Tag Archives: Congress

DEA’s Internal Review Process Results in Removal of Misinformation About Cannabis From Website

DEA’s Internal Review Process Results in Removal of Misinformation About Cannabis From Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 8, 2018 /Weed Wire/ – In a letter dated January 26th, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to medical cannabis for therapeutic use and research, learned that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) denied their Information Quality Act (IQA) petition requesting the correction of misinformation disseminated on the DEA website on the health effects of medical cannabis, originally filed more than a year ago.

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Vermont Governor Phil Scott Signs Marijuana Legalization Bill Into Law

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed legislation today allowing adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, and to cultivate up to two mature and four immature cannabis plants. Vermont joins eight other U.S. states – Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State – as well as Washington, D.C., that have ended the prohibition of marijuana.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Members of Congress Call on DEA to Support Industrial Hemp Industry

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and a bipartisan coalition of 28 Members of Congress called on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to honor Congressional legislation supporting the industrial hemp industry.

AG Coffman Urges Congress to Update Banking Laws Regarding Legally Operating Marijuana Businesses

DENVER, Jan. 16, 2018 /Weed Wire/ – Today, Attorney General Cynthia H. Coffman joined a bipartisan group of Attorneys General in sending a letter to Congress urging them to take the necessary legislative actions to allow legal marijuana businesses access to banking services.

U.S. Justice Department Blindsided Banking Agency on Pot Policy Flip

U.S. Justice Department Blindsided Banking Agency on Pot Policy Flip

When the U.S. Justice Department said last week it was reversing policy on the $7 billion marijuana business, it failed to first notify federal officials who advise banks in states where the drug is legal, sources in Congress said.

Nevada Lawmakers Urge Congress to Change Federal Marijuana Laws

Nevada Lawmakers Urge Congress to Change Federal Marijuana Laws

Nevada lawmakers said Tuesday that Congress must address federal marijuana laws following a decision by the Trump administration to lower the barrier on federal prosecutions in states that have decriminalized use for medical and recreational purposes.

Attorney General Rescinds Department of Justice Policy Regarding Federal Marijuana Enforcement

Attorney General Rescinds Department of Justice Policy Regarding Federal Marijuana Enforcement

WASHINGTON, Jan. 04, 2018 /Weed Wire/ —Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded the Department of Justice policy that directed federal law enforcement not to target individuals or businesses that are in compliance with state law.

Congress Extends Critical Medical Marijuana Protections Through January 19

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Congress voted to extend protections for state medical marijuana programs through January 19. The provision, known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, was continued in legislation to fund the government for a month.

Cannabis Cultivation Insights

2 Million Patients Impacted by Failure to Renew Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment?

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – New Frontier Data, the leading provider of data, analytics and business intelligence for the cannabis industry, has been tracking the key indicators and disruptors to the cannabis market and monitoring how the market will be affected if Congress fails to re-up Rohrabacher-Blumenauer.

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Government Shutdown Could Allow Marijuana Crackdown

Funding for the federal government is set to run out on Friday, unless Congress enacts a bill extending current spending levels. Also set to expire is a current rider that prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical cannabis laws.

Members of Congress Urge Extended Protection of State Medical Cannabis Laws

Members of Congress Urge Extended Protection of State Medical Cannabis Laws

On Nov. 28, 2017, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers sent a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to extend protection of state medical cannabis laws in the 2018 appropriations bill.

Norton Elated That Republican Senate D.C. Appropriations Bill Contains No Anti-Home-Rule Riders for Third Year in a Row

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the Republican Senate fiscal year 2018 District of Columbia appropriations bill does not contain any anti-home-rule riders.

GOP Congressman Wants Trump to Help Legalize Medical Marijuana

GOP Congressman Wants Trump to Help Legalize Medical Marijuana

Rep. Matt Gaetz has been in Congress for less than a year, but the Florida Congressman has already become one of the House’s foremost leaders working to reform federal marijuana policies. Just one problem: GOP leadership doesn’t seem especially interested in giving the issue a fair shake.

Governor Wolf and Department of Justice and Grower

Governor Wolf Urges Congress to Prohibit Department of Justice from Disrupting Medical Marijuana Programs

HARRISBURG, Penn., Sept. 6, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — In a letter to Congress, Governor Tom Wolf today again expressed his concern over any interference by the federal government in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program implementation.

New Hampshire House

House Rules Committee Denies Vote on Popular Medical Marijuana Budget Amendment

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – An amendment that would keep the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical marijuana programs was voted “out of order” by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, preventing the House from including it in its version of the FY 2018 federal budget.

Federal Marijuana Impairment Report Finds DUI Tests Ineffective for THC

Federal Marijuana Impairment Report Finds DUI Tests Ineffective for THC

A federal marijuana impairment report has cast a shadow of doubt over the THC testing methods and regulations used by law enforcement officers in America, citing the inability to detect THC impairment from biological test samples and the worthlessness of establishing a “per se” limit to designate THC impairment.

Huff, Puff, Pass? AG’s Pot Fury Not Echoed by Task Force

Huff, Puff, Pass? AG’s Pot Fury Not Echoed by Task Force

The betting was that law-and-order Attorney General Jeff Sessions would come out against the legalized marijuana industry with guns blazing. But the task force Sessions assembled to find the best legal strategy is giving him no ammunition.

DelBene Introduces Bill to Protect State Enforcement of Marijuana Laws

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) reintroduced the State Marijuana And Regulatory Tolerance (SMART) Enforcement Act (H.R. 3534) to protect medical patients, recreational users and businesses in states that have legalized and regulated marijuana from being prosecuted now or in the future.

GOP Leadership Blocks Amendment Allowing Veterans Medical Marijuana Access

GOP Leadership Blocks Amendment Allowing Veterans Medical Marijuana Access

On July 25, 2017, the House Rules Committee blocked the Veterans Equal Access amendment, an amendment allowing veterans medical marijuana access in legal states, from proceeding to the House floor for consideration.

US Senators to Attorney General Sessions: Reassure Hemp Industry You Will Uphold the Law

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – Recently, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to address their constituents’ concerns regarding the hemp industry’s access to financial services by confirming the Department of Justice will respect Congress’ recent actions on industrial hemp pilot programs.

OCA

Greenspoon Marder Supports the Oregon Cannabis Association National Lobby Days in Washington, D.C.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 20, 2017/Weed Wire/ — Greenspoon Marder is proud to support the Oregon Cannabis Association (OCA) 3rd Annual National Lobby Days in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 21 and Thursday, June 22.

Wyden : Sessions’ Attacks on Medical Marijuana Again Show He only Values States’ Rights When He Thinks States Are Right

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after news reports that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested that Congressional leaders reverse protections provided to legal marijuana states.

Jeff Sessions Wants Congress to Let Him Prosecute Medical Marijuana Cases

Jeff Sessions Wants Congress to Let Him Prosecute Medical Marijuana Cases

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions personally pleaded with Congress to oppose a provision in the federal spending bill that protects medical marijuana providers operating in accordance with state laws from federal enforcement actions so that the Department of Justice can prosecute medical marijuana cases.

Increasing Number of Financial Institutions Banking Marijuana Money

Increasing Number of Financial Institutions Banking Marijuana Money

It seems the advent of the Trump Administration has yet to dissuade banks from serving state-legal marijuana businesses. According to a marijuana banking update issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a growing number of financial institutions are banking marijuana money in the United States.

Veterans Affairs 'Interested in Looking at' Medical Marijuana for Veterans

Veterans Affairs ‘Interested in Looking at’ Medical Marijuana for Veterans

During a press briefing on May 31, 2017, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin fielded a reporter’s question regarding medical marijuana for veterans.

DeGette, Coffman Introduce Bill to Respect States’ Rights on Marijuana

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Mike Coffman (CO-06) today introduced a bill to ensure that the federal government does not pre-empt state laws on marijuana.

Federal Funding Bill Extends Protection for State-Legal Medical Marijuana

Federal Funding Bill Extends Protection for State-Legal Medical Marijuana

With top members of Congress agreeing to a funding bill on April 30, 2017, the federal government should be able to avoid a shutdown and state-legal medical marijuana programs should have extended protection from federal enforcement actions.

Blumenauer Statement on Critical Marijuana Policy Provisions Extended in FY17 Omnibus Bill

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, welcomed the extension of critical marijuana policy provisions through September 30 in the fiscal year 2017 omnibus funding legislation. The legislation is expected to be passed by Congress later this week.

MJIN_Flag-Alaska-Card bipartisan letter

Young Co-Authors Letter Urging “Respect for Medical Marijuana Laws” Language in Upcoming Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Alaska Congressman Don Young recently co-authored a bipartisan letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, requesting the inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill that would bar the Department of Justice from using resources to prosecute individuals who are acting in compliance with their state’s medical marijuana laws.

CBA Five years SAM Cannabis Business Alliance CBA

Cannabis Business Alliance statement: Path to Marijuana Reform Introduced to Congress

DENVER, March 30, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA) has released a statement regarding the recent decision by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives to introduce a package of marijuana reform bills intended to lay the framework for federal regulation of cannabis while protecting and existing states-based programs.

Senator Wants California Legislature to Urge Trump to Reschedule Marijuana

Senator Wants California Legislature to Urge Trump to Reschedule Marijuana

On March 21, 2017, California Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, presented a resolution to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety that would have the California State Legislature urge the United States Congress to pass legislation to reschedule marijuana and have President Donald Trump sign it.

New Federalism Fund

Business Leaders Form New Group to Support State-Based Cannabis Trade

DENVER, March 23, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — A coalition of companies related to the legal cannabis industry have announced the formation of the New Federalism Fund (NFF), an effort dedicated to working with Congress and the administration to protect current state-based regulatory systems for the legal cannabis industry.

Gabbard Urges Congress to Pass Federal Decriminalization Bill

Tulsi Gabbard Urges Congress to Pass Federal Decriminalization Bill

When the House of Representatives convened for its Morning Hour on March 21, 2017, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, took to the floor to urge House members to support H.R. 1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act.

VIDEO: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Calls for Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Continuing her commitment to common sense criminal justice reform, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) spoke on the House floor today urging Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to federally decriminalize marijuana.

Americans for Safe Access Opioid Veterans Senate Committee

Memo to Congress: DEA Dumped the “Gateway-Theory” Due To Science

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Today, Americans for Safe Access, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to medical cannabis for therapeutic use and research, sent a memo to Congress informing members that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has removed false information about cannabis from its website after months of public pressure.

Consumption Ban

Nation’s Leading Cannabis and Drug Policy Reform Advocates Commend Congressional Members on Formation of Congressional Cannabis Caucus

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The nation’s leading cannabis and drug policy reform organizations commended Congressional members Thursday on the formation of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

Rohrabacher, Blumenauer, Young, Polis to Hold Press Conference to Launch New Cannabis Caucus, Discuss the Future of Cannabis Policy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (CA-48), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Don Young (AK-At Large), and Jared Polis (CO-02) on Thursday, February 16, will hold a press conference to discuss the role of the newly formed Cannabis Caucus and the future of cannabis policy.

Republican Congressman Introduces Bill That Would Resolve the Conflict Between State and Federal Marijuana Laws, Allow States to Determine Their Own Policies

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of California introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday that would resolve the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws and allow states to determine their own marijuana policies.

Mexican Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Bill

Mexican Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Bill

On Dec. 13, 2016, the Mexican Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the country. Approved by a margin of 98-7, the bill is part of a larger proposal submitted by President Enrique Peña Nieto to Congress.

Americans for Safe Access Opioid Veterans Senate Committee

Medical Marijuana Policy Roadmap Released by Americans for Safe Access

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — Today, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) released a briefing book —“Medical Cannabis in America”— calling on Congress and the Obama Administration to end the conflict between federal and state governments on medical cannabis programs.

Congress Kills Veterans Equal Access Amendment

Congress Kills Veterans Equal Access Amendment

On Sept. 28, 2016, the United States Congress passed a stop-gap funding bill to keep the federal government operating through December; however, conspicuously absent from the bill was the Veterans Equal Access Amendment, a measure that would allow doctors with Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana to veterans.

Fed's Williams Sees 'Unsustainable Tension' on Pot-related Banking

Fed’s Williams Sees ‘Unsustainable Tension’ on Pot-related Banking

As more and more states legalize the use of marijuana, which is banned under U.S. federal laws, banks are facing “unsustainable tension” that needs to be resolved by Congress, San Francisco Fed President John Williams said on Tuesday.


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