Newsletter
Vermont legal cannabis sales bill advances (Newsletter: May 3, 2019)
DC mayor files commercial marijuana bill; POTUS candidate Michael Bennet on cannabis; Lawmakers push DOJ/DHS on immigrant “moral character” policy
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced she’s sending the District Council a bill to legalize marijuana sales. The city will go through the legislative process in anticipation of congressional Democrats removing a rider blocking cannabis reform from being enacted.
The Vermont House Government Operations Committee amended and advanced a Senate-passed bill to legalize marijuana sales.
Marijuana Moment’s latest presidential candidate overview takes a deep look into the cannabis record of Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), who opposed his state’s legalization measure but has since signed on to some of Congress’s most far-reaching reforms.
Four members of Congress from Colorado wrote to The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security about the policy that punishes immigrants for allegedly not having “good moral character” as a result of working in the marijuana industry.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia called himself a “critic of marijuana.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, said he’s not worried about his marijuana bill getting caught up in presidential politics.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she “applaud[s]” local officials for moving to legalize marijuana sales. She added: “We will not accept congressional prohibition on the use of D.C. funds for commercialization while states are free to do so. With Democratic control of the House, I am confident I can remove the recreational marijuana commercialization rider from the House’s upcoming fiscal year 2020 D.C. Appropriations bill, which will place D.C. in a strong negotiating position with the Senate. It’s time for Congress to get out of the way on a clearly local issue.”
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) said that Washington, D.C.’s mayor “should respect the Constitution, which gives Congress absolute authority over the District of Columbia, and discontinue her efforts to legalize marijuana in violation of the law.”
The House marijuana banking bill got three new cosponsors, for a total of 172.
The House bill to shield military veterans from losing their benefits over marijuana use got one new cosponsor, for a total of four.
/ STATES
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló (NP) said in congressional testimony that his administration has been “promoting new markets, such as medical cannabis…”
Three Virginia Supreme Court justices rejected a request from the Norfolk commonwealth’s attorney to be able to unilaterally dismiss marijuana possession charges.
Utah’s attorney general asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to overturn medical cannabis reform legislation that lawmakers passed to replace a voter-approved ballot measure on the topic.
Wisconsin’s Republican Assembly speaker said he wants to work with Gov. Tony Evers (D) to legalize medical cannabis, but not through the budget process.
The New Hampshire Senate approved a bill to allow medical cannabis home cultivation.
Michigan regulators said that medical cannabis dispensaries can no longer accept untested product from caregivers.
Washington State regulators adopted permanent rules on mandatory signage for marijuana businesses.
Maine regulators signed a conditional contract for marijuana track-and-trace software.
Oklahoma regulators reported that their online medical cannabis license verification system was down.
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/ LOCAL
Portland, Oregon’s city auditor said that there needs to be more transparency in how marijuana tax revenue is spent.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israeli regulators unveiled a new system for processing medical cannabis patient applications.
/ ADVOCACY
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin tweeted about public support for medical cannabis.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Baltimore Sun editorial board is calling on Maryland lawmakers to pass legislation vacating marijuana convictions.
/ BUSINESS
Executives from Molson Coors Brewing Co. said they don’t see any impact of marijuana legalization on beer sales.
Atalo Holdings is sending hemp seeds to the International Space Station on a SpaceX rocket on Friday.
Mondelez, which makes Oreos and other popular snacks, is considering making CBD-infused products.
/ CULTURE
Basketball player D’Angelo Russell was cited for allegedly possessing marijuana at a New York airport.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
