{"id":220,"date":"2021-07-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1hcmlqdWFuYW1vbWVudC5uZXQvc3VyZ2Vvbi1nZW5lcmFsLWJhY2tzLWNhbm5hYmlzLWRlY3JpbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVyLWp1bHktMTktMjAyMS_SAQA"},"modified":"2021-07-19T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T07:00:00","slug":"surgeon-general-backs-cannabis-decrim-newsletter-july-19-2021-marijuana-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=220","title":{"rendered":"Surgeon general backs cannabis decrim (Newsletter: July 19, 2021) &#8211; Marijuana Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>MD House speaker: put marijuana on ballot; More cannabis protections in Congress; RI Senate pres\u2019s legalization talks; IL cannabis $ for anti-violence<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Subscribe<\/a>&nbsp;to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.<\/p>\n<p><b>Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Your good deed for the day:<\/b><span> donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>Support our work at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\"><span>https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><\/a><b>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/surgeon-general-says-stop-locking-people-up-for-marijuana\/\"><span>Surgeon General Vivek Murthy<\/span><\/a><span> appeared to endorse decriminalizing marijuana.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span>\u201cWhen it comes to decriminalization, I don\u2019t think that there is value to individuals or to society to lock people up for marijuana use. I don\u2019t think that serves anybody well.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/federal-marijuana-protections-and-other-drug-policy-provisions-approved-in-new-spending-bills\/\"><span>House Appropriations Committee<\/span><\/a><span> approved spending bills and reports that protect state medical cannabis laws from federal interference, encourage marijuana and CBD research and note the lifesaving potential of safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span>The measures also protect universities from being punished for studying cannabis, note the painkilling value of kratom and remove restrictions on using federal funds for syringe access programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/top-maryland-lawmaker-pledges-to-put-marijuana-legalization-on-2022-ballot\/\"><span>Maryland\u2019s House speaker<\/span><\/a><span> pledged to pass legislation \u201cearly next year\u201d to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the 2022 ballot, and she\u2019s forming a working group to figure out details. The Senate president cosponsored a legal cannabis bill this session.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/top-rhode-island-senator-says-lawmakers-are-discussing-a-marijuana-legalization-compromise-this-summer\/\"><span>Rhode Island\u2019s Senate president<\/span><\/a><span> said he\u2019s had \u201cdiscussions\u201d about reaching a marijuana legalization compromise with the House and that he hopes lawmakers will come back to vote on a deal in September.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/illinois-uses-3-5-million-in-marijuana-revenue-to-prevent-violence\/\"><span>Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority<\/span><\/a><span> announced it is using $3.5 million in marijuana tax revenue to fund grants aimed at reducing violence. It\u2019s part of an ongoing justice reinvestment program created by the cannabis legalization law.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ FEDERAL<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/morning-joe\/watch\/sen-durbin-inexcusable-that-this-wealthy-country-has-children-struggling-for-basics-116826181727\"><span>Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL)<\/span><\/a><span> said we are due for a national conversation about legalizing marijuana.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RonWyden\/status\/1416109146852577281\"><span>Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)<\/span><\/a><span> tweeted, \u201cWhen it comes to cannabis, the federal government is still living in the era of Reefer Madness. It\u2019s past time to end these outdated, racist laws.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>@SenBooker&nbsp; @SenSchumer and I are all in to get it done.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenBooker\/status\/1415807140166619148\"><span>Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)<\/span><\/a><span> tweeted his marijuana legalization bill \u201chas the potential to be the most comprehensive effort to rewrite marijuana laws at the federal level in American history, and has the potential to be a substantial step towards ending the failed War on Drugs. We will get this done.\u201d He also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenBooker\/status\/1416472824831676420\"><span>tweeted<\/span><\/a><span>, \u201cThe federal prohibition on marijuana is archaic, cruel &amp; hypocritical to its core. Enough is enough. We need to finally end the prohibition on marijuana &amp; focus on restorative justice for communities that have been ruined by our broken marijuana policies.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thenewsoncnbc\/status\/1415816254242410497\"><span>Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)<\/span><\/a><span> criticized federal policies that make it hard for military veterans to get access to medical cannabis.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JohnCornyn\/status\/1416458493037588485\"><span>Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)<\/span><\/a><span> tweeted, \u201cDemocrats ignore science with their new push for marijuana.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sdpb.org\/blogs\/news-and-information\/sd-senators-oppose-federal-marijuana-decriminalization-push\/\"><span>Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)<\/span><\/a><span> said he doesn\u2019t support federal marijuana legalization.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PramilaJayapal\/status\/1415802354176253956\"><span>Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)<\/span><\/a><span> tweeted, \u201cIt\u2019s LONG past time to right the wrongs of the failed War on Drugs. Let\u2019s go further and legalize marijuana across America, and invest in the BIPOC communities hit hardest by these cruel failed policies.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ STATES<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2021\/07\/16\/governor-newsom-signs-state-budget-legislation-7-16-21\/\"><span>California<\/span><\/a><span> Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a marijuana licensing and regulatory bill.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ketv.com\/article\/ricketts-asks-state-attorney-general-to-review-legality-of-delta-8-thc\/37052930#\"><span>Nebraska<\/span><\/a><span> Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) asked the state attorney general to review the legality of delta-8-THC.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.djournal.com\/news\/state-news\/tate-reeves-philip-gunn-say-legislative-talks-continue-over-medical-marijuana-details\/article_6ea59296-5e60-51aa-ade1-6e01570c290f.html\"><span>Mississippi<\/span><\/a><span> Gov. Tate Reeves (R) and the House speaker discussed ongoing negotiations about medical cannabis legislation to replace the voter-approved measure that the state Supreme Court overturned. <\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>Former <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovChristie\/status\/1416061294973702148\"><span>New Jersey<\/span><\/a><span> Gov. Chris Christie (R) said he remains opposed to legalizing marijuana because it is a \u201cgateway drug.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2021\/07\/15\/trailer-clear-eyes-fully-entrenched-base-why-texas-democrats-think-they-cant-lose-by-fleeing-state\/\"><span>South Carolina<\/span><\/a><span> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham spoke about his decision to run on a marijuana legalization platform and about his past cannabis use. He also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeCunninghamSC\/status\/1416069519693451264\"><span>tweeted<\/span><\/a><span>, \u201cIt\u2019s shameful that our current Governor opposes medical marijuana. When I served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I heard from countless veterans just begging for an alternative to addictive opioids. When I\u2019m Governor, they\u2019ll finally get access to medical marijuana.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theassemblync.com\/short-form\/medical-marijuanas-conservative-champion\/\"><span>North Carolina<\/span><\/a><span> senator spoke about how his experience as a cancer survivor motivates his push to legalize medical cannabis.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DelGlennDavis\/status\/1416089286399696897\"><span>Virginia<\/span><\/a><span> delegate tweeted, \u201cIf requiring an ID to vote is racist, why did Democrats require one to grow marijuana? #Hypocrisy\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentucky.com\/news\/politics-government\/article252807058.html\"><span>Kentucky<\/span><\/a><span> judge is weighing a case seeking to stop police raids on hemp businesses that sell delta-8-THC products.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A federal judge heard arguments in a case challenging <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centralmaine.com\/2021\/07\/16\/federal-judge-hears-arguments-in-maine-medical-cannabis-residency-case\/\"><span>Maine\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span> residency requirement for medical cannabis business owners.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osc.state.ny.us\/state-agencies\/audits\/2021\/07\/16\/oversight-industrial-hemp-follow\"><span>New York\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span> comptroller determined that the Department of Agriculture and Markets has made progress in addressing issues with the state hemp program that were identified in a previous report.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/gmcc.ga.gov\/public-notice-of-commission-meeting-monday-november-23-2020-500-pm-est-8823545\"><span>Georgia<\/span><\/a><span> regulators will discuss medical cannabis cultivation licenses on Saturday.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthequity.wa.gov\/Portals\/9\/TAMentorship_2021-07-20.pdf?ver=2021-07-13-170602-513\"><span>Washington State<\/span><\/a><span> Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force\u2019s Technical Assistance &amp; Mentorship Workgroup will meet on Tuesday.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><strong>\u2014<br \/><strong>Marijuana Moment is already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tracking more than 1,100 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium jetpack-lazy-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg?is-pending-load=1\" alt width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\"><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg\" alt width=\"300\" height=\"300\"><\/noscript><br \/><strong>Learn more about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.<br \/>\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>\/ LOCAL<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenorthwestern.com\/story\/news\/2021\/07\/16\/oshkosh-city-council-consider-marijuana-decriminalization-ordinance\/7936703002\/\"><span>Oshkosh, Wisconsin<\/span><\/a><span> City Council member is proposing a measure to lower marijuana penalties.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>The mayors of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.logandaily.com\/news\/laurelville-murray-city-may-vote-on-marijuana-decriminalization-in-november\/article_39c57763-8192-5a36-a927-3552940f7355.html\"><span>Laurelville and Murray City, Ohio<\/span><\/a><span> said they are keeping an open mind about proposed marijuana decriminalization ballot measures.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ INTERNATIONAL<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/caymannewsservice.com\/2021\/07\/pact-plans-to-decriminalise-ganja\/\"><span>Cayman Islands<\/span><\/a><span> Premier Wayne Panton announced a plan to decriminalize marijuana.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabislaw.report\/italy-self-production-of-cannabis-basic-text-presented-14-july-to-justice-commission\/\"><span>Italian<\/span><\/a><span> lawmakers are considering legislation to allow marijuana home cultivation.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ SCIENCE &amp; HEALTH<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A study found that \u201cC. sativa was first <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/advances.sciencemag.org\/content\/7\/29\/eabg2286\"><span>domesticated in early Neolithic times<\/span><\/a><span> in East Asia and that all current hemp and drug cultivars diverged from an ancestral gene pool currently represented by feral plants and landraces in China.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A review concluded that \u201cphyto-, endogenous and synthetic cannabinoids demonstrated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007%2Fs00432-021-03710-7\"><span>antitumour effects<\/span><\/a><span> both in vitro and in vivo.\u201d<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ ADVOCACY, OPINION &amp; ANALYSIS<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/podcasts\/one-year\/s1\/1977\/e2\/marijuana-policy\"><span>NORML\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span> former executive director spoke about how his decision to tell a Washington Post reporter that he consumed cocaine at a 1977 Christmas party with Office of Drug Abuse Policy Director Peter Bourne impacted marijuana law reform efforts.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ BUSINESS<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210715006062\/en\/MedMen-Announces-Permanent-Appointment-of-Tom-Lynch-as-Chief-Executive-Officer\/\"><span>MedMen Enterprises Inc.<\/span><\/a><span> announced that its interim CEO will be given the job permanently.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A reorganization plan for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timescolonist.com\/canntrust-reorganization-plan-approved-by-ontario-court-several-conditions-remain-1.24343139\"><span>CannTrust Holdings Inc.<\/span><\/a><span> was approved by a court.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>A National Labor Relations Board judge determined that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.law360.com\/cannabis\/articles\/1403830\"><span>Curaleaf Massachusetts Inc.<\/span><\/a><span> violated federal labor law by soliciting grievances and implicitly promising benefits to workers if they didn\u2019t support a union drive.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210715005294\/en\"><span>Organigram Holdings Inc.<\/span><\/a><span> launched a Cannabis Innovators Panel intended to offer insights on consumer preferences.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/the-parent-company-launches-new-delivery-hub-in-san-diego-via-calivas-direct-to-consumer-platform-301335390.html\"><span>The Parent Company<\/span><\/a><span> added a delivery hub in Chula Vista, California through Caliva\u2019s platform.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.law360.com\/cannabis\/articles\/1402718\"><span>Villano Enterprises Inc. and Las Vegas Cannabis Awards LLC<\/span><\/a><span> are suing each other in a trademark dispute.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><b>\/ CULTURE<\/b><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span>Mixed martial arts fighter <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mZbqB2xkcHQ\"><span>Leon Edwards<\/span><\/a><span> spoke about hanging out with Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan while they smoked marijuana.<\/span><span><br \/><\/span><span><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theonion.com\/senate-democrats-unveil-proposal-to-federally-decrimina-1847300606\"><span>The Onion<\/span><\/a><span> made fun of the new Senate draft marijuana legalization bill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Make sure to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\">subscribe<\/a> to get Marijuana Moment\u2019s daily dispatch in your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"cb_p6_patreon_button\" readability=\"9\">\n<p>Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment?utm_content=post_button&amp;utm_medium=patron_button_and_widgets_plugin&amp;utm_campaign=749657&amp;utm_term=&amp;utm_source=https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/surgeon-general-backs-cannabis-decrim-newsletter-july-19-2021\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/patron-button-and-widgets-by-codebard\/images\/become_a_patron_button.png\"><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MD House speaker: put marijuana on ballot; More cannabis protections in Congress; RI Senate pres\u2019s legalization talks; IL cannabis $ for anti-violence Subscribe&nbsp;to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026 Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.Support our work at https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWSurgeon General Vivek Murthy appeared to&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-connecticut-cbd-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}