Newsletter
Holder says cannabis isn’t addictive (Newsletter: May 21, 2018)
US attys talk marijuana enforcement; de Blasio preps NYC for legalization; UT oppo sues to keep cannabis off ballot
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says he hasn’t seen any evidence that marijuana is addictive, an analysis that undermines cannabis’s status as a Schedule I drug.
Oregon’s U.S. attorney issued a memo saying he would focus marijuana prosecutions on several priority areas, including overproduction and interstate trafficking, providing cannabis to minors, protecting federal lands and the environment, organized crime, violence and the use of firearms.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is directing the NYPD to stop arresting people smoking marijuana in public, and is moving to draft a plan to prepare the city for eventual legalization.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for West Virginia’s Southern District left the door open to prosecuting banks that work with medical cannabis businesses.
The owner of a Nevada marijuana business denied that President Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, had any connection to the operation despite earlier reports that he had lent it money.
President Trump spoke at a prison reform summit at the White House.
The Congressional Black Caucus pushed back against prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana’s claim that legalization harms minority communities.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) got emotional during an interview about the medical benefits of cannabis for children who are suffering with serious conditions.
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) questioned the nominee to lead the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about marijuana-impaired driving (about 1:53:00 into the video).
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) is working to sink prison reform legislation backed by the White House.
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) said in a House floor speech that she is disappointed leadership blocked votes on hemp amendments.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) cited marijuana legalization as an example of an issue once seen as radical that mainstream Democrats are now embracing.
U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said “we don’t need a War on Drugs approach” to opioid issues.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) tweeted, “Don’t arm teachers. Don’t prosecute marijuana. Don’t rip off working people. Don’t increase the cost of healthcare. Don’t treat immigrants poorly. Don’t make climate change worse. Don’t be cruel to LGBTQ people. Don’t eliminate net neutrality. Don’t forget to register and vote.”
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “When a white student in a suburban school is caught with marijuana, they will usually get a warning. If you’re a black or brown student in an urban environment, law enforcement is called and your future could be destroyed for use. Marijuana legalization is a racial justice issue.”
The U.S. Senate hemp legalization bill got two new cosponsors, for a total of 21.
/ STATES
A group formed to oppose Michigan’s marijuana legalization measure is now urging lawmakers to amend and enact it.
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous wants to fund universal pre-k with marijuana tax revenue.
Opponents of Utah’s medical cannabis initiative are suing the lieutenant governor in an attempt to keep the measure off the ballot.
California regulators are proposing to readopt emergency cannabis rules that are already in effect, with some changes.
An Ohio judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction on medical cannabis business licensing.
Florida regulators filed a brief in a state Supreme Court case about the right of patients to grow their own medical cannabis.
Nevada regulators determined for the first time that a landlord can lease properties to both gaming and marijuana businesses.
West Virginia delegates filed a bill to solve medical cannabis businesses’ banking access issues, but it faces serious procedural hurdles during a special session.
A New Jersey assemblywoman filed a bill to allow reciprocity for out-of-state medical cannabis patients. Another assemblywoman filed a resolution calling on the federal government to consider rescheduling marijuana.
Here’s a look at the collapse of efforts to get Missouri lawmakers to pass a medical cannabis bill.
A Pennsylvania senator is asking district attorneys to stop prosecuting marijuana possession and smoking cases.
North Dakota regulators awarded a medical cannabis testing contract. Separately, one of the state’s medical marijuana cultivation license winners was previously cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for pesticide violations.
/ LOCAL
New York City’s City Council speaker is calling for marijuana legalization.
Here’s a look at several ways Denver, Colorado is spending marijuana tax revenue.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Two major Barbados political parties are promising marijuana law reform.
Zambia’s health minister said the government is considering legalizing medical cannabis.
Northern Territory, Australia is exploring decriminalizing marijuana.
/ ADVOCACY
Advocacy journalist Shaun King wrote about his use of medical cannabis.
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana will hold a Capitol Hill briefing on Tuesday.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that CBD “exhibits lesser side effects and more therapeutic benefits as compared to recent available medical therapies” for some conditions and “is a promising substance for the development of new drug.”
A study of medical cannabis on pediatric movement disorders found “significant improvement in spasticity and dystonia, sleep difficulties, pain severity” and quality of life.
A study found that CBD “exhibits antioxidant and neuroprotective effects in neuronal Alzheimer’s cell model.”
A study “does not support previous findings of hippocampal and/or amygdala structural changes in long-term, heavy cannabis users” but does “provide evidence of basal ganglia volume increases.”
/ BUSINESS
The New York Times looks at the marijuana industry’s banking access issues.
/ CULTURE
A National Hockey League official said the league might have to reexamine its marijuana policies as legalization spreads.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
