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House approves cannabis banking again (Newsletter: May 18, 2020)

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Marijuana petitioning relaunches in MT & NE; Congressman: banking access protects health amid COVID; Study: Legalization boosts hotel industry

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The House of Representatives again voted to approve marijuana banking legislation—this time as part of a coronavirus relief bill. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers continued to bash the cannabis provision’s inclusion. It is unclear how the issue will fare in the Senate, where GOP leadership has been largely critical of the overall COVID-19 legislation.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) argued in a House floor speech that including marijuana banking in coronavirus legislation is a germane public health protection measure because it stops the spread of the virus though cash transactions many dispensaries are forced to use.

  • “The SAFE Banking Act would address the increased health risk of spreading COVID-19 on bank notes and coins as well as the increased public risk in this cash-only industry.’

Marijuana activists in Montana and Nebraska officially relaunched signature gathering efforts with new social distancing protocols for safe petitioning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A study found that “marijuana tourism had an economically significant as well as a statistically significant effect on the hotel industry.” Bookings, room rates and industry revenue all rose in Colorado and Washington State following the end of prohibition, with an initial boost from legal cannabis possession taking effect and then legal sales providing another.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected a claim that Rutherford County, Tennessee police and prosecutors are entitled to prosecutorial immunity or qualified immunity over alleged misconduct during raids on stores selling CBD products.

Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) tweeted that the state’s NORML chapter director who passed away last week “had a passion for life and justice and a happiness that spread wherever he went. He is missed already.”

Members of California’s congressional delegation sent a letter supporting the inclusion of marijuana banking provisions in coronavirus relief legislation.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) tweeted, “Pelosi’s $3 trillion bill show just how out of touch the Democrats are. Sixty-eight references to cannabis and 52 references to jobs.”

Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) tweeted, “House Dems, please REMOVE extraneous items – like environmental justice&marijuana dispensary aid/help – in the Covid relief bill. Don’t be tone deaf&hyper political, TAKE CARE of out of work families, ailing small businesses, states&local govts facing loss tax revenue&hospitals”

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the war on drugs got one new cosponsor for a total of 74.

/ STATES

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a bill revising hemp regulations.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed an executive order allowing medical cannabis recommendations to be issued via telemedicine during the coronavirus pandemic.

Missouri lawmakers sent Gov. Mike Parson (R) legislation to ban medical cannabis edibles in shapes that could appeal to children and to strengthen background checks for industry workers.

Vermont’s House speaker floated pushing back the roll-out of legal marijuana sales to delay initial operating costs of a system that would be created under legislation lawmakers plan to give final consideration to by the end of the year.

Oklahoma regulators issued a recall of medical cannabis products that failed safety testing.

Maine regulators issued the state’s first provisional recreational marijuana testing license.

Florida regulators are blocking a doctor from recommending medical cannabis after he allegedly improperly signed a certification for a pregnant woman.

Maryland regulators issued a bulletin about changes to medical cannabis enforcement and inspection requirements.

Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver counts.

Several New York senators sent a press release about the urgent need for marijuana legalization.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

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/ LOCAL

Several Los Angeles, California firefighters were injured in the response to an explosion at a building that is believed to house a butane hash oil supplier.

Denver, Colorado’s Marijuana Licensing Work Group created a template for public comments.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that “there is merit in setting 19 years as [minimum legal age] for non-medical cannabis.”

A study of mice found that full-spectrum CBD-rich extracts “reduce the incidence of tonic-clonic seizures by 40%, increase the survival rate by 50%, and the latency to first tonic-clonic seizures by 170%.”

/ BUSINESS

Akerna disclosed that it received a $2.2 million loan under the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Artemis Growth Partners acquired Bridge Farm.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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