Yelp blocks cannabis businesses from ad programs (Newsletter: June 19, 2020)

TN rep blocks measure honoring dead girl over marijuana claim; Congressman pushes cannabis decrim at policing hearing; Feds’ new hemp banking guidance

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners unanimously approved Gov. Steve Sesolak’s (D) resolution to pardon more than 15,000 people with past marijuana convictions.

• “Federal prohibition on cannabis was precipitated in part by racist notions that the consumption of cannabis incited minorities to violence… Persons previously convicted in Nevada for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana are bearing the consequences of convictions for acts that Nevadans have now deemed lawful.”

A Tennessee Republican representative blocked a resolution honoring the life of a murdered 17-year-old black girl because she was allegedly involved in a small marijuana sale prior to her death.

• “I simply cannot honor this young lady’s life, given what she was involved in.”

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on police reform legislation, Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) called for marijuana decriminalization to be included in the debate about criminal justice and racial justice.

• “Many communities have lost many loved ones to incarceration due to cannabis-related convictions. Although cannabis reform in terms of its criminalization will not undo the practices that have led to these demonstrations that we’re seeing today, decriminalizing cannabis will be a major step in the right direction.”

The National Credit Union Administration, a federal agency, issued further guidance on hemp businesses’ access to financial services.

• “Lawful hemp businesses provide exciting new opportunities for rural communities, and credit unions should carefully consider whether they can safely and properly serve lawfully operating hemp-related businesses within their fields of membership.”

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas tweeted, “Seizures like this show that legalizing the farming and possession marijuana does not stop the flow of illicit marijuana. Marijuana like this puts hard currency in the pockets of drug cartels and funds their destruction of large parts of Mexico and other countries.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved hemp plans for three more Indian tribes.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on policing, several lawmakers spoke about racial disparities in drug law enforcement.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said in a Senate floor speech that he was wrong to support harsh drug war penalties.

/ STATES

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a hemp and CBD bill.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a hemp bill.

A draft report from Connecticut’s Police Accountability and Transparency Task Force includes a recommendation to “Get police out of performing Non-Policing Matters” such as “Enforcing Legal Marijuana Card Verification.”

The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on a bill to extend the ability of doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations via telehealth.

Procedural hurdles have delayed Illinois regulators’ issuance of marijuana business licenses intended for minority entrepreneurs.

Washington State’s Office of Financial Management reported that revenue from marijuana sales spiked in recent months.

Maine regulators are being sued over a policy that favors residents over non-residents in marijuana business licensing decisions.

The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules Subcommittee approved rules for oversight of medical cannabis businesses.

The Texas Department of Agriculture tweeted about hemp farming beginning.

Florida’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee met.

Arizona’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Council met.

A Virginia senator who sponsored marijuana decriminalization legislation said he supports enacting full legalization next.

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/ LOCAL

The Portland, Oregon City Council finalized a budget that strips marijuana tax revenue from the police department.

A Frankfort, Kentucky City Commission candidate smoked marijuana in the middle of a debate.

Portland, Maine’s marijuana business ordinance took effect.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Switzerland’s National Council approved legislation allowing a marijuana legalization pilot program.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study “supports the possible neuroprotective effects associated with cannabis through [retinal nerve fiber layer] data.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Drug Policy Alliance criticized Senate Republicans’ policing reform bill as disingenuous.

/ BUSINESS

The Securities and Exchange Commission is giving itself more time to  consider a proposed NYSE Arca, Inc. rule change to list and trade shares of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF.

MedMen Enterprises Inc.’s co-founders stepped down from its board.

Acreage Holdings, Inc. borrowed $15 million at an annual 60% interest rate.

HEXO Corp. established an at-the-market equity program through which it can issue up to C$34,500,000 worth of common shares.

Shipping company Pitt Ohio Express LLC is being sued by a former worker who said she was fired for having an empty medical cannabis package at the office.

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