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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