Newsletter
Legal cannabis qualifies for South Dakota 2020 ballot (Newsletter: January 7, 2020)
Fed official decries marijuana study hurdles; MedMen’s AZ exit & 2020; Study: Drug safe consumption sites save lives; Dave Chappelle bogarts cannabis
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The South Dakota secretary of state confirmed that activists submitted more than enough signatures to put a marijuana legalization measure on the 2020 ballot. A separate medical cannabis initiative previously qualified as well.
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said that marijuana’s Schedule I status is a barrier to research, and he decried how scientists have to use government cannabis and can’t study what consumers are actually obtaining from dispensaries.
Here’s a look at what MedMen’s move to sell its Arizona medical cannabis licenses might mean for the 2020 marijuana legalization effort in the state, for which the company has been the campaign’s third-biggest funder.
A study found that drug consumers who regularly visit supervised injection sites—a harm reduction measure now supported by several Democratic presidential candidates—are less likely to die compared to those who don’t.
- “Our findings underscore the need for continued efforts to enhance access to SIFs as a strategy to reduce mortality among [people who inject drugs]. In particular, given that SIFs have limited geographic coverage and that PWID have been found to often encounter long wait times in accessing SIF services in this setting, the broader expansion of SIFs may serve to improve service accessibility and thereby reduce the potential for mortality and other harms among this population.”
Sarah Silverman jokingly called out fellow comedian Dave Chappelle for not sharing his marijuana.
- “I think it’s puff, puff, pass—not puff, puff, puff, puff.”
/ FEDERAL
President Trump was on hold during a break from a radio interview while Rush Limbaugh read an ad for CBD products.
House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) said her panel will waive jurisdiction on a bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to begin repairing the harms of the war on drugs.
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted, “The first full week of now legal, recreational marijuana in Illinois. A lot will go wrong. States are hurtling toward a long overdue collision with federal regulators that’s going to require Congress to intervene.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, spoke about his support for ending the war on drugs, legalizing marijuana and expunging past records.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) tweeted, “After hearing from #Iowa farmers, I fought to include legislation in the #FarmBill to legalize industrial hemp. Now, it’s important Iowans’ voices are heard during the state rulemaking process.”
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said “I chuckle that they want to keep me out” in response to his being banned from visiting the Philippines over a measure he supported criticizing that country’s bloody “war on drugs.”
Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) said he supports decriminalizing marijuana.
Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Anthony Clark tweeted, “We must federally legalize cannabis & ban employer drug tests for it. We must federally legalize cannabis & ban employer drug tests for it. We must federally legalize cannabis & ban employer drug tests for it.”
Pennsylvania Democratic congressional candidate Salem Snow tweeted, “Great to see we’re getting past this stigma! Our campaign will fight for a full federal pardon of all marijuana convictions across the country. We must end the tradition of mass incarceration that disproportionately affects POC & low income individuals!”
/ STATES
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said he believes medical cannabis can be legalized “in a revenue-positive way where no one is priced out of medication they may need but it will also help the budget in so many other areas.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said it would be a mistake for the state to legalize marijuana.
Florida’s agriculture commissioner tweeted about rules on CBD in food products taking effect.
New York’s Senate majority leader said that lawmakers are “getting closer” to reaching an agreement about the specifics of mariuana legalization legislation.
New Mexico lawmakers and regulators are being asked to do something about heavy water use by medical cannabis growers.
South Carolina regulators issued a notice that hemp and CBD ingredients are not permitted in commercial animal feed.
Oklahoma regulators published a medical cannabis packaging and labelling guide.
Illinois regulators published a FAQ about the state’s new cannabis legalization law.
Michigan regulators are seeking participants for marijuana social equity workgroups.
Massachusetts regulators will consider provisional marijuana license applications on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Baltimore, Maryland City Council president, a candidate for mayor, said he supports legalizing marijuana.
The Arlington County, Virginia commonwealth’s attorney is calling on state lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
A Chicago, Illinois marijuana dispensary was burglarized.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry opened medical cannabis clinics.
Canadian regulators issued guidance on how to most safely consume marijuana extracts and edibles.
Maltese prime minister candidates said they are open to legalizing marijuana.
Mexican officials said that more than 61,000 people have disappeared in the nation’s bloody “drug war.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “clinical trials with Cannabis in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have shown improvement in quality of life but failed to provide evidence for a reduction of inflammation markers.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Democratic Governors Association tweeted, “Thanks to @GovPritzker, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana and implement important criminal justice reforms for communities of color.”
Officials with the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives are calling for marijuana to be rescheduled.
The Illinois Rifle Association published an explainer on how the state’s new marijuana legalization law intersects with Second Amendment rights.
/ BUSINESS
Hightimes Holding Corp. hired a former Overstock.com president as its new CEO.
Aurora Cannabis Inc. listed one of its greenhouses for sale.
FSD Pharma is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Thursday.
Goldenseed said it is the first U.S. private cannabis cultivator and processor ever to be qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell its stock to the general public.
CES gave an award to Heep Labs for innovation in its marijuana storage device but then banned the company from mentioning cannabis at its exhibit booth.
PAX Labs launched a new cannabis vaporization device.
STAT looks at class-action lawsuits filed against CBD companies.
Illinois retailers sold more than $10 million worth of recreational marijuana products in the first five days of legal sales.
/ CULTURE
The UFC is piloting an oral fluid drug testing method aimed at detecting only in-competition use while not punishing fighters for weeks-old consumption.
The Washington Post spoke to people who went to see the movie “Cats” while high on marijuana, LSD or psilocybin.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
