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House announces cannabis vote details (Newsletter: September 1, 2020)
Congressman files bill to boost hemp biz; VT lawmakers inch closer to legal marijuana sales deal; OR cannabis sales surge
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) confirmed the timing of an upcoming historic vote to federally legalize marijuana. The MORE Act, which will deschedule cannabis and fund programs to repair the harms of the war on drugs, will hit the House floor the week of September 21—about three weeks from now.
Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) filed a bill to make hemp farmers eligible for tax benefits if they operate in areas designated as “opportunity zones.” It would also direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study using hemp in public school meals and whether it could replace items used by the federal government and its contractors.
A Vermont legislature conference committee met again to work on resolving House and Senate differences on a bill to legalize marijuana sales. The House didn’t have its counterproposal ready yet for senators to consider, so the bicameral panel will meet again on Friday.
Marijuana sales in Oregon are sharply up during the coronavirus pandemic, with July being the third month in a row that totals exceeded $100 million.
/ FEDERAL
The director of press communications for President Trump’s reelection campaign tweeted, “House Dems — more worried about pot dealers than providing relief for the American people.”
U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistant General Counsel Mai Dinh spoke about the “leeway” that hemp farmers have in THC potency limits.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) tweeted, “We can’t fix our broken criminal justice system without decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level and expunging federal marijuana convictions. My bill, the MORE Act, enacts those reforms, and I’m glad that it’ll receive a full House vote this September.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) communications director tweeted, “The House has been out for weeks – the first legislative business the Democrat majority plans to take up is the legalization of marijuana. In the midst of a pandemic associated with a respiratory tract infection, this is what Dem leaders have decided to make their priority.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, “For too long marijuana laws have been selectively enforced against people of color. I look forward to voting in support of the MORE Act which will expunge previous federal marijuana convictions and allow states to legalize marijuana.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “This vote is a long time coming & is the culmination of years of hard work by activists, advocates & the American people. Cannabis reform is a racial justice issue first & foremost & passing the MORE Act will go a long way in our fight for equality under the law.”
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) tweeted, “We are dealing with a pandemic and mob violence is terrorizing major cities – so what’s first up on Speaker Pelosi’s agenda after a long House recess? No Joint Left Behind – A bill legalizing pot!”
The campaign of Libertarian presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen released an ad slamming Democrats and Republicans for their support for the war on drugs.
West Virginia Democratic Senate candidate Paula Jean Swearengin tweeted, “West Virginia leads the nation in opioid overdose deaths. This state is also one of the poorest in the country. These issues are connected. I will vote for federal cannabis legalization & the efforts to lift up those affected by the War On Drugs.”
/ STATES
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) said there is “no such thing as medical marijuana” and raised concerns about workplace issues if it is legalized via a ballot measure.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is personally reviewing applications for pardons for past marijuana convictions.
The office of U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. (D) mentioned the revenue raising potential of his marijuana legalization bill in a press release.
Mississippi’s Senate president pro tem said it is possible but unlikely that the legislature would approve a medical cannabis bill ahead of the November election.
Maine regulators published guidance on transferring medical cannabis plants and seeds to the adult-use program.
Minnesota regulators are accepting public comments on adding anxiety, sickle cell disease and tic disorder as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Michigan regulators sent an advisory bulletin on temporary marijuana events.
Washington State regulators will hold a listen and learn session on draft conceptual rules for marijuana vapor products on Tuesday.
Ohio regulators will consider medical cannabis rules changes at a meeting this month.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
Chilean officials warned about mislabeled CBD products.
Brazilian lawmakers will consider a medical cannabis bill on Tuesday.
Jamaican officials reported that the amount of commerce between marijuana licensees is increasing.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “preclinical results are strongly and consistently supportive of the presence of an opioid sparing effect of cannabinoid drugs.”
A review found that “blood THC >2 ng/mL, and possibly even THC >5 ng/mL, does not necessarily represent recent use of cannabis in frequent cannabis users.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Times of India editorial board called on the country’s government to legalize marijuana.
/ BUSINESS
4Front Ventures Corp. reported quarterly sales of $19 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.4 million.
Molson Coors Beverage Company tweeted about its joint venture with Hexo Corp. releasing cannabis-infused beverages in Canada.
Nike launched a hemp textile sneaker in the UK.
/ CULTURE
Musician Tiki Taane called out a New Zealand prohibitionist campaign for mischaracterizing a quote of his and clarified that he plans to vote for the country’s marijuana legalization referendum.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
