Newsletter
NYC cannabis testing ban enacted without De Blasio signature (Newsletter: May 14, 2019)
NAACP & ACLU ask Congress: suspend DEA enforcement; Judge overturns St. Kitts & Nevis marijuana prohibition; POTUS candidate’s veterans/cannabis bills
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- Torbjörn Näslund: “The marijuana issue is important for me personally. I live in Sweden which is an extreme country when it comes to tough laws against cannabis users. I want to do what I can to change the ignorant attitudes towards marijuana in my country.”
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
NAACP, ACLU and criminal justice groups are calling to suspend the Drug Enforcement Administration’s enforcement activities until greater congressional oversight is exercised.
- “Its approach is heavy-handed, ineffective, unscientific, and deeply damaging to communities in this country, particular communities of color who bear the negative impact of the drug war more than others do.”
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a presidential candidate filed three new bills on medical cannabis for military veterans. And in an interview with the Boston Globe, he backed safe consumption facilities for illegal drugs and expressed openness to broader decriminalization.
New York City’s ban on most pre-employment marijuana testing was enacted into law without the signature of Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), despite the fact that he said last month he “will sign that bill.”
A judge overturned the prohibition on using and possessing marijuana in private in St. Kitts and Nevis. Lawmakers have 90 days to implement changes to cannabis laws.
A study found that legalizing marijuana decreased illegal cannabis cultivation in Oregon’s national forests. But the same wasn’t true in neighboring Washington—a result researchers attributed to differences in the states’ legalization laws.
/ FEDERAL
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said he has a lot of concerns about marijuana legalization but that he thinks “the federal government at some point is going to have to contemplate a federal scheme” to “put the federal government back into some kind of harmony with the states where there’s some kind of federal regulation.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles office tweeted, “#DEA is targeting #cannabis and you will land in federal prison.”
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia spoke about the federal law that bars medical cannabis patients from possessing firearms.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) posted a video highlighting his longtime support for legalizing hemp.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), “I’m also a cosponsor of the #MarijuanaJustice Act, which would de-schedule #marijuana and invest money in communities most affected by the war on drugs. I’m approaching this issue on multiple fronts. Legalization is the goal, but all progress is good.”
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) tweeted, “Today, 97.7% of Americans live in states that legalized some form of marijuana use. Forcing these legal businesses to operate on a cash only basis is dangerous and illogical. I’m a proud cosponsor of the #SAFEBanking Act to bring them out of shadows and improve accountability.”
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) tweeted, “#SAFEBanking will get cash off the streets and help grow legitimate marijuana businesses in states, like CA, where it’s legal.”
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) tweeted, “Big win for CT #agriculture last week as @GovNedLamont signed a bill to grow and process #Hemp in CT. I voted w / Congress last year to legalize hemp nationwide & I’m glad our farmers will be able to take advantage of the 2019 growing season.”
The Senate marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 25.
/ STATES
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (D), a presidential candidate, signed a bill requiring judges to vacate past misdemeanor marijuana convictions.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed bills legalizing medical cannabis edibles and enacting ownership restrictions in the marijuana industry.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed an industrial hemp bill into law.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued pardons for people convicted of marijuana and other drug offenses. Meanwhile, the Assembly is considering legislation that would require more municipalities to license marijuana stores.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) expressed openness to launching a pilot program allowing marijuana social use areas.
Pennsylvania’s attorney general tweeted, “PA’s legislature voted to legalize medical marijuana—like 33 other states. But b/c marijuana is illegal at fed level—marijuana-based businesses are forced to be cash operations. This is dangerous & impractical.”
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner tweeted a picture of a farm and said, “Hemp and tobacco greenhouses for dayyyyysssssss……”
Puerto Rico’s Senate approved a bill requiring medical cannabis training for physicians.
Vermont lawmakers are indicating that a bill to legalize marijuana sales is stalled until next year.
Alabama’s Rules Committee chair expressed skepticism that a Senate-passed medical cannabis bill will advance in the chamber.
An Illinois senator who is sponsoring marijuana legalization legislation said it is “likely” that a homegrow provision will be cut in an amendment.
New Jersey regulators announced new rules aimed at further expanding access to medical cannabis.
Michigan regulators awarded the state’s first medical cannabis home delivery license.
Missouri regulators released updated rules on medical cannabis definitions.
Washington State regulators released a new mandatory warning sign about marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding that must be posted at cannabis establishments.
Maine regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed marijuana rules on May 23.
Colorado’s Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee will meet on May 20.
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/ LOCAL
The Cincinnati, Ohio City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal, with a vote expected as soon as Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The United Nations has announced the new member state roster for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which is set to vote next March on rescheduling marijuana and its components under international drug treaties.
Officials from Canada and Luxembourg met to discuss marijuana legalization.
/ ADVOCACY
The Republican Party of New York tweeted, “.@NYGovCuomo’s plan to ram through legalized marijuana was a bad idea from day one, and since then more research warning of its negative impacts has come out from other states. The risks are too high and consequences too grave to justify this revenue grab.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review conducted by Leafly concluded that “Crime near licensed dispensaries has generally stayed flat or decreased, teen cannabis use in legal states has fallen since legalization, and property values near cannabis outlets generally are not affected or, in some cases, experience a greater value increase than comparable properties not near a cannabis outlet.”
A study found that “dogs in the CBD group had a significant reduction in seizure frequency, compared with the placebo group” but that “the proportion of dogs considered responders to treatment was similar between groups.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Houston Chronicle editorial board is urging readers to call Texas’s lieutenant governor and senators to urge them to stop blocking House-passed marijuana decriminalization and medical cannabis expansion bills from advancing.
/ BUSINESS
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made another 420 joke.
Colorado retailers sold more than $142 million in marijuana products in March, a new monthly record.
/ CULTURE
BIlly Ray Cyrus has a new marijuana-themed music video.
The New York Times is asking people to share stories about how Colorado’s marijuana legalization law has affected them.
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