VA gov signs cannabis decrim bill (Newsletter: May 22, 2020)

OK lawmakers approve out-of state patients; LA House passes medical marijuana delivery; MN Senate defeats whole-plant cannabis bill

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…

Subscribers who value this daily dispatch enough to show their support with a few dollars help us keep doing this. Please chip in and help ensure Marijuana Moment’s continued operations.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is withdrawing grants from schools that allow students to use medical marijuana. The money is partially aimed at reducing student drug use, so now schools will have less funds to support those efforts.

Oklahoma lawmakers sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a bill that allows medical cannabis delivery services and lets out-of-state residents register as patients for up to 90 days, subject to renewal.

The Louisiana House of Representatives approved bills letting doctors recommend medical cannabis for any debilitating medical condition and to allow for medical marijuana delivery services.

Minnesota’s House of Representatives approved a bill on Saturday to finally allow medical cannabis patients to access whole-plant flower, instead of just extracts. But on Sunday, the Senate killed it.

/ FEDERAL

The acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration will reportedly be replaced by the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

The House Ways and Means Committee Republicans tweeted, “Dems could not be more out of touch with the American people. While 36 million people are unemployed, Pelosi put together a $3 TRILLION grab bag of policies unrelated to #COVID19, from cannabis to repealing the SALT tax for blue-state millionaires to ‘environmental justice.’”

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) tweeted, “Last week, House Dems passed a $3 trillion spending bill that focuses on ballot harvesting, marijuana banking, bailing out union pensions & early release of criminals. We need to be focusing on getting the 36 million Americans who lost their jobs back to work.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) tweeted, “Speaker Pelosi’s Socialist Wish List Act focuses more on antithetical provisions than delivering on the priorities of the American people. Their hankering for cannabis-related action items left them dazed and confused as to what the priorities of the American people really are.”

Montana Democratic Senate candidate John Mues tweeted, “A number of people have asked for my position on the legalization of marijuana in Montana.  My position, since Day 1, has been the same:  I’m for it.”

Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Mike Broihier tweeted, “Not only do we need to #legalize marijuana, but we should de-schedule it. I’d rather see my fellow Kentuckians smoking a joint than injecting needles.”

/ STATES

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) is allowing recreational marijuana stores to reopen starting May 25, though only for curbside pickup and delivery.

Illinois’s secretary of human services discussed “the importance of investment and focused solutions in communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs” at a press conference.

Alaska regulators have reportedly opened an investigation after a leaked audio recording appeared to reveal a conversation between marijuana industry personnel discussing selling moldy products as well as CBD oil that contained too much THC.

Maryland regulators issued a bulletin to medical cannabis businesses on complying with rules on video surveillance, inventory control and inspections.

The Red Lake Nation, located in Minnesota will vote on a medical cannabis ballot question on Wednesday.

Texas’s Department of Agriculture tweeted about a webinar the Texas Hemp Coalition is hosting on Tuesday.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs tweeted, “Use 👏 only 👏 licensed 👏 #cannabis 👏 retailers 👏”

—
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.
—
/ INTERNATIONAL

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Association, a division of the Department of Health, suggested rescheduling CBD so that it would be available without a prescription.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “a positive screen for marijuana in the setting of a trauma is not associated with increased mortality or hospital” length of stay.

A study found that “while alternative cannabis forms use was associated with membership in high drug use trajectories, self‐reported medical cannabis use was negatively associated with high illicit drug use trajectory membership.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Vicente Sederberg LLP, Agricultural Hemp Solutions, Friends of Hemp and other companies and organizations are launching a Hemp for Our Future campaign that involves production and donation of hemp-based products and materials for nursing organizations, food banks and others working to help people impacted by coronavirus.

/ BUSINESS

Curaleaf Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $96.5 million and a net loss of $15.5 million.

Acreage Holdings, Inc. announced it will sell non-core assets to improve its margins.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.