Senators push for cannabis biz access to COVID funds (Newsletter: April 23, 2020)

Lawmakers push for marijuana biz COVID funds; Congressional candidate grows cannabis; Sanders omits legalization from Biden action list

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

A bipartisan group of 34 members of Congress is calling on House leaders to include marijuana businesses in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.

• “Workers at state-legal cannabis businesses are no different from workers at any other small business—they show up to work every day, perform their duties, and most importantly, work to provide for their families. This lack of access will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary layoffs, reduced hours, pay cuts, and furloughs for the workers of cannabis businesses who need support the most.”

Mexico’s Supreme Court granted another request to extend the deadline for lawmakers to legalize marijuana. Coronavirus made it impossible to finalize an advancing cannabis bill by this month’s initially revised deadline, so now the legislature has until December 15.

A growing number of congressional candidates are not only embracing marijuana policy reform but are openly and proudly acknowledging their own consumption and cultivation of cannabis.

A reporter read Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) a list of issues that he campaigned on—including legalizing marijuana and reducing the prison population—and asked which he thinks former Vice President Joe Biden (D) will embrace if elected president. The senator didn’t include cannabis and criminal justice in his response.

Reps. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) are asking congressional leaders to end a policy that makes business owners with prior convictions—including for simple marijuana possession—ineligible for coronavirus relief funds.

/ FEDERAL

The Food and Drug Administration sent a letter warning Nova Botanix LTD DBA CanaBD to stop claiming its CBD products can prevent and treat coronavirus.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tweeted, “MA veterans legally use cannabis for pain, PTSD, & other ailments. As coronavirus worsens many health problems, the VA should let its providers recommend medical marijuana to patients during this pandemic.”

Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Eddie Mauro is hosting a marijuana-focused town hall on Monday.

The House bill to remove the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses got one new cosponsor for a total of 10.

/ STATES

Illinois’s attorney general tweeted about contributing money for a documentary about “obstacles to research into medicinal cannabis as it relates cancer treatment.”

Florida’s agriculture commissioner tweeted, “Hemp permits will soon be issued in Florida. This will give the state an economic boost, and provide our farmers with more ability to diversify during this challenging global climate.”

North Carolina Democratic agriculture commissioner candidate Jenna Wadsworth tweeted, “I’ve been in support of cannabis legalization from the start of this campaign… Cannabis legalization could have large economic benefits for farmers, as well as rural communities. It could revitalize travel & tourism in those places, stimulate growth, hasten technological developments & widespread broadband access, & more.”

Washington, D.C. psychedelics decriminalization activists are challenging a regulation that prevents people from signing ballot petitions circulated by themselves.

A Michigan judge invalidated 15 marijuana business licenses after determining that regulators violated open meeting laws by considering proposals in secret, closed-door sessions.

Alaska regulators approved emergency regulations allowing curbside marijuana pickup and loosening transportation restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

New Mexico regulators are continuing to require medical cannabis producers to pay gross receipts taxes while the state Supreme Court reviews a lower court ruling saying that the businesses are exempt.

Massachusetts regulators are working to educate the public on safe marijuana home cultivation practices. They also sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation asking them to work to include cannabis businesses in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.

Kansas regulators said “the timeline and transition to a commercial program is unknown and still dependent on the state administrative rule and regulation approval and adoption process even though program acceptance by the USDA has already occurred.”

Ohio regulators said that because the Drug Enforcement Administration federally descheduled CBD drug Epidiolex, it is also no longer a controlled substance under state law.

A Pennsylvania representative authored an op-ed about his marijuana legalization bill.

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/ LOCAL

Los Angeles, California regulators are being sued over the city’s “flawed” marijuana license approval process.

Denver, Colorado regulators released 4/20-related social distancing guidelines.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canadian federal, provincial and territorial officials are discussing incorporating marijuana into a nationwide trade deal.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study on the effect of marijuana legalization in Uruguay found that “in spite of the fact that there has not been a trend break with regard to the two types of crime examined, a more exacerbated growth of both rates in the treated unit may have been avoided.”

A study found an “increase in audit fees incurred by banks located in legalizing states after cannabis legalization” and concluded that “the relation between banks’ audit fees and cannabis legalization was greater for banks having larger increases in banking activity, suggesting that audit fees increased primarily for banks that may be engaging in relationships with cannabis-related businesses.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The International City/County Management Association published an article on marijuana regulation considerations for local governments.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson criticized Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) decision to close certain businesses but keep marijuana dispensaries open during the coronavirus pandemic, saying, “fire up a bowl and accept your fate.”

/ BUSINESS

Little Green Pharma said it made the first export of Australian-produced medical cannabis oil to the UK.

CannTrust Holdings Inc. will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange on April 27.

Akerna said that April 15, after many coronavirus stimulus payments were made, was “the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis,” with revenue up more than 50% compared to a normal Wednesday in 2020.

Aleafia Health Inc. launched last-mile home delivery for medical cannabis products.

Arkansas medical cannabis sales have surpassed 10,000 pounds since the launch of the program last year.

/ CULTURE

Actor Seth Rogen spoke about how he has been smoking a lot of marijuana during the coronavirus quarantine.

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