Connect with us

Newsletter

Oppo poll shows support for legalizing cannabis (Newsletter: May 22, 2018)

Published

on

Hemp to be in final Farm Bill, supporters say; NJ keeps marijuana revenue in budget projection; WV lawmakers want banking fix

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…

Marijuana Moment’s ongoing cannabis advocacy journalism is made possible by readers who support us with monthly Patreon pledges

  • Andre Leonard, Leafbuyer.com: “Tom’s newsletter is INVALUABLE to our team! We operate a publicly-traded marketing and advertising company in the cannabis space, so clients and investors expect us to stay up to date on industry developments. From legalization initiatives and scientific breakthroughs to business developments, Tom provides a comprehensive guide to cannabis news. Thank you!”

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

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

A poll funded by a prohibitionist organization found that support for Michigan’s marijuana legalization ballot measure outweighs opposition, and that the gap grows even after respondents were read arguments against the measure.

Congressional leaders have reportedly assured hemp supporters that language legalizing the crop will be included in the final version of the Farm Bill.

/ FEDERAL

Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) hosted an unofficial field hearing on medical cannabis.

The head of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons resigned after less than a year on the job.

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) cited his support for “the legalization of medical marijuana research” in a Wall Street Journal op-ed he wrote.

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Even though marijuana is “decriminalized” in NYC, 89 percent of the nearly 4,000 people arrested for possession in 2018 are black and Latino. This is why we need the #MarijuanaJusticeAct.” Separately, he appeared on an episode of the Drug Policy Alliance’s podcast.

Three Nevada Republican congressional candidates endorsed rescheduling marijuana during a debate.

Arizona Democratic congressional candidate Garrick McFadden tweeted about racial disparities in marijuana enforcement and the need to decriminalize.

/ STATES

New Jersey’s Office of Legislative Services is not revising Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) projection of $80 million in marijuana tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2019 despite slower-than-expected movement of legalization legislation this year. Separately, a senator is preparing to file legislation to expand the state’s medical cannabis program.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives began consideration of a Senate-passed marijuana legalization bill.

West Virginia lawmakers are pushing for a special session to address medical cannabis banking issues.

The California Senate approved a bill to set minimum penalty standards for retailers that sell marijuana to minors. Meanwhile, a proposed ballot measure to legalize psilocybin failed to collect enough valid signatures.

Nevada Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana social use areas.

Ohio regulators will announce the winners of medical cannabis dispensary licenses on Wednesday. Last week, two judges ruled against halting the cultivation licensing process amid lawsuits from unsuccessful applicants.

Minnesota representatives filed a marijuana legalization bill.

Colorado regulators launched a new “Responsibility Grows Here” public education campaign about marijuana.

Washington State regulators ended the temporary suspension of a marijuana testing lab.

/ LOCAL

Some police leaders are opposing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D) move to end arrests for marijuana smoking. The mayor spoke about his plans, and his view that statewide legalization is “inevitable.”

/ ADVOCACY

The National Association of Sentencing Commissions will hold a session on marijuana laws during its conference in August.

Clergy for a New Drug Policy graded every U.S. state on their drug policies.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of Colorado cannabis consumption found that “legalization did not noticeably impact marijuana use rates among adolescents or young adults” and that “past-30-day use among adolescents remained steady for more than ten years, pre- and post-legalization” but that “healthcare encounters with mention of marijuana have increased after legalization.”

A study of cannabis consumers found that the “vast majority of participants overestimated the quantity of marijuana that they used in their preparations.”

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

The New York Post editorial board is skeptical of a plan to end arrests for public marijuana smoking in New York City.

The New York Daily News editorial board, which supports legalization, is critical of the way the mayor is rolling out marijuana enforcement changes.

PennLive’s editorial board slammed a move by Pennsylvania regulators to keep secret information about the scorers of medical cannabis business license applications.

/ BUSINESS  

BDS Analytics is planning a national expansion after closing a $3.5 million funding round.

New Frontier Data downgraded its California marijuana sales projections by $2 billion.

Here’s a look at airports’ differing approaches to passengers carrying marijuana.

The Associated Press looks at the involvement of women in the marijuana industry.

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.