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Wisconsin governor reveals cannabis reform details (Newsletter: Feb. 19, 2019)

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Barbara Lee questioned for Kamala Harris support; Study: Bees love hemp; Connecticut gov expected to talk marijuana & budget

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) held a press conference to announce details the marijuana decriminalization, medical cannabis and expungement provisions he is including in his budget proposal.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)—one of Congress’s strongest marijuana reform champions—endorsed Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) for president, and she’s seeing a backlash from legalization supporters who are upset about the candidate’s prosecutorial record.

A study found “industrial hemp can play an important role in providing sustained nutritional options for bees during the cropping season.”

/ FEDERAL

Transportation Sec. Elaine Chao published a blog post on drug-impaired driving, writing that “the number of drivers killed in crashes who tested positive for marijuana doubled from 2007 to 2015.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, decried the “failed war on drugs” and called for decriminalizing marijuana during a campaign speech in South Carolina.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) published an op-ed about his legislation that would use funds seized from El Chapo and other drug cartel leaders to pay for a Mexican border wall.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted photos of themselves celebrating a local business’s new hemp-based CBD donut.

Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) called on New Mexico state lawmakers to legalize marijuana in a speech in the state House chamber. (Around timestamp 12:28 in the linked video.)

/ STATES

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) is expected to discuss legalizing marijuana during his budget address on Wednesday.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) wants to repeal the board charged with regulating marijuana and instead give authority to the commissioner of commerce, community and economic development.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) spoke during a speech in New Hampshire about how the fears he had about marijuana legalization didn’t come to fruition. Separately, the state’s Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee will meet on February 25.

A South Dakota Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee vote on legalizing hemp has been postponed at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem (R).

Delaware’s attorney general announced a series of criminal justice reforms, including “emphasis on diversion and alternatives to prosecution for several categories of low-level offenses, including simple possession of marijuana.”

The North Dakota House of Representatives approved a bill to add new medical cannabis qualifying conditions, allow edibles and authorize physician assistants to recommend the drug, among other changes.

The New Mexico Senate approved a bill allowing students to use medical cannabis in schools. Separately, Democratic legislative leaders are including hemp legalization in their plans to boost the state’s economy.

The Iowa Senate subcommittee approved a bill to add new CBD medical cannabis qualifying conditions.

A Utah representative wants the state to spend approximately $300,000 to study the “adverse human health effects from acute and/or chronic exposure to marijuana” as well as cannabis use by pregnant women.

U.S. Virgin Islands regulators are expected to make medical cannabis available to patients by the fall.

Wisconsin regulators are hiring a hemp regulatory specialist.

Arkansas activists are preparing to file language for a proposed marijuana legalization ballot measure.

Here’s a look at the prospects for Hawaii marijuana legalization legislation.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 600 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.

We followed more than 900 pieces of cannabis legislation in 2018. Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

Fairbanks, Alaska officials removed ads for CBD products from public buses.

/ INTERNATIONAL

A South Korean law allowing medical cannabis exports goes into effect next month.

Canadian hemp and cannabis producers are pushing to ease restrictions on CBD.

/ ADVOCACY

Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile said there are a “substantial number of Americans who are in prison because of recreational use of marijuana.”

The president of the American Bankers Association published an op-ed calling on Congress to let marijuana businesses access financial services.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is urging Gov. Tony Evers (D) to rethink his plan to decriminalize marijuana and legalize medical cannabis.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “dronabinol and/or medicinal cannabis are promising therapies for palliation of night sweats in cancer patients.”

A case study indicated that “cannabidiol might have led to a striking response in a patient with lung cancer.”

A survey of parents of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, rheumatic disease or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder found that 27.9% would approve of medical cannabis by their children.

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll of U.S. parents found that 74% support banning medical cannabis dispensaries within a certain distance of schools, with 68% saying the same of daycare centers and 44% feeling that way about places of worship.

A poll of New Jersey residents found that they support legalizing marijuana possession, 62%-32%, and that they back legal sales by a margin of 50%-34%, while 68% say it would help the state’s economy and 74% support clearing criminal records of past convictions in the event of legalization.

/ BUSINESS

Politico looks at the issue of explosions at marijuana hash oil extraction facilities.

Facebook blocked a hemp food company from boosting its posts.

/ CULTURE

Gift bags for the Oscars will include a number of CBD- and THC-infused products.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and former player Charles Barkley discussed the similarities between debates on legalizing marijuana and sports betting.

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson tweeted, “Great to see the growing chorus of voices calling for sensible drug policy reform. Decriminalisation and regulation is the way to go.”

Bill Ray and Tish Cyrus are facing a backlash for posting a photograph of their sizable marijuana stash on Instagram.

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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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