Connect with us

Newsletter

NY legislative leader wants legal cannabis in 2020 (Newsletter: April 27, 2020)

Published

on

CIA on drug use by would-be agents; Study: medical marijuana reduces opioid use; City considers ending employee cannabis testing

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…

Subscribers who value this daily dispatch enough to show their support with a few dollars help us keep doing this. Please chip in and help ensure Marijuana Moment’s continued operations.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New York’s Assembly majority leader says she still wants to pass a marijuana legalization bill in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.

  • “I do think there’s time in this legislative session to get it done.”

The Central Intelligence Agency said in a new post that people who use marijuana or other illegal drugs aren’t necessarily “bad or unworthy,” but it still won’t hire those who have consumed in the past year. And the agency that secretly dosed people with LSD and has been accused of drug trafficking involvement is urging job applicants to prioritize demonstrating “sincerity and honesty” when asked about their substance use.

A new scientific review found “a much higher reduction in opioid dosage, reduced emergency room visits, and hospital admissions for chronic non-cancer pain by [medical cannabis] users, compared to people with no additional use of [medical cannabis],” including a 64%-75% drop in opioid dosage and a complete stoppage of opioid use by 32%-59% of patients.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “Our marijuana small businesses shouldn’t be left behind in our #COVID19 response. @RonWyden and I are leading our colleagues in calling on these businesses to have equal access to @SBAGov emergency loans and grants.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) inserted comments about his new bill to include marijuana businesses in coronavirus relief legislation into the Congressional Record.

Florida Democratic congressional candidate Pam Keith tweeted, “I support the legalizing of cannabis,removing it as a scheduled substance,expunging all cannabis convictions,& creating a fund to assist the hardest hit people to participate in the legitimate cannabis industry. I would also support Federal funding for cannabis research.”

/ STATES

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued a proclamation extending late tax penalty waivers for marijuana businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A California court ruled that the estate of a deceased landlord owes nearly $6 million in fines for leasing property to illegal medical cannabis dispensaries.

A Massachusetts judge disposed of a marijuana dispensary’s lawsuit against Cambridge’s equity ordinance.

Rhode Island regulators are extending expiration dates for medical cannabis registration cards during the coronavirus pandemic.

An Alabama representative said the chances of advancing a Senate-passed medical cannabis bill in the House depend on leaders’ priorities in a shortened session amid the coronavirus outbreak.

/ LOCAL

Rochester, New York’s mayor and City Council president introduced a proposal to end pre-employment drug testing for THC for city employees.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Australian regulators proposed rules making it easier to purchase CBD products.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “under medical supervision, endocannabinoid targets offer new advantages for patients for controlling multiple medical disorders.”

A case study that “involved a patient integrating medical cannabis into her treatment to better manage a generalized anxiety disorder and the debilitating symptoms of vertigo” demonstrated “how the patient drastically improved her quality of life.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that Louisiana voters oppose legalizing marijuana, 54%-37%.

/ BUSINESS

Canadian regulators recalled Sundial Growers Inc. products over mislabelled THC content.

Jane Goodall is partnering with Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. on a line of branded hemp products, a portion of the proceeds of which will be donated to her environmental conservation and reforestation initiatives.

Akerna reported that 4/20 was the biggest Monday for marijuana sales in 2020 yet.

/ CULTURE

Golfer Billy Horschel spoke about his use of CBD products.

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

Get our daily newsletter.

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.