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Yelp blocks cannabis businesses from ad programs (Newsletter: June 19, 2020)

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NJ Assembly approves marijuana decrim; Kansas City mayor pushes drug reform; Sanders: Put legalization in police bill; USDA pressed on hemp farmer aid

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The New Jersey Assembly voted 63-10 to approve a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession. The move comes as voters prepare to decide on a broader cannabis legalization referendum in November.

Yelp has blocked marijuana businesses from two key advertising features on its site. The ban applies even to cannabis dispensaries that have been verified with their state-issued licenses. One business tells Marijuana Moment that its web traffic is down 60% in two days.

Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor filed a measure to completely remove all local penalties for marijuana possession. Next, he plans to pursue efforts to remove other “minor drug offenses from our code.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) took to the Senate floor to argue marijuana legalization must be part of police reform.

  • “We must end police officers continuing to arrest, search or jail the people of our country, predominantly people of color, for using marijuana.”

Reps. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) and Sean Maloney (D-NY) are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make hemp farmers eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. After Marijuana Moment first reported last month that hemp farmers couldn’t even apply to challenge the block, that policy was reversed.

/ FEDERAL

The Department of Justice Inspector General’s Office found that the Drug Enforcement Administration failed to follow proper procedures for carrying out and reporting undercover money laundering activities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted information collection requirements for its hemp oversight efforts.

Oklahoma Democratic Senate candidate Elysabeth Britt tweeted, “I support the decriminalization of marijuana. The effects of keeping marijuana illegal has caused a disconnect between federal and state laws and hindered many lives. With a number of states passing marijuana laws based on the public will, it’s apparent that reform is needed.”

New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Russ Cirincione tweeted that decriminalizing cannabis “is a start, but we need federal legalization & expungement of marijuana related offenses. Racial & social justice must be at the core of our public policy.”

/ STATES

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned a policy blocking people on probation from using medical cannabis.

Colorado regulators submitted a hemp plan for federal approval.

A former Oklahoma Health Department general counsel who admitted to sending herself fake emails she claimed were from medical cannabis advocates has been suspended from practicing law for a year.

Florida regulators found elevated lead levels in hemp products.

Missouri regulators announced that two medical cannabis cultivation facilities passed initial inspections and have been cleared to begin operations.

A California assemblyman amended a bill so it would ban flavored marijuana vaping products.

Washington State regulators are holding a forum about rules to incrementally expand the marijuana plant canopy square footage allowed for some producers on June 30.


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 Des Moines, Iowa City Council will consider a resolution to create a task for to study making marijuana possession the lowest law enforcement priority on Monday.

Los Angeles, California regulators are proposing marijuana rules changes to foster “a more responsible and equitable Licensing and Social Equity Program.”

Denver, Colorado regulators issued the city’s first medical cannabis research and development license.

San Francisco, California regulators said that marijuana businesses must conduct community outreach meetings virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

/ INTERNATIONAL

A move by Ireland’s Green Party to legalize drugs was blocked by other parties as part of discussions to form a government.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that a CBD aromatherapy “contributes to improved health as well as promoting the economic and social development of this economically depressed area.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party tweeted, “Our party supports the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. Harrisburg Republicans won’t even let our proposals onto the floor. Tell your friends: The fastest route to decriminalizing marijuana in PA is flipping the state legislature in November.”

Americans for Safe Access is surveying patients about the medical cannabis programs in their states.

Columnists Ezra Klein and Ross Douthat discussed psychedelics legalization.

/ BUSINESS

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Organic Cannabis Foundation LLC and Northern California Small Business Assistants Inc. cannot challenge Internal Revenue Service tax determinations because they missed the deadline after FedEx’s failed attempt to deliver their petitions.

Trulieve Inc. asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging it misused consumer reports while doing background checks on prospective employees.

iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. said it is in default from the Ontario Securities Commission for failing to file several required documents.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. closed an underwritten public offering worth C$77,625,000 at a price of C$6.75 per unit.

Asana co-founder Justin Rosenstein donated $300,000 to support research to legalize MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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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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