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State officials press Congress to pass cannabis banking bill (Newsletter: April 17, 2019)

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Denver begins voting on psilocybin measure; Dems discuss how, not whether, to legalize marijuana; Colorado US attorney supports Cole memo rescission

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Congressional Democrats held a panel focused specifically on how—not whether—to legalize marijuana at their retreat last week.

The top financial officials from 25 states and U.S. territories sent a letter urging Congress to pass marijuana banking legislation.

The nation’s first vote to decriminalize psilocybin is happening right now, as mail ballots containing the mushroom measure were sent to Denver, Colorado voters this week.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. attorney for Colorado said he agrees with the rescission of the Cole Memo and has concerns about marijuana concentrates.

Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders coauthored an op-ed on modern-day “Reefer Madness.”

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (D), a presidential candidate, implied that he consumed high-quality marijuana in the 1970s.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Let us not just end the prohibition of marijuana and expunge the records of those arrested solely for possession but let us also end cash bail, prisons for profit, mandatory minimums, and the schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, said he is working with the sponsors of the STATES Act to try to add criminal justice reform components to the bill.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “In my view, it is long past time that we in the United States end the federal prohibition on marijuana. Now is the time to decriminalize marijuana and expunge criminal records associated with the drug.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “We must not only legalize and regulate marijuana, but we need to expunge nonviolent marijuana-related offenses from the records of the millions who have been arrested or incarcerated.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “Nevada’s cannabis businesses are operating as cash-only because of federal laws blocking access to financial services. I’m supporting the #SAFEBankingAct to give marijuana businesses access to the banking services they need to continue to grow.”

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) spoke in support of marijuana banking access in a speech before the Nevada legislature.

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) tweeted a photo of herself meeting with marijuana business owners who “are worried that the feds could step-in at any moment and shut them down. Marijuana is now a multi-billion-dollar industry in our state. We shouldn’t have to worry about suddenly losing a key part of our economy.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Despite dozens of states legalizing some form of cannabis, thousands of people continue to be criminalized for possession. It’s critical we do more than just legalize – we need to address the legacy of the failed War on Drugs too.”

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and punish states with discriminatory enforcement got two new cosponsors, for a total of 36.

The House bill to prevent federal agencies from spending money to interfere with state marijuana laws got two new cosponsors, for a total of nine.

The House bill to federally legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor, for a total of one.

The House resolution calling on states to provide for equity in the marijuana industry got one new cosponsor, for a total of six.

/ STATES

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill to streamline the process for applications for lower-level medical cannabis and hemp business owners.

The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has drafted a list of eight nurseries that would be allowed to cultivate medical cannabis under a tentative settlement of a lawsuit challenging how the state awards such licenses.

The Washington State House of Representatives approved a bill to vacate past marijuana convictions.

Montana’s House of Representatives approved legislation to change medical cannabis testing requirements.

The Oregon Senate defeated a bill to limit marijuana cultivation to reflect supply and demand.

The Colorado House Appropriations Committee approved a bill to defelonize drug possession. Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation is launching a survey to inform future ad campaigns discouraging marijuana-impaired driving.

North Carolina representatives filed a marijuana decriminalization bill.

A Wisconsin representative plans to introduce a marijuana legalization bill on Thursday.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 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

Here’s a look at the road to the ballot for Denver, Colorado’s psilocybin measure.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Philippine Supreme Court reiterated its request for documents related to the government’s bloody “war on drugs.”

/ ADVOCACY

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin tweeted, “83% of Wisconsinites support legalizing medical marijuana — Governor Evers has proposed doing just that.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “odds of reporting a greater number of adverse health outcomes were 1.83 times higher for children of families with indoor cannabis smoking vs families without cannabis smoking, after controlling for exposure to cigarette smoke and other covariates” but that “our results do not indicate a statistically significant association.”

A study of police officers’ exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke at open-air stadium events found “measurable amounts of THC in personal and area air samples” and that “small amounts of THC-COOH, a chemical marker of THC exposure, were detected in urine samples, but not in blood samples,” but that “the amount found in the urine would not be considered positive in a routine drug screening test.”

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that when given options, 42% of Americans support legalizing marijuana, 42% back medical cannabis, 3% want it illegal with distributors prosecuted and 13% want consumers and sellers prosecuted.

A poll found that 46% of U.S. adults would consider investing in the marijuana industry.

/ BUSINESS

Urban Outfitters will begin selling CBD products.

Citigroup is considering ending its practice of testing job applicants for marijuana.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ned L. Siegel joined the board of Maridose LLC.

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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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