Mississippi medical cannabis signatures submitted for 2020 (Newsletter: September 6, 2019)

NAACP/NOW back drug decrim; DC marijuana employment protections enacted; Hemp cultivation quadruples; Expungement effort targets 250k records

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…

There are now 1,176 cannabis-related bills moving through state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions.

Never let a marijuana bill catch you by surprise with exclusive access to Marijuana Moment’s custom-built cannabis legislation tracker for just $25/month.

• Pebbles Trippet: “Marijuana Moment is essential cannabis information on multiple levels from legal to international. It has become the go-to to get-it-done & deserves our support.”

https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Civil rights groups including ACLU, NAACP, National Education Association and National Organization for Women released a 2020 platform advocating not only legalizing marijuana but also “dismantling the current paradigm of drug criminalization and replacing the current system with a regulatory approach that treats substance use as a public health issue.”

Mississippi activists turned in what they say are more than enough signatures to place a medical cannabis measure on the state’s 2020 ballot.

Washington, D.C. enacted a bill protecting medical cannabis patients from workplace discrimination. It will now undergo a 30-day congressional review period before taking effect.

The amount of land on which U.S. farmers are licensed to grow hemp has more than quadrupled this year thanks to the Farm Bill’s legalization of the crop, according to a new report from Vote Hemp.

An expanded effort from Code For America aims to automatically clear marijuana convictions from a quarter of a million people’s records by the end of this year.

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is skeptical about the prospects for federal marijuana reform, saying that partisanship will likely block progress.

• “I think the comment that there is some kind of agreement on states’ rights, I’m not so sure.”

/ FEDERAL

Food and Drug Administration personnel reportedly told state health officials on a conference call that they believe an epidemic of vaping-related serious lung injuries may be connected to the use of vitamin E acetate in cannabis oil preparations. But in a public statement the agency said, “No one substance, including vitamin E acetate, has been identified in all of the samples tested.”

North Dakota’s U.S. attorney said he and other federal prosecutors discussed the development of a “cohesive federal approach and strategy” for enforcing federal marijuana laws at a closed-door summit.

A federal judge ruled that an Oregon vineyard has a plausible claim of harm caused by a neighboring marijuana cultivation operation and can proceed with a RICO lawsuit.

A federal judge heard oral arguments in a case in which the Department of Justice is seeking to block the opening of a safe consumption site for illegal drugs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “The well-regulated marijuana industry in Nevada creates good-paying jobs and has raised $100 million this year in new revenue for our state. I’ll continue to stand with Nevada’s marijuana businesses and workers.”

A report from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) on federal housing discrimination includes a recommendation to “remove barriers to obtaining federal housing assistance for people with a criminal record and their families” and notes that drug offenses are often used to block access.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) touted his legislation on military veterans and medical cannabis in a press release about federal opioid funding for Massachusetts.

/ STATES

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) called a special legislative session for September 16 to consider changes to the state’s medical cannabis distribution system.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced that regulators have licensed 82 hemp growers, two processors and 21 manufacturers under the state’s new pilot program.

Minnesota’s House speaker said she remains “cautious” about legalizing marijuana.

New York health officials released images of marijuana vape products they believe are connected to recent cases of severe lung injury, saying that vitamin E acetate was found in nearly all samples in question.

Michigan’s House Republican Caucus tweeted, “Gov. Whitmer’s unilateral ban on local vaping shops (a ‘health emergency’) would have more meaning if she weren’t such a big supporter of expanding pot and the Hash Bash. Flavored vapor: Bad. A joint on the Quad: Good. Got it.”

Florida attorney John Morgan, who funded previous medical cannabis campaigns, said he will not put money into 2020 efforts to legalize marijuana.

New Mexico State University’s board of regents approved hemp manufacturing regulations.

Pennsylvania regulators released applications for entities to become medical cannabis clinical registrants.

Ohio regulators are requesting $3.29 million to fund the launch of the state’s hemp program.

Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner tweeted aerial drone footage of a hemp farm.

—
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.
—

/ LOCAL

A St. Louis, Missouri police officer shot and killed a man who allegedly resisted arrest for marijuana possession and attempted to pull a gun from his pocket after being tased.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez criticized the country’s past medical cannabis regulatory system.

A Thai political party is pushing to legalize marijuana home cultivation.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A federally funded survey found that “college students’ use of marijuana in 2018 was at the highest level seen in the past three-and-a-half decades.”

A survey concluded that “pharmacy students lack knowledge and preparation to counsel and educate on [medical cannabis].”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana’s New York affiliate wants an exemption from state lobbying disclosure laws because it fears its donors will be harassed for supporting the group’s anti-cannabis agenda.

AARP tweeted, “CBD, or cannabidiol, is used to help relieve inflammation, anxiety and pain. But research is still out on its effectiveness. Make sure to consult your physician before engaging in any CBD treatment.”

Real Action for Cannabis Equity is new group working to increase marijuana business ownership by people of color in Massachusetts.

Drug Policy Alliance staffer Kassandra Frederique appeared on C-SPAN.

/ BUSINESS

CannTrust Holdings Inc. announced it is cutting its workforce by 20%.

The CEO of American Eagle spoke about the company’s plans to sell CBD products.

Cannabis company dosist got the second spot on LinkedIn’s top 50 startups list.

Canopy Growth Corp.’s CEO said he’s optimistic about the prospects for U.S. federal marijuana reform.

/ CULTURE

Musician Liam Gallagher said he supports legalizing drugs to “improve the quality and make some money out of it.”

Skier Bode Miller, gymnast Gabby Douglas and other athletes are partnering to launch a line of CBD products.

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