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VA Senate approves marijuana bills; NE cop sues to keep medical cannabis off ballot; Prohibitionists reveal top VT lawmaker’s personal info

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) confirmed that congressional leadership intends to hold a September floor vote on a bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the war on drugs. Marijuana Moment first reported that those plans were in the works back in July.

The Virginia Senate passed bills to stop police from searching people based on the odor of marijuana and allowing people to pay cannabis decriminalization fines up front instead of having to go to court. Separately, cannabis expungements legislation is advancing, and a gubernatorial candidate filed a bill to completely legalize possession.

A Nebraska sheriff is asking the state Supreme Court to block voters from getting a chance to decide on a medical cannabis ballot measure in November. The lawsuit filing comes just days after the secretary of state rejected the top local law enforcer’s arguments.

The Vermont chapter of prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana appears to have revealed the personal cell phone number of the state’s House speaker in a mailer urging people to call her as the legislature finalizes a legal cannabis sales bill. The postcard, which attempts to argue that marijuana damages the environment, also includes pictures of dead animals.

/ FEDERAL

President Trump granted a full pardon to a woman whose prison sentence for a drug offense he previously commuted. The new move came one day after she spoke at the Republican National Convention.

Libertarian presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen tweeted, “ Biden & Trump will NOT end the war on drugs. They will NOT support legalization. They will NOT pass Breonna Taylor’s Law. They do not stand with you.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “Senator McConnell: It is past time for the Senate to vote to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.” He also tweeted, “Senate must vote to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. I’ve been fighting in the Senate for Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act I introduced to end the federal prohibition, make criminal justice reform, & provide opportunities for minority- and women-owned small biz.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) criticized the Food and Drug Administration for undermining the CBD industry.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Our country’s cannabis laws have devastated communities of color. They’re wrong, discriminatory, and out of touch. We need reform. Let’s end the harmful war on drugs.”

Rhode Island Democratic congressional candidate Dylan Conley tweeted, “Tens of thousands of people sit in jails today for cannabis offenses while fellow citizens are taking advantage of curbside pick-up of cleverly packaged cannabis products from dispensaries owned by publicly traded corporations. The reality is unjust.”

Florida Democratic congressional candidate Jen Perelman tweeted, “FL will have a $5.4 billion financial shortfall the next two years. I support @CarlosGSmith & @JeffreyBrandes bipartisan legislation where projected revenue from marijuana sales could be $300 million annually. This is a no-brainer!”

/ STATES

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “It has been 340 days since Governor Tom Wolf and I called for immediate decriminalization of marijuana and a pathway to legalization. Tell your state reps and senators it’s time to act.”

New Hampshire Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andru Volinsky tweeted, “NH must legalize marijuana like our NE neighbors. Legal marijuana supports racial justice & can fund schools through taxation. @GovChrisSununu absurdly opposes this in the Live Free or Die state.”

Mississippi’s secretary of state will hold public hearings across the state on a medical cannabis ballot measure.

Michigan’s attorney general’s office is reviewing more than 15 cases of people serving long prison sentences for marijuana in order to potentially recommend commutations.

Florida’s agriculture commissioner celebrated new rules allowing medical cannabis edibles, tweeting, “Florida’s patients deserve access to life-changing medical marijuana in all its forms. Today, we’re one step closer to that goal.”

Massachusetts regulators approved a proposal to let marijuana delivery businesses buy products from wholesalers and store them for future sales instead of just serving as couriers that purchase products on-demand from retailers for delivery. They also voted to make residents of other states seeking hospice and cancer treatment in the state eligible for medical cannabis, and approved other changes.

Oklahoma regulators hired a company to provide independent oversight of medical cannabis testing labs.

Arizona regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and dispensary data.

Washington State regulators warned about a scam targeting marijuana businesses and employees.

Maryland regulators extended the deadline for medical cannabis clinical director registration to November 1.

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/ LOCAL

San Francisco, California regulators sent resources about pro bono legal assistance for marijuana business equity applicants.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canadian spending on legal marijuana outpaced the illicit market for the first time in the second quarter of the year.

Indonesia’s agriculture minister is revoking a previous declaration that marijuana is a medicinal plant.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “at-least-daily cannabis use was associated with a 16% increase in the hazard rate of injection cessation, and this effect was restricted to the cessation of injection opioids.”

An analysis of funding for marijuana research found that studies on the potential harms of cannabis received more than 20 times more support than those on its therapeutic potential.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that New Zealand voters oppose a marijuana legalization referendum, 46%-39%.

The Nebraska Democratic Party tweeted, “Great news! Medical marijuana initiative should be on the ballot, Nebraska secretary of state rules.”

/ BUSINESS

Compass Pathways Plc. is going public.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. received B Corporation certification.

Canopy Growth Corporation announced it is opening 10 marijuana stores in Alberta, Canada.

The Ontario Securities Commission plans to hold a hearing on allegations that Canada Cannabis Corp. committed fraud.

/ CULTURE

The New York Times looks at the growing number of military veterans taking part in ayahuasca ceremonies.

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The post Congress to vote on legal cannabis in Sept., leader confirms (Newsletter: August 31, 2020) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

420GrowLife

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Tom Angell, KahliBuds, 420GrowLife