Newsletter
UN begins first-ever cannabis review (Newsletter: May 31, 2018)
Four cannabis amendments in Congress; Trump signs “Right to Try”; Prohibitionists’ baby bib stunt
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. House Rules Committee, and potentially the full House of Representatives, will consider four marijuana amendments next week, covering issues ranging from veterans’ access to medical cannabis to water rights for hemp growers.
The United Nations World Health Organization is conducting its first-ever review of marijuana’s status under international law, with key meetings coming up next week.
/ FEDERAL
President Trump signed into law the “Right to Try” bill that could give seriously ill patients access to marijuana, MDMA and psilocybin. Background here.
President Trump held an Oval Office meeting with Kim Kardashian West to discuss prison reform.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) tweeted, “Outdated regulations banning hemp are holding back Virginia farmers, for no good reason. @TimKaine and I are sponsoring legislation to end the federal ban on hemp, and that’ll be good news for the Virginia ag industry.”
Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a U.S. Senate candidate, tweeted, “The marijuana industry has been a boon for Nevada’s economy. I’ll keep fighting to protect these businesses from federal interference.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is hosting an event about criminal justice reform in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Wisconsin Democratic congressional candidate Tom Palzewicz supports medical cannabis.
/ STATES
The Illinois Senate voted to send an industrial hemp bill to the desk of Gov. Bruce Rauner (R).
New York’s Assembly speaker said that marijuana legalization legislation needs to include expungement of prior records.
A New Jersey senator is working to combine legislation for a planned medical cannabis expansion with a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana.
The California Senate approved a bill to allow state chartered banks to serve the marijuana industry. And here’s a look at where other pending cannabis reform legislation stands.
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated marijuana issues.
A Florida judge is considering a motion to lift a stay on allowing smokable medical cannabis.
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner tweeted, “We need to legalize hemp and all of its extracts, including CBD, and allow our farmers a chance to commercialize this versatile crop.”
Oregon regulators are pausing the processing of new marijuana business license applications to deal with a backlog. Separately, next month they will consider a proposal to require cannabis growers to give advance notice of harvest dates in an effort to reduce diversion.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s (R) top drug policy advisor resigned following an investigation into “an unspecified personnel issue.”
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cathy Glasson spoke in favor of legalizing marijuana during a debate.
Michigan regulators extended the deadline for medical cannabis businesses to receive licenses.
Connecticut officials will decide whether to add opioid use disorder/opiate withdrawal and progressive degenerative disc disease of the spine as medical cannabis qualifying conditions on June 25.
Vermont Law School and prosecutors are partnering to expunge marijuana conviction records.
Georgia officials removed a teenager from his parents’ custody after they let him use marijuana to successfully treat seizures.
/ LOCAL
Sonoma County, California’s district attorney fined a medical cannabis dispensary $40,000 for failing to provide cancer warnings.
Denver, Colorado regulators denied a license to a proposed marijuana spa.
Los Angeles, California prosecutors charged 142 people with involvement in unlicensed marijuana dispensaries.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canadian activist Marc Emery was fined $5,000 for opening unlicensed marijuana businesses.
The first billboard promoting a cannabis product in Japan has gone up.
/ ADVOCACY
Prohibitionists with the Marijuana Accountability Coalition appeared to engage in mass littering by placing baby bibs emblazoned with the slogan, “Don’t Hurt Our Future,” on the doorsteps of Colorado marijuana dispensaries.
The Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition released a voter guide for state legislative races.
The Governors Highway Safety Association released a report on marijuana- and opioid-impaired driving.
The New Hampshire Democratic Party rejected a move, for now, to add support for marijuana legalization to its platform.
/ BUSINESS
The Associated Press updated its Stylebook entry for marijuana-related terms.
Adweek looks at the value of social media influencers for the marijuana industry.
Canadian investment bank Canaccord Genuity has been dominating the marijuana industry, but bigger players are starting to get involved.
/ CULTURE
Former NBA player Matt Barnes said he routinely smoked marijuana before games.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
