TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House of Representatives approved cannabis banking legislation for the seventh time, as well as amendments on medical marijuana recommendations for military veterans, eliminating the crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity and other drug policy reforms. The proposals are now attached to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Two Senate sources told Marijuana Moment that a much-anticipated federal cannabis legalization bill from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) could be filed as soon as next week, but disputed a Bloomberg report saying that’s the definite plan. In any case, the plan is still to introduce the legislation ahead of the upcoming August recess.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow said ongoing criminalization of people who use drugs presents an “obvious challenge” to treatment access for people with substance misuse issues.
The New York City Fire Department says it will stop subjecting its workers to pre-employment, random and scheduled drug tests for marijuana. A firefighters union is taking credit for what’s to be a city-wide policy change across agencies.
New York regulators approved rules and application forms for recreational marijuana dispensaries. They’re expected to begin accepting the first applications next month, with sales anticipated to start by the end of the year.
A Nevada judge is allowing an ACLU of Nevada lawsuit challenging the state Board of Pharmacy’s refusal to reschedule marijuana to proceed.
FEDERAL
The Senate Intelligence Committee released the text of a large-scale bill that includes provisions to block intelligence agencies from denying security clearances based on past cannabis use.
A spokesperson for Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said he opposes legalizing marijuana or issuing mass pardons to people with past convictions.”
Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) tweeted, “Cartels, which are estimated to perpetuate around half the violent crime in Mexico, derive their power from moving drugs from Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America to American buyers. The cartels derive their power from illegal, lucrative markets—so reforming U.S. drug policy and legalizing cannabis could go a long way toward weakening their control. The War on Drugs created cycles of violence that profoundly disrupted countries around the world, especially drug-producing countries in Latin America.”
New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Rob Menendez tweeted, “As @NJGov’s legalized cannabis industry takes off, we have to ensure that the workers powering it are taken care of. Glad to see cannabis workers organizing for fair wages and better workplace conditions across the state.”
STATES
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, spoke about the economic and justice reform benefits of legalizing marijuana.
Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner spoke about the possibility of medical cannabis or marijuana legalization. Separately, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee held a town hall meeting.
The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery approved legislation to decriminalize drugs, but another panel stopped its progress, instead referring it to study.
New York regulators appear to have wrongly and publicly accused a business of illegally selling marijuana, and are refusing to address their apparent mistake.
Alaska regulators are proposing changes to rules on marijuana application renewal requirements and to allow dairy butters, oils and fats as stand-alone cannabis edibles.
Utah regulators proposed new hemp and medical cannabis rules.
Colorado regulators issued a health and safety advisory about potentially unsafe levels of yeast and mold contamination on marijuana products from Dune Valley Farms, LLC. Separately, they launched a new cannabis data dashboard.
New Mexico’s Environment Department launched a new Cannabis and Hemp Bureau.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission met.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife worked with local law enforcement to serve search warrants as part of an investigation into environmental crimes associated with illegal cannabis cultivation.
LOCAL
New York City’s mayor said the city will ask the state for a “carveout” to protections in marijuana law so they can keep drug testing police officers and firefighters for cannabis.
The La Crosse County, Wisconsin Board Of Supervisors is considering placing a nonbinding marijuana legalization advisory question on the November ballot.
San Francisco, California’s new district attorney spoke about plans to crack down on “open drug use on the street.”
Los Angeles, California officials posted an overview of how marijuana businesses can obtain an official emblem confirming they are properly licensed.
INTERNATIONAL
European Parliament members are forming a cross-party group focused on cannabis reform.
Ireland’s High Court is considering a case challenging the country’s ban on products containing any amount of THC.
Malaysia’s health minister said the government will establish a framework for registering CBD products next year.
Here’s a look at where UK prime minister contenders stand on drug policy.
SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of truck crash data concluded that marijuana “legalization does not increase average crash rates.”
A study found that “a cannabidiol aminoquinone derivative activates the PP2A/B55α/HIF pathway and shows protective effects in a murine model of traumatic brain injury.”
ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Los Angeles Times editorial board is endorsing California legislation to require more robust warning labels on marijuana packaging.
The Boston Herald editorial board is opposing proposals to decriminalize drugs in Massachusetts.
Fair and Just Prosecution published a brief about the increased use of drug-induced homicide prosecutions.
BUSINESS
Organigram Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$38.1 million and a net loss of C$2.8 million.
Los Angeles Times employees are pushing the company to end its practice of drug testing reporters for marijuana.
Workers at several New Jersey marijuana companies have either unionized or are in negotiations to do so.
Arkansas dispensaries sold $22.29 million worth of medical cannabis in June.
CULTURE
Character witnesses testified in the trial of American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was arrested for possessing cannabis vapes at an airport in Russia.
The Onion joked that White House aides are concerned that “low poll numbers could drive Joe Biden to do something drastically popular” and that “a tearful Biden had to be talked down from signing an executive order to exonerate anyone left in prison for marijuana.”
Source: Marijuana Moment
