Newsletter
Georgia court overturns cannabis penalties (Newsletter: July 31, 2018)
Study: Legalization didn’t increase teen use in CO; Americans support medical marijuana, another poll finds; Fungus produces psilocybin in insects
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The nation of Georgia’s Constitutional Court invalidated criminal and administrative penalties against cannabis possession, ruling that “consumption of marijuana is an action protected by the right to free personality.”
A study “did not find a significant change in the prevalence of adolescent marijuana use from shortly before to after the implementation of a recreational marijuana law in Colorado.” There was also “a significant decline in frequent use and use on school property.”
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts spoke about his views on marijuana enforcement and whether he would prosecute banks for taking cannabis proceeds.
Texas Democratic congressional candidate Adrienne Bell tweeted, “The War on Drugs has systematically destroyed communities of color. I support ending the federal prohibition on marijuana.”
/ STATES
California regulators reported that one out of five marijuana samples sent for laboratory testing are shown to have inaccurate labeling or contamination from pesticides, bacteria or chemicals.
New Hampshire Democratic gubernatorial candidates agreed on marijuana legalization during a debate.
Pennsylvania regulators announced that medical cannabis flower sales will begin at 16 locations on Wednesday, which will expand to 28 next week.
Ohio regulators issued the state’s first large-scale medical cannabis cultivation certificate of operation.
Here’s a look at where Kansas Republican gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana.
Mississippi activists are working to qualify a medical cannabis constitutional measure for the state’s 2020 ballot.
A Virginia senator plans to file a new marijuana decriminalization bill.
A New York assemblyman is taking issue with use of the phrase “recreational marijuana.”
/ LOCAL
Baltimore, Maryland’s health commissioner tweeted, “We owe an apology to generations of black and brown communities for our failed ‘War on Drugs.'”
The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on Tuesday to place a marijuana tax question on the November ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian government approved a roadside saliva test for THC. Meanwhile, Montreal’s health department endorsed a report calling for decriminalization of all drugs that was released by Toronto officials, but the federal government says it has no plans to do so.
New Zealand’s health minister favors “more liberal drug laws.”
/ ADVOCACY
The Oklahoma Bar Association warned its members about working with the medical cannabis industry.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
Researchers identified a fungus that attacks cicadas and produces psilocybin.
A study found that “single-dose inhalation of vaporized cannabis had no clinically meaningful positive or negative effect on airway function, exertional breathlessness and exercise endurance in adults with advanced COPD.”
A study’s results “argue against a relevant harmful impact of chronic cannabis inhalation on the liver function of relatively healthy humans.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of U.S. adults found that 85% support medical cannabis, 57% back legalizing marijuana and 53% think legalization would result in reduced drug overdoses.
National security lawyer Mark Zaid suggested that a president could unilaterally decide to allow people who use marijuana to receive federal security clearances.
/ BUSINESS
A Marijuana Business Daily analysis finds that cannabis companies worldwide are on pace to raise $8 billion by the end of the year.
Roc Nation co-founder and CEO Jay Brown joined the MedMen’s board of directors.
Investors expect Shopify to see a boost from its involvement in the marijuana industry, but not right away.
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Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.
