Majority of Biden-Sanders task force backs legal cannabis (Newsletter: May 14, 2020)

Senate GOP deletes own marijuana criticism against Dems; AK rescinds cannabis safety regs due to fed concerns; VA city votes to end THC job testing

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

House Democratic leadership included provisions allowing marijuana businesses to access banking services in the latest coronavirus relief legislation, though the bill does not make the cannabis industry eligible for relief funds through the Small Business Administration.

The Senate Republican Conference tweeted criticism of House Democrats putting marijuana banking in the new coronavirus bill. They deleted it shortly after Marijuana Moment’s publisher  reminded them that vulnerable Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) is the lead champion of the legislation and needs to bring home a win before November.

Concerns about conflict with federal law forced Alaska regulators to rescind an emergency rule aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus by allowing legal marijuana to be transported unaccompanied to remote areas of the state on planes or boats.

The Richmond, Virginia City Council passed a resolution calling for an end to marijuana testing for most city workers as a condition of employment. The requested change in the capital city comes as the state is decriminalizing cannabis possession.

/ FEDERAL

The Food and Drug Administration sent a letter warning AgroTerra, Ltd. dba Patriot Hemp Company to stop claiming its CBD products can prevent or treat coronavirus.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) tweeted, “Good news: House Democrats unveiled a COVID-19 relief bill that will protect banks that service marijuana dispensaries from being penalized by federal regulators. As I’ve said, cannabis businesses should be treated just like any other small business.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tweeted, “Elected leaders continue to divide the country: ‘You are essential, not you. You can go to work, but not you. You can go to the marijuana dispensary, but not to church.’”

Colorado Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper, a former governor, tweeted that including marijuana banking language in a coronavirus relief bill is “great news! Thank you @Ed4Colorado for your leadership on the #SAFEBankingAct — now we need GOP Senate to get it done. And cannabis businesses must have the same access to COVID-19 relief as other small businesses.”

Virginia Republican congressional candidate Heerak Christian Kim tweeted, “Narcotics trafficking is a serious problem in the USA. Illegalize marijuana, the gateway drug! Let’s save America’s next generation! Our economy is collapsing, so destroying the drug cartels completely is the least we can do to give America a chance of survival post-COVID-19.”

/ STATES

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) cheered a hemp growing and processing company’s decision to establish operations in the state.

Washington, D.C. activists mailed petitions for a proposed psychedelics decriminalization ballot measure to 10,000 voters.

Montana marijuana activists are hiring paid petitioners for a proposed legalization initiative.

The Nevada Board of Examiners approved hiring an outside lawyer to represent a former head of the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division who is the subject of a joint investigation by the Department of Public Safety and the federal government.

A Pennsylvania court ruled that a healthcare worker who was fired after failing a drug test as a result of using CBD oil to ease cancer symptoms is entitled to unemployment compensation.

Missouri legislation to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses is advancing.

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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.

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/ LOCAL

The Austin, Texas Police Department is stopping development of marijuana testing technology in light of a decriminalization ordinance approved by the City Council.

Denver, Colorado’s Marijuana Licensing Work Group will hold its first meeting on Thursday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Australia’s agriculture minister filed a bill to allow exports of medical cannabis and hemp.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies announced that an interim analysis of data from a Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder revealed a 90% or greater probability that it will detect statistically significant results when all current participants have been treated.

A study of marijuana use by college students found that “ever use, attitude, and intention-to-use scores did not change significantly more in Washington after legalization than in Wisconsin” but that “among prior users, the proportion using in the last 28 days rose faster in Washington after legalization [than] it did in Wisconsin.”

The results of a review “support the use of cannabis for decreasing pain” but concluded that “the heterogeneity of the studies based on vast differences in research design and protocol, make it difficult to conclude that cannabis is an effective and safe option for relief of chronic pain.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The National Cannabis Roundtable and Leafly released a survey finding that 85% of marijuana companies say they would be able to save jobs with access to federal coronavirus relief funds, and 30% said they will go out of business without the aid.

/ BUSINESS

Akerna Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $3.1 million and a net loss of $5.5 million.

Two Canopy Growth Corp. executives left the company.

United Cannabis Corp. argued in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing that its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case should continue because it works with legal CBD products derived from hemp.

Montana hemp growers voted to establish a 1% checkoff for hemp, with funds earmarked to support research, market development and education.

Michigan retailers sold more than $7.9 million in recreational marijuana products last week, a new record.

/ CULTURE

UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum has been suspended following a positive marijuana test.

Dr. Drew Pinsky and Duncan Trussell discussed psychedelics.

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