Newsletter
Senators put cannabis rider in Justice Dep’t bill (Newsletter: June 13, 2018)
SC voters OK medical marijuana question; CNMI legalization hits snag; DE Senate votes to expunge convictions
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, for the first time ever, included protections for state medical marijuana laws in base Justice Department funding legislation as introduced by Republican leaders. In previous years, the extension of the rider has required votes on amendments.
South Carolina voters approved a medical marijuana advisory question on the Democratic primary ballot by a margin of 81% – 19%, with more than 93% of precincts reporting. Of note, several thousand more people voted on the medical cannabis measure than selected a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on the same ballot.
A marijuana legalization bill in the U.S. territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that was slated to be voted on by the House was instead referred back to committee for changes.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will take up the Farm Bill, which contains hemp legalization language, on Wednesday. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) filed an amendment to exclude “cannabinoids,” “extracts” and “derivatives” from the definition of hemp, which has advocates concerned.
A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official said that “the men and women of DEA are empathetic to the needs and concerns of those living with chronic pain or other debilitating conditions” but that the agency opposes medical cannabis ballot measures.
Federal prosecutors charged nine people in Oregon with a credit card scheme in which they allegedly used proceeds “to establish and operate illegal marijuana grows and fund a state-licensed marijuana retail business.”
U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said he supports medical cannabis but has no position on marijuana decriminalization.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted, “Marijuana laws are not applied and enforced in the same way for all people. I’m happy to see some members of the law enforcement community taking steps to address disparities, but we must go further. It’s time to legalize marijuana at the federal level.”
Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted that Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) effort to block the smoking of medical cannabis is “neither compassionate nor conservative.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) tweeted, “I support the bipartisan, bicameral STATES Act just intro’d to protect states like Maine that have legalized marijuana use. Mainers shouldn’t have to worry about federal prosecution for doing what is legal in their state.”
The U.S. Senate hemp legalization bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 28.
/ STATES
The Delaware Senate unanimously passed a bill to expunge marijuana convictions. Separately, lawmakers made a procedural move that they hope will allow marijuana legalization legislation to pass within the next two weeks.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) defended his vetoing several marijuana bills.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), a candidate for U.S. Senate, said he voted against the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure. Meanwhile, a man suing for the right to grow his own medical cannabis is asking the state Supreme Court to take up the case. And Democratic agriculture commissioner candidate Nikki Fried is running with the goal of increasing access to medical marijuana.
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous tweeted, “To end the era of mass incarceration, we need to finally legalize marijuana for adult use. It’s time that we confront the racial and economic injustices that result from disproportionate enforcement and make our communities safer at the same time.”
New York senators filed a bill to allow medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
Arkansas regulators are coming under fire for granting a medical cannabis cultivation license to one applicant that had the same discrepancies that led to another applicant’s disqualification.
California regulators upgraded their online marijuana business licensing system.
Oregon regulators released a request for information about web-based marijuana inventory tracking systems.
Alaska regulators are being urged to lower marijuana taxes so the legal industry can compete with the illegal market.
/ LOCAL
The St. Louis, Missouri circuit attorney will no longer pursue cases for marijuana in the amount of less than 100 grams.
The Livingston County, Michigan General Government and Health & Human Services Committee failed to pass a proposed anti-marijuana resolution.
Boston, Massachusetts’s mayor isn’t yet joining a new advocacy group made up of other mayors from states with legal marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canada’s health minister suggested the House of Commons would not accept some Senate amendments to the government’s marijuana legalization bill. Several motions to reject Senate changes have already been filed. Meanwhile, Quebec enacted provisional cannabis regulations.
/ ADVOCACY
Advocates for kratom held three days of lobbying meetings on Capitol Hill last week.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study examined depictions of blunts in YouTube videos.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A survey of parents who consume cannabis found that 79% say using marijuana makes watching their kids’ TV shows with them more enjoyable.
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc. is acquiring Anandia Laboratories Inc. in an all-stock transaction worth roughly C$115.
Colorado Public Radio looks at marijuana-focused bus tours.
/ CULTURE
The NCAA released a study tracking marijuana and other drug use by student athletes, finding that cannabis use is higher in states with legalization than without it.
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Military marijuana use waivers advance in House; NE medical cannabis ballot sigs submitted; Austin police end marijuana arrests; 2020 ballot check in
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House of Representatives approved a 2,000-plus-page infrastructure bill that contains a little-noticed provision directing federal agencies to create a plan for researchers to finally be able to study marijuana that consumers are buying at dispensaries instead of using only government cannabis.
The House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment from Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to encourage military branches to stop blocking reenlistment over marijuana use.
- “Smoking pot just once shouldn’t prevent a patriotic American from fighting for our country.”
Nebraska medical cannabis activists submitted more than 182,000 signatures for proposed initiative. That’s way more than they need to qualify for the November ballot.
Several other states where activists are trying to get marijuana legalization, psychedelics decriminalization and drug reform measures on November ballots have signature gathering deadlines this week and next week. Here’s a look at where things stand, from Arizona to Oregon to Washington, D.C.
The Austin, Texas Police Department said in a memo that it will stop making arrests or issuing citations for low-level marijuana possession. The move follows the passage of a City Council resolution urging the end of such cannabis enforcement.
/ FEDERAL
The Food and Drug Administration tweeted, “There’s also a lot of talk on the internet about CBD for treating anxiety in dogs who are afraid of loud noises. You should be aware that FDA has NOT evaluated these products. This means we can’t say whether they are safe or effective.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that licensed hemp businesses are eligible for its Rural Cooperative Development Grant program.
/ STATES
Florida’s agriculture commissioner disclosed that she owns a stake in Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc.
Massachusetts regulators are accepting public comment on the continued quarantining of marijuana vaporization products.
A case challenging Nevada regulators’ marijuana licensing process was stayed by a federal judge.
A California court ruled against hemp growers in a case challenging a restrictive count ordinance.
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus hosted a town hall meeting about a cannabis-revenue-funded grant program to help communities harmed by the war on drugs.
Oregon regulators published an update on processing dates for marijuana business license applications.
Arkansas regulators included an update on the state’s hemp program in an annual report.
A Pennsylvania senator authored an op-ed on why the state should legalize marijuana for racial justice reasons.
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/ LOCAL
San Francisco, California regulators warned marijuana businesses that expected protests this weekend could lead to burglaries.
The Harris County, Texas Commissioner Court adopted a resolution that notes racial disparities in drug law enforcement.
The Santa Barbara County, California Board of Supervisors was criticized by a grand jury report for allegedly mismanaging marijuana production.
Chicago, Illinois’s mayor defended a police plan to step up drug enforcement during the July 4 holiday weekend.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canadian regulators are discouraging marijuana brands from using “any celebrity-affiliated promotions or packaging and labeling.”
There have been no new prescriptions for full-extract cannabis oil in the 18 months since the UK legalized it.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “at least in the short term, the vast majority of patients that use cannabis experience antidepressant effects, although the magnitude of the effect and extent of side effect experiences vary with chemotypic properties of the plant.”
A review concluded that “cannabis-based medications were found most effective as an adjuvant therapy in refractory multiple sclerosis, and weak evidence was found to support the treatment of cancer pain especially in advanced stages,” while “chronic rheumatic pain showed promising results.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Nebraska Democratic Party tweeted supportively about signatures being turned in for a proposed medical cannabis ballot initiative.
A South Dakota committee called No Way on Amendment A has been formed to oppose the state’s marijuana legalization initiative.
The Hemp Industries Association hired a new executive director.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. announced a plan to raise up to C$27,500,000 in a private placement sale of shares.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. announced the full exercise of underwriters’ options to purchase an additional 402,504 shares of common stock, bringing the total to 3,085,867 shares sold in the offering and raising gross offering proceeds to approximately $258.7 million.
/ CULTURE
Snoop Dogg posted on Facebook about a poll showing majority support for New Zealand’s marijuana legalization referendum, saying, “Gandalf smokin that good good!”
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OR will vote on drug decrim in Nov; OH Senate votes to double marijuana decrim limit; VA cannabis decrim takes effect
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Oregon’s secretary of state announced that activists officially collected enough signatures to put a measure decriminalizing drug possession and using marijuana tax revenue to fund expanded treatment services on the November ballot.
Arizona marijuana activists filed 420,000 signatures to qualify a marijuana legalization measure for the November ballot. That’s way more than they need.
The Ohio Senate approved a bill to double the amount of marijuana that’s decriminalized in the state to 200 grams and to downgrade possession of many other drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Virginia’s marijuana decriminalization law went into effect. As of Wednesday, getting caught with up to an ounce of cannabis comes with a $25 fine, no threat of jail time and no criminal record.
/ FEDERAL
Federal prosecutors charged two men with conspiring with an unnamed “leading on-demand marijuana delivery company” to deceive banks and other financial institutions into processing more than $100 million in credit and debit card payments for cannabis transactions.
A federal judge is giving U.S. Customs and Border Protection until July 31 to provide information in response to a lawsuit on its policies for denying entry to the country over marijuana use or industry involvement.
The special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Antonio district suggested that high taxes for marijuana in legal states are driving an underground market in Texas.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) filed an amendment seeking to provide protections to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children that would exempt marijuana convictions in states that have since legalized from being used as grounds for ineligibility.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) again spoke on the House floor about the need to end federal marijuana prohibition.
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued an executive order extending medical cannabis identification card renewal deadlines for another 60 days.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) touted his signing legislation to decriminalize marijuana and fast-track annulments of past records in a letter to Black Lives Matter activists.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) tweeted about the launch of the state’s Cannabis Control Board. A law transferring most marijuana regulatory responsibilities to the new body took effect on Wednesday.
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor spoke about efforts to pardon people for past marijuana convictions.
Rhode Island’s House minority leader said there’s a rumored grand jury investigation of Joint Committee on Legislative Services staff benefiting from marijuana legislation.
Arkansas regulators are being sued by a company that wants to stop them from approving additional medical cannabis dispensary licenses until their licensing process can be reviewed.
Michigan regulators released guidance on marijuana retesting and remediation.
Montana’s Hemp Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 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.
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/ LOCAL
The Davidson County, Tennessee district attorney said his office will no longer prosecute people for possessing less than half an ounce of marijuana, and Nashville’s mayor said he supports the policy.
The La Crosse, Wisconsin City Council’s Judiciary & Administration Committee advanced a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Los Angeles, California City Council approved changes to the marijuana licensing system.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “following oral consumption of cannabis, THC was detected in blood much later, and at far lower peak concentrations, compared to what has been observed with inhaled cannabis.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that New Zealand Maori support a marijuana legalization referendum, 72%-27%.
NORML removed the chapter charter for MassCann after a board member of the local group who organized a “straight pride parade” and pro-police rally resigned but the national organization did not see “tangible steps to address these flaws in their organization nor movement in the right direction to address these issues within their ranks.”
The Marijuana Policy Project is asking people to send testimony requesting that the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency recommend that the state legalize marijuana.
/ BUSINESS
Steep Hill, Inc.’s former CEO and chairman is suing the company in an attempt to stop its sale to EVIO, Inc.
Earthly Labs, Denver Beer Co. and The Clinic announced the success of a pilot program to use CO2 captured in the beer fermentation process to stimulate marijuana plant growth.
New England Treatment Access cultivation facility workers voted to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445.
Terrapin announced that it will use only made-in-the-USA packaging throughout its operations.
Cresco Labs and Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. closed on an agreement for the former company to sell and lease back a Massachusetts property to the latter firm.
/ CULTURE
“Half Baked 2” is moving toward production after it got a tax credit from the California Film Commission.
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Feds’ new hemp banking memo; DC psychedelics campaign aided by OR/CO teams as sig deadline nears; TN senator visits IL marijuana dispensary?
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and nearly three dozen other House members filed a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry of Attorney General William Barr, who the measure says “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate cannabis business mergers.
- “He’s using antitrust not for the purpose of helping consumers and businesses that might be disadvantaged by monopoly, but doing it as a vehicle for his social policies, which is unheard of,” Cohen told Marijuana Moment in an interview.
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued new guidance on banking for hemp businesses, including how financial institutions should handle clients that sell both hemp and marijuana.
Activists behind successful psilocybin campaigns in Denver and Oregon have flown to Washington, D.C. to help collect the final signatures needed to qualify a psychedelics decriminalization measure for the city’s ballot ahead of a Monday deadline.
Did a Tennessee lawmaker take a road trip in a state vehicle to buy marijuana in Illinois? Internet sleuths are on the cannabis case after someone posted a photo of a vehicle with a state Senate license plate parked outside a dispensary.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Border Patrol agents are reportedly seizing legal marijuana products at checkpoints in Southern California.
A White House Office of National Drug Control Policy analysis concludes that overdose deaths are rising amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse reported that almost half of commercial driver license holders’ positive drug tests so far this year were for marijuana.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) gave a House floor speech about the need to end federal marijuana prohibition.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill streamlining hemp regulations.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) issued an executive order delaying the issuance of marijuana craft grower, infuser and transporter licenses as well as extending the deadline for submission of community college cannabis vocational pilot program applications due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) touted the job-creating potential of a new hemp processing lab.
New York’s Assembly majority leader said she is in “constant conversation” with the speaker about marijuana legalization and questioned Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) commitment to working to get the policy enacted.
Maine regulators adopted rules for licensing marijuana sample collectors for testing.
Nevada regulators released draft regulations allowing CBD as a dietary supplement, food additive and cosmetic.
New Mexico will begin allowing out-of-state patients to purchase medical cannabis on Wednesday.
Arkansas regulators voted to release additional medical cannabis cultivation and dispensary licenses.
The Oregon Cannabis Commission’s Governance and Frame Working Subcommittee will meet on July 15.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 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.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
British Virgin Islands lawmakers are considering legislation to legalize medical cannabis and expunge prior marijuana records.
The Philippine government created a panel to investigate deaths in the nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that marijuana’s “therapeutic application in areas such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and in the relief of some cancer patient’s symptoms is promising.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Colorado State Senate Democratic Caucus tweeted about a marijuana social equity bill being signed into law.
The Illinois State Senate Democratic Caucus tweeted about a grant program that is “creating opportunities for those most impacted by the War on Drugs.”
/ BUSINESS
Dixie Brands announced it will change its name due to the racist historical connotations of the word Dixie.
GW Pharmaceuticals plc announced a strategy to bring its THC and CBD drug nabiximols to the U.S. market.
Hightimes Holding Corp. extended its public stock offering deadline again.
Southern University will unveil its first line of medical cannabis products on Wednesday.
Louis Del Faveo Orchids is asking a federal court to recognize what it says is its right to a medical cannabis license.
A survey of Canadian cannabis consumers found that brand awareness is low.
/ CULTURE
Comedian Chelsea Handler tweeted to urge Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to free a man serving a life sentence for selling marijuana.
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