Newsletter
National poll shows highest-ever support for legal cannabis (Newsletter: November 15, 2019)
USPS’s “drug free USA forever” stamp; Congressional resolution includes marijuana legalization & drug expungements; Acreage backs home grow
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A Pew poll found that 67% of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, including 55% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats. Among Millennials, 71% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats are on board.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) filed a House resolution that calls for criminal justice reforms such as legalizing marijuana and expunging all drug-related convictions, but it appears to have been scaled back from a draft version that also included ending arrests for drug possession.
The U.S. Postal Service is launching a new “Drug Free USA Forever” stamp.
/ FEDERAL
The Senate sent President Trump a bill making technical corrections to statutes governing the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Former Department of Justice and Hillary Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted, “Marijuana for All Who Want It.”
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) tweeted, “Thank you to the 18 national organizations for their work to keep Congress from interfering with DC’s efforts to commercialize recreational marijuana. We will never tolerate restrictions unique to DC.” She also sent a press release about the issue.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) tweeted about a new Pew poll, saying, “Surveys like these tell us that it is LONG past time we legalized marijuana and addressed the injustice of non-violent marijuana offenses. I’m also on the SAFE Banking Act to ensure legal cannabis businesses have access to our financial system.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted about the poll, saying, “This is just more evidence and is consistent with what we’ve been hearing in state after state: adult-use cannabis should be legalized. Congress needs to get in step with the American people and end this senseless prohibition.”
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) tweeted, “I believe it’s high time that we end #marijuana prohibition! I’ve also introduced the Homegrown Act to help people of color & small businesses to share in the growing #cannabis industry.”
/ STATES
Illinois lawmakers approved a bill to tweak and correct aspect of the state’s marijuana legalization law.
Oregon’s Court of Appeals placed a stay on Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) ban on flavored cannabis vaping products.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld a lower court ruling that found Gov. Charlie Baker (R) did not have authority to unilaterally ban vaping products. Meanwhile, the state’s Cannabis Advisory Board voted to recommend that regulators adopt emergency vaping rules.
The North Dakota legislature’s interim Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the potential implications of legalizing marijuana.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) appointed a new interim top marijuana regulator.
Washington State regulators proposed rules on marijuana packaging and labeling, vaping and the license application process.
A Wisconsin representative filed a bill to allow the voter initiative process in the state, which he said could advance marijuana decriminalization.
Michigan regulators updated several marijuana advisory bulletins.
New Mexico’s medical cannabis program now has 78,362 enrolled patients, including 130 out-of-state residents.
Colorado lawmakers are considering introducing legislation to regulate kratom.
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/ LOCAL
Chicago, Illinois officials will determine zoning approvals for recreational marijuana businesses by a random lottery on Friday.
New York City’s comptroller tweeted, “The evidence is clear: the people are ready to legalize cannabis. There’s just no excuse anymore. New York must get this done during next year’s legislative session. It’s time.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s health minister said the government is moving to allow people to grow up to six medical cannabis plants at home. A new rule will also allow foreigners to bring medical marijuana into the country with them.
Trinidad and Tobago’s attorney general is bringing a marijuana decriminalization bill before the country’s Cabinet and Parliament.
New Brunswick, Canada officials are moving to privatize what has been a government-run marijuana sales operation.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “inhaled cannabis reduces self-reported headache and migraine severity by approximately 50%” but that ” its effectiveness appears to diminish across time and patients appear to use larger doses across time, suggesting tolerance to these effects may develop with continued use.”
A study concluded that “co-occurring pain, anxiety, and depression may be particularly amenable to treatment with” medical cannabis.
A study concluded that “compared with placebo, psilocybin enhanced post-intervention mindfulness and produced larger positive changes in psychosocial functioning at a 4-month follow-up, which were corroborated by external ratings, and associated with magnitude of acute self-dissolution experience” and that “meditation seems to enhance psilocybin’s positive effects while counteracting possible dysphoric responses.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Hemp Federation of America held a Capitol Hill lobby day.
The Cannabis Council of Canada is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address key industry challenges.
/ BUSINESS
The vice president of government affairs for Acreage Holdings published a LinkedIn post saying that allowing people to grow their own marijuana at home is “all good — for them and the industry,” though the company was part of a New York trade association that asked Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to keep the activity illegal in a memo that Marijuana Moment obtained.
High Times laid off most of the staff of its acquisition Dope magazine and is cutting back its publication schedule from monthly to quarterly, and the company extended its underperforming public offering for another two months.
Flow Kana is laying off up to a fifth of its workforce.
Edible Arrangements is launching a line of CBD-infused foods.
Canopy Growth Corporation reported C$76.6 million in quarterly net revenue, a 15% reduction from last quarter.
Aurora Cannabis Inc. reported net quarterly revenue of C$70.8 million.
Akerna Corp. reported quarterly revenues of approximately $3.2 million.
/ CULTURE
Drake’s Dream Crew company is trying to trademark the Canadian government’s official marijuana warning label in the U.S.
Podcaster Joe Rogan spoke to author Malcolm Gladwell about how he enjoys marijuana and psychedelics.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
