Marijuana Moment: Colorado gov pushes Congress for cannabis biz COVID relief (Newsletter: April 14, 2020)

[Tokeativity]

Amazon loses fed court fight on medical marijuana for workers; Biden & Sanders launch criminal justice task force; VA gov’s cannabis amendments

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is calling on Congress to include marijuana businesses in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.

• “Unfortunately, a large number of small businesses in Colorado are not eligible for these loans due to their involvement in the state-legal cannabis industry, which is a major employer and tax revenue generator in our state.”

A former worker who was allegedly fired by Amazon for state-legal medical cannabis use in New Jersey won a key decision in federal court. The judge decided—over the company’s objection—that state courts should handle the case. Since the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of workplace medical marijuana protections last month, that bodes well for the plaintiff.

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) launched a series of joint task forces on issues including criminal justice reform, raising the possibility that the presumptive Democratic nominee could potentially be convinced to back marijuana legalization ahead of Election Day.

Here’s a look at several amendments that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) proposed to a marijuana decriminalization bill, including changes concerning the due date of a study on broader legalization and opting out of a federal law on drivers license suspensions for people convicted of drug offenses.

/ FEDERAL

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll authored an op-ed on the Trump administration’s drug-related efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia tweeted, “This is an April Fools joke- right? ‘Like all ESSENTIAL businesses’- marijuana industry apparently wants gov’t relief too? Many ESSENTIAL priorities during these challenging times. Many that desperately need help and support. Marijuana industry- really?”

Former California Judge Jim Gray, one of the first sitting judges to speak out against the war on drugs, is seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination.

New Jersey Democratic Senate candidate Lawrence Hamm tweeted,  “I support the legalization of marijuana along with @GovMurphy.”

/ STATES

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) again cited regional marijuana talks in reference to coronavirus response coordination with nearby states.

Here’s a look at where Utah gubernatorial candidates stand on legalizing marijuana.

Pennsylvania’s health secretary said that medical cannabis businesses will continue to be considered essential during the coronavirus pandemic.

Guam legal marijuana regulations have been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak.

Ohio regulators deemed CBD businesses to be non-essential during the coronavirus pandemic.

A Massachusetts marijuana regulator will step down next month.

—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—

/ LOCAL

San Francisco, California’s mayor tweeted, “To be clear: 4/20 will not be tolerated this year. Do not come to San Francisco to celebrate. We will cite people. We will arrest people if necessary. Order food. Watch Netflix. Stay home and stay safe.”

Kern County, California and its sheriff’s office are facing a federal lawsuit from a hemp grower that alleges its plants were improperly destroyed.

Here’s a look at the Denver, Colorado mayor’s decision to enact and then reverse the temporary closure of recreational marijuana businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review found “limited moderate-quality evidence that supports the use of cannabinoids as adjuvant to the standard of care in the treatment of brain and central nervous system tumors” and “very low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with adult-onset gliomas.”

A study analyzing Google Trends search data found that “year trend analysis for CBD oil shows an upward trend from 2014 to 2018, possibly interrupted in 2019…which may have been due to federal intervention.”

The National Institutes of Health is extending the expiration date for a funding opportunity for research on the “effects of public policies on health-related behaviors and outcomes associated with alcohol, marijuana, and other substances.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Americans for Safe Access is hosting a free coronavirus-related safety training for essential cannabis workers on Friday.

Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana is compiling “a national registry of those who are actively opposing marijuana normalization, legalization and commercialization.”

/ BUSINESS

Aurora Cannabis’s board approved a plan to consolidate outstanding shares on a 12:1 basis.

Cresco Labs says it is expanding hiring in Illinois and will focus recruitment efforts on local industries especially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including hospitality and restaurant service workers.

Planet 13 Holdings Inc. canceled a planned acquisition of a Santa Ana, California marijuana dispensary license from Newtonian Principles.

Microsoft advertising support said “we don’t allow advertisers to sell products that contain CBD.”

Weedmaps is hosting a virtual 4/20 event with Wiz Khalifa, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ari Lennox, Joey “CoCo” Diaz, Berner and others.

/ CULTURE

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is taking CBD for pain related to his coronavirus infection.

Rapper 2 Chainz posted an article on Instagram about the coronavirus-related risks of smoking marijuana and added, “What about cigarettes , cigars , heroin , crack , meth ?? Or only reefa ? Asking for a friend.”

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