Newsletter
House send hemp legalization to Trump’s desk (Newsletter: Dec. 13, 2018)
New bill would solve marijuana industry border issues; Chicago mayor wants cannabis revenue for pensions; “CBD gummies” a top 2018 search, Google says
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House of Representatives voted to approve the Farm Bill, which contains provisions to legalize hemp. It now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered to let President Trump use his hemp pen to sign the Farm Bill into law.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) filed legislation that would solve the issue of Canadian marijuana industry participants being denied entry to the U.S. and also shield immigrants from being deported for state-legal cannabis activity.
Chicago, Illinois Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) said in a speech that he wants legal marijuana revenue to fund pension programs, though he stopped short of a direct endorsement of ending cannabis prohibition.
Google trend data says that “CBD gummies” was the third most searched for food term of 2018, just behind “romaine lettuce” and ahead of “keto pancakes.”
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit heard arguments in an appeal of a case seeking to overturn marijuana’s federal Schedule I status.
The Government Accountability Office released a report criticizing the State Department for not comprehensively reviewing the effects of U.S. anti-drug efforts in Colombia.
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia held an anti-marijuana event.
House and Senate lawmakers released a revised version of criminal justice reform legislation that is expected to be voted on before the end of the year.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) spoke about the benefits of medical cannabis for military veterans.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) tweeted, “Hey, NV farmers. How about growing #hemp instead of alfalfa? A breakthrough in the #FarmBill2018 lifts restrictions on legalized hemp production. Together we can cultivate a potentially multi-billion dollar crop that makes everything from rope to soap!”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) tweeted about how the Farm Bill “has finally opened the door for industrial hemp — a domestic industry that already has a market value of roughly $620 million in the U.S. per year — creating great opportunity for sustainable jobs across many sectors.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) said the legalization of hemp “will be a boon to Oregon’s economy by allowing farmers to expand their markets while continuing to research and cultivate their crops.”
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) included legalizing cannabis in a list of issues the political press could discuss instead of whether she should be able to run for president.
The House bill to respect state marijuana laws got four new cosponsors, for a total of 40.
/ STATES
New Jersey’s Senate president and Assembly speaker said a vote on marijuana legalization is unlikely by the end of the year unless lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy (D) come to an agreement at a Thursday meeting.
Illinois Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker’s (D) transition team created a Cannabis Legalization Subcommittee.
Ohio regulators cleared the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary to begin operations, though there are not yet any products for it to sell to patients.
The Kentucky legislature’s Interim Health, Welfare and Family Services Committee discussed medical cannabis. Separately, the state agriculture commissioner tweeted happily about the passage of hemp legalization through Congress via the Farm Bill.
Vermont’s marijuana legalization study committee held its final meeting. Their report is expected to be delivered to Gov. Phil Scott (R) on Monday.
The Colorado Supreme Court is considering a case on the use of police dogs trained on now-legal marijuana in searches that find other, still-illegal drugs.
Washington State regulators approved interim policies on marijuana packaging and labeling requirements and the use of personal funds for business activities.
Maryland regulators will hold a hearing next month on medical cannabis licensing ownership rules.
A California assemblywoman said she will file a bill to “to legalize the sale of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD), so that Californians have better access to natural products that help many people relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and manage anxiety.”
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/ LOCAL
The St. Paul, Minnesota City Council adopted a resolution endorsing marijuana legalization and record expungement.
Asheville, North Carolina alcohol regulators said they are already preparing for the possible legalization of marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lawmakers voted to legalize marijuana for medical and scientific purposes.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A survey of schools and colleges of pharmacy found that “62% include medical marijuana content in their curriculum” and that “of the schools and colleges that do not include it, 23% plan to incorporate medical marijuana topics within the next 12 months.”
New York’s Health Department and other researchers are conducting a survey on marijuana use patterns.
/ BUSINESS
Tilray announced that former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele have joined its advisory board, along with former foreign ministers of Germany and Australia.
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the biggest pension fund in the U.S., has a position in Tilray.
New Belgium Brewing reacted to the legalization of hemp through the Farm Bill, tweeting, “We can already smell the dankness in our brewhouse.”
/ CULTURE
A Massachusetts YMCA is apologizing after a staffer posted a notice threatening to call the authorities on parents who smell like marijuana.
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