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Trump says Harris ‘lied’ when questioned on cannabis (Newsletter: August 13, 2020)

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USDA explains hemp benefits denial; DC legal marijuana sales measure filed for ballot; A look at Kamala Harris’s cannabis record

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Marijuana Moment put together a comprehensive 4,000-word overview of where Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris stands on cannabis, from campaigning against legalization as a California prosecutor to being the lead sponsor of a Senate bill to end federal prohibition and numerous points of evolution in between.

President Trump, asked about Democratic vice presidential designee Kamala Harris’s claim she smoked marijuana in college while listening to yet-to-be-released Snoop Dogg and Tupac albums, said “she lied.” But he declined the opportunity to go after her broader cannabis policy record in response to a follow-up question.

  • “Well, she lied. I mean, she said things that were untrue. She is a person that’s told many, many stories that weren’t true.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a Federal Register notice that despite appeals from the hemp industry, the crop didn’t experience significant enough price declines for farmers to qualify for a coronavirus relief program.

Washington, D.C. activists recently filed a new proposed ballot initiative to legalize marijuana sales in the city, but it’s not clear how it would get around a congressional rider blocking such cannabis reforms in the nation’s capital.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) tweeted, “We owe more than an apology to a generation of Black men criminalized by the war on drugs. That’s why I co-sponsored @CoryBooker’s Next Step Act for transformative criminal justice reform and why we must adjust our budgets to invest in our communities, not in punishment.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted that he’s “proud to support bipartisan legislation like the SAFE Banking Act to provide access to banking services for legal cannabis businesses.”

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said in a Senate floor speech that marijuana business banking access is worth debating but that the issue doesn’t belong in coronavirus legislation.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) tweeted, “Pelosi is using the pain of the unemployed as a bargaining chip for the HEROES Act that mentions marijuana more than jobs. We need to come together and pass meaningful relief that will help American families.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted, “Kamala Harris will be a terrific Vice President. I have had the privilege of working with the senator on our legislation to legalize cannabis and am ready to do everything I can to send Joe Biden and her to the White House.”

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war gort two new cosponsors for a total of 83.

Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate Christopher Hale tweeted, “Why is it that kids and veterans who smoke marijuana have criminal records but the Wall Street crooks who wrecked our economy do not? I’ll be the most pro-weed Congressman that God ever made.”

/ STATES

The Oregon secretary of state designated initiatives to legalize psilocybin therapy and to decriminalize drugs and fund treatment as Measures 109 and 110, respectively.

Vermont’s House speaker and Senate president said they expect a conference committee on pending marijuana sales legalization legislation to meet this month.

Idaho House and Senate leaders discussed their views of medical cannabis legislation.

Illinois regulators adopted permanent rules for marijuana business license application tie-breaking processes.

New York regulators proposed rules allowing access to CBD prescription medication Epidiolex.

Washington, D.C. schools officials released information about employee drug testing and medical cannabis use.

Michigan regulators will hold a marijuana social equity outreach and education session on August 26.

The Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine’s Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana will meet on August 27.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 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.

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/ LOCAL

The Dallas, Texas Community Police Oversight Board adopted a recommendation that the City Council mandate police issue citations instead of making arrests for low-level marijuana possession.

Drug policy reform advocate Dave Silberman won the Democratic nomination for Addison County, Vermont high bailiff.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “marijuana smoking was not associated with a significant increase in risk of pneumonia among HIV-infected or -uninfected men.”

A case study examines a man who died with the “greatest number of cannabis capsules ever swallowed, which accounted for 250 packages.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Oregon campaign to decriminalize drugs and fund treatment announced a list of new endorsing organizations and individuals.

/ BUSINESS

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. reported $120.8 million in quarterly revenue.

Green Thumb Industries Inc.  reported $119.6 million in quarterly revenue and a net loss attributable to the company of $12.9 million.

Hobo Cannabis Company changed its name to Dutch Love following criticism that the former name was offensive.

Colorado marijuana businesses sold more than $198 million worth of products in June, a new record.

Several Michigan marijuana companies are being sued for allegedly sending unsolicited text messages or automated phone calls.

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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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