Connect with us

Newsletter

New NE medical cannabis measure filed after court loss (Newsletter: September 29, 2020)

Published

on

3 state lieutenant govs share marijuana advice; AMA campaigns against MS medical cannabis measure; New handbook on how to decriminalize psychedelics

Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.

Get our daily newsletter.

Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…

Paid for by readers like you. Marijuana Moment’s newsletter and in-depth cannabis reporting is made possible by the 491 people who subscribe to us on Patreon.

Support our work for $25/month and gain access to valuable insider data, exclusive interview audio, and more: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Nebraska medical cannabis activists—whose measure was removed from November’s ballot by the state Supreme Court because the justices determined it violated the single-subject rule—are filing a new initiative for 2022 that simply states:

  • “Persons in the State of Nebraska shall have the right to cannabis in all its forms for medical purposes.”

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) hosted a marijuana chat with Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) and Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D), during which the legalization state officials gave advice on how to navigate cannabis legislation—including a focus on social equity.

The American Medical Association is partnering with the Mississippi State Medical Association to urge the state’s voters to reject a medical cannabis initiative on the November ballot.

The psychedelics reform group Decriminalize Nature released a 123-page guidebook for how to enact local laws lessening the criminalization of entheogens. It includes model legislation, press release templates and sample educational emails to send to lawmakers.

/ FEDERAL

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign rejected President Trump’s call to take a drug test before the debates, saying the Democrat “intends to deliver his debate answers in words. If the president thinks his best case is made in urine he can have at it.” Trump responded, “Joe Biden just announced that he will not agree to a Drug Test. Gee, I wonder why?”

A federal judge ruled that workers in Pennsylvania can sue employers for alleged discrimination against their use of medical cannabis.

The Internal Revenue Service filed a brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to dismiss a case from Harborside Health Center appealing a ruling on the 280E tax provision.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and four cosponsors filed a resolution that includes a provision criticizing the imprisonment of the Philippine vice president over her advocacy against that nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s cancellation of the November election for her seat that was triggered by the death of the Legalize Marijuana Now Party’s candidate.

Maryland Democratic congressional candidate Mia Mason is hosting a series of four webinars to discuss marijuana reform issues.

/ STATES

Michigan’s attorney general opened an investigation into a group that allegedly misled voters into signing ballot petitions for a measure to reduce the governor’s powers by telling them it was for medical cannabis or other issues.

Texas’s agriculture commissioner toured a hemp farm.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands proposed an expansion of the state’s hemp pilot program.

Utah’s top medical cannabis regulator said patient enrollment is exceeding all expectations.

California regulators published information on how marijuana farmers can get access to disaster relief.

Rhode Island regulators published an annual report on the state’s medical cannabis program.

Maine regulators published guidance on marijuana business expense tax deductions.

New York regulators published information about hemp grower reporting requirements.

Ohio regulators are being sued over failure to act on a medical cannabis cultivation license application.

Wisconsin regulators posted an update on implementation of the state’s hemp program.

Colorado regulators published average market rates for marijuana.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

San Francisco. California’s Cannabis Oversight Committee has several vacancies.

Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor tweeted about how the state is “missing out” on “how cannabis-related tax revenues have helped fill budget gaps” in other places.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is part of a new poster campaign in favor of the country’s marijuana legalization referendum.

A New South Wales, Australia lawmaker is pushing to decriminalize marijuana.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review of studies on the impact of drug decriminalization policies found that “legal reform was most often not associated with changes in use.”

A study will examine the efficacy of CBD and cannabis for treating anxiety aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that Pennsylvania voters support legalizing marijuana, 58%-35%.

Drug policy reform funder David Bronner published a post explaining his decision to no longer financially support Decriminalize Nature’s national leadership.

Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana released a report purporting to show that legalization has not gone well in states that have enacted it.

/ BUSINESS

GW Pharmaceuticals and General Nutrition Centers both met separately with White House Office of Management and Budgets officials to discuss CBD regulatory issues.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced that its senior advisor resigned.

Acreage Holdings, Inc.  announced the opening of its first marijuana dispensary in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

/ CULTURE

A new documentary shows how former basketball player Lamar Odom therapeutically used psychedelics.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.

Get our daily newsletter.

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
Become a patron at Patreon!

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.

Advertisement

Marijuana News In Your Inbox

Get our daily newsletter.

Support Marijuana Moment

Marijuana News In Your Inbox

 

Get our daily newsletter.