This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee filed a report urging fewer restrictions on marijuana research, a new federal bill was introduced to allow cannabis smoking in federally assisted housing, California reignited its push for a statewide cannabis banking system, Oklahoma’s governor walked back her threat to roll back aspects of the state’s successful medical marijuana voter initiative and more.
- Federal: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act of 2018 to help protect people who use medical marijuana by allowing cannabis smoking in federally assisted housing. Currently, using cannabis products bars individuals from benefiting from federal housing. Read more
- In a report filed June 28, members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee urged fewer restrictions on marijuana research. “The Committee is concerned that restrictions associated with Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act effectively limit the amount and type of research that can be conducted on certain Schedule 1 drugs, especially marijuana or its component chemicals and certain synthetic drugs,” the report says. Read more
- Ohio: The state of Ohio issued its first certificate of operation to FN Group Holdings, one of 25 cultivators to receive a provisional license to grow medical marijuana. FN Group is one of the 12 Level 2 cultivators that can grow up to 3,000 square feet of cannabis. Read more
- Tennessee: Tennessee Rep. Bryan Terry and Sen. Steve Dickerson plan to file a bill next year that would allow the use and study of medical marijuana in the state. The two Republican legislators have titled the bill the Tennessee Responsible Use of Medicinal Plants (TRUMP) Act: “We wanted to get the Republican party’s attention,” Dickerson said. Read more
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who opposed SQ788 during the campaign and had previously threatened to hold a special session of the legislature to undo major components of the medical marijuana ballot initiative, has reversed this position. “After conferring with House and Senate leaders, we believe a special legislative session is not necessary to implement provisions of State Question 788. The Oklahoma State Department of Health has developed emergency rules that will ensure the health and safety of Oklahomans as well as being fair and balanced for the marijuana industry,” Fallin said in a press release. Read more
- California: Los Angeles will begin its long-delayed licensing process for cannabis cultivators and manufacturers on Aug. 1. About 150 retailers have opened in the city, but the rest of the supply chain has been on hold. Read more
- The concerns and inherent risks behind operating a cash-only enterprise are beginning to help drive forward proposed legislation efforts in Sacramento, specifically when it comes to a banking system for cannabis businesses in California. If passed, the California Department of Business Oversight would oversee the new system. Read more
- Arkansas: After months of controversy around its selection of the state’s first marijuana growers, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will explore hiring an “independent consultant” to grade the nearly 230 applications for the state’s dispensaries. The five-member panel unanimously approved a motion by a commissioner, Dr. Stephen Carroll, to consider outsourcing the evaluations, and it scheduled a July 12 meeting to hear from several state officials about the next steps and to make a final decision. Read more
- Utah: Opponents of an initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Utah have dropped a lawsuit intended to block the measure, but they may still sue to overturn the law if voters approve it. Blake Ostler, an attorney for Drug Safe Utah, said they’ll keep making the case that the initiative is a bad idea. Read more
- Arizona: A petition effort to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Arizona has failed, with Safer Arizona only able to gather about 75,000 of the needed 150,642 signatures. If passed, the effort would have removed all criminal penalties for simple possession of marijuana and made things like selling a minor civil fine. Read more
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