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US government’s tame response to Canadian legalization (Newsletter: Oct. 18, 2018)

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Likely next House Judic chair suggests legalizing drugs; Bizarre legal strategy sent marijuana to DOJ & courts; Canadian pardon process announced

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

So far the U.S. government’s official response to Canadian marijuana legalization seems very calm and consists of just a few polite videos reminding people not to bring cannabis over the border and a FAQ explaining how use affects entry and visas.

Does the next chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee want to legalize LSD, psilocybin, MDMA or other drugs in addition to marijuana? That’s what Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) seemed to imply in a radio interview.

  • “From everything we have learned, people are going to do drugs. And certainly the softer drugs like marijuana, there’s no good reason at all that they cannot be legalized and regulated properly.”

One man’s bizarre legal strategy involved sending marijuana samples to the Department of Justice and the federal courts. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work, and now the U.S. Marshals have been informed.

/ FEDERAL

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) continues to express optimism about industrial hemp.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Republican challenger Rob Arlett debated marijuana policy.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) tweeted, “Today, Canada is recognizing what Oregonians and Americans across the country already understand: marijuana prohibition is an outdated, dangerous policy. It’s time to bring America’s marijuana policy into the 21st century.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted, “It’s time for the United States to follow suit. Legalizing marijuana at the federal level would make our justice system more fair—it’s the smart thing to do and it’s the right thing to do.”

Assistant House Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC) said that marijuana reform is “not important to me.”

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) and Republican challenger Vickie Yates Brown Glisson debated marijuana policy.

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), currently a U.S. Senate candidate, is pushing the federal government to let marijuana businesses access banks.

  • “I think it frankly cries out for a federal solution. And this is tough stuff — this is hard stuff to talk about — because I’m a law-and-order congressman, but it’s impossible to ignore what’s going on… If the federal government itself doesn’t do something to sort of at least provide the banking system that allows for greater oversight and regulation, I think we’re just setting ourselves up for a bit of a rogue industry rather than a highly regulated one.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and other elected officials will speak in support of a Missouri medical cannabis ballot measure at an event on Saturday.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) tweeted, “Proud to be endorsed by @NORML. As a member of the House Cannabis Caucus, I will continue my work to increase MJ research, change banking regs, and give vets access to MMJ.”

Several members of Congress expressed concern about border issues stemming from conflicting U.S. and Canadian marijuana laws.

/ STATES

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he hopes the legislature’s investigation into sexual assault allegations against an administration official won’t prevent lawmakers from being able to legalize marijuana. Separately, lawmakers filed bills to establish a state bank to serve the marijuana industry and to exempt medical cannabis from sales and use taxes. A separate resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation increasing cannabis businesses’ access to banks was also introduced.

Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo (R) vetoed a bill that would have given him waiver authority over certain requirements for medical cannabis program.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said he opposes legalizing marijuana but supports medical cannabis.

Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner implied that marijuana is a gateway drug.

Utah lawmakers began considering a medical cannabis compromise bill, with Republicans mostly on board with the proposal.

North Dakota regulators will begin accepting medical cannabis patient and caregiver applications on October 29.

Michigan regulators will meet on Thursday to consider medical cannabis license applications.

Here’s a look at activists’ efforts to qualify a medical cannabis measure for Mississippi’s 2020 ballot.

Iowa’s first medical cannabis facility is preparing to open.

/ LOCAL

A draft Seattle, Washington 2019 legislative agenda says the city supports state legislation to allow marijuana delivery services and cannabis vaping lounges, as well as expunging misdemeanor convictions.

The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors voted to establish a Cannabis Oversight Committee.

Weatherford, Oklahoma is the target of the fifth lawsuit against local medical cannabis ordinances in the state.

The Adair County, Oklahoma district attorney is dismissing a case against a registered medical cannabis patient who was charged with possession due to apparent confusion over which drug crime statute should apply.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Canadian government implemented marijuana legalization and also announced a process to expedite the process of pardoning people with past cannabis possession convictions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on legalization going into effect.

  • “Promise Made, Promise Kept.”

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox tweeted, “Congratulations to the Canadian government on its remarkable leadership in today legalizing the sale and use of recreational cannabis. The first country in the G7 and and an important step in the global adoption of legalized cannabis for medical and recreational use.”

/ ADVOCACY

Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana launched a new microsite it says it will use to track violations of Canada’s marijuana legalization laws.

Republican operative Roger Stone says Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) was “dealing marijuana to other staffers” on Ronald Reagan’s 1976 presidential campaign and is now messing up medical cannabis implementation in his state.

The Marijuana Policy Project’s Mason Tvert clashed with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson in a testy interview.

/ BUSINESS

Marijuana stocks dipped as Canada’s legalization went into effect, and by the end of the day a few had risen.

The New York Stock Exchange approved Aurora Cannabis for listing and registration.

The former owner of OG Analytics filed a defamation lawsuit against activists who exposed her ties to white nationalists.

/ CULTURE

Actor Seth Rogen tweeted, “Few moments in my life have brought me pride like I feel today. Canada, I love you.  – one of your smiling citizens.”

The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah expressed frustration that Canada legalized marijuana before the U.S.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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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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