Newsletter
GOP rep cites George Floyd cannabis use to undermine protests (Newsletter: June 10, 2020)
DC psychedelics petition sent to all voters; MS lawmakers to outline medical marijuana measure; MA Senate candidates debate legalization records
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) suggested that the police killing of George Floyd is not worth protesting because he was a “marijuana user” and consumed other drugs.
The campaign to decriminalize psychedelics in Washington, D.C. is mailing ballot petitions to every registered voter household in the city—about 220,000 mailers. Also, activists collected 5,000 new signatures at protests against police violence over the past week.
The Mississippi Senate Rules Committee approved a resolution that will allow lawmakers to file legislation spelling out the details of a medical cannabis measure they placed on the November ballot to compete with a more comprehensive proposal qualified by activists.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) clashed on marijuana during a Democratic primary debate, with each formerly anti-legalization lawmaker trying to make the case that he is the cannabis candidate in 2020.
In a new blog post, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow acknowledges harmful racial disparities in drug law enforcement. Now, NORML is pushing her to go further and admit that criminalization is more dangerous than marijuana itself.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a blog post on the opportunities and challenges for hemp.
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), James Lankford (R-OK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) filed a bill to end the policy that denies coronavirus relief funds to small business owners with criminal records.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke about racial disparities in marijuana enforcement.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “While some have benefited from recent reforms to state and local cannabis laws, people of color, veterans and other underrepresented communities have been locked out of this progress. #MarijuanaJustice”
The Senate bill to deschedule marijuana and fund expungements and women-and minority-owned businesses got one new cosponsor for a total of nine.
The House resolution citing the war on drugs as a cause of police brutality got 13 new cosponsors for a total of 173.
New York Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter supports legalizing marijuana and expunging records.
/ STATES
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) created a task force to examine “pre-arrest diversion and other alternatives to arrest,” as well as other potential criminal justice reforms.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Senate Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill on Friday.
Washington, D.C. arrest data reveals ongoing racial disparities in marijuana enforcement.
California regulators filed a brief opposing a lawsuit from municipalities seeking to ban marijuana delivery services in their jurisdictions.
Massachusetts regulators are developing a catalog of marijuana products available at dispensaries.
Pennsylvania regulators are being accused of slowing marijuana businesses’ efforts to shore up security measures in response to looting.
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/ LOCAL
LaGrange, Georgia’s mayor wants to pass a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
The Lewis County, New York sheriff, who has spoken out against legalizing marijuana, plans to run for governor.
A leading Anchorage, Alaska mayoral candidate spoke about the racial injustices of the war on drugs.
Denver, Colorado police sent a notice about increased burglaries against marijuana businesses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israel’s governing parties are preparing to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana and make it easier for patients to get medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study showed “a good safety profile of medical cannabis in children and young patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.”
A study concluded that “PTSD symptoms were reduced 1 to 2 months after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and symptom improvement continued at least 12 months post-treatment.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Tax Foundation published an analysis of and recommendations for marijuana taxes.
The Drug Policy Alliance said a pending police reform bill in Congress doesn’t go far enough in reining in the war on drugs.
/ BUSINESS
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. and six other companies are sponsoring a study on CBD’s effects on the liver.
Dr. Bronner’s, announced that it now sources the entire supply of organic hemp seed oil used in its soap and other body care products from U.S. farmers.
Hightimes Holding Corp. is acquiring the California marijuana dispensaries 530 Collective and Synergy.
Acreage Holdings relinquished its Iowa medical cannabis manufacturing license.
Organigram Holdings Inc. and Canndoc Ltd. entered into a multi-year supply agreement.
Akerna Corp. closed a $17 million debt financing deal with institutional investors.
A Cresco Labs co-founder resigned from the company’s board of directors.
/ CULTURE
Former basketball player Cliff Robinson is asking for an apology from the city of Portland, Oregon for a 1997 incident during which he was cited for marijuana possession after heavily armed police surrounded his vehicle, which he says stemmed from racial profiling.
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