Newsletter
McConnell meets with cannabis industry leaders (Newsletter: October 10, 2019)
Gabbard backs legalizing drugs; Congress pushed on pesticides & marijuana; Rogen & Snoop offer cannabis tips; Study: Marijuana reduces opioid use
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) plans to meet with marijuana industry representatives and tour at least one California cannabis business this week.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, said the country should move toward legalizing drugs like cocaine and heroin.
The Oregon Education Association says it supports the aims of a proposed drug decriminalization ballot measure but is concerned about provisions to redirect cannabis tax revenue away from schools and toward drug treatment.
The advocacy group Beyond Pesticides is urging Congress to take action to prevent the misuse of pesticides on marijuana. The lack of federal regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency leaves states making up their own rules, and that puts consumers at risk, the group says.
A study on medical cannabis and chronic pain found that more than a quarter of patients stopped taking opioids altogether after using marijuana, while another 55% of participants reduced their opioid use by an average of 30%.
Seth Rogen and Snoop Dogg spoke to Howard Stern about how they enjoy smoking marijuana together, and they offered advice for cannabis novices.
/ FEDERAL
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director James Carroll discussed his concerns with marijuana legalization in a Drug Enforcement Administration podcast.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture official participated in a Pennsylvania hemp summit.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to take up a case challenging a Michigan court’s ruling overturning marijuana charges that stemmed from police “knock and talk”interviews.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit directed a lower court to take another look at a case challenging a Kansas police raid on a home that resulted from officers mistakenly thinking tomato plants and loose-leaf tea were evidence of a marijuana grow.
Former Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julián Castro, a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Addressing the injustice of the failed war on drugs means that we must legalize and regulate marijuana, and ensure victims of these policies — a majority of whom were Black and Brown—have their records expunged and are given access to economic development opportunities.”
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) said that “the impact on the ability of small and large businesses to operate justifies our attention” to marijuana banking issues.
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 47.
/ STATES
Washington State regulators approved a 120-day ban on flavored marijuana vaping products.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill to let parents administer medical cannabis to students at schools. He also signed legislation to remove a sentencing enhancement that added an extra year to sentences for each prior prison or felony jail term a person had. Separately, regulators awarded grants to local jurisdictions to support marijuana equity efforts.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he is continuing to push for marijuana legalization.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “The majority of Pennsylvanians told @FettermanLT they want adult-use, recreational marijuana to be legal. I’m asking the legislature to seriously consider a legalization bill and get it to my desk.”
Louisiana gubernatorial candidates agreed on opposing legalizing marijuana during a debate.
Maine lawmakers are starting to file marijuana reform bills for the new legislative session.
Texas regulators unexpectedly suspended the application process for low-THC medical cannabis business licenses.
Illinois regulators released information on social equity cannabis loans, dispensary licenses and industry scams.
Michigan regulators sent a bulletin about marijuana business employee background checks. They also updated inspection guides.
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/ LOCAL
The Anchorage, Alaska Assembly voted to place a question about allowing on-site consumption at marijuana dispensaries before voters.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD did not consistently influence the effects of THC across all studies and outcomes” but suggested that “CBD may interact with some acute effects of THC.”
A survey of pharmacy students found that “91% of students believed that [medical cannabis] should be legalized nationally” but that “a low number of students correctly identify approved indications.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug Policy Alliance is hiring a director for its office of national affairs.
/ BUSINESS
A hypothesis put forth by Colorado Green Lab suggests that the outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries could be caused by a metal ingredient in vaping devices themselves—instead of a contaminant in nicotine or cannabis oils.
Nielsen and Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. teamed up to launch a CBD retail market analysis program.
New Frontier Data is acquiring Zefyr, Inc.
Iron Laboratories, LLC paid a $100,000 fine as part of a settlement with Michigan regulators over violations related to its marijuana testing and reporting results.
The marijuana-focused app Social Club was removed from Apple’s App Store after it was reportedly flooded with posts about drug sales, weapons and pornography.
/ CULTURE
Musician Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth spoke about the time she got busted smoking marijuana at Disneyland.
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