Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
First of all, are you headed to CannaVest West this month? Catch Seyfarth’s Stan Jutkowitz on the July 23rd panel discussing “Cannabis Real Estate: What You Should Know Before Buying, Selling or Leasing Property for Cannabis and Hemp Use.”
The big news this week was the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on cannabis laws and the racial disparity in their enforcement. See a summary here, and the full hearing, along with witness statements, at the Committee’s website.
Meanwhile, on the state level, activists are working to put recreational marijuana initiatives on the 2020 ballot in Arizona, Arkansas and Montana (where there are not one, but two campaigns). Obviously, we’ll be following these activities closely.
In other state news, Hawaii has decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, after legalization attempts there failed earlier in the year. Shades of New York…
And low THC cannabis oil is now legal in Kansas, which otherwise has some of the most restrictive laws in the country.
Turning our attention to the international arena, a college in Israel is now offering a bachelor’s degree in medical marijuana. And in New Zealand, the government has released proposed medical cannabis regulations, looking to start a program in 2020.
The concern over how legalization would effect marijuana use by teenagers appears in many campaigns opposing more widespread availability of cannabis. Now, a new study seems to indicate that use by teens has dropped in those states that have legalized adult use.
Finally, if you’re interested in the intersection of marijuana and religion, have a listen to this podcast. Sister Kate has founded a group called Sisters of the Valley, a group of nuns who grow cannabis in California.
See you next week!