Portland, Chicago & Dallas work to decrim psychedelics; Study: Medical marijuana access reduces alcohol use; McConnell et al react to hemp news
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its proposed hemp regulations, which include decisions on total-THC potency testing, approving state regulatory plans and the reach of a ban on industry participation by people with felony drug convictions. Once formally published in the Federal Register on Thursday, the public will have 60 days to submit comments.
Lawmakers and industry stakeholders generally reacted positively to USDA’s proposed hemp rules, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), for example, taking to the Senate floor to celebrate the move in a speech.
Advocates in Berkeley, Chicago, Dallas and Portland are working to advance measures to decriminalize psychedelic drugs, some through city councils and one via a ballot measure.
A study found that legalizing medical cannabis and providing access to dispensaries improves health among certain demographics, including by fostering “large reductions in alcohol consumption” and reducing “mental health issues and health related limitations.”
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has on several occasions in recent weeks seized storage jars and packaging being imported to state-legal marijuana businesses in Washington State.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “As president I’ll end failed war on drugs, legalize marijuana, abolish mandatory minimum sentences and expunge criminal records for nonviolent drug offenses, end cash bail, ban private prisons, shut down the school-to-prison pipeline.”
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), a presidential candidate, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana and ending the war on drugs in a Daily Show appearance and reiterated his pledge to “treat substance use disorder as a public health issue — not a criminal justice issue” in a criminal justice reform plan.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted to actress Alyssa Milano, “We’ll always have Marijuana reform and LGBTQ rights, Alyssa.”
The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got one new cosponsor for a total of 50.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of 35.
The House bill to shield veterans from losing benefits over marijuana use got one new cosponsor for a total of 12.
/ STATES
Wisconsin’s Senate majority leader reiterated his opposition to medical cannabis.
A Pennsylvania court responded to the state Supreme Court’s request for an explanation of why it wants to transfer a case challenging a ban on using medical cannabis for people on probation.
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee approved an expungement bill that allows people to appeal if their marijuana expungement requests are denied. Separately, regulators released details about the process by which they will accept and evaluate recreational marijuana business license applications beginning on Friday.
Missouri regulators drafted a new emergency rule concerning medical cannabis facility licensing and certification procedures.
Massachusetts regulators sent a reminder to parents to lock up their marijuana products and check Halloween candy to prevent accidental underage consumption.
Washington State regulators sent a newsletter with marijuana licensing and other information.
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/ LOCAL
Louisville, Kentucky’s Metro Police Department is being sued by a family that was the target of a mistaken marijuana raid.
The Los Angeles, California City Council president wants regulators to suspend the processing of requests for marijuana retail licenses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he won’t rule out the possibility of legalizing marijuana. Meanwhile, a Senate leader confirmed that the body asked the Supreme Court for a deadline extension on passing cannabis legislation.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will personally take up the issue of medical cannabis access with the health secretary.
Malaysia’s youth and sports minister said the government will use a special committee to expedite amendments to decriminalize drug addiction.
Quebec, Canada lawmakers approved legislation to raise the legal age for marijuana use from 18 to 21.
The Australian attorney general warned a locality that a proposed marijuana legalization measure was defective before it passed the legislation.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “use of medical marijuana and CBD amongst women with endometriosis is common” and “are reported as moderately or very effective for pelvic pain by the majority of women who have tried them, with marijuana reported as more effective than CBD.”
A review concluded that “there is scarce evidence to suggest that cannabinoids improve depressive disorders and symptoms, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychosis” and that “there is very low quality evidence that pharmaceutical THC (with or without CBD) leads to a small improvement in symptoms of anxiety among individuals with other medical conditions.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Purdue University scientists $955,458 to study organic hemp production.
/ BUSINESS
Square tweeted, “we have received an unexpectedly large number of applicants for our CBD program! As a result, it’s taking a bit longer than anticipated to get back to everyone.”
MedMen Enterprises Inc. is forming a committee to select new independent directors constituting a majority of its board.
/ CULTURE
Golfer Greg Norman launched a line of CBD products.
Cartoonist Scott Adams tweeted, “I don’t trust anyone in the government who disagrees with” a bill to deschedule marijuana and invest in communities that have been harmed by the drug war.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post USDA releases hemp regulations for public comment (Newsletter: October 30, 2019) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/usda-releases-hemp-regulations-for-public-comment-newsletter-october-30-2019/
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