Newsletter
Schedule I blocks cannabis research, feds admit (Newsletter: April 3, 2019)
FDA schedules CBD hearing & cracks down on companies; McConnell wants hemp banking guidance; PGA warns golfers about CBD; Study slams gov’t marijuana
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a public hearing on CBD regulations for May 31.
The Food and Drug Administration also sent a new round of warning letters to companies that allegedly made unsubstantiated health claims about their CBD products. And FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb insinuated that the agency would also soon send warnings to CVS and Walgreens, which recently announced they will begin carrying CBD products.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow acknowledged in a congressional hearing that marijuana’s Schedule I status makes it harder to research. She also spoke about racial disparities in drug law enforcement.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent letters pressing federal financial regulators to issue guidance on hemp businesses’ access to banks.
A study found that federally produced marijuana is genetically closer to hemp than the commercial cannabis that consumers are actually using, which raises questions about how applicable research using government product really is to reality.
The PGA Tour issued a warning to golfers who use CBD.
- “If a player decides to use a CBD product, they assume the risk that the product may be contaminated with higher levels of THC than claimed on the label, potentially increasing their risk of a positive result on a drug test.”
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts filed charges against an alleged unlicensed marijuana delivery business.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, spoke about the political evolution of marijuana law reform since his last campaign.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “America must legalize and regulate marijuana. Then, we need to expunge nonviolent marijuana-related offenses from the records of the millions of people who have been arrested and incarcerated so they can get on with their lives.”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) said that Congress should reexamine marijuana laws “holistically, and I look forward to being a part of that effort.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) discussed the prospects for federal marijuana reform in a C-SPAN interview.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) accepted a gift of cannabis seeds distributed by activists on Capitol Hill.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill adding autism spectrum disorders as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) spoke about the benefits of legalizing marijuana and said he thinks the legislature will approve it this year.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted that more than 25,000 people have so far submitted comments about marijuana legalization to the state.
Georgia lawmakers sent Gov. Brian Kemp (R) a bill to legalize in-state production and sales of low-THC medical cannabis products.
The New York Assembly’s majority leader said she’s ready to keep pushing for marijuana legalization.
The Colorado House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor approved a bill to allow marijuana home delivery services.
The Florida House Appropriations Committee approved a hemp bill.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections is moving to allow people on parole or supervised release to use medical cannabis.
Louisiana lawmakers pressed regulators about medical cannabis implementation during a hearing.
California regulators published guidance on commercial cannabis activity.
Kansas medical cannabis advocates hope the legislature creates a study committee on the issue to help build support for passing legislation next year.
The Associated Press looks at legalization states’ moves to loosen restrictions on the marijuana industry.
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/ LOCAL
The Daytona Beach, Florida City Commission will consider a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance on Wednesday.
Brooklyn, New York’s district attorney said that marijuana expungements should be done automatically.
San Francisco, California hired a new top marijuana regulator.
/ INTERNATIONAL
China is moving to treat all forms of fentanyl as controlled substances.
/ ADVOCACY
The Republican Party of New York tweeted, “.@NYGovCuomo raises the tobacco smoking age to 21 while simultaneously pushing marijuana legalization. This is what it looks like when you let politics drive public policy instead of facts.”
NORML is conducting a web poll about which candidate marijuana legalization supporters should back in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
/ BUSINESS
The Portland Phoenix newspaper has gone out of business, but its publisher hopes that it can resume operations as Maine’s legal marijuana market comes online and creates more potential advertisers.
/ CULTURE
Musician Henry Rollins spoke about his support for marijuana law reform.
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