Newsletter
Lawmakers presses feds on border ban for cannabis investors (Newsletter: Sep. 17, 2018)
Sabet compares legalization to deadly hurricanes; Congressional black & hispanic caucuses talk marijuana; Fed judge blocks hemp farm
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Marijuana Moment obtained a draft of a letter that Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA) will send on Monday pressing Homeland Security Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen about a U.S. policy banning Canadians who use cannabis, as well as those who work for or even just invest in marijuana businesses, from visiting the country.
Organizations affiliated with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus both featured marijuana panels at conferences last week.
Prohibitionist Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana published an op-ed comparing marijuana legalization to deadly hurricanes on the same day that Hurricane Florence made landfall and started killing people.
/ FEDERAL
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order forcing a West Virginia hemp farm to cease operations because it allegedly illegally imported seeds from Kentucky.
Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a U.S. Senate candidate, criticized Dallas police for releasing information indicating that Botham Jean had marijuana in his apartment when he was killed by an officer.
Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) said that committee passage of a bill to remove barriers to marijuana research is “something that is really the Judiciary Committee against the Pharma industry, because the only people we can find that object, that must object, are those who in fact have other drug solutions that aren’t as herbal.”
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) tweeted, “We need marijuana arrest reform in NYC (and throughout America). Stop criminalizing our young people!”
Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) tweeted, “Drug war is a failure and race based from inception from Harry Anslinger to Richard Nixon to Jeff Session.”
Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Don’t you think it is a good idea for the Republican Congress to take action on something that has the approval of over 80% of the Americans?! #MedicalCannabis #UnlockCures”
The U.S. House bill to require the issuance of more licenses to grow marijuana for research got two new cosponsors, for a total of 42.
New Mexico U.S. Senate candidate Gary Johnson disclosed his investments in the marijuana industry.
A former U.S. attorney for Kansas spoke at a marijuana conference, calling current law “immoral” and “absurd.”
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and lawmakers are battling over tax rates in a forthcoming marijuana legalization bill.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) says he’s “open-minded” about medical cannabis.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) and other officials are being criticized for taking marijuana industry campaign contributions after opposing legalization.
Vermont gubernatorial candidates debated commercial marijuana legalization.
Florida Republican candidates for governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner are defending the state’s efforts to appeal a court ruling overturning the ban on smoking medical cannabis.
Utah medical cannabis advocates launched their ballot initiative campaign.
Mississippi activists kicked off their signature gathering effort for a 2020 medical cannabis ballot initiative.
Kentucky lawmakers held an interim hearing on medical cannabis.
Seizures of marijuana plants on Colorado public lands are at an all-time high.
Ohio regulators are rescinding a medical cannabis cultivation license from a company that hasn’t made “a good faith effort” to establish its facility.
Kansas regulators are preparing to issue hemp licenses.
The Vermont marijuana legalization study committee’s taxation and regulation subcommittee will meet on September 28.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The European Parliament is considering a proposal to harmonize medical cannabis laws across the continent, with a hearing expected next month.
Canadian officials said they don’t expect widespread problems for those who have used marijuana or work or invest in the cannabis industry at the U.S. border.
An Australian Senate committee recommended against passage of a bill that would allow states and territories to legalize marijuana. Meanwhile, lawmakers are expected to file a separate cannabis legalization bill this week.
/ ADVOCACY
National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch questioned how Botham Jean’s possession of marijuana is relevant to his killing by a police officer.
Former Democratic National Committee chairman and Vermont governor Howard Dean suggested that police may have planted marijuana in Botham Jean’s apartment after he was killed by an officer.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants Utah lawmakers to pass limited medical cannabis legislation in a special session by the end of the year.
The Greater North Dakota Chamber is opposing the state’s marijuana legalization ballot measure.
California Growers Association executive director Hezekiah Allen stepped down to pursue a business opportunity.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that marijuana use rates among adults are rising.
/ BUSINESS
The Coca-Cola Co. is in “serious talks” with Aurora Cannabis Inc. to develop cannabis-infused beverages.
California laws requiring marijuana delivery personnel to be employees instead of independent contractors provides a test case on the “gig economy.”
Wine Spectator sued Modern Wellness Inc. for “passing off” its name in a website called Weed Spectator.
CNBC’s Jim Cramer urged people to not “get ahead of yourself” with investing in marijuana stocks.
/ CULTURE
Stephen Colbert riffed on a couple of recent marijuana news items.
Napoleon Dynamite actor Trevor Snarr spoke about how his sister benefits from medical cannabis.
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