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Maryland House votes to expand cannabis decrim (Newsletter: March 12, 2020)

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TN Senate committee OKs medical marijuana; 100k sigs for OR psilocybin measure; FDA pressed on CBD at hearing; USDA approves state hemp plans

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Maryland House of Delegates voted to expand the state’s marijuana decriminalization law from only 10 grams to a full ounce.

The Tennessee Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a medical marijuana bill, though a last-minute amendment would prevent the program from taking effect until cannabis is federally rescheduled.

The Oregon psilocybin campaign working to put a measure to legalize therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms on the November ballot announced it has collected more than 100,000 signatures so far.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn faced questions about the agency’s efforts to regulate cannabidiol at a congressional hearing, saying at one point that CBD-infused “teething rings for babies” definitely won’t be allowed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved hemp plans from Georgia and Montana, bringing the number of states the federal government has now signed off on proposals for the newly legal crop from to 10. Twelve Indian tribes have also gotten clearance.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Department of Agriculture tweeted about the availability of crop insurance for hemp.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “The time is long overdue for us to legalize marijuana and expunge past marijuana convictions.”

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) plans to file a new bill called the Hemp Opportunity Zone Act, which would increase THC limits, expand access to banking and provide tax relief for businesses, among other changes.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sent an alert to NORML’s supporter list asking people write their representatives in support of his veterans’ medical cannabis bill being voted on by a House committee on Thursday.

Rep. Don Young (R-AK) sent his constituents a survey on whether military veterans should be able to access medical cannabis.

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got one new cosponsor for a total of 72.

The House bill to end the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses got one new cosponsor for a total of nine.

New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Hector Oseguera tweeted, “✅ End the #WarOnDrugs ✅ Release those incarcerated on marijuana convictions ✅Restore voting rights ✅Prioritize licenses to directly affected communities”

/ STATES

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) named a new top medical cannabis regulator.

New York’s Senate majority leader said that marijuana legalization and other issues lawmakers hoped to address through the budget aren’t dead but are less of a priority than responding to coronavirus.

The Arizona House of Representatives approved legislation to require warning labels on medical cannabis and use proceeds from a new tax to support research on whether there is a link between marijuana consumption and schizophrenia or violent behavior.

The Vermont Senate appointed members to a conference committee to reconcile the differences in marijuana legalization legislation with the House.

A South Dakota legislature conference committee approved a hemp bill.

The Mississippi Senate Constitution Committee approved a House-passed resolution to place a competing medical cannabis question on the ballot next to an activist-driven one.

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee voted to kill a Senate-passed hemp bill.

A California court upheld Kern County’s ban on marijuana dispensaries.

Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, located in South Dakota, approved marijuana legalization and medical cannabis referendums while defeating a proposal to allow alcohol in the tribe’s casino.

New Mexico regulators asked the state Supreme Court to consider whether medical cannabis is exempt from gross receipts taxes like prescription drugs are.

The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and Agency for Substance Abuse Policy said in a report that relatively low adolescent cannabis use rates are “threatened by efforts to legalize marijuana use in the Commonwealth.”

Iowa’s hemp program is in jeopardy of missing a growing season because federal officials have not yet approved the state’s plan.

Washington State regulators canceled a meeting on marijuana quality control testing next week due to coronavirus concerns. They also rescheduled a listen and learn forum on draft conceptual rules regarding cannabis true party of interest regulations to be via webinar only.

Here’s a look at efforts to reform Indiana marijuana laws.


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

Ecorse, Michigan voters approved a ballot measure to allow marijuana businesses, while those in Clinton Township and  Sidney Township were rejected.

A report commissioned by the Los Angeles County, California Board of Supervisors recommends decriminalizing drug use and allowing safe consumption sites for illegal substances.

/ INTERNATIONAL

German regulators are accepting medical cannabis distribution license applications.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “cannabinoids reduce the tumour growth in animal models of [glioblastoma multiforme].”

A study found that “medical marijuana law enactment in US states appears to have been associated with increased prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis, but not alcohol.”

A case study looked at what happened to a woman who “presented with acute onset of a diffuse, blistering, maculopapular rash with over 30% total body surface area involvement two days after taking CBD oil sublingually for chronic pain” and later died of septic shock.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Americans for Safe Access changed its Unity Conference this month from an in-person event in Washington, D.C. to online-only due to coronavirus concerns.

/ BUSINESS

MedMen terminated 128 additional employees in February.

Canopy Growth Corporation and TerrAscend Canada Inc. entered into a loan financing arrangement in the amount of C$80.5 million.

Hightimes Holding Corp. announced that it will trade under the symbol “HTHC” once it clears regulatory hurdles.

Mindbloom opened a ketamine clinic in New York City.

/ CULTURE

Michigan’s Hash Bash event has been postposed from April 4 to the fall due to coronavirus concerns.

Iditarod champion Lance Mackey said he gives his dogs CBD.

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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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