“Marijuana’s been legal in the suburbs forever.”

— Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins

Welcome To The Weekly Roll Up – A Compendium of The Week’s Cannabis News

Vermont

House Approves Appropriations Amendment to Protect State-Legal Cannabis Markets

Never a Boring Day in 2020: Updated Coronavirus Timeline

Are masks required outdoors? And more FAQs on Vermont’s mask mandate

Gov. Scott moves mandatory school start date to Sept. 8

VTDigger: 2020 Election Guide (Vermont Primary: August 11, 2020)

Have you donated to the Justice + Equity Fund yet?
All donations go directly to The Bail Project.

New England

Maine

• State predicts 1st recreational cannabis sales by end of year
• Recreational marijuana sales in Maine could start in 2020
• Portland, Maine to Vote on Removing Cannabis Industry License Caps
• Ex-deputies linked to pot business that was target of federal drug raid in Farmington
• Feds link raid on Maine marijuana businessman to drug trafficking

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts cannabis company Curaleaf now biggest in the world
• Verilife Opens Second Massachusetts Location
• Regulators Seek Input On Regulatory Changes For Both Adult Use And MMJ 
• Union to appeal after workers at MA marijuana store reject unionization
• Cannabis advocates lose last-ditch equity effort
• Cannabis Commissioners Call For Loan Fund To Promote Diverse Ownership 

New Jersey

• Nearly 7 in 10 NJ Voters Support Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measure, Poll Finds
• New Jersey MJ companies invest in infrastructure build-outs ahead of recreational vote
• If N.J. legalizes recreational weed, feds couldn’t stop it under House-passed measure
• Curaleaf proceeding with application for Mount Laurel medical marijuana dispensary

New York

• $6 Million Worth Of Cannabis Seized At New York-Canada Border

Protect Your Hemp Industrial Hemp Notice Signs now available online. 12×18 durable aluminum, $25 each. Custom state signage and discounts available for bulk orders:Shop Now

National

“Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.” 

– Excerpt from an essay written by Congressman John Lewis shortly before his death, which he requested be published on the day of his funeral Thursday.

Animals

• New survey offers insight on the explosion of CBD in the pet space
• Pet Releaf Donates More than $150,000 to At-Risk Dogs 
• A Growing Group Of CBD Customers Isn’t Even Human. But Its Members Appreciate CBDs’ Anti-Pain Benefits

Arts/Entertainment

• Run The Jewels launch their own strain of cannabis
• Rapper Loon Released From Prison After Nine Years Serving Non-Violent Drug Charge
• Martha Stewart Accepts Challenge To Smoke A Joint With Chelsea Handler
• Magic Johnson Partners With CBD and Hemp Brand Uncle Bud’s

Banking

• Mitch McConnell Says Putting Marijuana Banking In Coronavirus Relief Bill Is ‘Non-Germane’
• California Bill Offers Banking Support For Cannabis Businesses
• Marijuana dispensaries make billions of dollars in sales but still can’t use banks

Business

• Massachusetts cannabis company Curaleaf now biggest in the world
• High Times accused of reneging on obligations in ADA lawsuit over event accessibility
• Can my employer require drug tests? Ask HR
• 5 Concise Questions With Co Founder Of Ganja Goddess, Tara Wells
• WeedMD Announces Resignation of Dr. Hugh Scully from Board of Directors

CBD

• White House Hosts Hemp Groups For CBD Enforcement 
• Brightfield Group Sizes Up the US CBD Market in New Report
• Hemp Flower Demand, and Bans, Both on Rise
• Why CBD products are getting cheaper
• What Is CBG, And Is It Different Than CBD? Experts Weigh In
• CBD: Sometimes It Can Be Legal but Still “Unlawful”

Coronavirus/COVID-19

• New Brightfield Report Says COVID To Hurt CBD Sales
• How COVID-19 created a weed windfall for dark web dealers across Europe

Culture

• Controversial New Novel on Canna Culture ‘Bootlegging Kind’ Rejected by Social Media
• Ones to Watch 2020: Brennan England — Greenway Magazine

Education

• San Francisco City College Offering Cannabis Studies Degree
• UP University Will Offer Classes, Degrees in Lower Peninsula

Federal

• FDA Releases Guidance To Boost Cannabis Clinical Research
• USDA approves Minnesota hemp production plan
• Senators Push USDA To Change Restrictive Hemp Regulations
• FDA announces voluntary recall of Summitt Labs CBD products due to high lead content
• U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that drug offenses were no. 1 offense for federal probation, supervised release violations
• DEA sends out an alert about “telephone calls by scammers posing as DEA employees”

Food & Bev

• What’s the size of the hemp-derived CBD prize?
• CBD food and beverage regulation still murky
• Fact.MR Analyzes Impact of COVID-19 on CBD Beverages Market

Growing and Making

• How to make a cannabis-infused piña chillada
• BudTrader TV | CBD Infused French Toast
• Baking with CBD: What You Need to Know

Health and Wellness

• Yes, CBD Creams Relieve Pain. But Science is Still Learning About the Benefits

Hemp

• Hemp Industries Association Announces Closure of State Chapter Program
• West Virginia Uni Professor Awarded Grant to Lower THC Levels in Industrial Hemp

Hypocrisy, Prevarication, and Outright Lies

• Trump loyalist who tested positive for coronavirus is America’s dumbest congressman

Insurance

• Industry expert offers overview on cannabis coverage
• INSIGHT: Mitigating Data Breach Risks Facing Marijuana Businesses
• Seven tips for cannabis companies to make the most of 2020

Law Enforcement

• Feds Bust Weed-Growing Ring In Rural Massachusetts
• Police can’t search a driver or passengers if they smell marijuana during stop, Maryland’s high court rules

Legalization

• Marijuana Regains its Mojo in Congress
• Election 2020: Voters in Multiple States May Legalize Cannabis in November
• Coronavirus bills stuffed with F-35 money, help for cannabis firms
• Nancy Pelosi Says Marijuana Is A ‘Therapy That Has Proven Successful’ Amid Coronavirus Bill Debate
• Marijuana Legalization May Not Be A Blue State Issue

Media

• Under the Influence: Content creators use social platforms for policy change

Medical

• States Experience Record Surge in Retail Marijuana Sales 

Military/Vets

• Hemp 4 Heroes Employs Veterans in the CBD Industry
• Congress Offers Forgiveness Of Past Cannabis Use In The Military

Podcasts

• NPR’s On Something: The Medical Marijuana O.G.
• Marketing That’s Lit: Lessons From Cannabis Marketing
• Indy Q&A: Executive Director Tyler Klimas on the future of Cannabis in Nevada

Politics

• Democrats Decline To Include Cannabis Legalization In Party Platform
• Congressional Cannabis Caucus Leader Votes Against Legalization Plank For Democratic Platform
• AOC: It’s ’embarrassing’ marijuana legalization excluded from DNC platform
• Eight in 10 Democrats Want Marijuana Legalization. Why Doesn’t the Party?
• Key Congressional Chairman Faces Criticism Over MJ Record from Primary Challenger
• Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) spar over cannabis stances

Presidential Campaign 

• Biden Proposes Federal Aid To Help States Expunge Marijuana Records

Psychedelics

• Ease restrictions on medical psychedelics to aid research, experts say
• DC Officials Count Enough Valid Signatures To Put Psychedelics Decrim on Ballot, Activists Say
• Busted for Mushrooms? Feds Have Bigger Crimes to Fight

Seniors

• Here’s How Millennials And Boomers Differ On Marijuana Use

Social Justice

• Mass. Cannabis Social Equity Program Offers Debt Instead of Equity
• Hemp for the Homeles: An innovative plan in San Francisco
• Taking pride in the LGBTQ movement and the intersectionality of cannabis legalization
• John Bailey Won’t Let COVID-19 End Marijuana Diversity Conversations 
• A Nurse Launches a CBD Startup, Despite the Pandemic and Being a ‘Super-Minority’
• Online Expungement Clinics Help Coloradoans Clear Their Records
• Pickens County, Alabama Case Against Purple Heart Veteran Echoes Racist History
• OR’s easy canna licensing rules allow for some social equity, but more funding needed

Social Responsibility

• Why The Cannabis Industry Needs Accessible Research – Q&A with Maha Haq

Sports

• L.A.-based company hopes “Magic” Johnson brings his wizardry to CBD partnership
• Stigma Versus Science: Cannabis In The NBA

Studies and Surveys

• CBD can cut down on overuse of cannabis, study says
• Cannabis cravings: A new study addresses why it happens
• Women Who Use Marijuana More Often Have Better Sex, Study Says 
• Scientists modified a strain of cannabis to kill cancer cells
• “Reverse gateway effect” in street-involved youth transitioning off more harmful drugs
• Novel Insights on Cannabis and Psychosis
• CBD Could Help Smokers Move on From Tobacco

Travel/Tourism

• California Cannabis Travel Association (CCTA) Aligns with Travel Industry Leaders to Advance Cannabis Tourism 
• Traveling for 420: What’s Legal as Countries Become Marijuana Friendly?

Women

• Cannabis & Women’s Health on National Girlfriends Day
• Did women use cannabis as medicine in ancient Egypt?

New Merch in the Heady Store! Explore the Green Goddess Collection in collab with Nikki Laxar, Justice + Equity merch to benefit The Bail Project, and more. Shop now

States 

Alabama

• Pickens County, Alabama Case Against Purple Heart Veteran Echoes Racist History

GoFundMe and Change.org Petition for Sean Worsley, the disabled black veteran arrested in Alabama for medical marijuana that he legally obtained in his home state of Arizona.

Alaska

• Regulators voted to extend rules allowing curbside and window pickup through Nov 15

Arizona

• COVID-19 Creates Surge in Demand for Medical Cannabis in AZ

California

• California Bill Would Give Banks a Safe Harbor for Pot Business
• Original Cannabis Dealers Raise $146,000 to Push for Permanent Adult Retail Licenses
• Santa Barbara Battle Between Cannabis and Wine Continues
• California regulators post warnings about health impacts of cannabis smoke and THC
• Police Raid Five Unlicensed Dispensaries In San Diego County
• Novato vets rating system for cannabis businesses

Colorado

• Colorado Springs Reconsidering Adult-Use Cannabis
• Colorado Springs ballot measure falls short of City Council approval
• CO Hemp Industry Protests Selection of MJ Company to Establish Center of Excellence
• Grandma Went From Christian Minister To CBD Evangelist and Entrepreneur 
• Online Expungement Clinics Help Coloradoans Clear Their Records

Florida

• Florida Gov. Doesn’t Care What You Think About Face Masks Or Weed

Guam

• Cannabis board conducts final review of proposed rules and regulations

Hawaii

• Education Spending Drives Races For Hawaii Legislature
• Workplace Drug Tests Show Less Use of Some Types of Drugs

Illinois

• In Carbondale, cannabis-adjacent businesses see big uptick in demand

Louisiana

• Medical marijuana program expands, among new Louisiana laws
• Got the munchies? Cannabis-themed Cheba Hut sandwich shop coming to Baton Rouge

Maryland

• Police can’t use the smell of cannabis to search and arrest a person, affirms Maryland’s highest court
• As Maryland’s medical marijuana market ascends, diversity issues linger

Michigan 

• Michigan Cannabis Company Partners with Tribe for Retail Dispensaries
• Recreational marijuana sales in Michigan crack $200 million
• Royal Oak commission OKs recreational marijuana licensing ordinance
• Red White & Bloom Brands to Buy PharmaCo of Michigan

Minnesota

• USDA approves Minnesota hemp production plan
• Medical marijuana dispensary planned for Burnsville

Mississippi

• Mississippi State Leaders Urge Voters To Consider MMJ Proposals Carefully
• Medical marijuana headed to Mississippi ballots in November

Missouri

• Missouri Issues Five New Cannabis Manufacturing Licenses
• Marijuana licensing woes dog Missouri’s governor
• Fake Cannabis Certification Scheme Claims Another 350 Missouri Patients
• After Unsuccessful 2020 Signature Campaign to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis in Missouri, Group Looks to 2022

Montana

• Marijuana Legalization Proceeds in Montana amid COVID-19
• Election 2020: Montana cannabis legalization guide

Nebraska

• Medical cannabis activists turned in 196,000+ raw signatures for ballot measure 
• Election 2020: Nebraska medical marijuana legalization guide

Nevada

• Nevada Dispensaries Accused Of Selling Tainted Cannabis
• Marijuana litigants allege collusion, ask judge to derail proposed settlement
• Proposed settlement reached in marijuana license litigation against state

New Mexico

• New Mexico medical marijuana industry booming during pandemic

North Carolina

• Commentary: NC NORML seeking input on state’s task force

Oklahoma

• Kanna closes $500,000 funding round as it connects cannabis workers, companies

Oregon

• Oregon Drug Decrim Measure Will Reduce Racial Disparities, Save Money for State
• OR’s easy cannabis licensing rules allow for some social equity, but more funding needed

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania regulators remove registration renewal requirement for medical cannabis patients
• FSD Pharma’s medical marijuana dreams go up in smoke

Puerto Rico

• Medical Marijuana Law Relieves, Frustrates Patients in Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island governor to renew push for adult-use cannabis legalization

Texas

• Texas to end retail outlet sales of legal smokable cannabis
• House Speaker Says Legalizing MJ ‘Could Be A Help’ To Budget Woes, But He’d Vote Against It
• Austin cannabis company grows with 5 new dispensary licenses

Virginia

• Dharma Pharmaceuticals plans to move from Bristol Mall to Washington County

Washington

• Court dismisses rapper Master P’s lawsuit against Seattle marijuana investment firm Privateer

West Virginia 

• Medical cannabis businesses considering multiple Eastern Panhandle locations

Wyoming

• Many banking on hemp as Wyoming’s next cash cow

International  

Argentina

• Argentina announces plans to broaden medical cannabis schemes

Australia

• More Hope From Australian Cannabis Cancer Treatment Research
• Advocacy group launches Australian Medicinal Cannabis Course Online 
• Young Australians would use cannabis if it were legal to do so

Brazil

• ‘Hemp can work wonders for the agriculture of Latin America’

Canada

• Legalisation of cannabis in Canada deemed a success
• Cannabis Canada: Canadians believe best pot grown in BC, survey finds
• Nanaimo’s first government cannabis store set to open

Caribbean

• Andre de Caires resigns from Cannabis Movement of St Lucia
• Saint Lucia Joins the Race to Legalize Cannabis

Europe

• France Extends Police Powers in Crackdown on Drugs Trade
• France to fight cannabis use with €200 on-the-spot fines
• European-grown cannabis flower variety now available to German pharmacies
• How COVID-19 created a weed windfall for dark web dealers across Europe
• Canzon signs cannabis CBD Portuguese distribution deal
• Half a Ton of Low-THC Flowers Shipped to Switzerland

Israel

• Thrive Cannabis Agrees To Supply Israel Company With Dried Flower
• Israel cannabiz leader Seach plans to expand into Europe

Jamaica

• Bob Marley’s Daughter: ‘If [My Dad] Was Still Here, He’d Be on the Forefronts Protesting’
• Jamaica Observer: Dominica jumps on the ganja boat

New Zealand

• NZ cannabis campaign on a knife edge
• Shortage of skilled workers predicted if New Zealand legalizes recreational cannabis
• New Zealand short film Grass Roots explores economic, medical benefits of recreational cannabis
• Medicinal cannabis company wants referendum delayed

Nepal

• Legal for a Day – The Mahashivaratri Festival and Nepal’s Changing Cannabis Laws

Switzerland

• Switzerland refunds $36M in taxes levied on low-THC cannabis growers, sellers

U.K.

• Young mum first in Scotland to be prescribed cannabis legally after years of chronic pain