Newsletter
Top congressional Dem floats gateway theory about cannabis (Newsletter: August 28, 2019)
USDA’s hemp crop insurance update; Former attorney general advises CBD company; Survey: marijuana enhances sex and masturbation
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the number two Democrat in the U.S. House, wrote in a constituent letter obtained by Marijuana Moment that he believes cannabis is a gateway drug that “leads to the use of harder, very harmful drugs.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that some hemp farmers are now eligible for crop insurance, with a broader pool coming online as 2018 Farm Bill regulations are developed.
Former Acting Attorney General Mathhew Whitaker joined cannabis company Alternate Health as outside counsel.
A survey from cannabis delivery service Eaze and vibrator company Lioness found that marijuana can enhance the frequency, quality and length of sexual pleasure—both with partners and during masturbation.
/ FEDERAL
The Food and Drug Administration said it is “committed to evaluating potential pathways for various types of CBD products to be lawfully marketed for non-drug uses, including products marketed as foods and dietary supplements” in response to a letter from Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner.
Customs and Border Protection warned people to “leave marijuana at home” in a Labor Day weekend travel advisory.
A federal jury convicted a Michigan man who ran a makeshift “marijuana farmers’ market” that the Department of Justice said was “far outside the boundaries” of the state’s medical cannabis law.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Under the so-called ‘War on Drugs,’ men on street corners dealing pot were thrown in jail. I want to see a war on the corporate greed that is killing Americans. I want to see top executives held personally liable for actions that led to the deaths of more than 42,000 people.”
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said that the Drug Enforcement Administration “has been absolutely ridiculous in their stance on marijuana.”
Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) tweeted about discussing hemp crop insurance and banking issues on a visit to a Nutrien facility.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “People of color are being locked away for marijuana offenses all across the country while billboards in California advertise the convenience of getting marijuana delivered right to your door. It’s discriminatory and wrong — we must legalize marijuana at the federal level.”
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) office reacted to a court injunction on certain marijuana business licenses by saying the issue at hand stems from the prior administration.
New Jersey’s Senate president criticized Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) conditional veto of a marijuana expungement bill.
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee approved two bills requiring health warnings on marijuana products.
A Florida appeals court rejected regulators’ request to revisit a ruling that found vertical integration rules for the medical cannabis industry to be unconstitutional, instead asking the state Supreme Court to look at the case.
Washington State regulators are considering an overhaul of the state’s marijuana regulations that could include a social equity program and delivery services, among other changes.
California officials will start accepting applications for funding for employment training contracts from marijuana businesses.
Ohio regulators are appealing a judge’s ruling that they must award a certificate of operation to medical cannabis dispensary while the legality of its ownership is being challenged.
New York will begin expunging marijuana convictions this week.
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/ LOCAL
The Cook County, Illinois state’s attorney announced a marijuana record clearing partnership with Code for America.
Denver, Colorado regulators announced they are streamlining the application and inspection processes for marijuana license transfers of ownership.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israel’s Ministry of Health said it will begin confiscating medical cannabis not designated for specific patients to deal with market shortages.
European Union officials reportedly approved Ugandan medical cannabis products for export.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of social media and Federal Register comments about CBD found that “is mostly discussed as a remedy for anxiety disorders and pain.”
A study found that women “who were marijuana smokers at enrollment had more than double the adjusted probability of pregnancy loss than those who were past marijuana smokers or had never smoked marijuana” but that “couples in which the male partner was a marijuana smoker at enrollment had a significantly higher adjusted probability of live birth than couples in which the male partner was a past marijuana smoker or had never smoked marijuana, independently of the women’s marijuana smoking status.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A survey found that 58% of U.S. adults think marijuana and cannabinoids have fewer side effects than other medications.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson suggested that there may be a link between recent mass shootings and marijuana use.
/ BUSINESS
Constellation Brands Inc. said it expects a quarterly net loss of $38.5 million stemming from its investment in Canopy Growth Corp.
Green Thumb Industries launched a program to assist Illinois marijuana social equity business license applicants.
Hound Labs Inc. closed a $30 million funding round to support manufacturing and commercial availability of its marijuana and alcohol breathalyzer.
Bloomberg looks at how states are working to create solutions to take tax payments from marijuana businesses.
/ CULTURE
Former football player Rob Gronkowski announced a partnership with CBD company Abacus Health Products, Inc.
Musician Macy Gray is planning to launch a line of CBD products.
Actress Chloë Sevigny said that she tried CBD once and it didn’t have the intended effect, so she’s “not a proponent.”
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
