Newsletter
Feds would suggest ‘good practices’ for cannabis growing under advancing bill (Newsletter: Sep. 18, 2018)
Congressman wants to drug test colleagues; Sessions concerned about marijuana-impaired driving; Study: 3/4 hit songs mention cannabis
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Lost in excitement about last week’s victory for a cannabis cultivation licensing bill in Congress, a little-noticed amendment that was attached would require the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies to compile a list of “good manufacturing practices for growing and producing marijuana.”
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions claimed in a speech that many people think it is “legal to drive under the influence of marijuana.”
Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) filed legislation that would require all of his colleagues on Capitol Hill to be randomly tested for marijuana and other drugs.
- “Based upon some of the behavior I’ve seen, I’d be very interested to know what kind of illegal drugs are flowing through the veins of our elected officials in Washington, D.C..”
A new study found that three out of four hit songs in the U.S. now contain references to marijuana.
/ FEDERAL
A federal court sentenced an Oregon medical cannabis dispensary owner to seven months in prison for tax crimes.
The U.S. Senate approved sweeping opioids legislation.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) appeared in a Drug Policy Alliance video about marijuana law reform.
Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) and his Democratic challenger debated Utah’s medical cannabis ballot measure.
Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) visited Las Vegas’s marijuana museum.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “One of the most important and impactful things we can do to stop mass incarceration is legalize marijuana nationwide.”
Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) tweeted about his endorsement from NORML.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he’s optimistic the state will legalize marijuana this year. Separately, assemblymembers filed a resolution urging Congress to pass legislation increasing marijuana businesses’ access to banks. And the state health commissioner said he wants more doctors to participate in the medical cannabis program.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph Torres said he might decide whether to sign a pending marijuana legalization bill on September 23.
Louisiana regulators voted to remove the cap on how many medical cannabis patients individual doctors can treat, and to rescind a rule mandating that patients renew their certifications every 90 days.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Access to a better quality of life for all Pennsylvanians has been a top priority for me. That’s why I worked to: ✅Legalize medical marijuana…”
Nevada Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak discussed marijuana policy on Leafly’s podcast.
The West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health met to discuss banking access issues for medical cannabis businesses.
Florida Democratic agriculture commissioner candidate Nikki Fried is pushing to create a state-chartered bank to serve the medical cannabis industry.
Oklahoma regulators have approved nearly 2,500 medical cannabis patient applications.
Rhode Island regulators are accepting medical cannabis testing lab license applications.
/ LOCAL
Here’s a look at how Oklahoma municipalities are handling medical cannabis regulations.
/ INTERNATIONAL
South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that personal use and cultivation of marijuana is not a crime.
The Canadian government’s point man on marijuana advised people not to “show up at the border looking like Cheech and Chong” if they want to avoid secondary screenings by U.S. officials. Meanwhile, regulators released draft cannabis tax rules and legislative proposals.
Australian government ministers are considering supporting a marijuana legalization bill. Separately, officials are moving to shut down a music festival following two suspected drug overdose deaths, but harm reduction advocates say more pill testing would be a better response.
/ ADVOCACY
The California Police Chiefs Association believes that expanded marijuana delivery services will lead to increased crime.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a memo criticizing Utah’s medical cannabis ballot measure.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that nearly 1 in 11 U.S. students have used electronic cigarettes to consume marijuana.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of Utah voters found that the Mormon’s church’s opposition to the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure makes 41% more likely to vote for it and 43% less likely to vote for it.
Northeastern University’s Leo Beletsky writes in the New York Times that it’s time to overhaul or eliminate the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
/ BUSINESS
The Coca-Cola Company released a statement reacting to reports that it is considering making CBD-infused beverages.
Tilray, Inc. was approved to import marijuana products to the U.S. from Canada for research on cannabis’s effects on essential tremor.
High Times Holding Corp. raised $5 million, far short of the $17.2 million required to be listed on Nasdaq and even further from its $50 million goal.
Leafly is delisting unlicensed Canadian marijuana dispensaries.
The Salt Lake Tribune suspended a columnist who allegedly gave a marijuana edible to a fellow writer at a conference and then berated her for being high during their panel.
The New York Times noted that betting against marijuana stocks has come with large losses and sizable fees.
The Los Angeles Times looks at MedMen’s efforts to rebrand cannabis consumers.
/ CULTURE
Actor John Leguizamo tweeted about a congressional candidate’s support for marijuana legalization.
Roseanne Barr said that her character is killed off in the spin-off series The Conners via an opioid overdose.
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