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New Hampshire House votes on legalization this week (Newsletter: Jan. 1, 2018)
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Fmr. DEA head’s son listed on marijuana biz apps; crime lower around cannabis dispensaries than liquor stores; Fmr. SecState backs drug decrim
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation to legalize marijuana possession and homegrow this week.
A study found that crime rates are higher around alcohol and tobacco shops than medical marijuana dispensaries.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said in his annual report on the judiciary that a third of the federal criminal caseload in 2017 was taken up by drug cases. And there seemed to be a drop in the number of marijuana cases.
Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, along with Mexico’s former secretary of finance, published an op-ed calling for drug decriminalization.
The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse’s meeting in February will include a session on cannabis policy recommendations.
/ STATES
Congresswoman Diane Black (R-TN), a Tennessee gubernatorial candidate, said she’s “totally opposed” to medical cannabis and would veto any legalization bills if elected.
The son of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who once led the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is listed as the agent on several pending medical marijuana business license applications.
Vermont’s House Republican leader seems resigned to a marijuana legalization bill that he opposes passing, but will try to amend it.
Some California law enforcement leaders are worried about the implementation of legal marijuana sales. Separately, regulators are holding public workshops on the state’s cannabis track-and-trace and licensing systems.
Pennsylvania begin issuing state registration cards to medical cannabis patients.
Rhode Island regulators are accepting public comment about proposed medical cannabis testing rules.
Washington State lawmakers filed bills to only allow municipalities to ban marijuana businesses through public votes and concerning cannabinoid additives, warning signs about unregulated marijuana products and misleading the public about marijuana business ownership.
Ohio regulators released contact information for medical cannabis testing lab businesses license applicants.
Massachusetts regulators will hold a series of public hearings to receive feedback on proposed marijuana legalization implementation rules. They are also hiring a “chief people officer.”
The deadline to submit bids for North Dakota’s seed to sale tracking software contract is Friday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canada is instituting fines of up to $1 million for marijuana companies that use banned pesticides.
/ ADVOCACY
The Roger Stone-led U.S. Cannabis Coalition launched an ad targeting U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “consumption of hemp-oil doesn’t result in THC-positive oral fluid or blood screens.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Los Angeles Times editorial board included “a more enlightened, pragmatic approach to marijuana” in list wish list for 2018.
The Bowling Green Daily News editorial board says Kentucky lawmakers should seriously debate legalizing marijuana as a partial budget fix.
/ BUSINESS
Here’s a look at which California retail locations will begin selling recreational marijuana on Monday.
Canadian marijuana stocks halted trading after a sudden price drop.
A marijuana-focused exchange-traded fund debuted on the NYSE Arca.
MassRoots formed a subsidiary to offer blockchain technologies to the marijuana industry. (Disclosure: I am a former employee and minority shareholder in the company.)
Reuters looks at the cannabis industry’s banking access problems.
/ CULTURE
Former boxer Mike Tyson broke ground at a new marijuana cultivation facility.
CNN’s New Year’s Eve special showed a man hitting a gas mask bong.
