Federal cannabis prosecutions declining, SCOTUS report says (Newsletter: January 1, 2020)

IL gov pardons thousands for marijuana; Andrew Yang considering legalizing drugs; GOP senator talks up cannabis banking

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) pardoned more than 11,000 people for past marijuana records—on the eve of legal recreational cannabis sales beginning in the state.

• “These 11,017 misdemeanor convictions represent individuals who have carried around with them a stain on their records for possessing less than 30 grams of cannabis – a stain that has very often prevented them from obtaining housing or jobs or benefits.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’s end-of-year report shows that federal marijuana prosecutions dropped by more than a quarter in 2018 as states continued to implement legal cannabis laws. The new data confirms an ongoing, multi-year trend indicating that as more states enact marijuana legalization policies, the market for unregulated cannabis is continuing to dry up.

Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is considering “legalization of certain drugs” to take profits away from cartels.

• “I’m open to looking at legalizing different drugs that are not just fueling the cartel but also in some cases would frankly be an upgrade over the opiates that many Americans are currently getting addicted to.”

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said he hopes that Congress will send a marijuana banking bill to President Trump’s desk, though he hasn’t yet joined more than a third of his Senate colleagues who have actually cosponsored the legislation.

• “If you make it all cash, you’ve highly increased the bad things that can happen.”

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration published a notice clarifying that unwashed poppy seeds are considered controlled substances.

Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) tweeted about the closure of a Missouri medical cannabis recommendation clinic, saying, “One toke over the line.”

/ STATES

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) cited the expansion of the state’s medical cannabis program as an example of “tremendous progress” achieved in 2019.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is asking federal officials to amend proposed hemp regulations.

The Illinois State Police issued a statement saying it “will not revoke Firearm’s Owner’s Identification Cards based solely on a person’s legal use of adult use cannabis.” Separately, regulators announced another round of approvals for medical cannabis dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana.

Michigan officials are pressing Weedmaps to only list licensed marijuana businesses in the state, something the company says it will do beginning January 1.

Here’s a look at cannabis policy developments in Florida over the past year.

Here’s a look at new Colorado marijuana regulations taking effect with the new year.

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/ LOCAL

The Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council is expected to vote on allowing marijuana social use areas early this year.

The Chicago, Illinois city clerk tweeted about how people can petition to restrict cannabis businesses or home cultivation.

/ INTERNATIONAL

A Canadian member of Parliament said he was punished by the leader of the Conservative Party for voting in support of marijuana legalization.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “cannabidiol oral solution is safe and effective add-on therapy for treatment-resistant seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Gallup highlighted Americans’ growing support for marijuana legalization as a “revolutionary change” over the past decade.

/ BUSINESS

Shareholders of CannaRoyalty Corp. d/b/a Origin House approved a proposed merger with Cresco Labs.

Hexo Corp. filed a correction to its financial statements.

The Green Clinics said it is closing its medical cannabis recommendation practice because of Missouri regulators’ “failure to enforce the law” against other businesses it says are flouting rules.

/ CULTURE

The New York Times published tips on traveling with medical cannabis.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.