Newsletter
Texas House votes to decriminalize cannabis (Newsletter: April 30, 2019)
Third part of Conn. legalization plan gets hearing; Penn. Dems hold marijuana legalization hearing; Philly DA says cannabis laws are “dumb”
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Texas House of Representatives voted to approve a marijuana decriminalization bill. While cannabis possession would technically remain a misdemeanor, those with less than an ounce would avoid arrest and incarceration, putting the policy in line with the definition of decriminalization that advocacy groups use to describe existing laws that let people avoid jail for cannabis in 24 other states.
The Connecticut legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee held a hearing on the third part of a three-bill marijuana legalization package. Two other committees have already advanced related cannabis proposals.
Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers held a joint House-Senate policy hearing on marijuana legalization.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration is amending its regulations on appeals during administrative hearings.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted that he is “learning about how other Nations are dealing with major health concerns” such as “marijuana use in youth.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a press release cheering Canopy Growth Corporation’s announcement about a new hemp facility in New York. He also tweeted about it.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted about marijuana legalization implementation issues in California.
Reps. Earl Carter (R-GA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) coauthored an op-ed on the need to reschedule marijuana to remove research roadblocks.
Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) tweeted that Canopy Growth’s announcement of a new hemp facility “puts the Southern Tier & Broome County at the forefront of the industrial hemp industry & will change agriculture in the region & in NYS as we know it. The area’s economy and agriculture will benefit significantly from this new facility.”
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) tweeted, “Back in December, I voted in favor of the 2018 Farm Bill which authorized industrial hemp production in the U.S. I am excited that Connecticut is now working to join the majority of other states in allowing farmers to cultivate & sell hemp products.”
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) spoke about the need to expand hemp businesses’ access to banks.
Former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) will keynote a marijuana conference in Switzerland next month.
/ STATES
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) called marijuana legalization “a large undertaking.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) spoke about his support for medical cannabis.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) said that he remains opposed to medical cannabis.
Maryland judges rejected a request from Baltimore’s state’s attorney to dismiss nearly 5,000 marijuana possession convictions.
New Jersey’s Senate president said the chances of passing marijuana legalization are “50-50.”
The Oregon Senate voted unanimously to freeze marijuana production at current levels for a period of two years.
Minnesota’s House Democratic caucus tweeted, “House DFLers are listening to Minnesotans and are moving forward with a cannabis task force to study what recreational cannabis could look like in Minnesota.”
Washington, D.C. councilmembers are pressing the Department of Corrections to allow for employment-related drug testing exceptions for medical cannabis patients.
Michigan regulators released guidance on marijuana taxes.
Guam’s marijuana regulatory board aims to finalize rules for the industry by April 3, 2020.
/ LOCAL
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s district attorney said that current marijuana laws are “dumb” and that his office will not prosecute cannabis DUIs unless “unless people show active—I repeat active—psychoactive amounts of cannabis in their system.”
Long Beach, California’s mayor tweeted about a program to help expunge marijuana and drug convictions.
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/ ADVOCACY
Steph Sherer will remain as president of Americans for Safe Access even as she steps down as the group’s executive director in order to take on a new role at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review looked at the “documented antimicrobial, anticonvulsive and anti-epileptic properties” of CBD and CBG in hemp extracts.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that when given options, 38% of Texans support marijuana legalization, 35% back medical cannabis, 13% want decriminalization and 14% support continued criminalization.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corporation announced it secured a 308,000 sq. ft. facility to process hemp in New York.
Weedmaps launched an online wholesale marketplace.
/ CULTURE
Musician Willie Nelson said that marijuana “saved my life.”
Comedian Seth Rogen spoke about his new marijuana company in a Late Show appearance.
Comedian Andy Richter jokingly tweeted, “Oh shit, guys, Joe Biden just told the National Chamber of Commerce that CBD oil was ‘for punks and chumps.'”
Jeopardy has banned contestants from wagering $69, $666 and sums associated with white supremacy, but not $420.
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