ChronoCannabis News: 6/10/2019

2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand revealed a marijuana reform plan with several steps: legalizing the drug nationwide, erasing non-violent convictions, and requiring that federal and private health insurers cover medical cannabis. She also expressed a plan to deschedule marijuana, allow cannabis businesses access to financial services, and create an excise tax on legal sales that would benefit programs that were extensively adversely impacted by prior regulations. The senator emphasized social equity and creating regulations that protected patients, boosted the economy, and normalizing the industry overall. The mandating of health insurance coverage for marijuana is seen as a potential solution to the nation's opioid problem. The plan also focuses on aiding communities harmed by the war on drugs. Aside from expunging non-violent marijuana convictions, Gillibrand suggested using revenue from cannabis sales to fund job training and education programs for disadvantaged communities. Small businesses owned by minorities would be given access to better capital so that they would be able to better participate in the legal industry. Gillibrand mentioned that while state-based efforts have had positive benefits, federal regulatory frameworks would be necessary as a means of addressing the social injustices of previous regulations. Her precise plan for reform has started a sort of trend or challenge among candidates to create the most forward-thinking plan possible.

Voters in Salem, West Virginia, voted to reject a marijuana decriminalization measure during an election on Tuesday. The vote was defeated 114 to 45. The vote sprang up as a consequence of a legal battle caused by officials removing the measure from the ballot in March, citing concerns about conflicting with state law that prohibits marijuana use. Organizers then filed a lawsuit saying that they had collected enough signatures prior to the deadline and that removing the ordinance created a violation of free speech. A federal judge sided with activists and requested the city to put the measure back on the ballot, but requested that organizers pay a $500 cash bond for reprinting fees. If approved, the measure would have made it so that possession of any amount of cannabis would not be met with fines or jail time as long as the possessor was within city limits. The possession would still be considered a misdemeanor, but the ordinance was intended to suspend jail time as a punishment for the crime. Had the measure been approved, its conflict with state law would most likely lead it to be challenged further in higher courts. Local efforts to decriminalize marijuana have succeeded in other states, such as Ohio.

On Wednesday, a Delaware House committee approved a bill to legalize marijuana for adult use within the state. The legislation would allow adults 21 and over to purchase and consume set amounts of cannabis, and also contained social equity provisions pertaining to expungement of prior possession convictions. The House Revenue and Finance Committee put the bill through with an 8 to 3 vote. It will now enter the full chamber for further deliberation. The majority of lawmakers in the state's House voted in favor of a different legalization bill last year, but due to the bill pertaining to taxes and fees, it required votes from 60 percent of the chamber and fell short of that requirement. If this current legislation becomes law, legalization would be rolled out gradually across the state. A state marijuana commissioner would be responsible for licensing and regulation, with only 15 business receiving licenses at first. Additional licenses could be approved three years after the effective date depending on demand. The commissioner would also issue licenses for five testing facilities, 50 cultivation sites and 30 product manufacturers. Applicants would be scored on several criteria, including diversity objectives. Home cultivation would not be allowed under the bill, and pre-existing medical cannabis dispensaries would receive an advantage in licensing.