Newsletter
Treasury secretary talks cannabis biz tax incentives (Newsletter: February 18, 2020)
NFL weighs marijuana penalty reduction; Study: Medical cannabis reduces ADHD drug use; ABA approves marijuana banking & lawyers resolutions
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was pressed again during a recent Senate hearing on whether marijuana businesses should be able to qualify for Opportunity Zone tax benefits.
National Football League penalties for players who use marijuana would be “dramatically reduced” under a draft collective bargaining agreement that’s now circulating, and the drug testing window would reportedly shrink from four months to just two weeks.
The American Bar Association approved resolutions calling on Congress to pass a marijuana banking bill and clarify that lawyers can advise cannabis business clients without violating federal law.
A study found that “higher-dose consumption of [medical cannabis] components (phyto-cannabinoids and terpenes) is associated with ADHD medication reduction.”
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear arguments next month in a case on whether a police officer in a state that has decriminalized marijuana can justify a search of a car based on probable cause to believe that still-federally-illegal cannabis is inside.
The U.S.Forest Service touted marijuana eradication efforts in documents justifying its Fiscal Year 2021 budget request.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted about the controversial marijuana enforcement comments of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), a presidential candidate.
Rep. Don Young (R-AK) discussed his work on marijuana legislation in a speech to the National Congress of American Indians.
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) tweeted, “We have the chance to work towards providing citizens with the chance to solve major health problems without the use of prescription drugs. Support for marijuana legalization in New Mexico has increased steadily in recent years.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Support for legalizing marijuana over time: ➡️ 1989: 16% ➡️ 1999: 31% ➡️ 2019: 67% All of those who join me in fighting for an end to the federal prohibition of cannabis are on the right side of history.”
Former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), who recently ended his presidential campaign, asked his Twitter followers to watch his daughter’s CNN story about flower growers switching to the marijuana industry.
/ STATES
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) said she needs to spend more time working with lawmakers to build support for marijuana legalization. Separately, the legislature sent her a bill to limit the medical cannabis program to in-state residents.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said it’s a “priority” to legalize marijuana this year.
Alabama’s House speaker said he is in “wait and see mode” on medical cannabis legislation.
The Washington State House of Representatives approved a bill to prioritize marijuana business license applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
Michigan regulators issued a technical bulletin about potency variance in marijuana packaging.
Arkansas regulators will consider alleged rules violations by a medical cannabis company on February 26.
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/ LOCAL
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s district attorney tweeted, “Criminalization of cannabis disproportionately harmed black and low-income people. The benefits of decriminalization, including profit, must be offered in a way that is proportional to prior damage done.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board approved “in principle” a resolution to allow the use of CBD to treat severe forms of epilepsy. The Senate president said that lawmakers now have less of a need to take up medical cannabis legislation in light of regulators’ move.
Candidates for leader of the UK Labour Party discussed marijuana decriminalization during a debate.
Scotland’s first medical cannabis clinic is set to open.
Colombian and Brazilian officials met to discuss marijuana policy.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review “identified studies demonstrating an inhibitory effect of cannabinoids on skin inflammation, proliferation, fibrosis, pain, and itch—biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of many dermatologic conditions” and concluded that “cannabinoids have the potential to expand the therapeutic repertoire of a wide spectrum of skin disorders.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New York Daily News editorial board is calling on lawmakers to legalize marijuana this session.
Major Republican donor Miriam Adelson spoke about how she believes “cannabis is indeed a gateway drug to potentially deadly opioids.”
Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy released a voter guide for upcoming primary elections.
/ BUSINESS
Michigan retailers sold $9.8 million worth of recreational marijuana products in January.
/ CULTURE
The Onion quipped that Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is polling “poorly among African American men who were between 16 and 25 years old when they were arrested for possession of marijuana during his tenure as mayor of New York.”
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