Newsletter
Federal cannabis prosecutions drop sharply (Newsletter: June 6, 2018)
US Senate passes hemp measure; MI GOP fails to take legalization off ballot; FL judge lifts smoking ban injunction
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the economic potential and historical value of industrial hemp.
New data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission shows that federal marijuana prosecutions are dropping sharply in the era of state legalization.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said his marijuana descheduling bill would be introduced “shortly.”
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted, “It’s time to get with the times and make marijuana legal at the federal level. The priority of our law enforcement needs to be serious and violent crimes, not somebody smoking a joint on the street.”
/ STATES
Michigan Republican lawmakers failed to get enough legislative support to amend and enact marijuana legalization by Tuesday’s deadline, meaning that the measure will appear on the November ballot.
A Florida judge lifted a stay on allowing patients to smoke medical cannabis.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) vetoed bills to add autism spectrum disorders as medical cannabis qualifying conditions and to allow broader investment in marijuana businesses. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis, currently a congressman, distanced himself from the Hickenlooper moves, as well as an earlier veto of a bill to allow tasting rooms at marijuana dispensaries.
Delaware lawmakers may vote on marijuana legalization legislation before the end of the session.
Ohio regulators announced that the state will not meet a September 8 deadline for making medical cannabis available to patients. Separately, the architects of a failed 2015 Ohio marijuana legalization ballot measure say they’re pursuing a 2019 or 2020 constitutional amendment on the topic.
Massachusetts regulators may begin issuing recreational marijuana business licenses next week.
Puerto Rico regulators are moving to limit the availability of medical cannabis in flower form.
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner is celebrating Hemp History Week.
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous said that comedian Dave Chappelle, a longtime friend, was the first person to talk to him about marijuana legalization.
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate tweeted about his support for medical cannabis.
Oregon regulators will consider new rules on monitoring marijuana harvests next week.
California poison control centers are not seeing an increase in calls about pets ingesting marijuana since legalization went into effect.
/ LOCAL
The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania City Council voted unanimously to approve a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
The Little Rock, Arkansas Board of Directors rejected a proposal to make marijuana enforcement the lowest police priority.
A San Francisco, California supervisor wants to place a measure adding a new marijuana tax on the November ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian Senate approved amendments to require disclosure of foreign marijuana business investors and to specify that police don’t have to keep seized cannabis plants alive.
Jamaica’s minister of industry, commerce, agriculture and fisheries said the country should pursue the economic potential of marijuana and hemp.
/ ADVOCACY
Delegates at this month’s New Hampshire Democratic Party convention will vote on a platform plank endorsing marijuana legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the use of cocaine and/or marijuana was associated with significantly higher cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Maryland voters support legalizing marijuana, 52%-41%.
/ BUSINESS
An analysis by Deloitte concluded that Canadians will spend as much as $7.17 billion on marijuana products in 2019.
A report from Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics projects that consumer spending on recreational marijuana will triple to $32 billion by 2022, but that the share of the market for medical cannabis will plummet.
/ CULTURE
Former NBA player Dennis Rodman plans to be in Singapore during the planned meeting between President Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un—to promote marijuana crypotocurrency PotCoin.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
