Newsletter
Sessions meets with medical cannabis parents (Newsletter: Sep. 6, 2018)
Altria looking at marijuana entry; McConnell touts hemp; Senate bill legalizes medical cannabis for veterans
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pushed for hemp legalization during the first Farm Bill conference committee meeting. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) also spoke in support.
Executives for tobacco giant Altria said they are “exploring options” in the marijuana industry:
- “We’re mindful of the possibility that in the future cannabis may no longer be illegal under federal law.”
Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), who as House Rules Committee chairman has blocked dozens of marijuana amendments from even being voted on, met with parents of children who benefit from medical cannabis. They told Marijuana Moment that they found him “very receptive” to their concerns.
U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans, allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue recommendations and require the VA to research the benefits of marijuana.
Major pro-legalization union United Food and Commercial Workers is facing backlash over its decision to team up with law enforcement to restrict legal and regulated marijuana deliveries in California.
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh briefly addressed marijuana enforcement during his confirmation hearing before being interrupted by a senator:
- “Let’s talk about the marijuana laws. Those are constitutional, but a U.S. attorney or the attorney general could say, ‘We’re not going to devote our resources to low-level marijuana offenses.’ Those are perfectly constitutional…”
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke about the drug war and racially disparate incarceration rates during the Kavanaugh hearing.
President Trump met with Kim Kardashian West and other advocates about clemency. Kardashian West is working to free a man serving a life sentence for marijuana and cocaine possession.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released an alert on marijuana investments and fraud.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) tweeted, “Congress must hold companies like Purdue Pharma accountable and end the Federal marijuana prohibition, so those who need medicinal marijuana can access it without being targeted as criminals.”
The U.S. House bill to deschedule marijuana and punish states with discriminatory enforcement got one new cosponsor, for a total of 40.
The U.S. House bill to increase medical cannabis access for military veterans got two new cosponsors, for a total of 28.
The U.S. House bill to set a federal excise tax on marijuana products got one new cosponsor, for a total of 11.
Arizona Democratic congressional candidate David Brill tweeted, “It is time to address the issue of #cannabis on the federal level once and for all.”
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced that regulators have received 146 medical cannabis dispensary license applications from 106 businesses. He also tweeted, “Medical marijuana is used to treat chronic and debilitating pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, PTSD, ALS, side effects of cancer treatment and HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other painful illnesses. NJ will not deny people compassionate care.”
A coalition opposing North Dakota’s marijuana legalization ballot measure is launching on Thursday.
Kansas gubernatorial candidates debated medical marijuana reform.
New York officials held the first of 15 marijuana legalization listening sessions.
A Utah radio station stopped running an ad criticizing the state’s medical cannabis ballot measure after receiving complaints that it contains false and misleading information.
Mississippi activists will begin collecting signatures next week for a proposed 2020 medical cannabis ballot measure.
California regulators will hold a series of workshops this month to receive public input on the state’s cannabis appellations project. Separately, a court rejected a lawsuit alleging that Butte County’s medical cannabis ordinance violates equal protection because it grants different people differing cultivation amounts.
Here’s a look at how Maryland medical cannabis patients are obtaining edibles even though they aren’t legal.
/ LOCAL
A Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin committee approved a marijuana legalization advisory question for the Spring 2019 ballot.
The Gary, Indiana Common Council narrowly defeated a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
Rachel Rollins, who won the Democratic nomination for Suffolk County, Massachusetts district attorney, has pledged to decline to prosecute cases on drug possession and drug possession with intent to distribute.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s police chief released details of a marijuana penalty reduction proposal he wants enacted.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian government released information about its cannabis tracking system.
Israeli officials reportedly raised objections over the bloody Philippine “drug war” and are holding off on signing a police cooperation agreement because of it.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “THC significantly reduced patients’ pain compared to placebo.”
A review concluded that “no clear association between cannabis smoking and lung cancer.”
A study found that college-age marijuana use is at the highest level in three decades.
A study of a responsible marijuana vendor training program found it “was acceptable to retail recreational marijuana personnel and potentially improved responsible sales practices.”
/ BUSINESS
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Greenview Investment Partners L.P. and its founder with defrauding investors.
Alaska generated more than $1.3 million in marijuana tax revenue in July.
Barclays Bank released an analysis of the marijuana market.
Here’s a look at the rise of marijuana stocks.
/ CULTURE
Rapper Ty Dolla $ign was arrested on marijuana and cocaine charges.
NBA player Kenneth Faried pleaded not guilty to a marijuana possession charge.
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Photo courtesy of Kyle Jaeger.
