Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

New York releases new CBD regulations, and Governor Cuomo supports legal cannabis.  The Montana Supreme Court denied a ballot initiative challenge, and some in the medical marijuana industry oppose the measure.   Oregon Senators voice their opposition to the DEA’s hemp rule.  Five states have marijuana on the ballot this year.  In South Dakota, medical cannabis has support; adult-use less so, and the Governor is against both measures.  And finally, service members stationed in Japan, should not drink the hemp-laced Coke.

new york

New York State released proposed rules for hemp extracts in food, drinks and vapes this week.  These rules run counter to federal law prohibiting the use of hemp in food.  The public comment period runs from November 10, 2020 through January 11, 2021.  In other New York news, Governor Cuomo came out in support of legalizing recreational cannabis yet again, and a new poll shows the majority of New Yorkers agree.

montana

We reported last week that an anti-legalization group filed suit to block the state’s marijuana ballot initiative.  The state’s Supreme Court dismissed the suit, so the vote will go forward. Not everyone in the medical marijuana industry supports the measure.  Polling shows the vote could go either way – we’ll know next week!

dea hemp rule

Two weeks ago, we reported that the hemp industry was unhappy with the DEA’s new hemp rule.  Oregon’s two Senators joined in the condemnation this week.  In a letter to the agency, they state that continued DEA oversight of the industry runs counter to their intent in drafting the Hemp Farming Act of 2018.

state ballot roundup

So next Tuesday is Election Day!  We at The Blunt Truth urge you to vote and stay safe doing so.  Five states have marijuana measures on the ballot, and several of our news sources look at the legalization landscape. See write-ups from Marijuana Business Daily, Rolling Stone, Forbes, and Roll Call.

south dakota

One of the states with cannabis on the ballot is South Dakota.  Polling shows that voters strongly support medical marijuana legalization, but are more evenly split over recreational use.  Governor Noem, long an opponent of all forms of cannabis, opposes both measures.

and finally

If you’re a service member stationed in Japan, do not relax with Coca-Cola’s Chill Out beverage.  It contains a hemp extract, which the Department of Defense prohibits military personnel from consuming.

Stay safe and be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!

Marijuana Today Daily Headlines
Friday, October 16, 2020 | Curated by host Shea Gunther

// New Jersey Legal Marijuana Advocates Release New Ads As Campaign Data Shows Opponents Vastly Outspent (Marijuana Moment)

// Montana legalization measures show 10-point lead in latest poll (Leafly)

// Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to marijuana’s Schedule I status (Leafly)

These headlines are brought to you by Green Worx Consults, a company specializing in project management, workflow mapping and design, and Lean & 6 Sigma process. If you could use help making your business better at business, get in touch with Green Worx Consults.

// Illinois Hits New Marijuana Milestone With $100 Million In Tax Revenue Collected Since Sales Began (Marijuana Moment)

// MedMen Q4 Revenue Plunges 40% to $27.4 Million as Losses Mount (New Cannabis Ventures)

// Aphria Reports First Quarter Earnings, Shows Record Gross Revenue from Adult-Use Cannabis (Green Market Report)

// Valens Q3 Revenue Increases 2% Sequentially to $18.1 Million (New Cannabis Ventures)

// Trade Roots Cannabis Company Secures $4.9 Million in Series A Funding (Cision PR Newswire)

// Aurora Cannabis exits Australia’s Cann Group after $28M impairment charge (Marijuana Business Daily)

// New Zealand To Vote On Cannabis Legalization Saturday (High Times)

Check out our other projects: • Marijuana Today— Our flagship title, a weekly podcast examining the world of marijuana business and activism with some of the smartest people in the industry and movement. • Marijuana Media Connect— A service that connects industry insiders in the legal marijuana industry with journalists, bloggers, and writers in need of expert sources for their stories.

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Photo: NJ Can 2020/YouTube

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

Ballot initiatives make news in several states.  The Food and Drug Administration released guidance on marijuana research.  Two state officials publicly support legal marijuana.  We’ve got yet another report on the National Defense Authorization Act.  And there’s a new ad campaign for hemp with a familiar face.

ballot initiatives

We’ll start in Arizona, where officials began verifying signatures this week.  Polls show legalization is much more popular now than it was in 2016, when a legalization initiative was defeated.  Not everyone supports legalization, however.  Arizonans for Health and Public Safety has filed suit against the initiative.

Meanwhile, in Idaho, the Secretary of State rejected activists’ request to collect electronic signatures.  The campaign threatened a lawsuit – further bulletins as events warrant.

Next door, in Montana, legalization proponents beat the odds (and the pandemic) to gather enough signatures to put two initiatives on the ballot.  One legalizes adult use and one sets up a system to regulate and tax cannabis.

Mississippi also offers two ballot initiatives to voters, but these are competing, not complementary.  Initiative 65A is more restrictive than Initiative 65.

marijuana research

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published draft guidance on marijuana research this week.  The guidance does not establish any regulations, but does ask for public comment.  It also fails to mention the CBD market.

In other cannabis research news, PA Options for Wellness and Penn State medical school announced that they will research medical marijuana over the next ten years.  They will operate under Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis research program.

state officials back legalization

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy voiced his support for legal cannabis in the state in a recent radio interview.  He believes that legalization would boost the state’s economy, currently flagging due to the pandemic.  Activists in the state also support legalization, but their concern is more focused on issues of social justice and ending the War on Drugs.

Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman spoke out this week on Twitter in favor of legalization.  Citing jobs and revenue, Fetterman stated that prohibition is a minority view in the state.

cbd in the military

An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act allows members of the military to use hemp and CBD products.  Sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the provision overturns the Defense Department’s previous ban on all hemp or CBD use. This comes on the heels of another provision that allows veterans to return to service if they used marijuana while separated.

and finally

You knew it was only a matter of time.  Jane Fonda is selling hemp.  The actress and activist promotes Uncle Bud’s Hemp and CBD products.  The campaign, called “I’m FONDA Hemp and CBD,” will appear on a billboard in Times Square later this year.

Stay safe and be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!