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NJ gov wants medical cannabis expansion (Newsletter: Jan. 24, 2018)
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VT committee hears legal sales bill (already!); Fed court expands MMj rider reach; CA Senate prez pushes feds
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed an executive order directing officials to examine ways to expand the state’s medical marijuana program.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling containing a broadened interpretation of the protections provided by a congressionally-approved medical cannabis rider, finding that it can be invoked to prevent the Department of Justice from spending money to defend against appeals from people convicted of medical marijuana activity that was in compliance with state laws.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) is urging Nevada’s U.S. attorney not to intefere with the state’s marijuana laws.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said he wants his state to legalize marijuana and expunge past convictions.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) sent a letter asking U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to respect the state’s cannabis laws.
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), a member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, is calling the Trump administration’s efforts on the issue a “charade” and a “sham.”
Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a U.S. Senate candidate, tweeted, “Jeff Sessions wants to double down on the failed war on drugs. Here’s a different idea, let’s end it altogether.”
Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL) published an op-ed criticizing federal anti-marijuana moves.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) sent a series of tweets about the marijuana industry’s banking access issues.
The U.S. House bill to deschedule marijuana got one new cosponsor, bringing the total to 29.
The U.S. House bill to exempt state-legal marijuana activity from the Controlled Substances Act got two new cosponsors, bringing the total to 42.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — a key decider on marijuana rescheduling — hired a former Trump campaign staffer with cannabis advocacy on her resume as special assistant in the Immediate Office of the Secretary, a Freedom of Information Act release shows.
/ STATES
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) appears ready to veto a bill extending a moratorium on legal marijuana sales through April 18.
California Senate President Kevin de León, a U.S. Senate candidate, is calling on Congress to pass legislation to prevent federal intervention in state marijuana laws.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) made a curious remark about marijuana at a rally in favor of school choice.
Nevada Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak, currently a Clark County commissioner, is calling on state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, to push back on federal marijuana moves. The Nevada A.G. is the only one from the legal cannabis state not to sign a recent letter about banking access, which is being criticized by the state Democratic Party.
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant (R), a gubernatorial candidate, said he opposes legalizing marijuana but is open to limited medical cannabis.
Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated legalizing marijuana.
Vermont’s House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs held a hearing on a bill to legalize and regulate marijuana sales. The move comes just one day after the enactment of a noncommercial legalization law.
A Virginina House Courts of Justice subcommittee will hold a Wednesday hearing on legislation to decriminalize marijuana and reform the state’s limited CBD medical cannabis program.
The Georgia House Medical Cannabis Working Group will hold its first meeting on Wednesday.
Nevada regulators have suspended the licenses of nearly half the state’s marijuana testing labs.
Kentucky’s Republican House speaker said he has mixed feelings about medical cannabis.
Indiana’s Senate Corrections and Criminal Code Committee approved a CBD medical cannabis bill.
Pennsylvania lawmakers and advocates held a rally at the state capitol to call for marijuana law reform.
/ LOCAL
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania officials are moving to open safe injection sites for illegal drug consumers.
DeKalb County, Georgia commissioners are asking state lawmakers to change the law to allow counties to enact policies to reduce marijuana arrests.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian government’s point man on marijuana legalization will make a Wednesday announcement about cannabis research.
/ ADVOCACY
The Drug Policy Alliance released a report tracking the effects of state marijuana legalization.
The California Growers Association filed a lawsuit against regulators’ decision to allow unlimited stacking of cannabis cultivation licenses.
Here’s an interview with the prohibitionist leading the campaign to defeat Michigan’s proposed marijuana legalization ballot measure.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
Researchers developed a method for using “social media data to uncover previously unknown (to researchers) drug terms.”
/ BUSINESS
The New York Times is conducting a reader survey about its coverage of opioid issues.
/ CULTURE
Video game streaming service Twitch allowed Snoop Dogg to smoke a blunt on air.
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