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IN House slams Sched. I; NJ gov visits dispensary; Mexican tourism minister wants legal marijuana at vacation destinations

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) told Marijuana Moment that he spoke with President Trump about cannabis policy during an Oval Office meeting.

Mexico’s tourism minister suggested legalizing marijuana in the country’s most popular vacation destinations.

The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution calling on the state legislative council to study medical cannabis and criticizing the federal government’s designation of marijuana under Schedule I.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is hosting a summit on drugged driving, citing “states legalizing marijuana.”

The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois said that federal marijuana policy changes likely won’t affect which cases he prosecutes.

Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) is urging President Trump and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to do “everything in their power to help vets living w/ PTSD & chronic pain, including medical cannabis research.”

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Legalizing recreational marijuana across the United States would raise $7 billion in taxes per year. The Republicans who say that America is ‘broke’ when talking about healthcare and education should get behind the Marijuana Justice Act.”

/ STATES

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) toured a medical cannabis dispensary.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) said that the state’s medical cannabis program is a “huge success.”

Maryland’s Senate president said he doesn’t think marijuana legalization legislation will advance this year.

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant (R), a gubernatorial candidate, said that cannabis dealers are lacing their product with carfentanil, “turing their marijuana customer into an opioid addict.”

Oregon regulators stiffened penalties for underage marijuana sales.

A Florida judge heard arguments in a case challenging the state’s ban on smoking medical cannabis.

Tennessee’s Senate Republican Caucus chairman said he opposed medical cannabis until he got cancer.

Georgia senators filed a marijuana legalization bill and separate proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide on the issue.

A California senator introduced legislation creating a framework for marijuana banking. Separately, at a Democratic gubernatorial debate, the candidates were asked if they’ve ever used marijuana.

Hawaii representatives introduced a bill clarifying that having a medical cannabis recommendation can’t constitute the sole basis for denying a person’s right to own a gun.

Idaho lawmakers are considering legislation to allow CBD medical cannabis.

Officials from some legalization states are concerned that federal enforcement policy changes will impact marijuana tax revenues.

/ LOCAL

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is in talks with NYPD about opening a safe injection facilities for consumers of illegal drugs.

An Oakland, California official reported that a businessman seeking a marijuana dispensary permit offered to pay for a trip to Spain.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Canadian government loosened restrictions on medical cannabis producers, no longer requiring them to store products in vaults or maintain 24/7 video surveillance of grows. Those old regulations “do not align with the existing evidence of risks to public health and safety,” a release said. Separately, a government report found that in 2017, about 4.9 million Canadians aged 15 to 64 spent an estimated $5.7 billion on cannabis for medical and non-medical purposes.

A presidential candidate in Ghana is campaigning on marijuana legalization.

Honduras’s national police chief reportedly helped cartels deliver drugs.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A new scientific commentary focuses on the difficulty of detecting marijuana-impaired driving.

A study of people who consumed psilocybin found that “nature relatedness significantly increased and authoritarianism significantly decreased.”

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that U.S. voters broadly support criminal justice reform.

/ BUSINESS

The Associated Press formed a new beat team focusing on marijuana coverage.

The founders of Privateer Holdings made a commitment to invest some legal marijuana profits back into helping communities harmed by the war on drugs.

Colorado regulators issued a health warning about Bronnor Corp marijuana products containing unsafe levels of residual ethanol.

High Times is offering shares at $11.00.Lakewood Capital Management is shorting Canadian marijuana stocks.

Advertising Week and PRØHBTD MEDIA expanded their partnership on marijuana content.

/ CULTURE    

 The Onion had some fun with Vermont’s new marijuana legalization law.

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