Newsletter
Spending bill protects cannabis banking & lets DC legalize sales (Newsletter: June 3, 2019)
Legal marijuana heads to IL gov’s desk; Key FDA CBD hearing moments; Presidential candidate raises money off legal cannabis measure he opposed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A key annual spending bill released by House Democratic leaders that is up for an initial vote on Monday includes a provision to block federal regulators from punishing banks for working with state-legal cannabis businesses. It also deletes a longstanding rider that has prevented Washington, D.C. from spending its own local tax dollars to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis sales.
Illinois lawmakers sent a marijuana legalization bill to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who campaigned on ending cannabis prohibition last year. When he signs the legislation, the state will become the 11th in the U.S. to legalize marijuana and the first to regulate sales and production through an act of lawmakers as opposed to via a ballot measure.
- One anti-cannabis representative actually reenacted the “This Is Your Brain On Drugs” PSA by cracking an egg on the House floor during the debate.
The Food and Drug Administration held a daylong hearing on CBD regulations. Marijuana Moment compiled they key takeaways from submitted testimony.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), a presidential candidate, touted his state’s marijuana legalization measure—that he actively campaigned against—in an Instagram story seeking to raise money for his current campaign.
/ FEDERAL
Housing and Urban Development Sec. Ben Carson said he is interested in helping people with criminal records get access to housing.
A federal judge in a case against a witness in the El Chapo trial said, “After 25 years of being a federal judge, if there is a so-called drug war, we are losing. It’s time for us to think about doing something different.”
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb spoke about the challenges of regulating CBD.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a presidential candidate, posted a video about his support for legalizing marijuana, and he noted that someone in his family uses medical cannabis.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), a presidential candidate, said he doesn’t want marijuana legalization to create “a new tobacco industry or a new opioid industry, done the wrong way.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) criticized people who talk about “marijuana but not criminal justice reform.”
Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) said she doesn’t think Congress will deschedule marijuana in the immediate future.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted about the FDA’s recent CBD regulation hearing, adding. “This is exactly why the House needs to pass my research bill and why we have championed rational policies regarding hemp. The FDA can do its job without interfering with the now legal hemp industry.”
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) tweeted, “My concern remains with the idea that marijuana is harmless. The idea it’s an elixir that ‘cures what ails ya’ is indicia of puffery not medicine. I am not advocating more ‘War on Drugs’ policy. After 40 yrs it looks like drugs won. Maybe it will get a parade in Times Square. I am saying treat pot like a drug not a lifestyle. All drugs have potential metabolic, neurologic, hepatic, renal or cardio-vascular effects.”
The House marijuana banking bill got seven new cosponsors, for a total of 191.
/ STATES
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he is “dubious” about the prospects of legalizing marijuana this year.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said she’d back a “narrow and cautious” bill to expand the state’s limited CBD medical cannabis law days after vetoing a proposal to do so. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are urging people to pressure lawmakers to override that veto.
Vermont’s House speaker said she’s “on the fence” about legalizing marijuana sales but wouldn’t block its passage if the majority of her chamber supports it.
Illinois lawmakers sent Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) a bill to make the state’s medical cannabis program permanent, add new qualifying conditions and allow nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to issue recommendations.
Louisiana lawmakers sent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) a hemp and CBD bill. Meanwhile, the Senate rejected a House-passed bill to let patients inhale medical cannabis.
Alabama lawmakers sent Gov. Kay Ivey (R) a bill to create a commission to study medical cannabis.
A Nevada judge scheduled additional days for arguments in a case seeking to overturn the state’s process for awarding marijuana business licenses.
The Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program’s Board of Physicians is scheduled to discuss adding new qualifying conditions on Monday.
Maine regulators closed a public comment period on proposed marijuana rules.
Oklahoma regulators are set to begin inspecting medical cannabis businesses.
Here’s a look at Massachusetts regulators’ careful consideration of allowing marijuana social use areas.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,100 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 Berkshire County, Massachusetts district attorney spoke about the positive effects of Portugal’s drug decriminalization policy after visiting the country.
The Santa Fe, New Mexico City Council is set to receive drug policy reform recommendations from a task force on July 31.
/ INTERNATIONAL
French lawmakers approved a medical cannabis pilot program.
Thailand’s government will distribute seized marijuana to manufacturers of cannabis medicines.
/ ADVOCACY
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies received a $4,140,000 grant from the Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative.
The Medical Society of Delaware is opposing marijuana legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that cannabinoids “may potentially influence dysregulation and, therefore, represent new therapeutic options for the therapy of gynecological disorders.”
A study concluded that “clinical practices related to [medical cannabis] may be influenced by non-medical factors and this may be particularly prevailing in the field of chronic pain, suggesting that [medical cannabis] may be particularly contentious in the field of chronic pain.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board says it wishes Illinois lawmakers had waited to legalize marijuana until there were “more definitive answers to pressing questions about the impact on public health and safety.”
/ BUSINESS
Marijuana stocks slid as the FDA held a hearing on CBD regulations and amid a broader market dip.
Vireo Health International, Inc. reported that its quarterly revenue increased 57% since last year.
/ CULTURE
Musician David Crosby tweeted, “I gave up drugs about 35 years ago …for about 14 and half years …those were hard drugs and no good at all l…I now vape some cannabis at night and like it a lot …seems ok to me.”
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