Newsletter
GOP lawmakers call out cannabis’s environmental impact (Newsletter: September 13, 2022)
Marijuana likely to remain on sports banned list; OK ballot challenges; MO poll: Legalization initiative losing; NJ cannabis employment protections
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) sent a letter pressing federal officials at the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies for information about the environmental impacts of marijuana cultivation—though they acknowledge the role that legalization can play in setting energy and emissions regulations.
The World Anti-Doping Agency appears set to keep marijuana on its list of banned substances for athletes even after a review that was initiated amid outrage about U.S. runner Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympics suspension for cannabis. Meanwhile, there is some confusion about the U.S.’s position on the issue, with international officials suggesting the country did not push to remove cannabis from this list, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency saying it has advocated for a change.
The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals rejected marijuana opponents’ request to remove a legalization initiative from the November ballot, but prohibitionists say they’ll ask the state Supreme Court to intervene by Tuesday’s deadline.
A new poll found that Missouri likely voters oppose the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot—but the campaign is pushing back, saying the same pollster undercounted support for the medical cannabis measure voters overwhelmingly approved in 2018.
An Oklahoma marijuana legalization campaign is facing two additional legal challenges beyond its main dispute with the state over whether their initiative can appear on this November’s ballot—one from a former lawmaker and another from a controversial activist.
New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission issued guidance clarifying that most employers cannot fire workers based solely on a positive drug test for marijuana.
/ FEDERAL
The Congressional Research Service noted a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejecting a challenge to marijuana’s Schedule I status.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “As states across the country legalize marijuana, it’s only right that profits be reinvested in the communities most devastated by the War on Drugs.”
Rep. Marie Newman (D-IL) tweeted about her years-long support for marijuana legalization.
Pennsylvania Republican congressional candidate David Galluch spoke about his support for federally legalizing marijuana, but Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D) chose not to responde.
California Democratic congressional candidate Derek Marshall tweeted, “Legalizing marijuana and expunging past convictions are some ways we can help put an end to the unjust prison industrial complex.”
Florida Democratic congressional candidate Cindy Banyai tweeted, “I support full cannabis decriminalization and expungement of records. Read more on my position on cannabis here..
/ STATES
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) is continuing to promote his Marijuana Pardon Project.
Washington State’s treasurer spoke about the importance of enacting marijuana banking legislation.
A Florida marijuana legalization initiative campaign got another $5 million donation from Trulieve.
The Arkansas Supreme Court took a procedural step to prepare for issuing a final ruling on whether votes on the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot can be counted.
New York lawmakers sent a letter urging New York City’s mayor to crack down on illegal marijuana sellers.
An Alabama representative tweeted, “#MedicalCannabis provides #CannaBiz opportunities for our #SmallBiz entrepreneurs in Alabama! Medical marijuana in Alabama.”
Montana regulators are withdrawing proposed rules on additional cannabis cultivation canopy license tiers and marijuana dispensary customer loyalty programs.
Rhode Island regulators plan to issue guidance for recreational marijuana sales next month.
A North Dakota regulator testified to lawmakers that passage of the recreational marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot could lead to an 80 percent reduction in the number of registered patients in the medical cannabis program.
Vermont regulators marijuana regulators published clarification about their relationship with the Department of Liquor & Lottery.
The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development posted a webinar for prospective applicants to the marijuana revenue-funded Community Reinvestment Grants program.
Michigan marijuana regulators will hold a quarterly public meeting on Wednesday.
The Oregon Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission’s Marijuana Legislative & Technical Changes Rules Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday.
Massachusetts regulators are hosting an event about cannabis equity on Wednesday.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
The German Bundestag Research and Documentation Services determined that the government’s plan to legalize marijuana would violate European Union treaties.
A Philippine senator spoke before the Senate about a medical cannabis bill he filed.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “self-reported cannabis use is not associated with greater opioid use in elective hand surgery patients.”
A study found “no significant effect of [medical marijuana laws] on 2019 [cannabis use disorders Disability Adjusted Life Years]” in adolescents and young adults,” suggesting that “MML may have a negligible effect (if any) on cannabis use disorders in this population group.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “Democrats like @GovAndyBeshear and @CherlynnForKY have been clear: medical cannabis would make life better for seniors, veterans and many other Kentuckians living with chronic health conditions. The Republican supermajority’s refusal to legalize it is a disgrace.”
The Star Tribune editorial board is calling on Congress to pass banking- and veterans-focused cannabis bills.
The Seattle Times editorial board is cheering the City Council’s approval of marijuana equity legislation.
The Boston Globe editorial board said it’s “past time to drop the myth that cannabis shops pose any kind of public safety threat to communities.”
The Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network published a voter guide about the state’s primary elections.
/ BUSINESS
The United Food and Commercial Workers and International Brotherhood of Teamsters are competing to organize cannabis industry workers.
Awakn Life Sciences Corp. signed an agreement to use Catalent’s orally disintegrating tablet technology to deliver MDMA to patients in clinical trials.
Mint Cannabis says it will soon be the first marijuana dispensary in Arizona to offer 24-hour service, 365 days per year.
/ CULTURE
Singer Nick Cave discussed his support for legalizing heroin and other drugs so that people “can go somewhere and take it safely and come back in the evening and take it again safely,” adding that “the illegality is why there are so many people dying from using this drug.”
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