Newsletter
Texas House approves hemp & schedules cannabis decrim vote (Newsletter: April 24, 2019)
Congressional bill would seal marijuana records; Mexico lawmakers plan legalization work over summer break; NH committee hears legalization bill
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Texas House of Representatives approved a hemp legalization bill and separately is scheduled to vote on marijuana decriminalization legislation on Thursday.
Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) filed a bill to automatically seal marijuana conviction records.
The head of Mexico’s Senate Justice Committee said lawmakers will spend the upcoming summer recess drafting a marijuana legalization bill they intend to pass by October.
The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary committee held a hearing on a House-passed marijuana legalization bill.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “Explosion of unregulated CBD and related products is concerning. False health claims & mislabeling of consumer products is risky and dangerous for consumers. Every customer should be able to rely on claims made and labels affixed to every product. Taking notice.”
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) attended a listening session on marijuana legalization.
/ STATES
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) tweeted, “Decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana and allowing folks to purchase medical marijuana isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s good for our state’s bottom line.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) claimed that businesses are moving to his state to avoid the effects of marijuana legalization in other states. Separately, the state attorney general raised concerns that a proposed medical cannabis and hemp ballot initiative may violate single-subject rules.
Alabama’s attorney general criticized a local move to decriminalize marijuana possession.
The Nevada Assembly passed a bill to streamline the process for sealing low-level marijuana convictions.
The Iowa House of Representatives approved hemp legislation.
The Missouri Senate approved a bill to prohibit medical cannabis edibles that could appeal to children.
The California Assembly Business and Professions Committee advanced legislation to remove marijuana cultivation taxes, require more municipalities to allow medical cannabis retail outlets and create licenses for marijuana consumption cafes and lounges.
The Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee chair signaled the chamber may be open to allowing roadside saliva testing with warrants as a compromise to get legal marijuana sales legislation passed.
The Virginia Supreme Court will likely decide on a dispute between local prosecutors who want to stop pursuing marijuana cases and judges who say they can’t.
Colorado lawmakers are considering legislation to fund full-day kindergarten programs with marijuana tax revenue.
Michigan regulators are conducting a survey to help determine the potential number of applicants for adult-use marijuana license types.
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/ LOCAL
The Fairbanks, Alaska City Council voted to allow on-site consumption at marijuana dispensaries.
The Sacramento County, California district attorney announced that more than 5,300 marijuana convictions will be dismissed or reduced to misdemeanors.
Macon-Bibb County, Georgia commissioners delayed consideration of a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance. The district attorney supports the change.
A Birmingham, Alabama city councilman is planning to file a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
A Bridgeport, Connecticut city councilman and Board of Education member challenged one another to take drug tests.
Denver, Colorado officials will hold an event to help people clear marijuana records on May 18. Separately, the mayor tweeted, “Working in the legal cannabis industry does not make someone a bad person. Everyone should have a right to work in this burgeoning industry regardless of where they came from, what language they speak or the color of their skin. This is a matter or equity and social justice. At every turn, this administration is erecting barriers to legal paths to citizenship for our immigrant community. We fundamentally disagree with Friday’s guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed a bill establishing a national policy on drugs.
/ ADVOCACY
Marijuana legislation was mentioned in dozens of companies’ and organizations’ quarterly federal lobbying reports.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board is calling for greater transparency in Missouri’s medical cannabis business licensing process.
/ BUSINESS
PayPal is lobbying in support of marijuana banking legislation.
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