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San Francisco expunges old cannabis convictions (Newsletter: Feb. 1. 2018)

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

San Francisco, California’s district attorney is moving to expunge decades of prior marijuana convictions.

Early polls in states likely to have marijuana initiatives on their ballots this year show strong support for the measures.

A group of local elected officials from around the country published an open letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about marijuana policy.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service forced a visiting Israeli marijuana researcher to leave the country.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal agents to “surge” focus on pharmacies and doctors who are dispensing “unusual” amounts of drugs.

Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA) pressed a veterans service organization about denial of services over medical cannabis use.

A group of 19 Democratic U.S. senators is asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate the Trump administration’s response to opioid issues.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke about his support for letting states set their own marijuana laws without federal interference.

The U.S. House bill to deschedule marijuana got three new cosponsors, bringing the total to 32.

The U.S. House bill to increase marijuana businesses’ access to banks got three new cosponsors, bringing the total to 78.

The U.S. House bill to respect state marijuana laws got one new cosponsor, bringing the total to five.

/ STATES

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) agreed to delay implementation of more restrictive new medical cannabis regulations.

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana policy.

The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously approved an industrial hemp bill.

Virginia’s House of Delegates is expected to approve a CBD/THC-A oil expansion bill on Thursday.

The Utah House Health and Human Services Committee approved bills to give terminally ill patients a “right to try” medical cannabis and directing state officials to grow marijuana for those patients and for research.

The Arizona Senate Government Committee narrowly approved a bill mandating medical cannabis testing.

The Missouri House General Laws Committee scheduled a hearing on a medical cannabis bill for Tuesday.

A New Mexico representative filed a marijuana legalization bill.

Vermont lawmakers are considering legislation concerning saliva testing for marijuana.

Ohio’s House minority leader said he’s not concerned about a medical cannabis business license application reviewer’s past marijuana convictions. Separately, regulators filed an updated list of medical cannabis dispensary business license applicants and proposed addresses.

The director of Guam’s Public Health and Social Services Department resigned because lawmakers haven’t adequately funded medical cannabis implementation.

Alaska representatives filed a bill to prevent local and state officials from assisting federal agents in marijuana crackdowns.

A Rhode Island representative introduced legislation to add marijuana to the state’s second-hand smoke laws.

Oregon regulators issued a bulletin concerning marijuana worker permit compliance.

Here’s a look at where leading Tennessee elected officials stand on marijuana.

/ LOCAL

San Diego, California is expunging old cannabis convictions.

The Savannah, Georgia City Council will consider a marijuana decriminalization proposal on Thursday.

Oakland, California regulators held a lottery to select marijuana retail permits.

Bexar County, Texas’s marijuana arrest diversion program began on Wednesday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

North Korea criticized U.S. marijuana use rates in a report.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is thinking about pardoning people with marijuana possession convictions.

/ ADVOCACY

Notorious right-wing troll Chuck Johnson is investing in marijuana companies.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study involving marijuana sold at retail outlets in the Netherlands found “positive time-dependent associations between changes in cannabis potency and first-time cannabis admissions to drug treatment,” but while the “associations are biologically plausible…their strength after adjustment suggests that other factors are also important.”

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that when given options, 42% of New Jersey adults support legalizing marijuana, 27% want legal medical cannabis use and 26% back decriminalization.

The Orange County Register editorial board is criticizing the use of asset forfeiture funds to support marijuana eradication programs.

/ BUSINESS

ZipRecruiter found that marijuana industry job posts increased by 445% in 2017, compared 254% growth for tech postings and 70% growth in healthcare postings.

Scotts Miracle-Gro says a “logjam” in California marijuana legalization implementation slowed its earnings.

Willie Nelson’s marijuana brand raised $12 million to fund expansion into new markets.

The founder of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which runs the Coachella music festival, has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to anti-marijuana groups.

The New Yorker looks at marijuana products designed to deliver personalized experiences.

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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.

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