Newsletter
Youth support for legal cannabis at all-time high (Newsletter: June 4, 2018)
OK medical marijuana vote looks good; Fed prosecutors talk cannabis; LA & MO bills signed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Here’s a look at the state of play in Oklahoma just weeks ahead of a crucial ballot vote on a medical cannabis measure. Polls look good for supporters, and opponents are not spending big, at least not as of the most recent campaign finance filing deadline.
A federally funded survey found that youth support for legalizing marijuana — and other drugs — is at an historic high. Other results of the study call into question long-held fears that ending prohibition will make cannabis more available to teens.
/ FEDERAL
Utah’s U.S. attorney is speaking out against marijuana law reform ahead of a state medical cannabis ballot vote.
The U.S. attorney for the southern district of West Virginia tweeted, “Medical marijuana or gun ownership – pick one but you can’t pick both. Strong 2d Amendment supporter but Gun Control Act is clear. Federal law prohibits marijuana users from owning a gun. Drugs + guns = bad idea.”
Former President Bill Clinton (D) still maintains that he didn’t inhale marijuana.
U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, “There’s every indication that [legalizing hemp] will be a good thing for Kentucky farmers.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) taped a video message to be played at Americans for Safe Access’s medical cannabis conference.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) tweeted, “Canada presents no national security threat to us. Marijuana doesn’t kill people. Net neutrality is popular. Pens don’t cost that much.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called for marijuana and drug policy reform at a rally.
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) visited marijuana farms.
Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) met with federal and local law enforcement officials to discuss illegal marijuana cultivation.
Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD), who has blocked marijuana reforms in Washington, D.C., refused to discuss the issue with a constituent after an event.
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “Even though black and white Americans use marijuana at the same rates, black Americans are far more likely to be arrested for use. We have to end this injustice. Every Democrat should get behind the #MarijuanaJusticeAct.”
Virginia Republican congressional candidate Denver Riggleman supports decriminalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed legislation adding new medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R), on his last day in office, signed an industrial hemp bill into law.
Maine’s attorney general shut down a vape tent at a medical cannabis event.
Massachusetts regulators can start issuing recreational marijuana business licenses as of last Friday.
Arkansas’s attorney general opposes legalizing marijuana.
New York Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sounded like a “suburban dad from the 70s” when he called marijuana a “gateway drug.”
California Democratic gubernatorial candidates Antonio Villaraigosa and Gavin Newsom did interviews with Marijuana.com. Newsom, currently the lieutenant governor, separately made a joke about the smell of marijuana on his campaign bus.
Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis, currently a congressman, posted a Twitter thread about his support for cannabis reform.
Here’s a look at where Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana. Meanwhile, the state’s medical cannabis registry is adding more than 5,000 new patients a week.
Members of Utah law enforcement are working to defeat a medical cannabis ballot measure.
Delaware State Police charged the operator of a medical cannabis clinic with forging physician signatures.
North Dakota regulators released a draft medical cannabis dispensary license application.
/ LOCAL
The Albany County, New York district attorney is holding town meetings to discuss marijuana enforcement.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s mayor tweeted, “Far beyond time for every state to legalize medicinal marijuana & begin/ institute the use for all legal purposes. Far too many family & friends suffered/are suffering for a stigma not based in any scientific fact.”
New York City criminal justice reform advocates are asking Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) to direct city agencies to stop inflicting collateral consequences on people for marijuana offenses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian Senate voted to ban the use of marijuana company logos on non-marijuana items like t-shirts and hats as it continued third reading consideration of the government’s legalization bill.
Dominica’s deputy prime minister, who also serves as the agriculture minister, said the country should consider decriminalizing marijuana.
St. Lucia’s government is considering marijuana reforms.
Lebanese American University launched a medical cannabis study program.
/ ADVOCACY
The New Hampshire Democratic Party appears ready to add support for marijuana legalization to its platform following initial internal disagreement.
Former Obama advisor David Axelrod tweeted support for Georgia parents whose custody of their son was taken away after they successfully treated his epilepsy with medical cannabis.
The National Cannabis Industry Association announced the winners of its board of directors election.
An analysis of the Mexican marijuana legalization movement concluded that it has “non-articulated demands, it lacks a strong common identity and limited resources for mobilization” and that “these features find an echo in a poor repertoire of protest.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabidiol showed clear therapeutic benefit and good safety in patients with therapy resistant seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome who have drop seizure.”
A study of car accidents found that “no significant changes in the number of marijuana-related crashes were observed after medical legalization only” but that “an increased number of marijuana-related crashes were observed after all other types of the marijuana law changes.”
NPR looks at the use of ketamine to treat depression.
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Virginian-Pilot editorial board is supporting hemp legalization.
/ BUSINESS
CNNMoney looks at the growing number of marijuana companies trading on Canadian stock exchanges.
An analysis suggests that the UK Treasury could earn between £1 billion and £3.5 billion a year in tax revenues from legalizing marijuana.
Fox Rothschild LLP released a guide to marijuana industry tax compliance.
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