Cannabis decrim bill hits Virginia governor’s desk (Newsletter: March 9, 2020)

FDA sends overdue CBD update; NY gov may cancel marijuana tour over coronavirus; Enough OR drug decrim signatures collected for ballot

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There are now 1,421 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2020 sessions.

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a memo requiring gun dealers in Michigan to use federal background checks because current policy has allowed too many “habitual marijuana users” to illegally obtain firearms.

The Food and Drug Administration finally sent Congress an overdue update on its efforts to formulate policy on enforcement discretion for CBD products. Among other steps included in the report, the agency announced it will reopen a public docket for people to submit information about cannabidiol.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) indicated that the spread of the coronavirus may upend his plans to travel to other states to learn about their marijuana laws and could also hamper negotiations on the budget through which he hopes to enact legalization.

Oregon activists announced that they’ve collected more than the required number of raw signatures to put a drug decriminalization and treatment expansion measure on the November ballot. The signatures haven’t been validated yet, though, so the campaign will keep collecting more for now.

/ FEDERAL

Reelection campaign officials for President Trump said they plan to use former Vice President Joe Biden’s record on crime policy against him if he is the Democratic presidential nominee.

Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, pitched the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law on letting him teach a course on drug policy that would have included a class on decriminalization.

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on presidential clemency powers, Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said that “after decades of mandatory sentencing policies and the so-called ‘War on Drugs,’ far too many nonviolent federal offenders—disproportionately people of color—sit in prison unnecessarily, serving unduly harsh sentences.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “[email protected] is committed to building a multiracial, multicultural coalition that will defeat Trump in November and also end mass incarceration, legalize marijuana, and invest in public education and economic opportunity for minority communities.”

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) tweeted, “The President has broad authority to remedy injustice & provide mercy through the issuance of pardons and commutations. Yet thousands of nonviolent offenders, a disproportionate number are people of color, are serving harsh prison terms as a result of the so-called War on Drugs.”

Ohio Republican congressional candidate Shelby Hunt tweeted a video of himself endorsing medical cannabis but expressing opposition to marijuana legalization.

/ STATES

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) floated the idea of mass pardoning people with low-level marijuana convictions.

A California court ruled that the smell of marijuana wasn’t sufficient grounds for police searching a vehicle.

More proposed Oklahoma marijuana legalization ballot measures have been filed by a third group of activists.

The Florida House of Representatives approved an amendment to enact a THC potency cap for most medical cannabis patients under 21.

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill to update hemp regulations.

The South Dakota Senate delayed a vote on a hemp bill as lawmakers negotiate with state officials over funding disagreements.

The New Jersey Assembly Health Committee approved a bill to allow medical cannabis recommendations via telemedicine.

Rhode Island regulators published revised medical cannabis rules.

Utah’s top medical cannabis and hemp regulator is stepping down.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board held its first meeting.

A former Nebraska lawmaker and anti-marijuana activist was confirmed to the state Board of Health, which would be responsible for crafting medical cannabis regulations if voters legalize it this November.

Massachusetts regulators voted to consult with the state attorney general about a lawsuit between the city of Cambridge and a marijuana business.

Ohio regulators are considering changing the 90-day supply rule for medical cannabis, and they ruled that former public employees enrolled in the state retirement program and receiving monthly disability income will qualify for indigent status in the program.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture tweeted, “One plant. One million uses. Get your application in now to be a part of the 2020 Hemp Growing Season in PA! The deadline to apply is April 1.”

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/ LOCAL

An Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council member said he is interested in sponsoring a proposal to decriminalize psychedelics.

New York City police were captured on camera violently arresting a man for allegedly smoking marijuana in a park.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he won’t support a bill from a member of his party to decriminalize drugs.

Mexican and Canadian lawmakers met to discuss marijuana and other issues.

The UK Liberal Democrats tweeted, “It’s past time for the government to end the war on drugs & take an evidence-based approach to reduce the harm they cause and stop these killings. It should start by following Lib Dem proposals for a legal, regulated market for cannabis; taking back control from criminal gangs.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study indicated that “THC might be present continuously even in non-daily smokers at low levels, even if the smoking occasions are separated by a week.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse released a solicitation for grant applications to fund studies investigating “the effects of cannabis and cannabinoid exposure on the developing brain, from pre-, peri-, and post-natal development through young adulthood in humans and using animal models.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Kansas City Star editorial board criticized the rollout of Missouri’s medical cannabis program.

A Harm Reduction International report found that executions for drug offenses increased by 31 percent around the globe in 2019.

/ BUSINESS

Canopy Growth Corp. stocks dipped on news that it was shutting down two cultivation facilities and laying off employees.

The Valleywise Health hospital system in Arizona issued a policy allowing employees to consume medical cannabis after it was sued by a nurse.

Cannadips and its founder Case Mandel are facing lawsuits alleging fraud.

/ CULTURE

Golfer Matt Every spoke about his use of medical cannabis and voice criticism of the PGA Tour’s drug policy.

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