Newsletter
Judiciary chair files major cannabis bill with presidential candidate (Newsletter: July 23, 2019)
Marijuana insurance bill; Poll: Legalization more popular than free college; South Park slams big cannabis; Big 2019 reform wins; FDA CBD dog comments
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, filed legislation to federally deschedule marijuana. It would also provide for expungement and resentencing of prior convictions and prevent federal agencies from using cannabis as a reason to deny access to benefits or citizenship status. The bill would create a new Cannabis Justice Office in the Department of Justice to administer grant programs aimed at helping communities harmed by the war on drugs, funded by a federal tax on marijuana.
A poll found that marijuana legalization enjoys more support from Americans than issues such as free college tuition, a $15 minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty, forced Medicare for all and eliminating the electoral college.
Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) filed legislation to increase marijuana businesses’ access to insurance coverage.
Of the more than 4,000 public comments the Food and Drug Administration received about CBD regulations, nearly one in 20 were about how the non-intoxicating cannabis compound helps dogs deal with anxiety, arthritis, epilepsy or other conditions.
A new Marijuana Policy Project report takes a look back at the many marijuana wins of 2019 in states and in Congress (so far).
South Park released an ad for the fictional marijuana brand Tegridy Farms that appears to satirize the slick short film MedMen and Spike Jonze made earlier this year.
/ FEDERAL
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona joined the advisory board of CBD company Kadenwood, LLC.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a presidential candidate, spoke about her support for expunging marijuana records.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said his marijuana banking bill is gaining momentum as more states change their cannabis laws.
Sen. Cory Garder (R-CO) spoke about growing support for marijuana banking legislation.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted about American Bankers Association support for his marijuana banking bill.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) tweeted, “We all know marijuana has medical benefits, but the Federal government continues to get in the way of research. Removing barriers that prevent research will improve our understanding of medical marijuana and provide additional treatment options for millions of patients.”
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) tweeted, “The cannabis industry is a growing part of our economy and no one, let alone our veterans, should be penalized for being part of it.” She also published a press release about her amendment to let military veterans who work in the marijuana industry apply for home loans.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) tweeted, “I’m a cosponsor of @RepAlexMooney’s HR 2071 which would repeal the ban that currently prohibits medicinal marijuana users from owning firearms. If you were in Congress, would you vote for or against this bill?”
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Teresa Tomlinson is endorsing legalizing and descheduling marijuana.
Massachusetts Democratic House candidate Alex Morse was the first Massachusetts mayor to endorse legalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and the state’s attorney general said that while they don’t support legalizing marijuana, they would rather see the legislature tackle the issue instead of having voters approve a ballot measure that would be harder to amend.
Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee cited “an enlightened approach to the corrosive and failed war on drugs” in an op-ed about his decision to join the Libertarian Party.
Florida’s agriculture commissioner toured hemp businesses.
Iowa’s agriculture secretary spoke about plans to implement hemp legalization.
The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on hemp regulations.
A proposed North Dakota marijuana legalization ballot measure was approved for signature gathering.
Missouri regulators received seven bids from companies seeking to serve as scorers of medical cannabis business license applications.
Utah regulators are facing a potential lawsuit over a decision to withhold the awarding of some medical cannabis cultivation licenses.
The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus tweeted about the passage of hemp and CBD legislation.
Here’s a look at pending California marijuana reform legislation.
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/ LOCAL
The Columbus, Ohio City Council approved a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
The Chamblee, Georgia City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s new government listed medical cannabis as among its priorities.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is pressing lawmakers to “reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs.”
A mother whose son needs medical cannabis to treat epilepsy became the first person in Scotland to legally source the drug.
Guernsey is allowing medical cannabis prescriptions.
An Indian court is considering a case challenging the prohibition of marijuana.
/ ADVOCACY
Bloomberg Businessweek accompanied Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Executive Director Rick Doblin to Burning Man, where he worked on raising money from tech leaders.
Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly tweeted, “Marijuana consumption by pregnant women has skyrocketed. Some ‘pot shops’ promoting pot edibles as a cure for morning sickness—there is ZERO scientific evidence to support that claim but PLENTY of evidence to support that intoxicants harm babies.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabis policy liberalisation does not appear to result in significant changes in youths’ use, with the possible exception of legalisation for recreational purposes.”
A study of fish suggested that “CBD holds promise to improve functional recovery of complex learned behaviors following brain injury.”
A study found that “religious salience and believing the Bible’s literalness as inspired word are no longer significant and impactful predictors on U.S. opinions towards marijuana legalization support.”
/ BUSINESS
Miami University fired three employees for growing ibogaine.
Electricity use by Denver, Colorado marijuana businesses dropped for the first time last year.
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