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Missouri House passes medical cannabis bill (Newsletter: May 2, 2018)

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Feinstein flips on marijuana; Canadian Senate committee wants legalization delay; Hemp industry loses DEA lawsuit

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Missouri’s House of Representatives approved a medical cannabis bill by a vote of 112-44, sending it to the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), long one of Congress’s most ardent drug warriors, now says amidst a tough reelection campaign that she supports protecting California’s marijuana laws from federal interference. A spokesman for Democratic opponent Kevin de Leon told Marijuana Moment that it’s “good to see that Senator Feinstein is catching up to what voters knew 22 years ago, but values should transcend political quests to hold on to power.”

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided with the Drug Enforcement Administration in a hemp industry lawsuit about CBD’s status as a Schedule I drug.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has now designated high-intensity drug trafficking areas in all 50 states.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) tweeted, “The time to end the federal marijuana prohibition is long overdue… With the opioid epidemic ravaging our country, there’s no time to waste.”

/ STATES

Maine lawmakers will consider an override of Gov. Paul LePage’s (R) veto of marijuana legalization implementation legislation on Wednesday.

Florida regulators released proposed rules for medical cannabis business licensing. Meanwhile, a state appeals court temporarily blocked a judge’s ruling allowing a man to grow his own marijuana from taking effect.

California’s insurance commissioner approved the first coverage for commercial landlords that addresses risks specific to renting to cannabis businesses.

New Jersey regulators announced that the state medical cannabis program now has more than 20,000 patients.

The Michigan House of Representatives began consideration of a marijuana legalization ballot initiative proposal. Separately, regulators say they hope to begin issuing medical cannabis business licenses within the next six weeks. And a senator filed a bill to ban marijuana-infused alcoholic beverages.

Idaho Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana policy.

Illinois’s treasurer tweeted about the importance of marijuana businesses’ access to banks.

Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator is predicting that retail outlets will be “sparse” when recreational sales begin on July 1. Separately, agriculture officials are now accepting applications for hemp cultivation licenses.

South Carolina regulators are accepting applications for hemp cultivation permits.

Alaska regulators proposed changes to rules on marijuana waste disposal.

/ LOCAL

The Allentown, Pennsylvania City Council will consider a marijuana decriminalization proposal on Wednesday.

The Sacramento, California City Council voted to approve a last-minute permit for marijuana at the upcoming High Times Cannabis Cup.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canada’s Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples is urging the government to delay marijuana legalization to ensure adequate consultations with Indigenous people.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris is opposing efforts to legalize or decriminalize marijuana.

The UK government rejected an online petition calling for marijuana legalization.

/ ADVOCACY

The Center for American Progress released a report calling for marijuana descheduling and other reforms.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that “MDMA with adjunctive psychotherapy in a controlled setting were effective and well tolerated in reducing PTSD symptoms in veterans and first responders.”

A survey found that “palliative care providers endorse cannabis for a wide range of palliative care symptoms, end-of-life care generally, and as an adjuvant medication” but that the gap between these beliefs and actual recommendation or prescription appears vast” because “many who support the use of cannabis in palliative care do not recommend it as a treatment.”

/ BUSINESS  

Alaska collected more than $1 million in marijuana tax revenue in March.

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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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