Fed official pledges to clarify that hemp banking is legal (Newsletter: June 6, 2019)

Oakland approves psychedelics decrim; Congressional researchers question marijuana-impaired driving; Senate Dem: medical cannabis a “laughing matter”

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The governors of 12 states—including Republicans from Utah and Vermont, and Democrats from California and Colorado—teamed up to send a letter urging congressional leaders to pass legislation to respect state marijuana laws.

The Oakland, California City Council gave unanimous final approval to a measure decriminalizing psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, mescaline, ayahuasca and ibogaine. Officials told Marijuana Moment that the path is now open to consider legalizing sales next.

The Congressional Research Service issued a report calling into question claims that legal cannabis means more dangerous roads.

• “Research studies have been unable to consistently correlate levels of marijuana consumption, or THC in a person’s body, and levels of impairment.”
• “Relatively few epidemiological studies of marijuana usage and crash risk have been conducted, and the few that have been conducted have generally found low or no increased risk of crashes from marijuana use.”
• “Considering the length of time that marijuana is detectable in the body after usage, and the uncertainty about the impairing effect of marijuana on driving performance, Congress and other federal policymakers may elect to reexamine the rationale for testing all safety-sensitive transportation workers for marijuana usage.”

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) the body’s second-top-ranking Democrat called claims about marijuana’s medical value “a laughing matter” during a hearing, but he also criticized the roadblocks to research created by cannabis’s Schedule I status.

/ FEDERAL

The House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, which contains provisions shielding immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from losing protections as a result of low-level marijuana offenses or engaging in state-legal activities such as working in the cannabis industry.

The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on drug interdiction efforts.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “Relief for marijuana businesses is important—but we need decriminalization at the federal level, #CJreform, opportunity for minority & women-owned small businesses. That’s what my bill with @RepJeffries does. Congress should not enact banking reforms alone & think the job is done.”

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) tweeted, “cannabis farmers and businesses are legal under CA law, but fed law says they can’t use banks. I support the #SAFEBankingAct to allow access to the banking system & to protect public safety.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted about discussing marijuana policy with constituents at town hall meetings.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) spoke about his involvement in the marijuana industry.

The Senate marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 30.

The House bill to require the federal government to study state marijuana laws got one new cosponsor, for a total of 28.

The House bill to force the Department of Justice to license more cultivators of marijuana for research got one new cosponsor, for a total of 10.

The House comprehensive medical cannabis bill got one new cosponsor, for a total of 10.

/ STATES

Oregon lawmakers sent Gov. Kate Brown (D) a bill to make it easier for people to expunge past marijuana convictions.

A Washington State appeals court said that prosecutors’ references to the “war on drugs” during a criminal trial were”problematic” and “imprudent, but ultimately fell short of misconduct” as claimed by the defendant in the case. Separately, regulators announced a delay in updating marijuana tracking software.

The Washington, D.C. Council discussed a proposal to provide employment protections for medical cannabis patients who work for government agencies, but did not take a vote on the issue.

The Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program’s Board of Physicians recommended adding new medical cannabis qualifying conditions.

Nebraska activists said they collected nearly 1,400 signatures last weekend in support of a proposed medical cannabis ballot measure.

A Michigan medical cannabis patient is suing the state over the lack of availability of the drug.

Missouri regulators released application forms for medical cannabis patients and caregivers.

Alaska regulators released proposed hemp rules.

Tennessee regulators are loosening restrictions on hemp growing. Meanwhile, lawmakers said they’ll try again to legalize medical cannabis next year.

A major at the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council gave a presentation about requirements for police who want to use medical cannabis.

Advocates are concerned about Pennsylvania medical cannabis business ownership consolidation.

—
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—

/ LOCAL

Las Vegas, Nevada’s mayor said she supports allowing marijuana consumption lounges.

The Rolla, Missouri City Council is considering decriminalizing marijuana.

/ ADVOCACY

Americans for Safe Access released a publication titled the “Patient’s Guide to CBD.”

Missouri cannabis lobbyist and activist Eapen Thampy has been charged by federal prosecutors with allegedly participating in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. According to the indictment, one co-defendant used proceeds to donate $1,000 to the cannabis-focused political action committee Better Way Missouri.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “individuals with [personality disorders] who used cannabis were at increased odds for developing substance use disorders (including opioid use disorder), but not other comorbid psychiatric disorders” and that “no significant interaction effects were generally found between cannabis use and [personality disorder],” suggesting that “aside from specific substance use disorders, individuals with [personality disorders] are not at an increased risk for developing other psychiatric disorders following cannabis use.

A study found that “KandyPens markets its products as aromatherapy devices; however, Instagram posts related to these products rarely mentioned their purported purpose” and that “about 32.43 % of posts referenced cannabis-related solutions, 2.98 % of the posts mentioned nicotine-related solutions and 0.11 % of the posts mentioned aromatherapy.”

A study of hemp plants looked at “key genes, for which natural genetic variation may lead to desired flowering behavior, including examples of pleiotropic effects on yield quality and on carbon partitioning.”

/ BUSINESS

Simplifya hired a former official with the Departments of Justice and Treasury as its chief compliance officer and general counsel.

RE/MAX tweeted, “Do marijuana dispensaries drive up home values? At least one study says yes.”

/ CULTURE

Former basketball players Al Harrington and JR Smith are lobbying New York lawmakers to legalize marijuana.

Model Paris Jackson, responding to a critical tweet about her marijuana consumption, said, “because an organic medicinal plant from mother earth with dozens of healing properties that is legal where i live and used to help suffering people around the world = meth. instead of taking poisonous addictive pharmaceuticals, this incredible medicine from the earth has been prescribed to me to help with my depression, anxiety, ptsd, and insomnia.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.