Newsletter
NM Senate approves cannabis decriminalization (Newsletter: March 6, 2019)
NJ gov puts legal marijuana revenue in budget; POTUS candidate John Hickenlooper’s cannabis record; MO rep wants to repeal medical marijuana
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There are now 833 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions.
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The New Mexico Senate approved a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession by a vote of 30 to 8.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) included $60 million in revenue from legalizing marijuana in his new budget. In a speech, he said he would not sign a cannabis bill that doesn’t include expungements of prior records.
Marijuana Moment’s latest analysis looks at the cannabis record of former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), who is running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
A Missouri representative filed a bill that, if passed by lawmakers, would ask the state’s voters—66% of whom approved medical marijuana last year—to go back to the ballot to repeal it.
/ FEDERAL
Vice President Mike Pence visited a Drug Enforcement Administration facility where 30,000 pounds of marijuana is being stored.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has resigned. Meanwhile, the agency approved a drug similar to ketamine for depression.
The Department of Defense disputed a report saying it considers investing in marijuana companies a violation of its anti-drug policies, saying that it “continues to research the topic.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the Internal Revenue Service’s ability to audit marijuana businesses.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the revocation of a pilot’s license from a man who was discovered to have been transporting marijuana edibles during a crash landing.
The U.S. attorney for the Southern DIstrict of West Virginia tweeted a link to a 2011 federal memo about restrictions on firearms access for medical cannabis patients, adding, “Guns and drugs don’t mix.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “It’s not enough to legalize marijuana at the federal level—we should also help those who have suffered due to its prohibition.”
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said, “If you can buy [hemp and CBD] at Costco you ought to be able to grow it in Oregon, so our farmers end up winning and farmers in Canada and China aren’t laughing all the way to the bank.”
Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Don Young (R-AK) will file legislation to deschedule marijuana and require the federal government to study the impact of state cannabis laws on Thursday.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “U.S.-based marijuana companies are going overseas to conduct research because of our strict federal marijuana laws. My Marijuana Justice Act would legalize marijuana at the federal level and provide a path for our nation to become innovators in the expanding cannabis industry.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Any plan to legalize cannabis must include criminal justice reform and restorative justice. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the #MarijuanaJusticeAct with @CoryBooker and @BLeeForCongress.”
House legislation to regulate marijuana like alcohol was the fifth-most-viewed bill on Congress.gov last week.
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said he’s “pushing very hard” to make sure marijuana legalization is enacted this year.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted to encourage people to attend his administration’s marijuana legalization listening events.
West Virginia’s Senate sent a medical cannabis banking bill to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice (R).
The Georgia House of Representatives approved a bill to allow in-state cultivation and sales of low-THC medical cannabis.
A majority of the South Dakota Senate voted to approve a bill to legalize industrial hemp, but it fell short of a required two-thirds margin and will be brought up again on Wednesday.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said he doesn’t think a candidate’s support for marijuana legalization will drive voters to the polls.
Texas’s agriculture commissioner is pushing for hemp legalization.
The Virginia Supreme Court is being asked to force judges to dismiss marijuana cases in line with a local policy instituted by the Norfolk commonwealth’s attorney.
The Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee unanimously approved a medical cannabis regulation bill.
The Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to add new qualifying conditions for the state’s limited medical cannabis law.
The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee defeated a bill to prohibit medical cannabis in jails.
The Kentucky House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on a medical cannabis bill on Wednesday.
The North Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee chair has drafted a marijuana decriminalization amendment that could be attached to broader legislation.
The Florida Senate is scheduled to take up a bill allowing patients to smoke medical cannabis on Thursday.
Hawaii regulators announced that out-of-state patients can now buy medical cannabis.
Here’s a look at where Minnesota marijuana bills stand in the legislative process.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 800 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.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
Canadian regulators are looking into whether marijuana companies broke the law by sponsoring a children’s charity event.
New Zealand’s government reported that a planned marijuana legalization referendum in 2020 will cost $2.2 million to carry out.
/ ADVOCACY
The New York State AFL-CIO released a statement outlining its preferences for marijuana legalization, which it supports.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of rats found that “psychedelic microdosing may alleviate symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders.”
A study concluded that “active state medical marijuana laws lead to lower pain and better self‐assessed health among older adults” and that they “lead to increases in older adult labor supply, with effects concentrated on the intensive margin.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of New Hampshire adults found that they support legalizing marijuana, 68%-27%, with 80% of respondents saying they’d like to see cannabis sold at licensed retail outlets and taxed in the event of legalization.
/ BUSINESS
Eaze is expanding into Oregon.
/ CULTURE
The New Yorker made fun of the CBD craze.
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