Newsletter
Missouri medical cannabis fight heats up (Newsletter: Oct. 8, 2018)
Arizona US Senate candidates on marijuana; Mexican president-elect will consider legalizing drugs; Denver psilocybin ballot measure language cleared
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The fight between competing Missouri medical cannabis ballot campaigns is heating up as groups snipe over marijuana tax rates. Plus, a new committee opposed to all three measures has formed.
Arizona’s major party U.S. Senate candidates have both been House members for several years, and have very different voting records on marijuana policy measures.
/ FEDERAL
Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) filed a bill to to give resources to law enforcement to eradicate illegal marijuana grows on public lands, increase fines and penalties for such cultivation and establish a fund to restore land damaged by that activity.
In a floor speech, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) blamed “the left” for “pretend[ing] to be outraged when they found out that Judge Ginsburg had smoked marijuana” during the course of this Supreme Court nomination in the 1980s.
PolitiFact ruled that a statement from Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a U.S. Senate candidate, that marijuana is “legal in most states in this country” is “Mostly False.”
The U.S. House bill to respect state medical cannabis laws got two new cosponsors, for a total of 30.
Kansas Democratic congressional candidate James Thompson tweeted, “Legalizing marijuana is the moral thing to do, the just thing to, and the right thing to do for our economy. It’s time for Kansas to get ahead of the 8-ball and #LegalizeIt.”
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) reiterated his support for medical cannabis but said he remains opposed to legalizing marijuana.
Utah’s lieutenant governor said he will “probably” vote against the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure.
Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis spoke during a debate about gun rights for people who consume marijuana. Separately, regulators will hold a hearing next week on proposed permanent marijuana rules.
Idaho Democratic gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan tweeted, “As our research and perception of this stigmatized plant evolves, Idaho should not fall behind in this matter, clinging to false information and prejudices of the past. Idaho can benefit from medical cannabis legalization as a society and economic force.” She also mentioned the cost of cannabis enforcement at a forum.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum sent an email blast about his support for legalizing marijuana. Separately, a judge ordered regulators to begin registering new medical cannabis businesses within two weeks. And regulators reported that the state now has 133,581 qualified medical cannabis patients.
Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont spoke about the fiscal and other benefits of legalizing marijuana.
A report found that Washington State regulators rushed the state’s seed-to-sale marijuana tracking system despite technical problems.
New Hampshire’s marijuana legalization study committee will deliver its final report by November 1.
Ohio’s first legal medical cannabis crop is being harvested.
/ LOCAL
The language of a proposed Denver, Colorado ballot measure to decriminalize psilocybin has been cleared for signature gathering.
The Norton Shores, Michigan Police Department restored marijuana legalization comments it initially removed from its Facebook page following complaints about censorship.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will consider legalizing some drugs, supporting commentary from the current defense minister, who said that legalizing the cultivation of opium for medical use could reduce cartel violence.
Medical cannabis will be available in the UK within a month.
The Canadian government announced its plans to recover the costs associated with implementing marijuana legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
Archaeologists found evidence of a Bronze Age drug trade.
Slate’s Working podcast looks at what it’s like to be a cannabis researcher.
/ BUSINESS
It appears that Aurora Cannabis is preparing to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
Cresco Labs closed a $100 million funding round.
Alaska collected $1.54 million in marijuana tax revenue in August.
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Photo by Brendan Cleak.
