Newsletter
Oppo launches cannabis industry donation tracker tool (Newsletter: August 15, 2018)
Marijuana key in NV Senate race; Scientists use espresso machine to make cannabis extracts; MO poll shows support for medical marijuana on ballot
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
In the first of what will be a series of Marijuana Moment profiles of key political races this year, new freelancer Madison Margolin takes a look at how cannabis is playing in the contest between U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (kind of) launched an online tool that appears to be meant for tracking cannabis industry donations to members of Congress.
Scientists formulated a method for using commercially available espresso machines to make marijuana extracts in less than a minute.
/ FEDERAL
Attorney Michael Avenatti, who is weighing a 2020 presidential campaign, supports federal marijuana decriminalization.
Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a U.S Senate candidate, said, “Who’s going to be the last black man to be behind bars in Texas for something that’s legal [marijuana] in the rest of the United States? We need to end the war on drugs that’s become a war on people.”
/ STATES
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) opposes legalizing marijuana. And the Senate majority leader said “our society is going to go down” if voters approve the state’s cannabis legalization ballot measure.
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams tweeted, “I support legalization of medical cannabis, expansion of in-state cultivation of medical cannabis, & decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis. Legalizing medical cannabis will help combat prescription drug abuse, and give Georgians suffering from many conditions access to the prescribed treatment they need.”
Here’s a look at where Wyoming gubernatorial candidates stand on legalizing marijuana.
Pennsylvania regulators ordered a medical cannabis dispensary to stop running a special for $1 grams.
Louisiana’s medical cannabis crop has been delayed by regulatory hurdles.
A Guam Senate committee held a hearing on legislation to allow medical cannabis home cultivation.
California regulators held a public hearing to receive feedback on marijuana rules.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Food Safety Standards Board met to discuss quality and safety of medical cannabis products. Separately, regulators asked a judge not to toss out medical cannabis rules.
Hawaii regulators approved the first medical cannabis production center on Hawaii Island.
Massachusetts regulators are reviewing municipal agreements involving large payments from marijuana businesses to their host communities.
/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado regulators sent guidance about an expected “surge in marijuana license renewal applications over the next 8 weeks.”
A marijuana reform advocate lost a tie-breaking draw for a Ross Township, Michigan supervisor race.
/ ADVOCACY
Athletes for CARE hired Anna Valent as its first executive director.
Empowering Wellness is a new advocacy organization focused on supporting Florida federal elected officials who back medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found “further evidence of prohibitionist drug policy proliferating rather than mitigating drug-related harms.”
A survey of Israeli pain specialists found that “almost all prescribe cannabis” and “63% find cannabis moderately to highly effective, 56% have encountered mild or no side effects, and only 5% perceive it as significantly harmful.”
A study examining emoji reactions to High Times Facebook posts provided “insights into users’ opinions towards marijuana that may potentially benefit public health surveillance applications.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that Missouri likely voters support amending the state’s constitution to legalize medical cannabis, 54%-35%.
The Los Angeles Times editorial board criticized municipalities that ban marijuana deliveries.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corporation reported 63% quarterly growth. And alcohol distributor Constellation Brands invested another $5 billion in the cannabis company, giving it a 38% stake.
Severn Bank is continuing to serve the Maryland medical cannabis industry, with those accounts making up a growing share of its deposits.
Here’s a look at the popularity of CBD oil in Georgia as access issues with the state’s low-THC medical cannabis law persist.
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Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
