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Vermont gov gets legal cannabis sales bill (Newsletter: September 23, 2020)

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Ann Arbor decrims psychedelics; FDA meeting on CBD & sex; SD racist marijuana enforcement exposed; KS lawmakers push medical cannabis

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Vermont Senate voted to send bills to legalize marijuana sales and expunge prior cannabis convictions to the desk of Gov. Phil Scott (R). The governor last week praised the process by which the final cannabis commerce proposal was negotiated, so advocates are hopeful he won’t veto it.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council voted unanimously to decriminalize a wide range of psychedelics—including psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine.

The Food and Drug Administration announced it will host a day-long public meeting to explore the differing effects of CBD and other marijuana compounds based on gender and sex differences.

A new analysis by the campaign seeking to pass a marijuana legalization ballot measure in South Dakota shows that nearly one out of 10 of all arrests in the state are for cannabis, and that enforcement is carried out in a racially disproportionate manner.

Kansas lawmakers are keeping up the push to legalize medical cannabis.

  • “It’s time we acknowledge that some of our citizens are actually using medical marijuana, even though they may have to travel to another state to get it.”

/ FEDERAL

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute tweeted that a “@NIH-funded study finds that patients with #SickleCell who use medical marijuana for pain tend to have fewer hospitalizations.”

The House of Representatives approved a short-term funding extension bill that includes a provision to extend the 2014 hemp pilot program and delay implementation of U.S. Department of Agriculture rules that industry stakeholders say need more work before being finalized.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) tweeted, “No more private prisons and private detention centers. No more profiteering from locking people up. No more ‘war on drugs.’ No more keeping people in jail because they’re too poor to afford cash bail. Instead of more jails and incarceration, we need more jobs and education.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said it is “disappointing” that Democratic leaders delayed a vote on a bill to federally legalize marijuana.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and her Republican challenger Paul Junge both support federal marijuana reform.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about the need to reform marijuana laws in a House floor speech.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Cannabis justice is a racial justice issue. Period.”

Texas congressional candidate Russell Foster tweeted, “My uncle had MS, was falling apart from all the opioids & drugs once he had to start using a walker, then a chair. Luckily in his final years, he was able to find cannabis, got off most of the killer meds, and lived longer than what we thought possible. #PotSaves”

Mississippi Democratic congressional candidate Antonia Eliason tweeted, “Opposition to Initiative 65 is pure fear-mongering. Vote to legalize medical marijuana for those who need it – vote for 65 NOT for 65A, which would limit it to terminally ill patients.”

/ STATES

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) held a press conference to discuss issues with the state’s marijuana business licensing process.

The Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prevent police from conducting searches based solely on the smell of marijuana.

The Colorado Supreme Court will consider the case of a Department of Corrections employee who was fired for one-time, off-duty use of marijuana on Wednesday.

Michigan marijuana regulators will meet on Thursday.

Nevada regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed marijuana rule changes on October 20.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,500 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

The Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council decided against allowing medical cannabis delivery services.

Portland, Oregon police sent a bulletin about burglaries are multiple marijuana dispensaries.

/ INTERNATIONAL

South Africa’s Parliament is accepting public input on a marijuana reform bill.

A Kenyan lawmaker is pushing for the legalization of medical cannabis.

A UK member of Parliament authored an op-ed calling for drugs to be treated as a health, rather than criminal, issue.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that “novel cannabidiol sunscreen protects keratinocytes and melanocytes against ultraviolet B radiation.”

A study found that “certain LED spectra can considerably increase the amount of cannabinoids with respect to conventional illumination.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Drug Policy Alliance published a transition memo on drug policy issues for the next president

Members of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation are divided over the nation’s marijuana legalization referendum.

/ BUSINESS

Aurora Cannabis Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $72.1 million and an adjusted loss of $34.6 million.

Greenleaf is being sued by its former finance director who says he was wrongfully fired after raising allegations its owners were improperly taking money from the business.

At least seven Oregon marijuana businesses have been destroyed by recent wildfires, with at least a dozen more being damaged.

The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists is hosting a Mid-Atlantic Cannabis Conference on Saturday.

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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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