Newsletter
Oregon Senate votes to legalize cannabis imports & exports (Newsletter: May 16, 2019)
Legal marijuana expected for 2020 NJ ballot; Treasury sec.: No tax credit for cannabis biz; Texas Senate OKs hemp; No CBD for horses; Border bill
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
New Jersey’s Senate president announced that lawmakers are ditching the idea of trying to pass marijuana legalization legislation and will instead put the issue on the 2020 ballot for voters to decide. In the meantime, the legislature will proceed with medical cannabis expansion and expungement proposals.
The Oregon Senate voted to legalize interstate marijuana imports and exports. A change in federal policy is required for the legislation’s provisions to take effect, but the vote itself is a first for any state.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said during a Senate hearing that marijuana businesses should not be able to qualify for federal “opportunity zone” tax credits aimed at encouraging investments in distressed low-income communities.
The Texas Senate unanimously approved a House-passed hemp legalization bill, but not before making some changes—meaning that a conference committee to reconcile the two chambers’ versions will be necessary before the legislation is sent to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott (R).
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) reintroduced a bill aimed at solving border issues faced by marijuana industry participants, and to prevent immigrants from being deported over state-legal cannabis use.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation, which regulates most equestrian sports, has ruled that competition horses are not allowed to use CBD.
/ FEDERAL
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll argued that increased border security would “save lives.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), in a Senate floor speech, included marijuana in a list of drugs that have “flooded our streets” and are contributing to “despair.”
Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) is reportedly looking into working on gun access issues for medical cannabis patients.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted that he’s “proud” to work on “legislation to expand access to medical cannabis for our veterans!”
The Senate marijuana banking bill got two new cosponsors, for a total of 27.
The House marijuana banking bill got two new cosponsors, for a total of 180.
/ STATES
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced that regulators launched an online licensing portal for hemp producers and processors.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) made a number of jokes about drugs during a speech at the opening of a new hotel at JFK airport. Meanwhile, the Senate majority leader said that marijuana legalization discussions are still ongoing.
Kentucky Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana policy.
In a shift, Connecticut’s House speaker said that marijuana legalization could get a vote during the regular session instead of in a later special session.
The Nebraska Senate held a floor debate on a medical cannabis bill, but is not likely to vote on the proposal.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee held a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill.
An Oregon bill to legalize marijuana social use areas is reportedly dead.
The Rhode Island Senate Labor Committee held a hearing on a bill to expand employment protections for medical cannabis patients.
The Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will hear a House-passed medical cannabis expansion bill on Friday.
Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board rejected a proposal to remove opioid use disorder as a medical cannabis qualifying condition, and the health secretary said she needs more time to decide whether to add anxiety and Tourette syndrome. The body also rejected recommending adding nausea as a result of irritable bowel syndrome to the list.
Utah regulators gave an update on medical cannabis implementation, CBD product registration and tracking software, and said that physicians will not be punished for using medical marijuana.
Michigan regulators released a bulletin on homogeneity testing of marijuana products.
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/ LOCAL
The Cincinnati, Ohio City Council postponed a vote on a marijuana decriminalization proposal. A councilmember said he will launch a ballot measure on the issue if his colleagues don’t approve the measure.
New York City’s police commissioner expressed concerns about marijuana legalization during a City Council hearing.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Ukrainian Parliament’s Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Committee filed a medical cannabis bill in response to a citizen petition.
/ ADVOCACY
The South Dakota Democratic Party tweeted, “States across the country (including our neighbors) are taking steps so that their farmers can take advantage of the economic opportunities of industrial hemp. Thanks to Gov. Noem, though, our farmers can’t, and SD is falling further and further behind.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “recreational cannabis legalisation is associated with neutral effects on healthcare utilisation” and “is linked to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, alcohol abuse, overdose injuries and a decrease in chronic pain admissions.”
A study found that “black males had a 2.2% point decrease in the relative probability of college enrollment after the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A survey found that 82% of banking executives want the federal government to allow financial services providers to do business with the marijuana industry.
/ CULTURE
Jeopardy had yet another marijuana question, one of several in recent weeks.
Musician Tom Morello tweeted in support of legalizing marijuana in New York.
Musician Roger Daltrey chastised audience members for smoking marijuana at a recent concert.
The New York Times Magazine has a cover story on CBD.
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