Newsletter
Multiple MO cannabis ballot measures filed (Newsletter: July 20, 2021)
MD Senate president says pass marijuana bill; Cannabis banking numbers stabilize, feds report; Study: legalization drives property values up
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Maryland’s Senate president doesn’t seem that excited about the House speaker’s idea to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the 2022 ballot. Instead, he wants to just have lawmakers pass a bill to legalize cannabis themselves and not wait until next November.
Missouri activists filed four new 2022 ballot measures to legalize marijuana or amend the existing medical cannabis program. Several separate groups are pursuing competing legalization initiatives, and others are pushing the legislature for a referendum.
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reported that the number of banks servicing the marijuana industry appears to have stabilized following several earlier quarters of declining numbers.
A new study found that states that legalize marijuana see increased home values, and that having cannabis dispensaries open in a city drives property valuations up even more.
/ FEDERAL
The National Institute of Justice tweeted, “As more states legalize marijuana, the search for better methods of proving and preventing #DrugImpairment on the road accelerates, including laws against drug-impaired driving that can withstand evidentiary challenges.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “With the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act that @SenBooker, @RonWyden, and I released last week: We are working to end the federal prohibition on marijuana and repair the harms done by the War on Drugs.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “Our plan to legalize marijuana is about equal justice and equal opportunity. It’s time we end this backwards prohibition on marijuana that has ruined far too many lives with unjust convictions and destroyed far too many communities.” He also tweeted, “In 2019, there were more marijuana related arrests than for all violent crimes combined. Our broken marijuana laws don’t make us safer—if anything they make us less safe by redirecting limited resources away from actual crimes. It’s time to change this.” And he tweeted, “The American people want marijuana legalized at the federal level. Tens of millions of Americans have already voted for legalization at the state level from red and blue states alike. Congress must start to move on our framework to get this done.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “The War on Drugs has never and will NEVER work. Decriminalization is the correct next step. Then we legalize.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, “It’s past time that Congress take action to end the federal cannabis prohibition – a policy supported by a vast majority of Americans. We must also address the needs of communities that have been disproportionality harmed by the War on Drugs.”
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) tweeted, “Another step toward legalization. I’m excited to see my colleagues clearing the way for further research into cannabis and technology to detect impairment.”
/ STATES
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) made appointments to the state’s three new marijuana oversight bodies. Separately, the state attorney general is hiring a dedicated cannabis attorney.
The South Dakota legislature’s Rules Review Committee approved medical cannabis rules for schools.
Kansas House Democrats tweeted, “Have you emailed your state senator about passing medical cannabis yet?”
Illinois’s top marijuana regulator spoke about plans to award new business licenses.
California regulators moved to consolidate marijuana regulations.
Colorado regulators published a report showing that youth marijuana use has not significantly changed since legalization, among other findings.
Police at New York airports are reportedly no longer seizing marijuana, making arrests or issuing tickets for low-level possession for travelers.
Washington, D.C. police still use dogs that are trained to detect marijuana, even though it has been legal in the city for years.
Washington State regulators are decommissioning a marijuana data dashboard at the end of this month.
Utah regulators sent an update about the medical cannabis program.
Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
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/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado officials published guidance about the city’s marijuana accelerator program.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Jamaica’s minister of agriculture and fisheries spoke about government rules for growing and processing psilocybin mushrooms.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that recreational marijuana laws “increase adult marijuana use and reduce drug-related arrests over an average post-legalization window of three to four years,” and “there is little evidence to suggest that RML-induced increases in marijuana consumption encourage the use of harder substances or violent criminal activity.”
A study of mice found that “psilocybin ameliorates stress-related behavioral deficit” and “increases spine density and spine size in frontal cortical pyramidal cells.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Americans oppose the marijuana-related suspension of runner Sha’Carri Richardson, 47 percent to 40 percent.
The Democratic Governors Association touted the legalization of marijuana as one of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) accomplishments.
Al Sharpton offered his support for new federal marijuana legalization legislation.
The Portland Press Herald editorial board said Congress should end federal marijuana prohibition sooner rather than later.
/ BUSINESS
Harborside Inc. asked its interim CEO to step down effective immediately.
Molson Coors Beverage Company and HEXO Corp.’s Truss CBD USA joint venture is expanding into additional parts of Colorado.
The Parent Company launched a shoppable iPhone app.
SweetWater Brewing Company, LLC launched a 420 Imperial IPA.
/ CULTURE
Megan Fox spoke about participating in an ayahuasca ceremony in Costa Rica.
The Onion made fun of President Joe Biden for being afraid of marijuana and people who consume it.
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