Newsletter
Key chairman works to clear path for cannabis floor vote (Newsletter: November 20, 2019)
AOC blasts Biden’s marijuana comments; Virginia decrim bill filed for 2020; Yang predicts Biden evolution beyond “gateway” theory
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
There are now 1,232 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions.
Never let a marijuana bill catch you by surprise with exclusive access to Marijuana Moment’s custom-built cannabis legislation tracker for just $25/month.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) told Marijuana Moment that he’s actively talking to other chairs about waiving their jurisdiction on his cannabis descheduling bill so it can go to the floor after Wednesday’s vote in his panel.
In an interview with Marijuana Moment, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) blasted former Vice President Joe Biden’s comments on cannabis being a potential gateway drug as “Reagan-era talking points”:
- “That rhetoric is rhetoric of mass incarceration. The only thing that marijuana, due to the failures of U.S. policy, is a gateway to is our mass incarceration system.”
Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang predicts that former Vice President Joe Biden will stop thinking about marijuana as a potential “gateway drug” and will come around to supporting legalization once he takes a look at more evidence.
A Virginia senator prefiled a marijuana decriminalization bill for the 2020 session—a proposal that stands a good chance of being enacted with the support of the governor and the legislature’s newly elected Democratic leadership.
/ FEDERAL
The House of Representatives approved a bill to extend funding for the federal government—including riders such as the provision that protects state medical cannabis laws from federal interference—through December 20.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is taking issue with a provision in proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture hemp regulations concerning the listing of approved testing labs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance for healthcare providers on vaping-related lung injuries.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, spoke about the need to ensure equity in the marijuana industry. She also tweeted, “The War on Drugs was an abject failure. It’s time to legalize marijuana and bring justice to people of color harmed by failed drug policies. Grateful for @RepJerryNadler’s partnership on this issue. I look forward to getting our bill one step closer to becoming law.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “The criminalization of marijuana has been a disaster. We are going to legalize it, expunge past convictions and invest in communities of color that have been devastated by the War on Drugs.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, said she supports allowing interstate cannabis commerce and marijuana social use areas.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), a potential presidential candidate, criticized President Trump for backing off of a plan to ban flavored vaping products, tweeting, “If President Trump won’t take steps to protect our children, then we need someone in the office who will.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) joked at an event honoring former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) that “if his interests in marijuana started earlier he might have even enjoyed a more relaxing speakership.”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said she removed language from a draft resolution on replacing drug possession arrests with civil citations because fines “can lead to further involvement in the justice system,” but she didn’t explain why the introduced measure no longer calls for ending arrests.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) spoke about her support for federal marijuana law reform.
The House comprehensive medical cannabis bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.
The House bill to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor for a total of four.
The House bill to shield military veterans from losing benefits due to marijuana use got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.
/ STATES
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) issued an executive order allowing hemp to be transported across the state.
Minnesota’s House majority leader is consulting with Colorado officials to inform the drafting of a marijuana legalization bill he plans to introduce. Meanwhile, the Senate majority leader criticized Democrats for pursuing cannabis legalization
The Washington, D.C. Council approved a bill to remove the plant count cap at medical cannabis cultivation facilities.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that cities can regulate medical cannabis businesses.
A former Arizona House minority leader called out out the hypocrisy of a prosecutor who is blaming the opioid crisis in part on legal marijuana—when she led an anti-legalization campaign in 2016 that took in half a million dollars from an opioid company.
Michigan regulators awarded the state’s first recreational marijuana business licenses, clearing the way for sales to begin on December 1.
Florida’s agriculture commissioner spoke about how marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol.
Kentucky’s Agriculture Department will host a hemp summit on December 4.
West Virginia regulators will begin accepting medical cannabis business license applications on December 19.
Illinois regulators approved another group of medical cannabis dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana.
A New York senator tweeted, “On marijuana, the assignment is far from complete. In spite of some progress, heavily racialized enforcement continues in NYS. We must finally end the failed policy of prohibition and ensure that deeply impacted communities are helped to be made whole.”
—
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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
People of color made up more than 90 percent of New York City marijuana possession arrests last quarter.
The Brooklyn, New York district attorney is planning to drop marijuana charges in a case in which police seized what a business said was legal hemp.
The Minneapolis, Minnesota mayor tweeted, “People in our state living with chronic pain shouldn’t be collateral damage in the war on drugs. Neither should victims of mass incarceration. Prohibition on cannabis has failed. It’s past time MN responsibly legalizes and begins righting these wrongs.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Malta’s economy minister said the government is working on legislation to allow the production of cannabis for veterinary medical use.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
An epilepsy study found that “CBD treatments were effective compared with placebo, regardless of the dose administered.”
A review found “no consensus among studies that cannabis use is associated with reduced opioid use or longer treatment retention when used during methadone maintenance therapy in patients with opioid use disorder.”
A study found that “people with more severe [multiple sclerosis], and men, are more likely to use cannabis for MS.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Organized crime and drug policy academic Bruce Bagley has been charged with alleged involvement in a scheme to launder $2.5 million in proceeds from bribery and corruption in Venezuela.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is reportedly considering getting involved in the creation of a network of psychedelic psychotherapy clinics.
/ BUSINESS
Merida Capital Partners and the Minority Cannabis Business Association announced the recipients of $500,000 in investments for minority-owned marijuana businesses.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. reported $61.8 million in quarterly earnings.
Heavenly Rx is doing reverse takeover of Nasdaq-listed Therapix Biosciences.
Eaze launched a new data portal for its brand and retail partners.
Leafly published an investigation into CBD product manufacturing and labeling.
A survey of marijuana investors found that “while 86 percent of individual investors are concerned about a global recession over the next 12-18 months, they remain bullish on the cannabis sector.”
/ CULTURE
Rapper Fab 5 Freddy tweeted, “Shocking that @JoeBiden said he would not legalize cannabis and that it may be a ‘Gateway’ drug. He’s right in that its a Gateway to Prison for people of color like it still is here in NYC! He needs to watch my #GrassIsGreenerFilm & LEARN!”
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
