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State Dept. highlights cannabis discrimination—overseas (Newsletter: June 23, 2020)

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GOP attacks Biden’s drug policy record; Defense Dept. hemp ban memo; VeggieTales creator explains drug war racism

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. State Department issued a report that highlighting religious discrimination faced by marijuana consumers in other counties, while ignoring domestic policies that arrest hundreds of thousands of people for cannabis every year.

A new memo from the Republican National Committee goes after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s efforts to expand the war on drugs as a senator.

  • “From the war on drugs, to police militarization, Joe Biden has a long record of supporting questionable criminal justice policies.”

A little-noticed Department of Defense memo bans the use of hemp products by all active and reserve military service members.

  • “I find that protecting the integrity of the drug testing program requires the prohibition of the use of all hemp products, subject to the exclusions set out in this memorandum, even though such a prohibition will, in some instances, extend to products the normal use of which could not cause a positive urinalysis result.”

Phil Vischer, the creator of the Christian-themed children’s show VeggieTales, published a video explaining why the war on drugs is a major driver of systemic racism.

  • “There were financial incentives for arresting more drug users. Federal grants to local police departments were tied to the number of drug arrests. Research suggests the huge surge in arrests from increased drug enforcement was due more to budget incentives than to actual increases in drug use.”

/ FEDERAL

A federal judge ruled that state police can’t search a car based on probable cause of a federal marijuana offense.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said, “The man-made discriminatory policies that have destroyed Black lives and Black families in this country were very precise. From the original sin of bondage to redlining to the failed war on drugs.”

Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) tweeted, “The war on drugs has been targeting the wrong drug dealers.”

Nebraska Democratic congressional candidate Mark Elworth Jr. is leaving the party to join the Legal Marijuana Now Party.

/ STATES

Georgia lawmakers send Gov. Brian Kemp (R) a hemp bill.

Illinois’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “It’s time for our communities to breathe! R3 funding supports communities that have been most harmed by the failed War on Drugs by investing in: ✅Violence Prevention  ✅Economic Development ✅Reentry Services ✅Civil Legal Aid ✅Youth Development”

Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Woodrow Myers tweeted, “And the last letter in our R.E.F.O.R.M. plan–Marijuana Decriminalization. We have long realized the implicit racial biases associated with the ‘War on Drugs’ and the pain and suffering that has followed. This issue has torn families and communities apart for far too long.”

The Missouri secretary of state’s office ordered Cannabis Plus Missouri LLC to cease and desist after it allegedly committed fraud in offering and selling unregistered securities.

Michigan regulators adopted several sets of marijuana rules.

New Jersey regulators published a notice about the phasing out of medical cannabis sales taxes.

Oregon regulators took steps to extend marijuana curbside pickup and to ban non-cannabis additives from inhalable cannabis products.

Arkansas regulators proposed medical cannabis processor and transporter rules.

West Virginia regulators will score medical cannabis cultivation license applications this week.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

The Des Moines, Iowa City Council approved a measure to create a task force to study minimizing marijuana enforcement.

Denver, Colorado officials posted information about participating in a June 25 Marijuana Licensing Work Group meeting.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Colombia’s justice minister said that the cannabis industry is a way for the country to generate revenue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “recreational cannabis laws were associated with increases in traffic fatalities in Colorado (mean of 75 excess fatalities per year) but not in Washington State,” while another study concluded that “nationwide legalization would be associated with 6800 excess roadway deaths each year.”

A study found that “the COVID-19 pandemic has both introduced tremendous new challenges for the cannabis industry and exacerbated long-standing difficulties for businesses in this arena.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Montana Republican Party tweeted, “New studies offer further evidence that marijuana use leads to more traffic deaths. Despite this risk, in the legislature #ExtremeKathleen @WilliamsForMT voted AGAINST a bipartisan bill to make driving under the influence of marijuana a crime.”

The Marijuana Policy Project published a voter guide for South Carolina’s legislative primary election runoff on Tuesday.

/ BUSINESS

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. signed an amended agreement to acquire GR Companies, Inc.

Vireo Health International, Inc. sold a Pennsylvania subsidiary to Jushi Holdings Inc.

Canopy Growth Corp. executives signaled that more layoffs and cheaper products may be on the way.

The head of Wellcanna, which runs Louisiana State University’s medical cannabis operation, said it will lower wholesale prices in response to a new law expanding the program.

Colorado retailers sold more than $148 million worth of marijuana products in April.

/ CULTURE

Former 98 Degrees member Justin Jeffre published an op-ed arguing in favor of legalizing marijuana.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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