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Legalization early in 2018, Vermont gov & House/Senate leaders agree (Newsletter: Dec. 15, 2017)
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CA begins issuing licenses; Bermuda Senate OKs decrim; Net neutrality & marijuana
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Vermont’s Senate president says he agrees with the governor and House speaker that the state is on pace to legalize marijuana early next year.
California regulators began issuing marijuana business licenses.
/ FEDERAL
Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump, has been leading regular meetings of government officials known informally as an “opioid cabinet.”
- “According to attendees, she worked at one point to refocus the group after a disagreement over whether to cite a recent study showing that marijuana legalization in Colorado coincided with a lower number of opioid deaths. Issuing policy recommendations acknowledging that study — which NIH Director Francis Collins has warned does not demonstrate a causal link — would be both politically self-defeating and likely medically unsound, Conway warned.”
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said, “Next year we want to take on criminal justice reform.”
Leafly considers how the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s rollback of net neutrality regulations could impact the marijuana industry.
A bipartisan group of members of Congress is pushing back against federal plans to crack down on kratom.
/ STATES
A working group of Hawaii lawmakers discussed potential legislation to tweak the medical cannabis program in various ways.
Rhode Island regulators announced they will not accept new medical cannabis cultivation businesses license applications in 2018.
Washington State regulators are considering “rule changes regarding cannabis production canopy as it relates to supply and demand for cannabis.”
Michigan regulators will begin accepting medical cannabis business license applications on Friday.
Maryland regulators approved 12 new medical cannabis dispensaries to open.
West Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board held a meeting.
/ LOCAL
The Easton, Pennsylvania City Council voted 6-1 to direct staff to research enacting a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
The Phoenix, Arizona City Council approved a $100,000 settlement with a man who says police forced him to choose between eating marijuana and going to jail.
The Boston, Massachusetts City Council voted to add a 3% local tax on marijuana sales.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Bermuda’s Senate approved a marijuana decriminalization bill.
The Canadian Senate voted to receive testimony about the government’s marijuana legalization bill from cabinet ministers in February. Some senators want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to appear before them as well.
Australian opposition parties are calling on the government to improve medical cannabis access.
Here’s a look at the possible future of the legal international marijuana trade under a revised NAFTA.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that medical cannabis law enactment “is associated with decreases in marijuana and other drugs in early adolescence in those states.”
A study found that “CBD has beneficial effects in patients with schizophrenia.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Hawaii voters oppose legalizing marijuana, 55% -36%.
An analysis suggests that racial disparities in incarceration rates are starting to slightly narrow.
/ BUSINESS
The Tax Foundation predicts that as more states legalize marijuana they will set lower tax rates in order to more effectively undercut the criminal market.
An analysis concluded that marijuana businesses raised $2.696 billion in 366 transactions this year.
Denver, Colorado police and regulators made arrests and closed down Sweet Leaf marijuana businesses over alleged legal and regulatory violations.
Marijuana CRM platform Baker raised an additional $8 million in funding.
/ CULTURE
Scientist Bill Nye reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana.
Former basketball player Dennis Rodman gifted Stephen Colbert a t-shirt for his marijuana cryptocurrency startup PotCoin.
