Medical Marijuana Update

There's action on Capitol Hill, Tennessee passes a CBD cannabis oil bill, a Hawaii dispensary bill moves, Washington sends a medical marijuana overhaul bill to the governor, and more.

Last Wednesday, the DEA recommended that the government triple the amount of marijuana it grows for research. The DEA recommended that the government produce nearly 900 pounds of marijuana for research this year, more than three times the amount the agency had estimated it would need. The increase is because of "unanticipated medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs of the United States," the agency said in a notice published in the Federal Register.

On Monday, came notice of the 9th Annual Clinical Cannabis Conference Next Month in Florida. The medical marijuana advocacy group Patients Out of Time is hosting this premier event. Click on the link for all the details and registration information.

On Tuesday, a federal bill to allow children access to medical marijuana was filed. Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Tuesday filed the Compassionate Access Act, which would "allow the states to provide appropriate access to patients needing these legitimate, medical treatments under the supervision of their physician," the congressmen said in a statement. The bill is not yet available on the congressional website.

As of Tuesday, a federal medical marijuana bill had picked up new supporters. The CARERS Act, H.R. 1538, which would end federal interference in states with medical marijuana laws, has picked up new sponsors over the recess. The latest are Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Joseph Heck (R-NV). The bill now has 12 cosponsors, evenly divided among Democrats and Republicans. Click the link for more bill information.

As of Tuesday, a federal CBD cannabis oil bill had picked up new sponsors. The Charlotte's Web Medical Access Act, H.R. 1635, which would remove cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD-rich marijuana plants from the Controlled Substances Act, has picked up new cosponsors. The latest are Reps. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Mick Mulvaney (R-SC). The bill now has 20 cosponsors, evenly divided among Democrats and Republicans. Click on the link for more bill information.

9^th Annual Clinical Cannabis Conference Next Month in Florida. The medical marijuana advocacy group Patients Out of Time is hosting this premier event. Click on the link for all the details and registration information.

California

Last Thursday, the Los Angeles city attorney said 500 unpermitted dispensaries had been shut down. City Attorney Mike Feuer said Thursday that his office has closed down 500 unpermitted dispensaries since the city voted two years ago to cap their number at about 130. But he conceded that hundreds more still operate.

Colorado

Last Thursday, a bill to allow parolees and probationers use medical marijuana advanced. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would allow people on probation or parole use medical marijuana. The change wouldn't apply, however, to people whose crimes were related to marijuana. The measure is House Bill 1267.

Florida

On Monday, a CBD cannabis oil regulation bill won a committee vote. The bill, Senate Bill 7066, would expand the number of businesses that could participate from five to 20. It was approved by the Senate Rules Committee, but without addressing complaints from black farmers that they had been shut out of the process. It now goes to the Senate floor.

Hawaii

On Tuesday, the Senate approved a dispensary bill. The bill that would establish a system of medical dispensaries for the state's 13,000 medical marijuana patients. The measure is House Bill 321. The bill now has to go back to the House for reconciliation.

Iowa

On Wednesday, the Senate approved a medical marijuana expansion bill. The Senate voted to approve Senate File 484, which allow the production and distribution of medical marijuana. The bill would allow for up to a dozen independent dispensaries. It now goes to the House.

Tennessee

Last week, a medical marijuana bill died in the legislature. Both the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the House Health Committee voted to kill pending medical marijuana bills. Both committees, however, agreed to create summer study committees to look at the legislation.

On Monday, the legislature approved a CBD cannabis oil bill. Both the House and the Senate unanimously approved a bill to allow the use of CBD cannabis oil for the treatment of seizures in children. House Bill 197 now awaits the signatures of Gov. Bill Haslam (R).

Washington

On Tuesday, the legislature approved an overhaul of the medical marijuana system. A bill that seeks to end unregulated medical marijuana dispensary sales and fold medical marijuana into the recreational marijuana system is now headed for the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee (D). Senate Bill 5052 would create a database of patients (voluntary, but patients won't get tax-free medicine unless they sign up), allow patients to possess three times more marijuana than recreational users, and eliminate the current collective garden structure, replacing it with cooperatives limited to four patients.

[For extensive information about the medical marijuana debate, presented in a neutral format, visit MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org.]