House votes to block DOJ enforcement in legal cannabis states (Newsletter: June 21, 2019)

Psychedelics decrim takes off around the country; Dispensaries don’t increase youth marijuana use; NY legalization situation fluid

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) is asking JUUL for documents about any “intended partnerships or collaborations” with “cannabis-related companies, including but not limited to Cronos Group.”

In the wake of successful measures in Denver, Colorado and Oakland, California, activists in cities across the U.S.—and beyond—are planning local moves to decriminalize psychedelics.

A new Colorado marijuana study undermines a key anti-legalization argument, finding that “permitting or not permitting recreational cannabis dispensaries in a community does not appear to change student cannabis use or perceptions towards cannabis.”

/ FEDERAL

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director James Carroll claimed that building a border wall would be a “force multiplier” to stop drug smuggling.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted, “Whataboutisn is rarely productive- or reasonable. Additives/ chemicals in food are legal & tested to be below scientifically determined safety thresholds- NONE of which is true for cannabis. If we can’t even agree that babies shouldn’t be consuming pot, I worry for us all.”

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that some claims about CBD are “pretty hokey.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “The fact that the United States continues to arrest hundreds of thousands of black and brown Americans every year for possession of marijuana, while wealthy investors on Wall Street make huge profits off of it, is completely outrageous.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “Nevada’s marijuana businesses are creating jobs and raising millions of dollars in revenues for our state. We must provide these businesses with the @SBAgov resources they need to continue to grow.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted, “If a Schedule I drug shows promise in treating [PTSD, severe depression, opioid addiction], then perhaps it is not the drug that is ‘morally wrong,’ but the law, the schedule – the statute. It’s time to end the War on Drugs.”

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) tweeted a photo of himself visiting a hemp farm.

/ STATES

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed bill allowing patients to inhale medical cannabis and setting fees on sales. Separately, regulators released the application form for permits to sell CBD products.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed bills clarifying how medical cannabis dispensaries can become for-profits and making technical changes to marijuana laws.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he thinks lawmakers should not pass legislation to expand marijuana decriminalization without tying it to broader legalization and that he’s “cautiously optimistic” lawmakers can get it done this week. Talks on the issue between the governor’s office and legislative leaders continued on Monday without a deal.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) tweeted, “Forcing Nevada’s cannabis businesses to operate on a cash-only basis poses a public safety risk to consumers and employees. I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of 20 governors urging Congress to pass the #SAFEBanking Act.”

The North Carolina Senate passed agricultural legislation containing hemp provisions.

Delaware lawmakers are expected to vote on legislation extending the decriminalization of marijuana to juveniles on Tuesday.

Virginia lawmakers from both parties voiced support for the state attorney general’s endorsement of marijuana decriminalization.

Lawmakers from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, along with those from a neighboring Canadian province, are set to discuss marijuana laws at a conference this week.

Washington State regulators said that a new marijuana traceability system will go live on July 15.

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/ LOCAL

The Hattiesburg, Mississippi City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal.

San Francisco, California’s mayor is proposing increasing funding for the city’s Office of Cannabis from $700,000 to $1.1 million.

Brooklyn, New York’s district attorney said that any marijuana legalization bill should expunge prior convictions.

/ INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand’s health minister said he will probably vote in favor of a marijuana legalization referendum next year.

Brazil’s Federal Council of Medicine is urging the government to cancel a public consultation on allowing medical cannabis cultivation.

Russian lawmakers are considering changes to drug laws following public backlash to a case of an investigative journalist arrested on questionable drug charges.

/ ADVOCACY

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, in response to a tweet from actress Bette Middler, touted hemp legalization as one of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) accomplishments.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “THC:CBD oromucosal spray proved to be an effective and well-tolerated add-on treatment for patients with elsewhere refractory chronic pain – especially of neuropathic origin.”

A study suggested that “as compared to [benzodiazepines], cannabis can be a healthier and less harmful alternative form of treatment for adults living with anxiety.”

/ OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Albuquerque Journal editorial board is calling on New Mexico regulators to exercise greater oversight of the medical cannabis industry.

/ BUSINESS

MTech and MJ Freeway combined to form Akerna Corp., which will begin trading on Nasdaq on Tuesday.

Molson Coors Brewing Co. and Hexo Corp.’s joint venture will start selling marijuana-infused beverages in Canada.

The owner of proposed Massachusetts marijuana dispensary Stem is suing two local businessmen for alleged extortion.

/ CULTURE

BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg spoke about taking psychedelic mushrooms.

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