Newsletter
Senators cite Border Patrol cannabis arrests of citizens in review request (Newsletter: August 22, 2019)
EPA announces hemp pesticide review; Congressman backs states’ marijuana rights but voted against; Study: Whole-plant marijuana relieves pain
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There are now 1,171 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions.
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is reviewing applications for pesticides to be used on hemp.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) told podcaster Joe Rogan that he supports states’ rights to set their own marijuana laws despite the fact that he recently voted against an amendment to shield local cannabis policies from federal interference.
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate Border Patrol checkpoints and are citing the widespread arrest of U.S. citizens for small amounts of marijuana as a key concern.
A study on marijuana’s pain-relieving properties found that “natural cannabis flower was associated with greater anesthetic potential than were most other types of products.”
/ FEDERAL
Office of National Drug Control Policy Director James Carroll and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon toured illegal marijuana grow sites in California.
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang (D), noting his increasing polling numbers in Colorado, tweeted, “Must be the weed 😀”
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) tweeted, “Great to join @CannaGather last night & talk about issues facing the cannabis industry incl. the need to pass the SAFE Banking Act so that federal banks can finally serve cannabis biz. These biz owners shouldnt be forced to operate strictly in cash. Thx for a great discussion.”
Recent mass shootings reportedly may impact plans to attach gun-related language to congressional marijuana banking legislation in an effort to secure more Republican support.
/ STATES
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) said that marijuana could be on the agenda for a potential upcoming special session and he criticized the federal government for not acting on rescheduling. Meanwhile, the Senate majority leader said that lawmakers are working on legislation to move away from state control of medical cannabis distribution and allow for more private dispensaries.
The North Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill including a ban on smokable hemp as of May 1.
The Wisconsin Senate Health Committee amended a hemp bill to address police concerns about trace amounts of THC in relation to changing people with driving under the influence.
Washington State regulators issued a notice banning CBD as a food ingredient.
Michigan regulators issued air quality guidance for the marijuana industry.
The New Jersey Department of Health hosted a forum on harm reduction drug policies.
Louisiana regulators released a list of pesticide active ingredients that can be used on medical cannabis plants.
South Dakota police arrested on marijuana trafficking charges a Colorado man who says he was transporting legal hemp to Minnesota.
Guam regulators are working to produce a fact sheet about medical cannabis-related employment issues for government workers.
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/ LOCAL
New York City health officials forced 15 businesses to destroy edible CBD products.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Brazil’s health minister said she supports cannabinoid-based medicines but not commercial cultivation of cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that medical cannabis “may serve as a potentially useful complementary therapy to conventional supportive treatment of children suffering from cancer at the end of life.”
A study estimated that Americans spend “on the order of $150 billion on cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine” annually.
A study suggested that “persons who used marijuana strongly support the legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana, whereas persons who primarily have opioid or stimulant misuse have less strongly held beliefs about legalization of substances within those respective categories.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly tweeted, “America’s first marijuana licensed restaurant opening in California. The Lowell Farms Cannabis Café will allow customers to light up at the dinner table. Of course, smoke tobacco in restaurants still illegal in California. Does that make ANY sense?”
/ BUSINESS
Weedmaps launched a program to help social equity marijuana entrepreneurs. It also said that by the end of the year only licensed cannabis businesses will be able to use its platform.
Leafly is opening a new office in Austin, Texas to house product and engineering operations.
Tilray, Inc. announced an agreement to ship $3.3 million worth of medical cannabis products from Portugal to Germany.
Cresco Labs Inc. reported quarterly revenue growth of 253% from a year ago but a net loss of $3.9 million.
Bank of America closed the account of a smoke shop because it sells CBD products.
/ CULTURE
The video game DayZ is no longer banned in Australia after removing in-game cannabis consumption.
Flying Over Sunset is a new Broadway musical about the LSD experiences of Aldous Huxley, Cary Grant and Clare Booth Luce.
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