taking issue with the anti-hemp claims of Gov. Kristi Noem (R).
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/ LOCAL
The Sarasota, Florida City Commission unanimously voted to approve a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
Los Angeles, California officials opened a new round of marijuana social equity licensing.
The Austin, Texas City Council’s Judicial Committee discussed marijuana enforcement policy in light of the state’s new hemp law.
Oakland, California officials say that a marijuana grow in a homeless encampment is illegal, but they haven’t taken action to shut it down.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thai officials removed cannabis and hemp extracts from the nation’s narcotics list.
A Canadian court invalidated Quebec’s ban on marijuana home cultivation.
Police in Norway are reportedly blocking a youth political party from publicizing its support for marijuana legalization in school debates.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabinoids may decrease PTSD symptomology, in particular sleep disturbances and nightmares.”
A study of geriatric pain and palliative patients found that “cannabis-based drugs (here dronabinol) are an effective, low-risk treatment option that should be considered early.”
A master’s thesis looking at newspaper coverage of drug issues between 1875 and 1937 concluded that “collaboration between the New York Times and powerful actors in the United States resulted rather in a war on race instead of a War on Drugs.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Arizona likely voters support legalizing marijuana, 50%-40%.
/ BUSINESS
Weedmaps is so far declining to provide details on when it plans to enact a new policy of only listing licensed businesses.
Nevada marijuana businesses have paid more than $109 million in taxes and fees so far this year.
Arkansas dispensaries have sold more than 1,000 pounds of medical cannabis since May.
The Wall Street Journal looks at investor interest in psychedelics.
/ CULTURE
Football player Tom Brady said he thinks the NFL should explore allowing players to use CBD.
Singer Justin Bieber wrote about his past drug use in an Instagram post.
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