Feds launch cannabis testing accuracy initiative (Newsletter: July 23, 2020)

House OKs CBD for military members; Hemp advocate joins fed advisory board; MA bill sends cannabis $ to police; Green/Libertarian/Kanye talk marijuana

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Department of Justice asked a federal court to force the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to comply with a Drug Enforcement Administration subpoena for information on marijuana businesses’ licenses and shipping manifests.

• “Not one reason permits the BCC to refuse to comply with the Subpoena. And even if a state law does purport to prevent compliance, the Supremacy Clause would preempt such law.”

The House of Representatives approved an amendment to let military service members use CBD and hemp products. This comes after several branches issued memos banning the products despite their federal legality.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative appointed a hemp industry advocate to a federal trade advisory committee, where he will serve alongside representatives from the Kraft Heinz Company, Brewers Association, Wine Institute, PepsiCo., Campbell’s and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Equity advocates are criticizing a Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee proposal to use marijuana tax revenue to fund police training—instead of to help people harmed by the war on drugs.

• “Where are the funds for communities of color promised in this law?” a regulator told Marijuana Moment.

Presidential nominees Howie Hawkins of the Green Party and Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian Party recently spoke about their support for legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing drugs—policies opposed by President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

• “The biggest problem we have right now is not the drugs, it’s the drug prohibition. Now, do drugs and alcohol cause problems? Of course they do. However, they’d be much more manageable if it were legal.”

Rapper Kanye West said during the rambling first rally of his presidential campaign that he smoked cannabis the night before and pledged that if he is elected, “Every black man on trial for marijuana will be freed.” (He did not promise free marijuana, as some reported.)

/ FEDERAL

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy appointed members to a Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) wrote in a column that the Senate won’t include “promotion of cannabis” in its next coronavirus relief bill.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) cheered the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of spending legislation that doesn’t interfere with Washington, D..C’s right to set its own marijuana and drug policies.

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff said, “I won’t just push for decriminalization; I’ll push for nationwide legalization of cannabis. The prohibition of this substance is irrational. It’s hugely expensive. It has a terrible human toll.”

Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate Keeda Haynes previously spent time in prison for a marijuana-related felony she says she’s innocent of.

/ STATES

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “Legal marijuana is a jobs issue. Legal marijuana is a farmers issue. Legal marijuana is a revenue issue. Legal marijuana is a freedom issue.  Legal marijuana is a safety issue. Legal marijuana is a COVID-19 issue. Legal marijuana is a 🟥➕🟦 issue.”

New York lawmakers are not expected to tackle marijuana legalization during a rare summer session this week.

Rhode Island regulators licensed the state’s first marijuana sampling and testing lab.

Massachusetts regulators approved draft changes to marijuana rules, and a public comment period will soon begin. Separately, two regulators authored an op-ed urging state lawmakers to pass legislation to fund cannabis social equity programs.

Michigan lawmakers updated a bulletin on coronavirus-related guidance for marijuana businesses.

California lawmakers are expected to vote on legislation to create hefty fines for assisting in illegal marijuana sales this month.

The Oregon Cannabis Commission met.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Tuesday.

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/ LOCAL

The Cook County, Illinois state’s attorney tweeted, “Poor communities & people of color have long been disproportionately impacted by the failed war on drugs. The progress we’re seeing across the nation is vital to right the wrongs of the past & must be part of our work for a more equitable justice system.”

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canada’s health minister said she is open to considering proposals to decriminalize drugs.

Colombian senators plan to introduce legislation to legalize and regulate cocaine.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study suggested a “a potential protective role for CBD during [acute respiratory distress syndrome] that may extend CBD as part of the treatment of COVID-19 by reducing the cytokine storm, protecting pulmonary tissues, and re-establishing inflammatory homeostasis.”

A review concluded that “Cannabi(noid)s do not induce clinical remission or affect inflammation in [inflammatory bowel diseases] patients” but that “cannabi(noid)s significantly improve patient-reported symptoms and” quality of life.

/ BUSINESS

Aurora Cannabis Inc. is closing down some of its European operations.

High Times hasn’t published a print issue of its magazine since April and the company hasn’t announced when it will end the circulation suspension it says is due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. closed on sale-leaseback transactions for New Jersey properties with subsidiaries of Columbia Care Inc.

Organigram Holdings Inc’s senior vice president of marketing and communications left the company.

The CEO of Lord Jones stepped down.

Investor Tyler Winklevoss tweeted, “The War on Drugs has been a colossal failure. It has devastated generations of men and women (disproportionately Black), their families and their communities. All the money spent on prisons, enforcement, etc. could have been spent on education, treatment and healing.”

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