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NJ Senate leader not interested in cannabis decrim (Newsletter: March 13, 2018)

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Weedmaps pushes back against regulators; NYPD defends racist arrest rates; MD legalization hearing

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New Jersey’s Senate president opposes decriminalizing marijuana without legalizing it, and is considering a possible referendum to allow voters to weigh in on ending prohibition.

Weedmaps is apparently refusing to comply with California regulators’ request to remove listings for unlicensed marijuana businesses from its website. Legal experts have differing opinions of the company’s legal strategy and what might come next.

/ FEDERAL

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and three cosponsors filed legislation to expand the Drug Enforcement Administration’s authority to set quotas on opioid manufacturing.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said the war on drugs is a “self-inflicted wound” that has “affected this country in ways that are far more profound than the average person understands.”

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he supports legislation to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky.

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) criticized President Trump’s suggestion of using the death penalty against people who sell drugs.

/ STATES

The New York Assembly’s budget proposal contains a provision to  automatically seal records for low-level marijuana offenses.

An Oklahoma bill to preemptively enact restrictions ahead of voters’ consideration of a medical cannabis ballot measure did not get enough Senate votes for passage.

The New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted hold a marijuana legalization bill previously passed by the full chamber for “interim study.”

The Arizona House Committee on Military, Veterans and Regulatory Affairs approved a bill to require testing of medical cannabis products.

The Illinois House Elementary Education Committee approved a bill to allow medical cannabis at schools.

The North Dakota Legislature’s Administrative Rules Committee approved medical cannabis regulations.

The Maryland House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill on Tuesday. Separately, legislation aimed at increasing ownership in the medical cannabis industry by people of color may end up giving a boost to companies owned by white people.

An Indiana lawmaker is moving to strip the language in a CBD medical cannabis bill and replace it with measures to make it easier to carry guns.

Colorado regulators adopted a universal symbol for marijuana products, eliminating the current “M” that appears on medical cannabis.

An Alaska police chief tapped to serve on the state’s marijuana regulatory board withdrew after losing his law enforcement job.

/ LOCAL

The New York City police commissioner, in an appearance before the City Council, defended ongoing racial disparities in marijuana arrests.

Advocates in Los Angeles, California are holding events to help people with prior marijuana convictions get their records expunged.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Taiwan Premier William Lai said he opposes decriminalizing drugs.

/ ADVOCACY

Prohibitionist group Marijuana Accountability Coalition is highlighting five Colorado lawmakers who have received campaign contribution from the cannabis industry as a “grotesque example of corrupt and conflicted leaders.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

An analysis of the relationship between incarceration rates and drug problems found “no statistically significant relationship between state drug imprisonment rates and three indicators of state drug problems: self-reported drug use, drug overdose deaths, and drug arrests.”

A study concluded that “CBD was found to have potential benefits as add-on therapy for refractory childhood epilepsies, mainly by reducing seizure burden.”

A study found that “CBD-rich botanical extract may be beneficial for symptomatic treatment” of ulcerative collitis.

Research from Colorado State University conducted a study on the impact of marijuana legalization on crime.

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp slammed President Trump’s suggestion of using the death penalty on people who sell drugs.

/ BUSINESS

An analysis from New Frontier Data estimates that full federal legalization of marijuana has the potential to create cumulatively $105.6 billion in federal tax revenue and 1 million new jobs by 2025.

/ CULTURE     

Former NFL player Terrell Davis will keynote at the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s conference this month.

Travel writer Rick Steves published a blog post about his cross-country marijuana law reform efforts.

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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.

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