FL medical marijuana cards for veterans; HI cannabis bill changes anger advocates; NH legalization poll; Study: “Black-owned” labels on marijuana
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin spoke about his decision to send a threat letter to a locally licensed medical cannabis dispensary, saying his “instinct is that it shouldn’t be in the community.”
The Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to waive medical cannabis patient registration fees for military veterans, and to make it so all patients only have to renew their cards every two years instead of annually.
A Hawaii legislative conference committee reached an agreement on a bill to revise the state’s medical cannabis law by allowing some doctors to recommend marijuana for any condition—though advocates oppose new provisions on penalties and access to medical records.
The Rhode Island House Health & Human Services Committee held a hearing on a bill to require healthcare facilities to allow on-site medical cannabis use by terminally ill patients.
A poll shows that 70 percent of New Hampshire residents support legalizing marijuana—with majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents on board—as the Senate prepares to consider a House-passed legalization bill this week.
A new study found that “Black-owned” labeling on marijuana products increases interest among white consumers but not Black ones, suggesting that “Black ownership signals credibility to out-group consumers, but stigma may suppress in-group identification.”
Montana lawmakers sent Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) a bill to allow Indian tribes and the governor’s office to enter into compacts to regulate marijuana on individual reservations, including with respect to details such as tax revenue distribution, dispensary operations and cultivation limits.
/ FEDERAL
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration staffers responsible for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were laid off.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) tweeted photos of herself speaking at a cannabis event, saying, “It’s past time for the federal government to catch up with the American people and legalize adult-use marijuana nationally. Until then, Congress should keep its #HandsOffDC’s cannabis policy.”
/ STATES
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) sent a letter asking state officials to “coordinate closely with one another to strengthen enforcement and regulatory action” concerning “psychoactive marijuana byproducts.”
Vermont’s lieutenant governor is asking lawmakers to amend a cannabis bill to allow growers to sell directly to consumers and to allow public consumption of marijuana anywhere tobacco use is legal.
Kentucky’s auditor accused the Kentucky Democratic Party of trying to “intimidate” her from continuing an investigation into regulators’ medical cannabis licensing process by filing Open Records Act requests to her office.
A Minnesota Republican representative authored an op-ed urging President Donald Trump to reschedule marijuana.
Alabama regulators are being sued over their failure to establish a medical cannabis patient and caregiver registry.
Pennsylvania’s health secretary approved recommendations to add traumatic brain injury and type 2 diabetes mellitus as medical cannabis qualifying conditions for research purposes only.
Michigan regulators issued a health and safety reminder about medium-chain triglyceride oil in marijuana vape cartridges.
California regulators filed proposed changes to cannabis tax rules.
Washington State regulators published guidance on new cannabis sample rules.
The New York Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Thursday.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
A UK court ruled that Border Force officials wrongly seized cannabis-based medication.
Germany’s health minister tweeted about a study showing that after Canada legalized marijuana, “consumption increased slightly, while the particularly harmful, very frequent use decreased slightly.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
The results of case studies “support prioritizing [cannabis-based products for medicinal use] in cases of” drug-resistant epilepsy.
A study found that “kombucha infused with 30% cannabis leaves possessed less acetic acid, ethanol, and carbon dioxide and gave a better odor and taste.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association is calling for a freeze on new marijuana business licenses.
/ BUSINESS
4Front Ventures Corporation provided an update on its previously announced application for a management cease trade order.
Canadian retailers sold C$404.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in February.
/ CULTURE
Wiz Khalifa is facing a fine for smoking marijuana onstage at a concert in Romania.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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