Newsletter
State AGs push Congress on cannabis banking (Newsletter: May 20, 2020)
FDA highlights CBD recall; DC mayor sets stage for legal marijuana sales; IL grants to repair drug war harms funded with cannabis revenue
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A bipartisan coalition of 34 state and territory attorneys general is calling on Congress to include marijuana banking in coronavirus legislation. The push—signed by seven Republicans—goes against GOP lawmakers’ messaging that cannabis isn’t germane to COVID relief and their criticism of House Democrats’ inclusion of the issue in a bill they passed last week.
The Food and Drug Administration is publicizing a voluntary recall of CBD products due to a test showing high lead levels.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal seems to set the stage for legal marijuana sales just as soon as Congress allows it by transferring the city’s current medical cannabis program from the Health Department to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority announced $31.5 million in marijuana-revenue-funded grant money to help communities that have been “impacted by economic disinvestment, violence and the severe and multilayered harm caused by the war on drugs.”
/ FEDERAL
Attorney General William Barr appointed a new acting director for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), in a Senate floor speech, criticized the inclusion of marijuana banking provisions in House Democrats’ coronavirus relief bill.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) slammed marijuana banking legislation’s inclusion in a House-passed coronavirus bill in a Senate floor speech.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) again blasted Democrats for putting cannabis banking language in their coronavirus legislation. He also said that a Republican bill “would not focus on cannabis.”
Delaware Democratic Senate candidate Jess Scarane tweeted, “When you see politicians opposing legal marijuana, a stance totally out of line with public opinion, check their pharma company donations. Pharma actively lobbies against legalizing, because expanded legal access has decreased opioid use and overall prescription drug spending.”
Nevada Democratic congressional candidate Ed Cohen tweeted, “I support efforts to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and leave this issue to the states. I also support efforts to commute the sentences and expunge the criminal records of non-violent offenders languishing in prison for marijuana possession.”
/ STATES
West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith tweeted, “It’s time for a new kind of government—one that addresses West Virginia’s problems with bold solutions, like cannabis legalization, higher education for all, and universal broadband.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case about a county’s prohibition on using medical cannabis for people on probation.
Michigan regulators announced they are expanding eligibility criteria for the state’s marijuana social equity program.
Maryland regulators published guidance on revised medical cannabis and hemp rules.
Alabama regulators released a list of licensed hemp processors and handlers.
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/ LOCAL
Portland, Maine’s City Council approved a marijuana licensing system.
The Aurora, Colorado City Council approved a 1% increase in local marijuana sales taxes.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan City Commission voted to allow recreational marijuana businesses to operate.
Takoma, Washington’s deputy mayor is supporting a proposed statewide drug decriminalization ballot measure.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “legalization of recreational marijuana reduced the number of searches of white, black and Hispanic drivers—but the bar for searching black and Hispanic drivers was still lower than that for white drivers post-legalization.”
The Global Drug Survey is conducting a special edition on the effects of coronavirus on substance use.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Consumer Brands Association, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, National Sheriffs’ Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, Retail Industry Leaders Association and other organizations launched a campaign calling for uniform federal policies on CBD.
/ BUSINESS
Colgate-Palmolive tweeted about its hemp seed oil toothpaste.
Square and New Frontier Data published a survey finding that 86% of Americans are aware of CBD and 18% have tried it.
Helix TCS is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a case on whether its workers are protected by federal employment laws.
OG DNA Genetics announced that the name of the strain Miss USA will be changed to Miss DNA to end any confusion or infringement related to the trademarked Miss USA pageant.
Leafly raised $3.6 million in new investments.
HEXO Corp. announced a C$50 million underwritten public offering
Oregon retailers sold $89 million worth of marijuana products in April, a new record.
Ohio dispensaries sold $14.2 million worth of medical cannabis products in April, a new record.
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