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GOP blocks cannabis banking vote (Newsletter: Nov. 20, 2017)
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Veterans research measure also blocked; Oppo raises “crack weed” fears; NY MMj bill to Cuomo
TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A Republican-controlled congressional committee blocked a vote on a measure to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/republicans-block-marijuana-banking-measure/
Michigan activists are set to turn in more than 360,000 signatures in support of a 2018 marijuana legalization ballot measure on Monday.
http://wwmt.com/news/local/advocates-to-deliver-signatures-for-recreational-marijuana-petition-to-lansing-today
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, who is running for governor, published bizarre Facebook post about his past sexual relationships and mentioning his support for marijuana legalization. He has since apologized.
https://www.facebook.com/WilliamMONeill/posts/10105715840671394
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http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/361147-ohio-governor-candidate-apologizes-for-insensitive-remarks-about-sexual
FEDERAL
Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed an amendment to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs infrastructure bill that would have increased veterans participation in medical cannabis research.
https://rules.house.gov/bill/115/hr-4243
Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) discussed the prospects for federal marijuana law reform.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/pot-news/dont-expect-feds-to-move-on-marijuana-soon-panelists-say/
Titus tweeted that Congress should “puff, puff, pass those bills to protect marijuana businesses and level the playing field for them.”
https://twitter.com/repdinatitus/status/931958939134152705
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) included blurbs about marijuana and drug policy reform in a mailer to constituents titled, “Outrage Isn’t Enough.”
https://blumenauer.house.gov/outrage-isnt-enough
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) encouraged local officials in his Silicon Valley district to rescind bans on marijuana businesses.
https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/status/931651666859970560
The U.S. House bill to increase military veterans’ access to medical cannabis got one new cosponsor, bringing the total to 18.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1820/cosponsors?pageSort=lastToFirst
The U.S. House industrial hemp bill got two new cosponsors, bringing the total to 36.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3530/cosponsors?pageSort=lastToFirst
STATES
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has on his desk legislation to make public the names of medical professionals who are certified to recommend medical cannabis, unless they opt out.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S05627&term=2017&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y
Florida’s top medical cannabis regulator told lawmakers that lawsuits are delaying the program’s implementation.
http://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Medical-marijuana-czar-Lawsuits-continue-to-delay-implementation-457881353.html
The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee advanced two bills to close loopholes in current law on marijuana edibles.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wyoming/articles/2017-11-17/wyoming-lawmakers-advance-marijuana-bills
A New Hampshire representative authored an op-ed calling for marijuana legalization.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20171119/its-time-to-end-failed-war-on-weed
Utah activists are skeptical of limited medical cannabis bills being filed in the legislature.
http://kuer.org/post/host-marijuana-bills-2018-advocates-are-skeptical
Michigan regulators released guidance on transitioning from medical cannabis caregivers and patients to facility license holders and employees, as well as on local and state license fees.
http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-47796-452523–,00.html
Guam lawmakers will hold hearings on medical cannabis implementation legislation next month.
http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/11/20/hearings-scheduled-medical-marijuana-rules/879860001/
LOCAL
San Diego, California’s district attorney appears to be taking a new, friendlier approach to marijuana enforcement.
https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/politics/district-attorney-changing-focus-marijuana-enforcement/
San Jose, California authorities are cracking down on “churches” that are selling marijuana.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/17/san-jose-city-moves-to-shut-down-two-churches-selling-pot/
Oakland, California regulators are reviewing 255 applications for marijuana business licenses.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-reviewing-255-permit-applications-to-12369894.php
INTERNATIONAL
The UK House of Commons is scheduled to debate the “human and financial costs of drug addiction” on Wednesday.
https://calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/Commons/All/2017/11/22/Daily
A Swedish court ruled that growing marijuana is not legal.
https://www.thelocal.se/20171120/growing-cannabis-to-self-medicate-is-not-allowed-rules-swedish-court
ADVOCACY
Prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana’s new New Jersey shell organization touts fears of “crack weed” on its website.
https://twitter.com/tomangell/status/931569766296375296
Indiana NORML took out a billboard highlighting research showing legal medical cannabis is associated with reduced opioid deaths.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/17/why-some-people-think-medical-marijuana-isthe-key-ending-opioid-epidemic-marijuana-advocates-think-s/873816001/
SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found a “clinically and statistically significant evidence of an association between [medical cannabis program] enrollment and opioid prescription cessation and reductions and improved quality of life.”
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0187795
A survey found that healthcare providers “are overwhelmingly in support of [medical marijuana] use in patients with chronic illness, particularly in cancer patients.”
http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2017.35.31_suppl.235
A study concluded that “cannabis use lowered the odds of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure.”
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/136/Suppl_1/A14752
Maryland regulators announced that two medical cannabis companies will conduct a research-and-development study of vaporization devices.
https://www.apnews.com/c7c09addaeb746c1a1fb27559637f1e3
OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed encouraging more research on marijuana’s potential to reduce opioid issues.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-marijuana-alleviate-the-opioid-crisis-1511104543
CULTURE
Cut posted a video of a woman, her mother and her grandmother smoking marijuana together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bilzhFeDKso
