Newsletter
Sessions debates cannabis with DOJ intern (Newsletter: Dec. 8, 2017)
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NIH director on marijuana as opioid alternative; State lawmakers to vote on cannabis resolution; Congress avoids gov’t shutdown
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TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A newly released video shows U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions explaining why he believes marijuana should be treated more restrictively than guns. In the clip, which was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, he also seems to mock the Justice Department intern who asked him about the issue.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/jeff-sessions-guns-good-marijuana-bad/
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins testified before a Senate panel for the second time this week that research indicates legalizing marijuana is associated with reduced opioid overdose deaths.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/legal-marijuana-tied-opioid-death-reductions-federal-health-official-says/
The National Conference of State Legislatures will vote on a resolution next week recognizing cannabis as an alternative to opioids. Marijuana Majority has an action page where you can contact your state lawmakers in support.
http://MarijuanaMajority.com/resolution
FEDERAL
The U.S. House and Senate approved a short-term legislation extending federal funding levels, along with state medical cannabis protections, through December 22. The continuing resolution was necessary to avoid a government shutdown as lawmakers work to complete a full Fiscal Year 2018 spending package. It is unknown if the medical marijuana rider will be included in that.
https://mjbizdaily.com/key-federal-medical-cannabis-protections-get-stay-execution/
A bipartisan group of 20 House lawmakers sent a letter about marijuana’s potential to reduce opioid issues to Acting Health and Human Services Sen. Eric D. Hargan.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/lawmakers-press-trump-health-officials-marijuana-opioid-alternative/
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) says he’s trying to convince a House-Senate conference committee working on tax reform legislation to include language removing the 280E penalty on marijuana businesses even though neither chamber approved it.
https://mjbizdaily.com/senator-corey-gardner-says-280e-fix-still-possible-in-congress-with-tax-bill/
A Colorado marijuana business is fighting a case about the 280E provision in U.S. Tax Court.
http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/12/07/cannabis-business-tax-280e-lawsuit/92706/
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted that “smart marijuana policy can generate billions of dollars in economic growth.”
https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/status/938936918179438592
STATES
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the state’s medical cannabis registry is not unconstitutional.
https://www.courthousenews.com/nevada-high-court-oks-states-medical-marijuana-registry/
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) spoke about recent confusion surrounding the legality of CBD medical cannabis and said he opposes further marijuana law reforms.
http://wane.com/2017/12/07/indiana-governor-talks-cbd-oil-medical-marijuana/
California regulators released applications for temporary marijuana business licenses.
http://bcc.ca.gov/clear/forms.html
Rhode Island’s marijuana legalization study commission took testimony from a former Colorado regulator.
http://ripr.org/post/lawmakers-look-colorado-lessons-marijuana
A New York senator prefiled a bill to close the loophole that allows police to arrest people for marijuana that is in public view despite decriminalization.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S07013&term=2017&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y
A Missouri representative prefiled a medical cannabis bill.
http://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1554&year=2018&code=R
An Illinois representative says he will introduce legislation to ban civil asset forfeiture.
https://twitter.com/allenskillicorn/status/938586166579916800
Alaska regulators proposed changes to rules on marijuana establishment odor control, and other areas.
https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=188059
Here’s a profile of the Ohio medical cannabis business application scorer whose past felony drug conviction set off a firestorm this week.
http://www.pressherald.com/2017/12/08/old-drug-conviction-hinders-marijuana-experts-work/
LOCAL
The Honolulu, Hawaii police chief says her department was wrong to send letters requesting that medical cannabis patients turn in their guns.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/12/07/hawaii-news/hpd-in-error-over-cannabis-patients-with-guns-chief-says/
A Savannah, Georgia alderman will propose an ordinance to reduce marijuana arrests at the next City Council meeting.
http://www.tigersroar.com/news/article_37c5b484-db7d-11e7-adba-8f36430fffc5.html
Denver, Colorado regulators need to be more transparent about how they spend marijuana tax revenue, the city auditor says.
http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/12/07/denver-office-marijuana-policy-tax-spending-auditor-report/94187/
INTERNATIONAL
No one knows how long Canada’s Senate will take to consider the government’s marijuana legalization bill.
https://ipolitics.ca/2017/12/07/no-one-can-predict-cannabis-bill-will-clear-senate-anne-mclellan/
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia officials released proposed legal marijuana regulations.
https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20171207001
ADVOCACY
Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin tweeted that she disagrees with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about marijuana.
https://twitter.com/michellemalkin/status/938879023517614080
Prohibitionist group Healthy and Productive Michigan revealed some of the arguments it plans to make to convince voters to reject a marijuana legalization ballot measure, also saying that it is open to taking donations from opioids manufacturers. http://michiganradio.org/post/opposition-marijuana-ballot-proposal-points-medical-concerns-inflated-revenue-estimates
SCIENCE & HEALTH
The New York Times looks at renewed debate on whether marijuana is a “gateway drug.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/well/live/a-comeback-for-the-gateway-drug-theory.html
A study examined tweets about marijuana edibles.
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0890117116686574
BUSINESS
Bloomberg looks at KannaSwiss, a company making legal, low-potency hashish in Switzerland.
https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/2017/12/08/a-swiss-startup-is-pumping-out-legal-hashish
Former basketball player Dennis Rodman is pitching his digital currency PotCoin in meetings with Guam officials.
https://twitter.com/dennisrodman/status/939101304084983808
CULTURE
Musician Noel Gallagher was filmed holding a bag of marijuana.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5091307/noel-gallagher-backstage-teens-alleged-weed/
