A 23-member task force has issued explicit policy recommendations to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham regarding the legalization and regulation of cannabis. The Press Secretary for the Governor says, “The next steps will be to incorporate the recommendations of this working group into balanced legislation and working to win the support of legislators and stakeholders ahead of the session.”
Author: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Maine: Regulators Confident That Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Will Begin Next Spring
Regulators at the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy affirmed this week that they expect adult-use marijuana sales to begin in the spring of 2020.
Survey: Pain Patients Often Report Substituting Cannabis for Opioids
Researchers concluded, “Our findings are consistent with prior surveys of American and Canadian marijuana users in which substitution of marijuana for opioids was prevalent due to better symptom management and fewer adverse and withdrawal effects.”
Report: Marijuana Legalization Not Associated with Adverse ‘Spillover’ Effects in Neighboring States
The enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is not associated with any significant increase in cannabis-related activity in neighboring states and counties, according to a federally funded report published by the nonprofit Justice Research and Statistics Association.
Study: No Uptick in Violent Crime Following Adult Use Cannabis Legalization
Investigators from Department of Justice and Criminology at Washington State University reported, “Our results from Colorado and Washington suggest that legalization has not had major detrimental effects on public safety.”
Pennsylvania: Expedited Pardon Process Now Available for Those with Low-Level Cannabis Convictions
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons has created an expedited process to review and grant pardon applications for those with marijuana-related records. “These people have done no harm to anyone else,” Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman said. “They shouldn’t continue to suffer with employment and housing issues because they were convicted of doing something that most Pennsylvanians don’t even think should be illegal.”
CDC Provides Update on Lung Illnesses Linked to Vape Cartridges
Updated data provided today by the US Centers for Disease Control reports over 800 cases of acute respiratory distress linked to the use of portable vapor cartridges used to consume certain e-liquids. Of the products tested thus far by the US Food and Drug Administration, about half have identified the presence of Vitamin E acetate.
Washington, DC: Mayor Signs Order Expanding Workplace Protections for Cannabis Consumers
Commenting on the policy change, NORML Political Associate Tyler McFadden said: “Employment protections are critical to ensure that law-abiding adults are not unduly discriminated against in their efforts to be productive members of society solely because of their use of cannabis while off the job. This order provides clarity and guidance to employers and peace of mind to the employees who work in the District of Columbia.”
Cannabis Vaping Concerns Call for Increased Regulations and Oversight
Rather than use these unfortunate incidents as an opportunity to further drive these markets into the shadows, the administration should officially legalize cannabis and empower the FDA to better study, regulate, and oversee these emerging THC and CBD delivery devices — and to create regulatory standards for legal states to follow and enforce.
Mississippi: Proponents Turn In Signatures for 2020 Medical Cannabis Ballot Measure
Proponents of a 2020 statewide ballot measure to legalize and regulate medical cannabis access have submitted 105,686 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. A spokesperson for the group backing the campaign, Mississippians for Compassionate Care, said that the measure “polls above 77 percent, with [majority support from] every age group, religious affiliation, [and] political affiliation.”