Newsletter
Federal commission wants cannabis & psychedelics research expanded (Newsletter: June 25, 2020)
House panel examines AG’s marijuana investigations; ID medical cannabis measure gets another shot; DARPA funds psychedelic science
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There are now 1,618 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2020 sessions.
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A little-noticed report from the federal Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission appointed by President Trump and congressional leaders recommends expanding research into the potential of marijuana and psychedelics to treat military veterans with PTSD and other conditions.
- “The U.S. federal government’s policies have blocked externally valid, randomized clinical trials on the effects of cannabis. Scientists seeking to conduct research on cannabis must submit to an arduous application process that may last years. The research requires approval from multiple government agencies, including some with stated opposition to any therapeutic uses of cannabis.”
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony from a whistleblower who says Attorney General William Barr improperly directed investigations of cannabis company mergers due to his personal animosity towards the marijuana industry. The career official also revealed that a second whistleblower’s concerns prompted an internal inquiry that determined no rules were broken.
- “That’s very concerning to me because it seems so self-evident that if your sole motivation is animosity that that’s impermissible.”
An Idaho medical marijuana cannabis initiative might have another shot at the November ballot after a federal judge ruled the state must make signature gathering concessions to a separate campaign. If Idahoans get a chance to vote on the measure it could have far-reaching federal implications since the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, who is holding up marijuana financial services legislation, represents the state.
The Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is investing $26.9 million to create new drugs modeled after psychedelics such as psilocybin that can rapidly treat depression and anxiety but without “major side effects” like hallucination.
/ FEDERAL
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is urging Congress to consider withdrawing funding from the World Anti-Doping Agency if it doesn’t enact reforms.
No members of the House of Representatives filed amendments to add marijuana language to a police reform bill coming to the floor on Thursday.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and six other senators sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing on allegations that Attorney General William Barr improperly ordered investigations into cannabis company mergers and other matters.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) ran Facebook ads touting her belief that “marijuana should be legalized, and that drug consumption should be decriminalized.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted, “AG Barr has politicized DOJ by firing the prosecutors who investigated Trump & his allies. He’s interfered with state-legal cannabis industries under the guise of anti-trust investigations, once again putting his interests above those of the American people. It’s outrageous!”
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) tweeted that the Cannabis Compliance Board “will help ensure this critical part of our State’s economy is positioned to become the gold standard for the nation.”
The Oklahoma Supreme Court cleared a proposed marijuana legalization ballot measure for signature gathering. Meanwhile, a judge is being asked in a separate case to block residency and location regulations that could force some existing medical cannabis businesses to close.
North Dakota marijuana activists formally shifted their focus for a proposed legalization ballot measure to 2022 after a court ruled against electronic signature gathering.
Petitioners collected signatures for a proposed Arizona marijuana legalization ballot measure outside a rally President Trump held in Phoenix.
An Arkansas Legislative Council committee discussed but failed to reach a consensus on whether to add more medical cannabis cultivation permits.
Michigan marijuana regulators will meet on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Kansas City, Missouri City Council’s Finance and Public Safety Committee voted in favor of removing marijuana offenses from city code, with the full body expected to consider the issue next month.
The Los Angeles, California City Council gave initial approval to a proposal to overhaul the city’s marijuana social equity program.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israel’s Knesset gave preliminary approval to two marijuana legalization bills.
Swiss regulators are proposing to expand access to medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “there is an overwhelming preference towards plant-derived cannabidiol in epilepsy patients, driven by the idea of organic substances being safer and better tolerated than synthetic.”
A study examined how “active police enforcement of civic norms against marijuana smoking in public settings has influenced the locations where marijuana is smoked.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug User Liberation Front handed out free tested illegal drugs in British Columbia, Canada to highlight the dangers of contaminated supplies on the unregulated market.
The National Cannabis Industry Association is offering complimentary membership to all marijuana social equity applicants and licensees.
The Drug Policy Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union, NORML and other organizations sent a letter supporting congressional pressure on the Trump administration to stop using the Drug Enforcement Administration to surveil protestors.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Reports, Consumer Federation of America and Public Health Institute are urging Congress not to rush the Food and Drug Administration into allowing CBD as a dietary supplement.
/ BUSINESS
GW Pharmaceuticals plc announced that UK regulators reclassified its CBD drug EPIDYOLEX.
Euphoria Wellness said in a court filing that a lawsuit alleging it sent unsolicited text messages is a “cut-and-paste” effort.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
