Newsletter
Lawmakers approve legal cannabis in US territory (Newsletter: May 16, 2018)
Trump 2020 campaign targets Colorado; Lots of NYC marijuana developments; NJ medical cannabis program could double
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Senate in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, approved a marijuana legalization bill.
/ FEDERAL
Axios is reporting that President Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign is targeting Colorado for a possible pickup, and that “his hands-off approach to marijuana enforcement is a possible selling point.”
A federal judge sentenced Detroit-area men to prison in a scheme to pay bribes for approval for a medical cannabis dispensary.
Here’s a look at the impact of a U.S. Small Business Administration policy blocking loans to companies that work with the marijuana industry.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission released an overview of the application of mandatory minimum sentences.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted, “Here’s the quantifiable truth: America’s marijuana laws are not applied or enforced in the same way for all people. We can’t let our country keep making the same mistakes of the past — it’s time to legalize marijuana at the federal level.”
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said, “I always say marijuana is legal in America if you’re privileged, if you’re at Stanford.”
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) supports local efforts to end prosecution of marijuana offenses.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted about “the cruel racial injustice of the failed prohibition of marijuana.”
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) tweeted, “Approximately 36 percent of marijuana arrest victims in NYC (mostly Black and Latino) have no prior criminal record. Outrageous! This must end. NOW.”
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted about racial disparities in marijuana arrests.
Virginia Democratic congressional candidates debated marijuana policy.
/ STATES
New Jersey’s health commissioner said the state is on track to double its medical cannabis patient count. Separately, senators filed legislation to significantly expand the medical marijuana program.
California’s insurance commissioner will host a nationwide webinar about the “unique insurance needs of the cannabis industry” on Wednesday.
A Florida judge will hear arguments in a case seeking to overturn the state’s ban on smoking medical cannabis on Wednesday. In a separate case, a patient is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn a stay preventing him from growing his own medical marijuana immediately.
Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis, currently a congressman, tweeted, “As Colorado’s #cannabis industry goes, so goes the nation’s. I’m ready on Day One to defend legal #marijuana from attacks by the Trump administration. We aren’t going to allow Jeff Sessions to reopen this ugly chapter in the War on Drugs here in CO.”
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King is calling for marijuana legalization.
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Marguerite Willis supports medical cannabis.
Supporters and opponents of Utah’s medical cannabis ballot measure angered a county clerk by visiting his home and office close to midnight as the deadline for signature removal forms lapsed.
The Indiana legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services will study medical cannabis.
Oregon regulators will consider marijuana packaging and labeling rules on Thursday.
A group of Oklahoma prohibitionists formed a campaign committee to oppose the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure.
Here’s a look at how marijuana bills fared before Colorado lawmakers this session.
/ LOCAL
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that the NYPD will “overhaul and reform” its marijuana enforcement policies within the next 30 days. To that end, the police commissioner formed a working group to study changes. The Manhattan district attorney announced he will decline to prosecute marijuana possession and smoking cases. His office released a related report on cannabis policy. Brooklyn’s district attorney announced a similar move.
Meanwhile, New York City’s comptroller released an analysis finding that legalization could generate $436 million annually in new state tax revenue from legal marijuana sales, and the city could bring in as much as $335 million. The City Council speaker said racially disproportionate arrests won’t end “until marijuana is legalized, taxed and regulated in New York City.” The Council did an analysis showing that marijuana arrests don’t directly correlate with complaint calls.
San Francisco, California’s district attorney is partnering with Code for America to use software that makes it easier to expunge marijuana convictions.
Voters in Grant County, Oregon appeared to overturn a ban on marijuana businesses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The director of the Philippines Bureau of Corrections said he wants to apply the death penalty for low-level drug offences.
/ ADVOCACY
The UK’s Royal College of Nursing is endorsing medical cannabis.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said he spoke with New York Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon and that they agreed on the need for racial equity in the marijuana industry and that it is wrong to refer to it with the term “reparations.”
DeRay Mckesson and other activists discussed racial disparities in marijuana enforcement on a Pod Save The People podcast.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “THC:CBD oromucosal spray was shown not to impair driving performance.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Georgia voters support legalizing marijuana, 55%-35%.
/ BUSINESS
Baker Technologies, Briteside, Sea Hunter and Sante Veritas Therapeutics merged to form TILT Holdings LLC.
Marijuana delivery service Eaze is being sued for allegedly violating federal law by spamming customers with unsolicited text-message marketing.
Applied DNA Sciences is using manufactured DNA tags to allow tracking of marijuana products.
Adweek looks at marijuana site Herb.
/ CULTURE
Former NBA star Charles Barkley compared legalizing marijuana to legalizing gambling.
Author Michael Pollan discussed his experience with psychedelic drugs on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and in the New York Times Magazine.
Martha Stewart was surprised to hear that Oprah Winfrey consumes marijuana.
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