MS city sues to block medical cannabis measure (Newsletter: October 28, 2020)

ID 2022 marijuana initiative filed; Schumer: Legal cannabis if Dems win; NJ lawmakers OK marijuana workers comp bill; Poll: NYers back legalization

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The city of Madison, Mississippi is asking the state Supreme Court to block the medical cannabis ballot measures that voters are set to decide on next week. It is the latest in a string of last-minute legal challenges to cannabis initiatives in several states.

Idaho medical cannabis activists filed an initiative that they hope to get on the state’s 2022 ballot. They tried this year with virtually identical language but were impeded by the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures. This time they’ll have 18 months to petition.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a new interview that he will put marijuana legalization up for a floor vote if Democrats win control of the chamber in next week’s elections.

• “I’m a big fighter for racial justice, and the marijuana laws have been one of the biggest examples of racial injustice, and so to change them makes sense. And that fits in with all of the movement now to bring equality in the policing, in economics and in everything else. Our bill is, in a certain sense, at the nexus of racial justice, individual freedom and states’ rights.”
  

The New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a bill requiring workers’ compensation and personal injury protection plans to cover the costs of medical cannabis.

A new poll found that New York residents support legalizing marijuana by a two-to-one margin. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) recently said he thinks the need for economic recovery amid the coronavirus pandemic will encourage the state to legalize cannabis “soon.”

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from a Minnesota Republican congressional candidate to delay the election following the death of the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweed, “The daily refrain for COVID is ‘follow the science.’ Science behind marijuana raises ‘red flags’ that deserve further study. Psychosis, links to schizophrenia, links to addiction, public safety and even climate issues. More science and more facts needed on marijuana.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke about racial disparities in marijuana enforcement in a Senate floor speech about the vote to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Indiana Democratic congressional candidate Andy Ruff tweeted, “Our neighbors in MI and IL have chosen to capture hundreds of millions in tax revenue & lessen the burden on police by legalizing marijuana. Republicans in IN have chosen to defund public education & criminalize non-violent citizens. Hoosiers deserve better”

Mississippi Democratic congressional candidate Antonia Eliason tweeted, “A reminder that you have to vote first FOR either Initiative 65 or 65A and then also vote FOR 65. Both steps are required. Let’s legalize medical marijuana! #vote65”

/ STATES

Washington, D.C.’s mayor said she won’t be voting for the psychedelics decriminalization measure on the city’s ballot.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) defended his administration’s implementation of medical cannabis, but State Auditor Nicole Galloway, who is his Democratic challenger, tweeted, “$1.6 million diverted from veterans to cover legal fees for @GovParsonMO’s corrupt rollout of medical marijuana. 68 veterans dead from COVID on his watch. It’s obvious why Gov. Parson wants to distract from his own record — he knows he can’t defend it.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said the state’s marijuana businesses are “thriving.”

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “Legalizing adult-use cannabis is: 🤜🏿🤛🏼Fiscally responsible. We can save the millions of dollars we spend prosecuting our taxpayers every year and avoid the associated loss of productivity while generating billions in new revenue. 🤜🏽🤛🏾Common sense. Call your legislators.”

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that workers’ compensation insurers cannot be required to pay for medical cannabis. Separately, regulators delayed adopting marijuana delivery rules and will hold a second public hearing on the issue on November 13.

New York regulators released proposed rules for CBD products that would allow infused foods and drinks.

Michigan regulators are hosting a marijuana social equity business resource workshop on Thursday.

The California Cannabis Advisory Committee will meet on Friday.

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/ LOCAL

The Sahuarita, Arizona Town Council adopted a measure to ban recreational marijuana businesses.

The Rapid City, South Dakota School Board rejected a resolution opposing the state’s marijuana legalization and medical cannabis ballot measures.

The Des Moines, Iowa Marijuana Enforcement Task Force will meet on Wednesday.

Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor tweeted, “Isn’t it time we become intellectually honest and morally consistent in Missouri and legalize marijuana as a closely-regulated product for all recreational use?”

/ INTERNATIONAL

An exit poll conducted by Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky found broad voter support for legalizing medical cannabis.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is being urged by some senators to release an opposition lawmaker who was jailed after being critical of the nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “inhaled cannabis reduces self-reported pain severity by ∼42–49%” but that “these reductions appear to diminish across time, and patients use larger doses across time, suggesting that analgesic tolerance develops with continued use.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Democrtic Attorneys General Association tweeted, “Legalizing marijuana just makes sense in Indiana. It works to: 🟢 dismantle racist drug policies 🟢 alleviate pressure on law enforcement 🟢 aid in medical treatment for veterans & terminally ill, & 🟢 could net $170 MILLION+ in revenue.”

NORML is stepping up its call for Virginia lawmakers to legalize marijuana in the wake of reports of consumers being harmed from potentially tainted cannabis.

Portland Community College’s Community Legal & Educational Access & Referral Clinic and the Oregon Cannabis Association are holding an expungement event on Friday.

/ BUSINESS

Aurora Cannabis Inc. filed a base shelf prospectus that will allow it to offer up to $500 million worth of common shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts and debt securities.

/ CULTURE

Nas is narrating a new BET marijuana documentary.

Errol Morris has a new documentary about Timothy Leary’s love life.

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