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VA gov signs cannabis decrim bill (Newsletter: May 22, 2020)
FDA announces injectable CBD recall; USVI gov files revised legal marijuana bill; DC Council approves medical cannabis employment protections
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed a marijuana decriminalization bill into law, making the state the 27th in the nation to remove the threat of jail time for low-level cannabis possession.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that Biota Biosciences is voluntarily recalling injectable CBD products that the federal agency sent a warning letter about last month.
U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. (D) submitted a revised marijuana legalization bill to the territory’s Senate. He’s pushing it as a measure to save a struggling retirement program for government employees and to create new jobs.
The Washington, D.C. District Council passed an emergency bill extending workplace discrimination protections for medical marijuana patients who are employed by local government agencies.
/ FEDERAL
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tweeted, “The Democrats’ $3 trillion dollar wishlist mentioned the word ‘cannabis’ more times than it did ‘jobs.’ It was a pot bill. Not a pandemic bill.”
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) tweeted, “A $3T monstrosity that mentions “cannabis” 68 times. How many times did it mention the word “jobs”? 52 times. What are Republicans fighting to protect? Jobs. What are Democrats fighting to protect? Pot. What a joke.”
Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX) tweeted, “Just a reminder that the Democrats’ last coronavirus relief bill said the word ‘cannabis’ more than the word ‘jobs’. While 39 million Americans are unemployed and many are wondering if they will get their next paycheck, Democrats are focused on pot. Americans deserve better.”
Virginia Republican congressional candidate Heerak Christian Kim tweeted, “Virginia’s drug overdose problem is getting out of hand! That is why Heerak opposes legalization of marijuana in Virginia, while incumbent @RepDonBeyer supports legalization of marijuana!”
/ STATES
A former Arkansas attorney general joined the board of the U.S. Hemp Authority.
Washington, D.C. police released updated marijuana arrest data.
Members of the Red Lake Nation, located in Minnesota, approved a medical cannabis referendum.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee held a hearing on a bill to revise marijuana regulations.
Maryland regulators revealed that 10,000 people registered as medical cannabis patients during the coronavirus outbreak, representing more than a tenth of the state’s total patient count.
A Pennsylvania senator plans to file legislation to protect medical cannabis patients from being unduly charged with driving under the influence.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
St. Lucia’s commerce and investment minister said he would like a decision to be made on marijuana decriminalization by the end of the current government’s term.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “compared with clobazam/valproate, adjunctive cannabinoid oil may be a cost-effective treatment for Dravet syndrome.”
A review concluded that “legalization of recreational cannabis use in the US has substantially reduced the price of cannabis, increased its potency, and made cannabis more available to adult users” and “appears to have increased the frequency of cannabis use among adults, but not so far among youth.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that middle-aged New Zealanders oppose legalizing marijuana, 50%-27%.
/ BUSINESS
Ayr Strategies Inc. reported $33.6 million in quarterly revenue and a $4.9 million loss from operations.
Canopy Growth Corp.’s Houseplant launched a line of cannabis-infused beverages.
New Mexico dispensaries sold $40.1 million worth of medical cannabis products in the first quarter of the year.
/ CULTURE
Football player Montravius Adams was arrested for marijuana possession, driving without insurance and having a suspended/canceled/revoked vehicle registration.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
