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Kampia out at MPP (Newsletter: Dec. 26, 2017)
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Trump notices medical marijuana patient’s case; 2018 legalization bills already introduced; Oppo funding numbers released
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Marijuana Policy Project founder Rob Kampia is no longer employed by the organization and is starting a new cannabis-focused consulting firm. Marijuana Moment obtained Kampia’s three-page memo outlining the new company’s plans and spoke to him about the reasons he is leaving MPP. There are still several unanswered questions, some of which may be answered by a looming major newspaper story about previously unreported sexual misconduct allegations against him that is expected to be published soon.
President Trump is reportedly taking personal interest in the case of an American being punished for medical cannabis in Indonesia.
2017 isn’t even over yet, but lawmakers in a number of states are already making legislative moves to prepare for 2018 marijuana legalization efforts.
/ FEDERAL
U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a review after a report indicated the Obama administration essentially allowed Hezbollah to traffic drugs into the U.S.
Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) and two cosponsors introduced a bill to give hemp businesses greater access to banks.
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) jokingly tweeted that an elderly couple arrested for marijuana was not him and his wife.
As a Festivus grievance, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) noted that Hatch has better marijuana jokes than he does.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) issued a statement on the short-term extension of state medical cannabis protections.
Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) tweeted that “we must end the threat [to medical cannabis] that comes with every deadline and provide a permanent solution.”
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted that “ending the ‘war on drugs’ must include restorative justice for all those who had their lives destroyed by harsh convictions.”
Indiana Democratic congressional candidate Dan Canon supports legalizing marijuana.
The U.S. House industrial hemp bill got one new cosponsor, bringing the total to 39.
/ STATES
Ohio Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, supports legalizing marijuana. Another Democratic candidate, former state legislator Connie Pillich, said she would sign a marijuana legalization bill if passed by lawmakers.
A New Mexico senator prefiled a proposed marijuana legalization constitutional amendment.
California’s top marijuana regulator says the implementation of legalization “is going to be an adjustment for a lot of folks.” Separately, the state treasurer sent a letter to members of Congress requesting the extension of a federal budget rider protecting state medical cannabis laws.
Massachusetts regulators posted draft rules they initially approved last week.
Alaska regulators will discuss marijuana testing issues on January 2.
A West Virginia delegate plans to introduce legislation to allow vertical integration in the medical cannabis industry.
Some Colorado officials are questioning the validity of surveys that track youth marijuana use.
Iowa regulators are trying to figure out why more companies didn’t apply for state medical cannabis oil licenses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Georgia’s interior minister admitted that the country’s drug policies are repressive.
/ ADVOCACY
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana released its 2017 annual report, showing more than $1.3 million in annual funding between its two branches.
A new group called Physicians, Families and Friends for a Better Vermont is lobbying against marijuana legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study’s findings “do not support a link between reduced motivation and [cannabis use] among adolescents after controlling for relevant confounds.”
A survey found that “youth with [multiple sclerosis] endorse recreational marijuana as safe, and many use marijuana frequently despite appreciating a negative impact on memory.”
A study concluded that “Spanish-speaking Latino respondents had less accurate knowledge of laws permitting use of marijuana than English-speaking Latino respondents, while reporting greater agreement with negative health effects and higher perception of risk associated with marijuana use.”
/ BUSINESS
First Green Bank, which provided financial services to marijuana businesses, is now closing down such accounts.
Labor unions see a lot of potential in organizing marijuana industry workers.
/ CULTURE
Monica Lewinsky tweeted happily about a marijuana strain named after her.
