Military recruits with marijuana waivers “perform no worse”; Study: Government-grown cannabis more like hemp than consumer marijuana
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Washington, D.C. Council chairman removed controversial provisions of legislation up for a vote on Tuesday that would have cracked down on unregulated marijuana sales.
A new military-funded RAND Corporation study found that Army recruits granted a waiver for marijuana “perform no worse” than other soldiers and are “less likely to separate as the result of health or performance concerns.”
- “Without waivers, a failed drug test for marijuana would block the one-third of American 18-year-olds who say they have used marijuana at least once in the past year. Recruits who make it into the U.S. Army despite low-level histories of marijuana use perform no worse, overall, than other soldiers. That should be welcome news in recruiting offices nationwide.”
A new study found that the marijuana the government grows to be used in research is “substantially genetically different from most commercially available” cannabis strains that consumers are actually using and in fact shares a “genetic affinity with hemp.”
/ FEDERAL
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram spoke about marijuana on a call with law enforcement officials.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published the latest edition of an ongoing review of cannabis and other plant-based treatment for chronic pain.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) attended the opening of a CBD processing facility.
Rep.. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted, “Congress hasn’t passed any federal cannabis reforms since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. #SAFEBanking is the best opportunity to enact some type of cannabis reform this term, and will help pave the way for broader reform while creating a safer & more equitable industry.”
Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Henry Martin tweeted, “Today would be a good day to end the war on drugs.”
/ STATES
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said he and lawmakers are still negotiating potency and possession limits for medical cannabis legislation.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, tweeted, “Not only do we have the opportunity to correct historic injustices, but we have the chance to turn Florida into an industry powerhouse. Let’s start #SomethingNew and legalize marijuana.”
The Louisiana House Medical Marijuana Commission held a hearing.
A Wisconsin senator posted about the economic benefits of legalizing marijuana.
Colorado’s Legislative Council Staff published an overview of cannabis legislation that was enacted this year.
Idaho’s hemp plan got federal approval.
An Illinois judge is taking steps to consolidate separate lawsuits challenging regulators’ marijuana business licensing processes.
The California State Fair’s cannabis awards began accepting submissions.
Oregon regulators posted a draft letter asking legislative leaders to create a subcommittee on Cannabis and Healthcare and to stop working to transfer authority for the designated grower program.
New Mexico’s medical cannabis patient count has increased 72 percent over two years.
Washington State regulators issued an emergency license suspension for Emerald Flash LLC over alleged violations.
Utah regulators proposed changes to hemp cultivation rules.
North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services tweeted about a federal hemp survey.
South Carolina regulators released a list of permitted hemp transporters and facilities.
Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
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/ LOCAL
The Denton, Texas City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
Voters in Clawson, Perry, Potterville and Rockwood, Michigan will decide on ballot measures to allow marijuana businesses on Tuesday.
Warren County, Pennsylvania’s district attorney said he supports legalizing marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
British Columbia, Canada will apply for federal permission to decriminalize drugs this week. Separately, the federal government has only granted marijuana conviction pardons to 484 people over the past two years.
The UK House of Commons is scheduled to debate medical cannabis on Wednesday and Thursday.
A Guernsey deputy resigned from the Home Affairs Committee after the panel’s president said he had a conflict of interest on marijuana legislation because of his role as a director of a cannabis company.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review found that “numerous publications suggest that cannabinoids and extracts of Cannabis sativa have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic properties.”
A study of cannabis vaporizer cartridges indicated that “chromium, copper, nickel, as well as smaller amounts of lead, manganese, and tin migrate into the cannabis oil and inhaled vapor phase, resulting in a possible acute intake of an amount of inhaled metals above the regulatory standard of multiple governmental bodies” and that “noncartridge heating methods of cannabis flower and concentrate were compared, and results indicate that the heating device itself is a source of metal contamination.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New York Daily News editorial board endorsed opening safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
/ BUSINESS
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. is acquiring Galaxie Brands Corporation.
Columbia Care Inc. completed its acquisition of Medicine Man.
Curaleaf International is rebranding for the European market.
/ CULTURE
Professional wrestling commentator Jim Ross is starting a cannabis farm in Oklahoma.
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