Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what's happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Although the Department of Justice has made its position on legalized marijuana clear, other government entities are not following Attorney General Sessions' lead. In Congress, a House bill (a companion to Senator Cory Booker's bill) was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee.
- Barbara Lee introduces companion House bill to
Marijuana Justice Act
(The Cannabist: The Cannabist, 17 January 2018)
The House version of the Marijuana Justice Act marks the first time that companion legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.
- House Introduces Marijuana Legalization Bill,
Focused on Racial Justice, As Companion to Cory Booker's Senate
Bill
(Drug Policy Alliance: News, 18 January 2018)
Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) introduced legislation that ends federal marijuana prohibition and which contains a range of provisions to repair communities most devastated by the war on drugs.
And the states are pushing ahead with their legalization plans, Cole Memorandum or no Cole Memorandum.
- Recreational marijuana legalization bill
introduced in Kentucky by GOP senator
(The Cannabist: The Cannabist, 17 January 2018)
Sen. Dan Seum said Wednesday that Kentucky should join the legalization trend flourishing elsewhere.
- Wisconsin gov candidate says he would pardon
marijuana offenders
(The Cannabist: The Cannabist, 17 January 2018)
Democratic candidate for governor Matt Flynn says if elected he would pardon everyone who has low-level marijuana convictions.
- Home cannabis deliveries in Nevada closer to
reality
(The Cannabist: The Cannabist, 17 January 2018)
Nevada regulators have tentatively given cannabis retailers a green light to begin home deliveries for the first time since recreational sales became legal.
Meanwhile, what does rescinding the Cole Memorandum mean for banking guidance issued by FinCEN and marijuana banking generally?
- Treasury Official Says FinCEN Reviewing Marijuana
Guidance (Subscription)
(Law360: Retail & E-Commerce, 18 January 2018)
A top official at the U.S. Department of the Treasury said Wednesday its financial intelligence unit is reviewing guidance that allowed banks to serve marijuana businesses.
- Congressmen: Rescinding marijuana banking guidance
would be 'dangerous and imprudent'
(The Cannabist: The Cannabist, 17 January 2018)
A letter from Reps. Perlmutter and Heck in support of Obama-era marijuana banking guidance has been signed by 29 additional members of Congress.
- 19 attorneys general urge Congress to give
cannabis states access to banking
(Marijuana Business Daily: News, 16 January 2018)
A letter to 10 major Congressional leaders from 19 attorneys general asks Congress to push through legislation that would allow states with medical or recreational marijuana laws to bank as other business do.
Are the feds and the states on a collision course? As always, stay tuned!
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