Missouri 2020 cannabis legalization effort launches (Newsletter: January 31, 2020)

Oakland plan to legalize psychedelic sales; IL gov touts marijuana tourism; VA decrim advances; Largest tribe studies cannabis; Australia legalization

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

An Oakland, California City Council member is working with activists to craft a plan to legalize sales of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine this year, building on the city’s successful first-in-the-nation measure decriminalizing possession.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) joked in his State of the State speech that the new marijuana legalization law he signed and resulting cannabis tourism “gives us a chance to collect tax revenue from the residents of Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced that marijuana and beer companies are partnering on an energy efficiency plan where carbon is captured in the brewing process and then used to grow cannabis plants.

• “These pilot programs combine a few of the things that Colorado is known for: environmental responsibility, craft beer and cannabis.”

The Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to decriminalize marijuana. Separately, the House Rules Committee advanced a resolution to conduct a study of broader cannabis legalization in the state.

The Cherokee Nation—the largest Native American tribe—is assembling a working group to study the benefits of legalizing marijuana and hemp on commerce, health care and agriculture.

NORML published a scorecard grading the nation’s governors on marijuana. Nine (all Democrats) got an A, eight (all Republicans) got an F and 32 got a passing grade of C or higher (22 Democrats and 10 Republicans).

A new local law legalizing possession and home cultivation of marijuana takes effect on Friday in the Australian Capital Territory, although the country’s federal cannabis prohibition remains on the books.

/ FEDERAL

The House of Representatives sent President Trump a bill to temporarily extend the Drug Enforcement Administration’s emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues.

Representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies will host an event titled “Impact of Marijuana Legalization On Our Federal Community”in Chicago  on March 5.

The Government Accountability Office issued a report identifying deficiencies with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s drug diversion efforts.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said he supports marijuana banking legislation, though he has yet to cosponsor it.

Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA) tweeted, “I look forward to working with Sen. Crapo to enact the SAFE Banking Act. Cannabis is now legal to varying degrees in 47 states. This bill prioritizes public safety by allowing banks to work with legitimate marijuana businesses and get cash off the streets.”

Arizona Democratic congressional candidate Eva Putzova tweeted, “Legalize it. Vacate and expunge all past marijuana-related convictions. Invest revenue in communities most affected by the war on drugs.”

/ STATES

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that if marijuana legalization doesn’t make it into the budget, “it’s not going to get done.”

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals from regulators and medical cannabis businesses of a lower court’s ruling that journalists are entitled to public records about the firms.

The Vermont House of Representatives referred a marijuana sales legalization bill to the body’s Government Operations Committee, where it is expected to be amended to include input from other panels. Separately, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets submitted public comments on proposed federal hemp rules.

The Michigan Senate approved bills requiring warning labels on marijuana products.

The Delaware House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved a bill to let medical cannabis patients possess firearms.

West Virginia Democratic lawmakers held a press conference to push for marijuana legalization and expansion of the state’s medical cannabis program.

Utah regulators said the state’s medical cannabis program will launch on time in March but that it will start small.

Oregon regulators will consider marijuana violation stipulated settlement agreements on Thursday.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe, located in South Dakota, will vote on marijuana legalization and medical cannabis referendums on March 10.

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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.

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/ LOCAL

Cleveland, Ohio’s mayor signed a marijuana decriminalization ordinance.

Rochester, New York’s mayor is reviewing a policy that prevented a woman from being hired as a City Council aide over a positive drug test for marijuana.

The Chicago, Illinois mayor announced the lineup for the city’s Cannabis Resource Fair next week.

Eliot, Maine accidentally banned marijuana businesses in most parts of town due to a language glitch barring them from being located within 500 feet of any roads.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned an American-Israeli woman imprisoned on marijuana charges.

Switzerland’s Department of Foreign Affairs touted the country’s drug-checking services as an “innovative approach.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that “in children and young adults with [fetal alcohol spectrum disorder], cannabis, mostly cannabidiol (CBD), has been associated with a marked and statistically significant improvement in serious disruptive behavior.”

A study found that “ecstasy use likelihood decreases as perceived sample impurity increases.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that New Hampshire likely Democrtic primary voters support decriminalizing drugs, 66%-25%.

A poll of Texas adults found that 3% say marijuana legalization is “the most important issue facing the state of Texas today.”

The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “Republican lawmakers want to supersede your local elected prosecutor in order to criminalize small amounts of marijuana. Meanwhile, 80% of Hoosiers favor its reform. This is not how democracy should work.”

/ BUSINESS

Hightimes Holding Corp. abandoned its efforts to be listed on the NASDAQ.

Shares for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. rose following news that its cannabis-focused subsidiary Hawthorne experienced sales growth.

Marijuana Business Daily acquired Emerald Scientific’s The Emerald Conference.

ClassAction.org is working to identify marijuana industry workers to be plaintiffs in potential class action lawsuits against cannabis businesses.

Marijuana delivery company Xaler will avoid a class action lawsuit over text message advertisements after a federal court determined that plaintiffs failed to show there’s a large enough potential class.

Here’s a look at how Las Vegas marijuana dispensary Planet 13 gets around anti-cannabis social media restrictions.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.