Newsletter
Sanders pledges nationwide legal cannabis on day one of presidency (Newsletter: February 3, 2020)
Buttigieg would use Air Force One to boost marijuana reform support; Vermont legalization bill advances; Study: legal cannabis benefits businesses
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, pledged at an Iowa rally that if he is elected to the White House he will “legalize marijuana in every state in this country” on his “first day in office, through executive order.”
Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D), a presidential candidate, said that if Congress refuses to legalize marijuana when he is in the White House he will fire up Air Force One and “fly it directly into the home district of a member who is standing in the way” to rile up pressure from constituents.
The Vermont House Government Operations Committee unanimously approved a bill to legalize marijuana sales.
A Gallup poll found that Americans who are politically liberal are six times more likely to smoke marijuana than conservatives are. There are also differences in cannabis consumption across racial, gender, age and geographic lines.
A study found that businesses in states with legal marijuana see a “multitude of positive effects,” including higher market valuations, bigger stock returns, more employee productivity and increased innovation.
/ FEDERAL
President Trump’s reelection campaign ran a Super Bowl ad featuring a woman whose federal prison sentence for a nonviolent drug charge he commuted.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said that when it comes to regulating CBD, the agency doesn’t “want to overstep our bounds but we want to make sure that safe and effective products are in the hands of people.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, participated in a forum about marijuana legalization in New Hampshire.
Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana.
The House bill to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got two new cosponsors for a total of seven.
The House bill to require the federal government to study the impact of state marijuana laws got one new cosponsor for a total of 31.
New York Democratic congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman tweeted, “Solitary confinement is legal. Marijuana is not. This is America.”
Maryland Democratic congressional candidate McKayla Wilkes tweeted, “Maryland has one of the highest rates of incarceration on Earth. We must abolish private prisons, end cash bail, end the war on drugs, and create a restorative system of justice instead of criminalizing poverty.”
/ STATES
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) tweeted, “From expanding telehealth services to improving our hemp program, to ensuring individuals who communicate non-verbally can vote, I am proud of the bipartisan work we were able to accomplish last year.”
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, to his counterpart in Illinois, “I’m inspired (and envious) of all the progress you’ve made in Illinois- particularly on marijuana. Can we rent your legislature for a month or so?? 😆”
A New Mexico court ruled that medical cannabis producers should be able to deduct gross receipts taxes, meaning that the state may owe millions in refunds.
An Idaho judge ruled that a seized hemp shipment was not grown in accordance with federal law and cannot be returned to its owner.
Alaska regulators proposed changes in rules for marijuana quality control sampling, exit packaging and sales limits.
South Carolina regulators began accepting hemp permit applications.
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/ LOCAL
Chicago, Illinois’s mayor spoke about the need to license marijuana social use areas. She and other officials also hosted the city’s first Cannabis Resource Fair.
Portland, Oregon’s auditor said that the city’s marijuana program needs a better regulatory strategy.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexico’s interior secretary suggested that only farmers’ collectives, rather than large businesses, be able to grow marijuana.
An Indonesian lawmaker suggested that the country export marijuana, but the National Anti-Narcotics Agency rejected the idea.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “a quarter of outpatient palliative care patients use THC or CBD, often on a daily basis.”
A study suggested that “psychedelics cause reductions in problematic substance use.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New York State Bar Association voted to support statewide marijuana legalization.
The New York State Sheriff’s Association voted to oppose statewide marijuana legalization.
/ BUSINESS
Sentia Wellness is launching a line of Sports Illustrated-branded CBD products.
Cura Cannabis will pay Oregon regulators a $110,000 penalty to settle allegations it engaged in “dishonest conduct” by mislabeling marijuana vaping products.
A Vicente Sederberg LLP analysis estimates that Massachusetts retailers have so far sold half a billion dollars in legal marijuana, generating approximately $100 million in tax revenue.
/ CULTURE
Actress Bette Middler tweeted, “The city of Santa Cruz, CA, has decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms. After the last 3 years, I feel we’ve ALL earned a vacation to Santa Cruz, you know what I’m saying?”
Family Feud had a question about other names for cannabis.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
