Newsletter
GOP senators say cannabis banking bill has a shot (Newsletter: May 29, 2019)
Oakland lawmakers vote to decrim psychedelics; USDA issues hemp legalization update; Cuomo ranks legal marijuana as a top-ten priority
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- Therapeutic Harvest Company of the Fox Valley, Wisconsin: “I signed up to pledge in support of our collective cause and to harness your research to stay out in front of the changes in my state. The latter is obviously very important because my business will officially launch in harmony with the signing of legalization bills into law.”
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A pair of Republican senators told Marijuana Moment that they believe cannabis banking legislation has a shot of getting a hearing in that chamber after House passage.
- “He didn’t say ‘hell no,’” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said of a key Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), whom he pressed on the bill. “I thought he was quite open-minded to it.”
The Oakland, California City Council’s Public Safety Committee approved a measure supporting the decriminalization of plant- and fungi-based psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, ibogaine, mescaline and ayahuasca.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued two memos about hemp legalization implementation, reasoning that descheduling of the crop and its derivatives such as CBD and THC is self-executing without further action and that states can’t block legal hemp shipments through their borders, among other findings.
- “Congress has removed hemp from Schedule I and removed it entirely from the CSA. In other words, hemp is no longer a controlled substance. Also, by amending Schedule I to exclude THC in hemp, Congress has likewise removed THC in hemp from the CSA.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that legalizing marijuana remains a top-ten priority for 2019 but he also suggested that passing the issue off to voters via a referendum is possible. And he spoke about how stalled efforts in New Jersey have impacted the push to legalize cannabis in New York.
Even as Square is moving to allow CBD companies onto its credit card processing platform, eBay says it will continue to ban people from selling products containing the cannabis-derived compound.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts said that legalizing marijuana creates public safety risks.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a presidential candidate, released a plan to improve mental health care for veterans, and it includes adopting “a more holistic approach to treatment, including alternative therapies like mindfulness, exercise, and cannabis.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “I was 13 when the 1994 Crime Bill was passed. Millions others affected by it weren’t even born. How about we stop living in the past and do something NOW about its effects? ✅ Legalize marijuana ✅ End private prisons ✅ Send fewer people to prison ✅ Restore rights?”
Former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) tweeted, “I’m proud to announce I’ve joined http://BudTrader.com as a shareholder and advisory board member, so I may continue the fight for cannabis legalization on a national level.”
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill allowing each parent of a child—instead of just one parent—to serve as medical cannabis primary caregivers.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) defended her veto of a bill to expand the state’s limited CBD medical cannabis law. The Senate president said her move “motivates me to push even harder next session” and that it “will be one of my top priorities for 2020.” Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are calling for a special session to override the veto.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said it is “too early” to begin adding new medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that medical cannabis extracts are legal. House Democrats celebrated the ruling, tweeting, “Now maybe county attorneys and anti-medical-marijuana crusaders Sheila Polk and Bill Montgomery will calm down and stop trying to punish people for trying to access legal medicine they need.”
Utah’s attorney general successfully moved a lawsuit challenging the law that legislators passed to replace the voter-approved medical cannabis ballot measure from state court to federal court.
California’s treasurer noted that some Republican U.S. senators are hopeful about marijuana banking legislation, adding, “Cross your fingers!”
North Dakota lawmakers agreed to have a study panel examine the issue of marijuana legalization, but they rejected the idea of having the committee look at adding new medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
The head of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is raising concerns about a potential lack of transparency about campaign spending that could stem from a move to put marijuana legalization on the state’s 2020 ballot.
A Florida appeals court rejected a request for a rehearing in a case seeking the right for patients to cultivate their own medical cannabis at home.
The Alabama House Health Committee held a hearing on a Senate-passed medical cannabis bill. A significantly revised version—which will likely create a study commission instead of legalizing medical marijuana—is expected to be presented to the panel on Wednesday.
The Rhode Island House Finance Committee will hold a Wednesday hearing on several bills aimed at ensuring equity in the marijuana industry.
A Washington, D.C. councilmember filed a bill to protect government employees from discrimination based on their enrollment in medical cannabis programs.
Massachusetts regulator Shaleen Title spoke about ongoing efforts to ensure equity in the state’s marijuana industry.
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will meet on June 13.
Here’s a look at how cannabis reform legislation fared in Texas this session.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s public advocate tweeted, “Marijuana legalization is an issue of criminal justice, social justice, racial and economic justice. As the state takes steps to #LegalizeIt, its important to keep up a community dialogue.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s Cabinet approved medical cannabis regulations.
Colombia’s Ministry of Justice hosted a Facebook chat about cannabis licensing.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of youth marijuana prevention efforts concluded that “personally threatening messages were found ineffective.”
A study of Colorado residents’ attitudes about cannabis tourism found that those who are “highly attached” to the state “held a positive image of their place, which in turn influence[s] their support of marijuana tourism.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll funded by a police union found that Wisconsin residents oppose legalizing marijuana, 50%-46%.
The Providence Journal editorial board is urging Rhode Island lawmakers to license additional medical cannabis dispensaries.
/ BUSINESS
Acreage Holdings, Inc. reported a 487% increase in quarterly revenue from a year ago, but it also incurred net losses of more than $31 million.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. reported shrinking a 66% increase in revenue from a year ago, although its profits shrunk.
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