Newsletter
Prohibition blocks cannabis warning labels, Trump cabinet member says (Newsletter: August 30, 2019)
Surgeon general’s marijuana warning ignores data; GOP PAC touts cannabis to protect embattled senator; Former drug czar speaks at legalization event
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued an advisory about the harms of marijuana, particularly for young people and pregnant women.
- Though the warning—the publication of which is being funded with a $100,000 donation from President Trump’s salary—cites shifting teen perceptions that it implies are the result of legalization, it neglects to mention that youth cannabis use has actually declined since states started ending prohibition.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar inadvertently admitted that keeping marijuana illegal makes it harder to educate consumers and keep them safe.
- “There’s also no labeling regime for illegal products.”
The head of GOP super PAC Senate Leadership Fund—who happens to be a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—touted marijuana as a way embattled Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) can keep his seat in next year’s elections.
Former White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske—who once told Marijuana Moment’s editor that “legalization” wasn’t even in his vocabulary—has been scheduled to speak at a conference about ending cannabis prohibition in Mexico.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held oral arguments in a case challenging the Idaho State Police’s seizure of a hemp shipment.
National Credit Union Administration Chairman Rodney Hood tweeted, “Earlier this month, @TheNCUA issued interim guidance making it clear that federally insured credit unions can provide customary financial services, including loans, to hemp growers. This is a positive step that will help bridge the gap until full regulatory framework is in place.”
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “From the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana problems include daily cough & phlegm, more frequent lung illness, higher risk of lung infections, & increased heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. Marijuana is a serious and powerful drug today.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted about New York’s expanded marijuana decriminalization and expungements law, saying, “Good. Now let’s do every other state and territory in the country.”
Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) hosted a discussion with local farmers about “charting a course for Southern Virginia to capture the lead in the rapidly emerging hemp market.”
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) tweeted, “Border Patrol arrests 11 illegal alien drug smugglers w/820 lbs of marijuana. Since 2013 the Left has hit me for saying ‘They carry 75 lbs of marijuana on their backs.’ ALL are of ‘DREAMER’ age. How many are card carrying DREAMERS? Any valedictorians?”
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) tweeted about meeting with members of the Kentucky National Guard and thanked them for “the tremendous work you do in fighting the war on drugs in Kentucky.”
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana and expunging records. Separately, the House majority leader announced the Democratic lawmakers will hold 15 community meetings about marijuana in advance of introducing a legalization bill.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) authored an op-ed detailing her concerns about legalizing hemp.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted a video about a woman whose past marijuana conviction was cleared from her record under a bill he signed.
A Nevada judge cleared some new marijuana dispensaries to open amid a dispute about the state’s licensing process.
A New Mexico judge made permanent a previous ruling that regulators must issue medical cannabis cards to out-of-state patients.
Illinois regulators announced the first “same site” recreational marijuana licenses, which will allow existing medical cannabis dispensaries to sell to all adults over 21.
Washington State regulators issued draft conceptual marijuana enforcement rules.
Michigan regulators announced they will hold 11 marijuana social equity program educational sessions next month.
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/ LOCAL
Chicago, Illinois’s mayor, in her state of the city speech, spoke about developing a “healthy cannabis industry” that generates revenue and “creates new business and job opportunities for black and brown people who have been the victims of the War on Drugs, and who to date, have mostly been excluded from the legitimate medical and recreational markets as entrepreneurs.”
Denver, Colorado’s Cannabis Health and Safety Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his government will support legalizing medical cannabis in exchange for the Zehut party not running in next month’s elections.
Jamaica’s Scientific Research Council is set to launch medical cannabis evaluations next month.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of marijuana’s impact on sex found that “eighty-two participants (38.7%) said sex was better, 34 (16.0%) said it was better in some ways and worse in others, 52 (24.5%) said it was sometimes better, and only 10 (4.7%) said it was worse” and that “119 (58.9%) said cannabis increased their desire for sex, 149 of the 202 participants (73.8%) reported increased sexual satisfaction, 144 of 199 participants (74.3%) reported an increased sensitivity to touch, and 132 of 201 participants (65.7%) reported an increased intensity of orgasms.”
A study of rats found that “there are changes present in the sperm epigenome of cannabis users at a gene involved in [autism spectrum disorder].”
A study concluded that “the correlation in a particular strain between THCA or CBDA and a certain set of terpenoids, and the partial specificity in interaction may have influenced the cultivation of cannabis and may have implications for therapeutic treatments.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The president of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana claimed in a tweet that state officials are committing federal felonies simply by issuing licenses to cannabis businesses—a conclusion that has not been reached by any court to date.
Americans for Safe Access published a U.S. travel guide for medical cannabis patients.
The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association formed a PAC that plans to donate to supportive lawmakers.
/ BUSINESS
Vireo Health International, Inc. reported 70% quarterly revenue growth from a year ago and a net loss of $1.9 million.
Facebook is ending the ability to target ads based on interest in harm reduction, a move an advocate said “will hurt our movement to end the overdose crisis & war on drugs.”
/ CULTURE
Former football player Terrell Davis spoke about his company’s new CBD-infused sports drink.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
