Newsletter
Legal cannabis measure filed in North Dakota (Newsletter: December 9, 2019)
Lawmakers: Let scientists study dispensary marijuana; Signatures collected for Oregon drug decrim measure; Call for Congress to apologize for drug war
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
There are now 1,311 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions.
Never let a marijuana bill catch you by surprise with exclusive access to Marijuana Moment’s custom-built cannabis legislation tracker for just $25/month.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
North Dakota activists filed a proposed 2020 marijuana legalization ballot measure. While a 2018 initiative from the same group had no limits on possession or cultivation, and no licensing—and lost big on Election Day— the new version has regulations and bans cannabis home cultivation.
Oregon activists have begun collecting signatures in support of a proposed 2020 ballot measure to decriminalize drugs in the state and fund treatment programs. David Bronner of Dr. Bronner’s told Marijuana Moment in an interview that the company is donating $250,000 to the effort.
A bipartisan group of senators and House members led by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA) sent a letter calling on the Department of Justice to let scientists study marijuana purchased at dispensaries.
- “There is a need for a greater diversity of cannabis products so that research on benefits and risks reflects the realities of what consumers and patients are using.”
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and 20 cosponsors filed a resolution demanding that Congress apologize to individuals and communities harmed by the war on drugs.
- “The House of Representatives hereby apologizes to the individuals and communities harmed through the War on Drugs and acknowledges that actions by this body have demonized and criminalized addiction for more than 80 years instead of accurately treating it as a health concern.”
/ FEDERAL
President Trump tweeted, “All necessary work has been completed to declare Mexican Cartels terrorist organizations. Statutorily we are ready to do so. However, at the request of a man who I like and respect, and has worked so well with us, President Andres Manuel @LopezObrador_ ee will temporarily hold off this designation and step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed the brand names of vaping products believed to be associated with cases of severe lung injury.
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property heard testimony on how the Patent and Trademark Office should be able to adapt methods it has used to review cannabis-related applications for addressing the unrelated problem of fraudulent applications originating from China.
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) tweeted about discussing medical cannabis with Greenwich Biosciences staff, saying, “There’s growing consensus federal cannabis laws should change to support research, like the work at @UCSanDiego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.”
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) tweeted about the advancement of marijuana descheduling legislation, saying, “I’m thrilled to see such a big step taken toward ending the failed ‘war on drugs’ that contributed to institutionalized racism and the criminal justice epidemic.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “🌿 People arrested for marijuana possession in 2018: 663,367. 👮♀️ Total incarcerated population in 1988: 627,402. Repairing the damage of mass incarceration begins with legalizing marijuana, expunging prior offenses and reinvesting in the communities most impacted by the drug war.”
The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got one new cosponsor for a total of 65.
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) spoke about the importance of ensuring the independence of marijuana testing labs.
Virginia’s attorney general discussed his support for marijuana reform in an interview.
Massachusetts health officials said that one of the patients with severe lung injuries who had purchased marijuana vaping products from licensed dispensaries also used illegal and unregulated cannabis products.
Iowa’s Senate majority leader said he opposes legalizing marijuana.
A South Carolina judge is allowing a farmer to harvest hemp plants as he awaits trial for allegedly growing them without proper registration.
Maine’s Legislative Council rejected a request to give a second chance to a marijuana expungement bill.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials visited Oregon to learn about hemp.
Arizona lawmakers are considering enacting limits on the proximity of hemp fields to marijuana farms out of concern about pollination.
Florida regulators filed briefs with the state Supreme Court in a case challenging the requirement that medical cannabis businesses be vertically integrated.
Rhode Island regulators held a public hearing about proposed medical cannabis rules changes.
Drug testing requirements for New Mexico state jobs deemed safety sensitive may be preventing medical cannabis patients from finding work.
Michigan regulators will hold a meeting to receive public comment on marijuana rules on Monday.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 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 Atlantic City, New Jersey City Council is considering measures opposing marijuana businesses on the Boardwalk and supporting a state effort to legalize open containers of alcohol there.
Grand Rapids, Michigan officials visited Colorado to learn about the marijuana industry.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Israel’s High Court of Justice overturned regulators’ medical cannabis price controls.
Fiji’s attorney general hosted a conference featuring a panel about medical cannabis.
The leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats said she smoked “a fair bit of cannabis at university.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of cognitive performance in medical cannabis patients found that “contrary to expectations, performance on neuropsychological tests remained stable or even improved during the acute intoxication stage, and continued to increase during Recovery,” concluding that “there was no psychometric evidence for a decline in cognitive ability following THC intoxication.”
A survey of oncologists found that “about half thought [medical marijuana] was beneficial for older adults with cancer.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities hosted a discussion about marijuana legalization.
The Long Island Contractors’ Association is calling on New York lawmakers to direct legal marijuana revenue to roads and other infrastructure improvements.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corporation said its new line of Canadian marijuana products, including vape pens, beverages and chocolates, will roll out in January.
WeedMD received a C$25 million investment from the Labourers’ Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.
GW Pharmaceuticals plc presented new data on the efficacy of its Epidiolex CBD medication in reducing seizures.
High Street Capital Partners LLC is suing CanWell LLC for allegedly “weaponizing” a noncompete agreement between their subsidiaries.
Several major companies listed as interested partners in leaked documents about Trade Park Corporation’s planned marijuana farm in Cameroon said they have no knowledge of the project.
/ CULTURE
Miss Universe Canada wore a marijuana-themed outfit during the costume competition, and Miss Universe USA spoke about her support for legalizing cannabis.
Former wrestler Enzo Amore estimated that about half of WWE wrestlers consume cannabis.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Jaeger.
