Newsletter
Virginia cannabis decriminalization bill advances (Newsletter: January 24, 2020)
WI gov slams lawmakers over marijuana; CT Senate president: legalization a 2020 priority; Austin decrim approved; Sanders campaign’s marijuana op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) used part of his State of the State speech to blast lawmakers for failing to legalize medical marijuana despite overwhelming public support.
- “When more than 80 percent of our state supports medical marijuana…and elected officials can ignore those numbers without consequence, folks, something’s wrong.”
Connecticut Senate leaders announced at a press conference that legalizing marijuana is a priority for the 2020 session.
- “I think the time has come. We need to recognize it. There’s broad based public support for it.”
The Virginia Senate Judiciary Criminal Law Subcommittee approved a marijuana decriminalization bill.
The Austin, Texas City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to effectively end low-level marijuana arrests.
The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee held a hearing on a bill that would legalize marijuana possession and home cultivation—although no retail dispensaries would be allowed. A vote is expected in the panel as soon as next week.
The Nevada co-chair of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-VT) presidential campaign submitted a new op-ed to Marijuana Moment about the senator’s plans to legalize cannabis and ensure equity in the marijuana industry for communities harmed by the drug war.
/ FEDERAL
The newly appointed Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice is charged with examining “refusals by State and local prosecutors to enforce laws or prosecute categories of crimes,” among other issues.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer raised hypothetical questions about state marijuana legalization laws during oral arguments in a case on the definition of a “serious drug offense.”
Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quickly approve Virginia’s hemp plan.
Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about marijuana policy with a group of Illinois mayors.
/ STATES
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is backing legislation to limit the medical cannabis program to only state residents. Separately, the Senate Public Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on marijuana legalization on Tuesday.
Vermont’s attorney general is scheduled to speak at a marijuana education event on Sunday.
The West Virginia House of Representatives rejected a move to discharge a marijuana legalization bill from an unfavorable committee.
A second Montana group of activists filed a proposed marijuana legalization ballot measure.
Alaska regulators approved the state’s first on-site marijuana consumption areas at dispensaries.
California regulators adopted emergency rules requiring marijuana businesses to post QR code certificates so consumers can identify licensed operations.
Missouri regulators began issuing medical cannabis dispensary licenses.
Washington State regulators approved rules on marijuana quality control testing and penalties. They also sent an update on the ban on flavored vaping products.
A New York senator who opposed marijuana legalization last session is now in support.
Indiana senators held a press conference to build support for marijuana decriminalization legislation.
Louisiana regulators gave a presentation detailing the state’s hemp program.
Michigan regulators posted a video of their marijuana social equity program presentation.
Massachusetts regulators hosted a forum to receive feedback from marijuana license applicants.
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/ LOCAL
The Springfield, Illinois City Council approved the state’s first marijuana social consumption area.
Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor spoke about plans to pardon people with past marijuana convictions.
A Spokane, Washington city councilwoman violated the city’s ethics code by advocating on behalf of a marijuana business, a volunteer panel determined.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told the Department of Correctional Services to get ready to “free our young people” who are locked up on marijuana possession charges.
New Zealand’s Health Ministry said that edibles won’t be allowed under the country’s medical cannabis program.
French regulators announced that a medical cannabis pilot program will launch in September.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that medical cannabis use “may have an overall positive effect on maintaining sleep throughout the night in chronic pain patients” but that “tolerance towards potential sleep-inducing properties of MC may occur with frequent use.”
A study found that “adolescents with any cannabis use history have significantly higher rates of [major depressive disorder]” but that “the directionality between frequency of use and MDD is counter to what was expected.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Texas Democratic Party cheered Austin’s move to end most marijuana arrests.
The American Bar Association is hosting a webinar on what it’s like to be a marijuana lawyer on Friday.
/ BUSINESS
The personal information of more than 30,000 marijuana business customers were exposed via a data leak in the THSuite point-of-sale system.
MedMen’s CEO spoke about the company’s struggles to pay vendors.
Microsoft Advertising Support tweeted that “at this time, drugs and related paraphernalia, including CBD Oil, can’t be advertised, according to our Disallowed Content Policies.”
Cresco Labs announced it entered into an agreement for a $100 million loan that can be extended to $200 million.
/ CULTURE
Musician Neal Young’s U.S. citizenship application was approved despite a delay due to his admission of marijuana consumption.
The professional minor league basketball team the Rochester RazorSharks is partnering with the Rochester, New York NORML chapter.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
