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NM election results boost legal cannabis prospects (Newsletter: June 5, 2020)

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VT Senate votes to double marijuana possession limit; FDIC head talks cannabis banking; NY senator pushes for legalization

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  • Miles Lowenfield: “It’s my joy to share to such a great cause! Thanks for your good work!  I pledged in order to bring justice where it’s due. No plant on earth should be criminalized. Cannabis is a wonderful plant with hundreds of uses. There’s no reason it should be illegal to consume or grow! I’m grateful for you, Tom! Keep up the good work!”

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Vermont Senate voted to double the amount of marijuana that can be possessed and grown without the threat of jail time. The bill also provides for expungements of prior cannabis convictions.

The prospects for legalizing marijuana in New Mexico significantly increased after five incumbent Democratic senators who opposed or were skeptical about ending cannabis prohibition lost to progressive primary challengers.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams said that marijuana business banking access is one of the most challenging issues she’s faced in the role.

  • “Banks find themselves caught between the federal regulatory regime and the state.”

New York Sen. Julia Salazar (D) is pushing to pass a package of criminal justice reform bills—including marijuana legalization—amid ongoing protests over police killings of black Americans.

/ FEDERAL

A federal judge said that people he places on probation cannot use medical cannabis.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that “one of the biggest lessons of the past year is the need for regulatory clarity from the FDA” on CBD.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) tweeted, “What concrete policies can help confront police violence? … Decriminalize marijuana, and end other discriminatory laws.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) said, “This dark history is exacerbated by the fact that Black Americans are disproportionately the targets of injustices, ranging from loss of jobs, economic inequality and the ever-widened racial wealth gap, to mass incarceration and excessive police force, as well as the War on Drugs and COVID-19.”

The Senate marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 34.

Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Henry Martin tweeted, “We must legalize marijuana. Over 600,000 Americans are arrested every year for minor possession offenses. These otherwise law-abiding citizens are being saddled with a lifelong criminal record over a plant. We can not afford to keep squandering precious law enforcement resources.”

/ STATES

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) cited marijuana legalization as one measure the state has taken to address systemic racism. Meanwhile, regulators have removed cannabis business licensee info from their website in response to looting.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.s’ (D) projections on the economic impact of marijuana legalization contained apparent errors.

North Carolina lawmakers sent Gov. Roy Cooper (D) a farm bill with controversial hemp provisions removed from an initial version.

A Hawaii Health Department whistleblower is raising concerns over the state’s lax regulation of medical cannabis vape cartridges.

Massachusetts regulators said that no one under 21 is allowed to be present in cars doing curbside pickup of marijuana products.

Michigan regulators published an updated bulletin on coronavirus-related measures for marijuana businesses.

Washington State regulators signed a contract with a company to lead a licensing and enforcement systems modernization project.


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.


/ INTERNATIONAL

The United Nations Human Rights Office published a report highlighting human rights violations in the bloody Philippine “drug war.”

Mexican senators spoke about the benefits of legalizing marijuana at an event.

Jamaican regulators responded to what they described as inaccuracies in a news report about the country’s marijuana policies.

The Canadian government generated $32 million in legal marijuana excise tax revenue over the past year.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that  ‘quality’, ‘strain type’, ‘price’, ‘THC’ (tetrahydrocannabinol) and ‘pesticide’ were the top five important attributes affecting cannabis users’ willingness to buy cannabis in a dispensary.”

A study of sexual minority men found that “they used cannabis for sex to increase sexual pleasure and lower inhibitions” and “described using cannabis for sex to reduce feelings of anxiety and shame, and foster intimacy and connection with sexual partners.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is pushing Congress to include a mandate for the Food and Drug Administration to draft CBD regulations in the next economic relief bill or other must-pass legislation.

Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Steve Hawkins penned a note connecting the organization’s work to the fight for racial justice.

/ BUSINESS

Infinite Bloom is being sued for allegedly sending unwanted text messages.

San Francisco Bay Area marijuana businesses seem to have been specifically targeted for robberies during the past week.

Columbia Care is being sued for alleged tortious interference with contract, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, aiding and abetting fraud and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty.

/ CULTURE

The Wire creator David Simon tweeted, “The war on drugs long ago metastasized into a war on people in the same manner that border enforcement has become anti-human. This is a fresh low. If you cooperate with drug enforcement or ICE, you are part of Pharaoh’s army. Refuse to bear witness. Nullify every jury. Resist.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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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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