Politics
The Senate Judiciary postponed its vote on U.S. attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions pending his responses to additional questions, including on marijuana. (See
here, pp 13-16) As before, Sessions did not acknowledge the industry’s right to exist.
The closest the Republican Alabama Senator offered to a concession came in a response to a question about MED research:
If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as Attorney General, I will defer to the American Medical Association and the researchers at the National Institutes of Health and elsewhere about the medical effects of marijuana. Without having studied the relevant regulations in depth, I cannot say whether they may need to be eased in order to advance research; but, I will review this. If confirmed, will be to enforce federal law, under which marijuana is currently a Schedule One controlled substance—defined as a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
During hearings, Sessions also
claimed not to remember expressing support, in 1996, for executing persons twice convicted of dealing marijuana.
“Well, I’m not sure under what circumstances I said that,” he said.
The committee vote is
scheduled for Tuesday. If Sessions advances he will require a majority vote from the entire Senate. He’s expected to be confirmed.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said that on weed Sessions is “
Against the tide of history.”
Treasury Secretary nominee Steve Mnuchin
expressed openness to bringing cannabusiness into the mainstream financial system.
While Trump has made many references to the evils of drugs, he did not publicly mention marijuana during his first hectic week as president.
The bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus is
poised to expand in the Trump/Sessions era.
At a conference I found that cannabis entrepreneurs
aren't too worried about Trump.
A bland interview with Obama drug czar Michael Botticelli was
removed from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration web site. The agency said it would be available in the archive.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has
written to President Trump asking for guidance on cannabis banking rules.
California business owners are in a “
legal fog” about how they can operate before the state creates rules for both MED and REC businesses. State senator Mike McGuire (D) from Sonoma County said there’s “
no way” MED regulations will be ready to take effect on January 1, 2018 since the state is “building the regulatory system for a multibillion dollar industry from scratch.” The state’s Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation disagrees, saying the process is on schedule.
McGuire has also introduced a bill that would
block cannabis companies from invoking California counties in product names unless their product is produced in the named county.
Marijuana.com discusses how Canada can legalize while it’s a party to
international drug treaties.
Following a
drop in pot arrests, Israel is
poised to decriminalize. And the country’s government is
funding cannabis research.
Benoît Hamon, who won the first round of France’s Socialist party presidential primary,
supports legalization.
Massachusetts state senator Jason M. Lewis (D) has proposed creating a
much more stricter REC market. Boston city councilor Annissa Essaibi George took a fact finding trip to Colorado where she was generally reassured about legalization, except for the smell. “It’s wicked, it’s wicked,” she said. “It’s like driving through New Jersey with the oil refineries. It’s everywhere.”
A fight is brewing over the shape of Florida’s MED program. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) wants to create a
controversial pot tax.
New Mexico
could legalize REC through the legislature. Vermont lawmakers are
trying again after last year’s effort fizzled.
The president of Maryland’s state senate
apologized for revealing that the legislature had hired a lawyer to investigate a legislator’s work with a MED company.
Colorado’s state Senate
voted to crack-down on Craigslist pot sales. Wyoming NORML
has new life and is pushing to decriminalize.
An Arizona house panel voted to
block rural dispensaries from moving to cities.
The country of Georgia relaxed its
very strict cannabis possession law.
