Newsletter
Illinois lawmakers approve cannabis legalization bill (Newsletter: May 30, 2019)
Google bans marijuana-selling apps; CO gov signs social use, delivery & investment bills; Another study: legal medical cannabis lowers opioid use
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Illinois Senate approved a marijuana legalization bill, sending it to the House of Representatives just two days ahead of the end of the legislative session.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed legislation legalizing marijuana social use areas and delivery services. Another bill he signed allows out-of-state cannabis industry investments. Prior Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), now a 2020 presidential candidate, vetoed similar measures.
Google announced that it is banning apps that “facilitate the sale of marijuana” from its Android Play Store, but a company spokesperson later told Marijuana Moment that affected apps can remain on the platform if they simply “move the shopping cart flow outside of the app itself.”
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) pressed the acting secretary of Homeland Security head about anti-marijuana immigration policies at a House hearing.
- “If we use that term, there may be some people involved in legal political activities that lack ‘good moral character’ based on some of our judgement.”
A study found that legal medical cannabis access is associated with lower opioid use—but interestingly, only for age cohorts below 55.
- “[A]nalysis showed lowest rate of opioid prescription in states that allowed for medical cannabis use.”
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “Legalization & commercialization doesn’t mean problems from marijuana go away. Problems only get bigger. In Colorado, investigators seized more than 80,000 plants & 4,500 pounds of marijuana, raided 247 homes, 8 businesses and arrested 42 people.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) said he supports rescheduling marijuana.
The House bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got two new cosponsors, for a total of 64.
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed legislation creating a process for sealing the records of people convicted of offenses that have been decriminalized, such as activity associated with marijuana. The state’s attorney general tweeted that he was “proud” to be at the bill signing ceremony.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he doesn’t “think the Senate can maintain the position that they don’t have the votes for marijuana.” Meanwhile, the Senate majority leader said she doesn’t “think anybody doubts that marijuana will be legalized.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Lt. Gov. @JohnFetterman visited every PA county in 98 days on a mission to hear what you think about legalizing recreational marijuana. Missed the chance to chat with him in person? Use the online feedback form through May 31.” Separately, the state’s attorney general tweeted, “PA is one of the 33 states w/ legalized medical marijuana. Since marijuana is classified as illegal at fed level – marijuana-based businesses are forced to be large cash operations. This is dangerous & impractical.”
Louisiana’s attorney general replied to a Twitter poster, saying, “We do not share your opinion that marijuana is the solution [to the opioid crisis], but that does not mean our office has not worked hard in other ways.” Separately, the House Criminal Justice Committee defeated a marijuana legalization bill.
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner sent a press release praising a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture memo on hemp legalization.
Connecticut’s House speaker suggested putting marijuana legalization on the ballot for voters to decide.
Iowa’s House speaker ruled out a suggestion by Democratic lawmakers to hold a special session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’s (R) veto of a bill to expand the state’s limited CBD medical cannabis program.
The Alabama House Health Committee amended and approved a Senate-passed medical cannabis bill that now calls for a study instead of legalizing access.
New Jersey’s Senate is expected to vote on medical cannabis expansion and marijuana expungement bills on Thursday.
Michigan regulators announced they will hold their first public meeting on June 13.
Maryland regulators have received more than 160 applications for 14 available medical cannabis business licenses.
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/ LOCAL
Portland, Oregon’s mayor and city commissioners sent a letter criticizing a recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services memo determining that working in the marijuana industry means that immigrants do not have “good moral character” and is a bar to naturalization.
A purported Rastafarian church in Madison, Wisconsin was raided by police over allegations that it distributed marijuana.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study suggested that cannabis essential oil “can be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobials, and constitute in combinational treatments a promising strategy to overcome the intense use of antibiotics against some infectious diseases.”
A review concluded that “cannabinoid-based pharmacotherapies may serve as effective replacement/adjunctive options regarding pain.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of Americans found that 56% support legalizing marijuana, 80% back medical cannabis
/ BUSINESS
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. announced that it will trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Cresco Labs launched a social equity and education program. The company also reported that its quarterly revenues grew 313% from a year ago but incurred $7.6 million net losses for the quarter.
MedMen Enterprises Inc. announced it is cutting executive salaries and that the company incurred quarterly net losses of $63.1 million.
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