FDA rejects petition to further restrict cannabis (Newsletter: July 25, 2019)

Poll: More youth smoke marijuana than cigarettes; Judiciary chair sends cannabis fundraising email; State officials push against hemp felony ban

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on hemp, with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency officials providing updates on efforts to implement the crop’s legalization.

A new Gallup poll found that young Americans are significantly more likely to smoke marijuana than cigarettes, and that across age groups cannabis consumption is nearing parity with cigarette smoking.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) sent a campaign fundraising e-mail focused on his efforts to change federal marijuana laws, including a new far-reaching bill he introduced this week.

A coalition of state agriculture officials, farmers and drug policy reform groups are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to narrowly interpret a hemp industry ban for people with felony drug convictions to apply only to license holders and not to workers in the business.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S, attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “There are proposed administrative amendments to rules on industrial hemp in WV. Among changes- no longer a requirement that tested hemp that violates federal limits (is actually marijuana) will be reported to appropriate law enforcement agency. Interesting.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a presidential candidate, reacted to anti-Semitic and racist vandalism on an in-development marijuana storefront, tweeting, “These cowardly acts of racism, anti-Semitism, bigotry & hate have no place in Massachusetts or anywhere else in this country.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, spoke about her views on marijuana legalization and drug policy reform during a campaign stop in New Hampshire. She also tweeted, “It’s wrong that people who were selling marijuana and are now felons for life are excluded from this industry. It’s wrong, and it has to change.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, issued a press release and posted tweets about the Hemp for Victory Act she introduced earlier this month.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “Our government’s current banking restrictions on the cannabis industry are good for criminals and bad for our communities, and regularly put workers in harm’s way. That’s why I testified before @BankingGOP @SenateBanking, urging them to pass my bipartisan #SAFEBanking Act.”

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) tweeted, “This week @BankingGOP held its first ever hearing on cannabis banking challenges. I testified about two bills I’m leading, the SAFE Banking Act and the STATES Act, to address conflicting federal & state laws. While states like Colorado are leading on this issue, the federal government is pretending it will go away. It won’t. We have to act.”

Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) tweeted, “Participated in a roundtable with @HouseAgDems and USDA reps about hemp farming regulations in the 2018 Farm Bill. The new Canopy Growth facility in Binghamton will bring jobs & growth to #NY22 and I’m working to make sure Upstate hemp farmers can thrive.”

The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund restorative justice programs with a federal cannabis tax got one new cosponsor, for a total of 30.

/ STATES

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he supports regulators’ decision to appeal a court ruling striking down the state’s medical cannabis rules as unconstitutional. Separately, the agriculture commissioner announced the membership of a new Hemp Advisory Committee.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) spoke about what she said is “confusion” regarding CBD.

Arizona’s attorney general approved a plan for medical cannabis businesses to use digital tokens instead of cash.

Texas’s agriculture commissioner spoke about the rollout of hemp legalization.

New Jersey lawmakers are reportedly unlikely to reconsider marijuana legalization legislation until after the state’s November elections.

Tennessee regulators warned hemp farmers about a scam email they may have received appearing to be from the state’s agriculture commissioner.

New York regulators adopted emergency rules allowing more labs to test medical cannabis.

New Mexico regulators will hold a public hearing on Friday about forthcoming rules allowing medical cannabis use in schools. Separately, regulators held a hearing on hemp rules going into effect next week.

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/ LOCAL

The Cleveland, Ohio City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal.

Activists in several Michigan municipalities are working to qualify local ballot measures to ban marijuana businesses.

The Parker County, Texas sheriff denied accusations that he pushed for the forcible removal of a sign containing a marijuana leaf from the front of a criminal defense attorney’s office.

/ INTERNATIONAL

A New Zealand lawmaker pressed the deputy leader of the Labour Party about the government’s marijuana legalization referendum plan.

A German opposition party is asking the government to provide clarity on the legality of CBD-infused foods.

Canadian officials reported that sales of dried cannabis in May increased by 7% compared to the previous month.

/ ADVOCACY

Here’s a look at federal lobbying expenditures by the marijuana industry.

The U.S. Hemp Authority is seeking public input on its certification seal guidance plan.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A results of study of conditions at a medical cannabis dispensary “indicate that potential health hazards of significance are present during cannabis processing, and employers should be aware of potential exposures to [volatile organic compounds], endotoxin, and fungi.”

A study found that “the psychedelic state involves a breakdown in patterns of functional organisation or information flow in the brain.”

/ BUSINESS

CannTrust’s board terminated the CEO and its chairman resigned amidst revelations that the company grew marijuana in unlicensed rooms.

Tobacco company Imperial Brands PLC is investing approximately $123 million in Auxly Cannabis Group Inc.

Southern University announced that its medical cannabis grower planted its first crop.

The CEO of alcohol company Diageo said the firm is “tracking” the cannabis industry.

Weedmaps is opening a Museum of Weed in Los Angeles next month.

WIRED examines mistrust of Phylos Bioscience and the decline of the Open Cannabis Project.

Arkansas medical cannabis dispensaries have sold nearly $3.5 million worth of products.

/ CULTURE

Russell Brand jokingly tweeted that he is “delving deep into whether or not I can legitimately disappear into a psychedelic utopia.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.