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GOP seeks to delay cannabis banking vote in Congress (Newsletter: March 25, 2019)
Connecticut legalization hearings; Booker backs NJ legal marijuana bill; Advocates press industry to uphold social responsibilities
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Top Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee are calling on Democrats to delay a scheduled Tuesday vote on marijuana banking legislation.
Two Connecticut legislative committees held separate simultaneous hearings on marijuana legalization bills. A vote in the General Law Committee is scheduled for Monday.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) endorsed the marijuana legalization bill that lawmakers in his home state of New Jersey will vote on Monday, though it looks like a majority of state senators are now opposed to the legislation.
The Drug Policy Alliance released a memo pressing the marijuana industry to do more to uphold its social responsibilities and the principles of the legalization movement—the work of which allows cannabis businesses to exist in the first place.
/ FEDERAL
Attorney General William Barr toured Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters on Friday just before receiving Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
The U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York is urging state lawmakers not to legalize marijuana.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles office tweeted, “Outstanding work! Excellent investigation culminating in the arrest of a man suspected of putting poison – #marijuana – on our streets. #cannabis is illegal and highly addictive. Use #pot and go to #jail! Violent guns+#marijuana go hand in hand.”
Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted about more of his concerns with marijuana legalization.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “We need to invest in jobs and education for our kids, not more jails and incarceration. We need to end the destructive “war on drugs,” eliminate private prisons and cash bail and bring about major police department reform.” He also spoke about ending the drug war during a campaign rally in San Francisco.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “We can’t talk about legalizing marijuana unless we also talk about expunging the records of the millions of people who are unable to get a job—or any of the thousands of other collateral consequences—that come with having a marijuana conviction.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “We need to dismantle institutional racism. We need solutions both targeted and broad—like higher standards for maternity care, a national commitment to full employment, postal banking, ending cash bail and legalizing marijuana.” She also spoke about cannabis legalization at a campaign rally.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), a presidential candidate, spoke about the need for the federal government to allow marijuana businesses to access banks and to actively regulate cannabis. (About 45 minutes into the video.)
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a presidential candidate, said he wants to visit Nevada marijuana stores to see what legalization looks like in practice.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted, “W/ the support of almost a third of my colleagues in the House, I look forward to advancing #SAFEBanking this week. With 97.7% of Americans living in a state where some form of cannabis is permitted, Congress can no longer just stick its head in the sand.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Cannabis prohibition has always unfairly targeted communities of color. It’s time to pass the #MarijuanaJusticeAct and invest in communities devastated by the failed #WarOnDrugs.”
The House marijuana banking bill got five new cosponsors, for a total of 143.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) tweeted, “Our adult-use marijuana legalization bill, with strong provisions for expungement and the ability to vacate sentences for those currently incarcerated, will promote social and racial justice and reduce disparities in our criminal justice system.” Assembly and Senate floor votes on legalization legislation are expected on Monday, but it is not clear that supporters have the votes to pass the bill.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) tweeted, “It’s time for #CT to legalize marijuana for recreational use. We should expunge criminal charges for simple possession. This will lead to a safer market, and some of the proceeds can be used to correct historical wrongs and support addiction services.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that the best chance of passing marijuana legalization would be to do it through the budget.
The North Dakota Senate approved legislation to expand the state’s medical cannabis program.
The Arizona House of Representatives narrowly defeated a bill to clarify the legality of medical cannabis edibles.
The Guam Senate voted to approve additional fees on medical cannabis.
The Utah Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case challenging legislation lawmakers passed to replace the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis initiative on Monday.
The Alabama House Democratic caucus included medical cannabis in its legislative agenda.
Michigan regulators adopted a resolution on action against unlicensed medical cannabis businesses. They also sent a bulletin on intellectual property issues for marijuana products and released a fire plan checklist.
Oregon regulators upheld a judge’s denial of a marijuana business license application over false statements.
Louisiana regulators gave approval for Louisiana State University to move its medical cannabis growing operation into a larger facility.
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/ LOCAL
Here’s a look at the stalemate between Baltimore, Maryland prosecutors, who no longer charge marijuana possession, and the city’s police force, which continues to make arrests.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced plans to develop a medical cannabis industry.
/ ADVOCACY
The New York Medical Society, New Jersey Medical Society, Connecticut Medical Society and Delaware Medical Society issued a joint statement opposing marijuana legalization.
The Texas Medical Association is calling for marijuana to be federally rescheduled and to remove restrictions in state law on who can access CBD medical cannabis.
The president of the New Jersey NAACP published an op-ed urging lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “How long will Hoosiers have to wait to join the — 33 other states– that have legalized medical marijuana in some form?”
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist tweeted, “There are always two ways presented to solve a ‘problem.; One increases liberty. One increases state power. We first chose prohibition with liquor. It was expensive in lives. We chose prohibition with cannabis. Now we are giving people more options and reducing state power.”
The National Cannabis Roundtable made a number of lobbyist hires.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study looking at car accidents in the UK on 4/20 found that “on the average cannabis celebration day in Britain, there were an additional 23 police-reported collisions compared to control days, corresponding to a 17.9% increase in the relative risk of collision.”
A study concluded that college “students in medical states were more likely to use marijuana compared to non‐legal states.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Boston Globe editorial board is urging Massachusetts lawmakers to do more to ensure an equitable marijuana industry.
/ BUSINESS
A Marijuana Business Daily analysis found that 93% of Canadian marijuana company board seats are held by men.
The Wall Street Journal looks at hiring and workplace issues related to marijuana.
/ CULTURE
Whoopi Goldberg authored an op-ed calling on New Jersey lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
Professional golfer Robert Garrigus was suspended over a positive marijuana test.
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