Newsletter
Vaping outbreak hasn’t hurt legal cannabis support, Gallup poll shows (Newsletter: October 23, 2019)
Feds warn another CBD company; Senator compares marijuana claims to old tobacco ads; Study: Legalization doesn’t increase youth cannabis use
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Gallup poll found that Americans support legalizing marijuana, 66%-33%. That’s the same level of support the firm found last year, indicating that cannabis-related vaping injuries and surgeon general warnings have not turned voters against ending prohibition. The survey shows majority support across party and racial lines, with 81 percent of people under 30 now on board.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) compared medical cannabis claims to decades-old tobacco ads in a floor speech.
- “We’re hearing a lot of the same happy talk with regard to marijuana and none of the facts that we need to understand about the public health impact.”
The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission sent another warning letter to a CBD company over allegedly making unsupported health claims about its products.
A scientific review concluded that state medical marijuana laws “increase adult but not adolescent cannabis use” and “may reduce some opioid-related harms,” while recreational legalization seems to have “little impact on the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use.”
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing changes to processes for managing quotas for production of controlled substances.
U.S. Tax Court ruled that Harborside Inc. owes a tax deficiency of approximately $11 million, down from an Internal Revenue Service claim of $36 million.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) said he thinks the time is “not too far off” until more Republicans embrace marijuana reform.
The House bill to protect veterans from losing their benefits over marijuana use got one new cosponsor for a total of 10.
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the legislature’s move to give lawmakers more direct control over cannabis regulations.
PolitiFact ruled that a claim from Florida’s agriculture commissioner about using hemp to replace plastics, styrofoam and concrete is “mostly false.”
Massachusetts regulators are removing medical cannabis patient registration and renewal fees.
The Connecticut legislature’s Regulations Review Committee approved adding Tourette syndrome, intractable pain and other disorders as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Maryland regulators plan two independent reviews of their medical cannabis licensing process.
A Virginia judge dismissed charges against a man after the state lab said it couldn’t distinguish between hemp flower and marijuana.
A South Dakota grand jury indicted on drug charges a Colorado man who claimed he was transporting hemp to Minnesota.
Washington State regulators busted an unlicensed marijuana retailer.
A New Jersey Reentry Services Commission released a report that endorses legislation to end federal marijuana prohibition. Separately, a senator published an op-ed taking issue with claims that cannabis legalization will benefit communities of color.
Michigan regulators published a marijuana licensing report.
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/ LOCAL
The Miami Beach, Florida City Commission approved an ordinance outlawing public smoking of marijuana and hemp.
Cincinnati, Ohio city councilmembers filed a proposal to remove misdemeanor marijuana convictions from consideration in background checks for city hiring.
Denver, Colorado’s auditor plans to review the city’s marijuana taxation program next year.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study on marijuana and driving found that “smoked cannabis (12.5% THC) led to an acute decrease in speed in young adults,” that “there was no clear effect of smoked cannabis on lateral control” and that “there was little evidence of residual effects of smoked cannabis on driving performance.”
A study “explored the ways in which marijuana using mothers come to identify as such and how they structure their relationships and parenting as a result.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Safe Access New Mexico is asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) to direct the legislature to consider several medical cannabis bills during the 2020 session.
/ BUSINESS
TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.’s CEO said that better-than-expected quarterly results were due in part to shorting cannabis stocks.
Cresco Labs Inc. announced that a Department of Justice review period for its planned acquisition of Origin House has expired.
The Weedmaps Museum of Weed will host an event on cannabis’s role in treating people with HIV/AIDS in conjunction with LGBTQ History Month.
Sparx launched an ad campaign modeled on old anti-drug public service announcements.
/ CULTURE
Snoop Dogg signed on as a brand ambassador for Seedo’s marijuana growing machine.
The brother of Jimi Hendrix settled a lawsuit with the late musician’s estate and agreed to stop using his name and likeness to sell marijuana and alcohol products.
Podcaster Joe Rogan said, in response to a cryptic tweet from Neil deGrasse Tyson, “Did you steal some of my weed when you left my studio?”
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