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Senate extends medical cannabis protections (Newsletter: November 1, 2019)

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Ohio cities to vote on marijuana decrim; USDA opens hemp public comments; Education Department blocks cannabis FOIA request

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Senate approved a funding bill that continues to shield state medical cannabis laws from Department of Justice interference through Fiscal Year 2020, but it doesn’t have a broader House-passed rider covering all state marijuana laws. The legislation also contains new language directing the Food and Drug Administration to issue a policy of CBD enforcement discretion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now officially accepting public comments on proposed hemp rules.

Five more Ohio cities will vote on marijuana decriminalization measures on Tuesday.

  • “Shall the proposed Sensible Marihuana Ordinance, which lowers the penalty for misdemeanor marijuana offenses to the lowest penalty allowed by State law be adopted?”

/ FEDERAL

The Department of Education denied a Freedom of Information Act appeal to release internal anti-marijuana documents solicited by the White House.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) tweeted, “How we’re going to transform this country’s approach to criminal justice: ✔️ Ban private prisons ✔️ Invest in restorative justice ✔️ Restore felon voting rights ✔️ Ban racial profiling ✔️ Demilitarize police departments ✔️ Legalize marijuana and expunge records”

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got two new cosponsors for a total of 52.

/ STATES

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) spoke about a new marijuana decriminalization bill. Separately, regulators will begin accepting hemp license applications on Friday.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and the state’s attorney general discussed their support for marijuana legalization in an Instagram Q & A session.

Texas’s agriculture commissioner said the state is ready to finalize its hemp rules following the filing of proposed federal regulations.

Rhode Island’s deputy House speaker said regulators should refrain from issuing new medical cannabis business licenses until an investigation can determine whether politically connected people and companies have had an unfair advantage in the process.

Iowa regulators are considering adding post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and intellectual disability with aggression and/or self-injury as medical cannabis qualifying conditions and replacing the THC potency cap with purchasing limits.

The New Jersey Department of Health is co-hosting a medical cannabis symposium with Rutgers University next month.

Colorado may have to amend some of its hemp regulations in light of new proposed federal rules.

Here’s a look at the difficulties of approving marijuana businesses in Alaska’s unincorporated areas.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

The Kansas City, Missouri City Council defeated a watered-down marijuana decriminalization proposal after its sponsor opposed the amended version.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania police are searching more cars for marijuana but finding less of it.

The New York City Council Committee on General Welfare discussed the consequences of marijuana arrests at a hearing on child custody issues.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Tonga Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’ionetoa corrected and apologized for an earlier incorrect suggestion that the government would conduct a public consultation on legalizing hemp.

Thai officials are moving to legalize hemp.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of rats suggested that “CBD might prevent sleepiness in narcolepsy.”

A study found that hemp seed “products sold in Korea, even when consumed continually for 12 weeks in typical quantities, do not cause positive urine-based cannabis test results” and that “cannabis abusers cannot attribute positive test results from biological samples to the consumption of such [hemp seed] products.”

A study found that “blunt use is associated with increased odds of non-menthol and menthol cigarette use, but only among Hispanic/Latino and White adults.”

/ BUSINESS

Green Thumb Industries is refusing to recognize a union organizing effort by employees.

A former chief of staff to WeWork’s then-CEO filed a federal complaint alleging that while pregnant she could no longer accompany him on business trips “due to his penchant for bringing marijuana on chartered flights and smoking it throughout the flight while in an enclosed cabin.”

/ CULTURE

A survey of PGA Tour players found that 57% want marijuana to be removed from the banned substances list and 20% said they have smoked cannabis or ingested edibles within the past year.

Football player Malcolm Jenkins tweeted about police searches for marijuana, saying, “Why are we doing this? The war on drugs is not making us safer. Since these decisions come from the top, we need to voice what we as citizens of Philadelphia do and don’t want to see from our next Police Commissioner.”

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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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