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V.A. issues updated medical cannabis policy for veterans (Newsletter: Dec. 20, 2017)

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Ben Carson slams drug war’s impact; Bill Nye on Schedule I; New Zealand MMj bill

 

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued a new medical cannabis policy that continues to bar government doctors from recommending marijuana but encourages them to talk more openly with veterans about it.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Sec. Ben Carson spoke about how enforcing the war on drugs undermines anti-poverty efforts.

/ FEDERAL

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) slammed GOP congressional leaders for not undoing the 280E penalty on marijuana businesses as part of tax reform legislation.

/ STATES

Kentucky’s secretary of state spoke about her support for medical cannabis.

  • “My hope is Kentucky won’t be the last state to address the issue, and I’m tired of sitting back and waiting for the general assembly to address the issue… Kentucky is perfectly situated. We have the best farmland and the best people to be able to grow, cultivate and dispense medical cannabis for pain relief.”

Oregon saw a rise in the number of teens seeking treatment in an emergency room or calling a poison center after ingesting marijuana last year.

Rhode Island’s medical cannabis patient count grew 17% over the past year.

California regulators are deciding how to grant water access to marijuana growers.

A Virginia representative filed a bill to extend that state’s current affirmative defense protection for CBD or THC-A oil to people with cancer.

/ LOCAL

The Reading, Pennsylvania City Council withdrew a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance.

Denver, Colorado is using marijuana sales tax revenue to fund a campaign to encourage youth not to use cannabis.

Clark County, Nevada commissioners delayed a decision on whether to allow local standalone recreational marijuana stores.

/ INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand’s government revealed its medical cannabis legislation.

Mexican health regulators ruled against allowing home cultivation of medical cannabis.

Reuters looks at a police squad responsible for many deaths in the bloody Philippines “drug war.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that marijuana legalization will roll out “next summer” and not necessarily on July 1.

/ ADVOCACY

Past allegations of misconduct by former Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Rob Kampia are resurfacing amidst a national backlash against workplace sexual harassment and abuse. Former MPP Chief of Staff Alison Green says she now regrets the way she responded to Kampia’s behavior at the organization.

In a potentially related development, the Drug Policy Alliance seems to have removed its honorary board from its website in the past week. Former Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and music mogul Russell Simmons, both recently accused of sexual misconduct, were (are?) members.

A National Cannabis Industry Association board member stepped down, and a newly hired chief of staff parted ways with the organization.

AAA is urging New Jersey to slow down its march toward legalizing marijuana.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “the majority of patients…believed that medical marijuana is a valid treatment and that it does have a role in reducing postinjury and postoperative pain,” and “those patients who used marijuana during their recovery felt that it alleviated symptoms of pain and reduced their opioid intake.”

Here’s a look at how Pennsylvania hospitals and medical schools are getting involved in cannabis research.

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that 66% of Americans believe legalizing marijuana will help the economy and that 64% think the federal government should not enforce prohibition in states that allow cannabis.

Public Policy Polling had a little fun in a holiday survey: “Much like gay marriage or marijuana legalization, ‘Die Hard’ as a Christmas movie is very much a generational issue. If pace of change in opinion over last 2 years continues it will be seen as Christmas movie by 2025.”

/ BUSINESS

The CannaInsider Cannabis Education Scholarship pays students to enroll in marijuana industry training programs.

Here’s a look at how California marijuana workers are increasingly joining unions.

Here’s a lengthy look at the demise of Tradiv, an aspiring “Amazon of the cannabis industry,” after its founder had a psychedelic religious experience.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced that a report on marijuana research topped its 2017 bestseller list.

Longtime Seattle Times marijuana reporter Bob Young left his journalism job to become a state historian.

The Associated Press looks at looming struggles between big and small marijuana growers in California.

/ CULTURE     

Scientist Bill Nye says that marijuana’s Schedule I status is “not based in any science.”

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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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