[author: Susan Ryan]

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

Medical marijuana will be on the ballot in Nebraska. We’ve got lots of news from California. Florida has legalized medical marijuana edibles. On the federal level, the MORE act will get a vote in the House. There’s now CBD for elephants. And speaking of CBD, Seyfarth has a program coming up on that topic.

NEBRASKA

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen approved a medical marijuana initiative to appear on the November ballot late last week. Evnen said the measure met all legal requirements, but he expected a legal challenge from cannabis opponents. In fact, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner filed a petition with the Nebraska Supreme Court the next day. And he’s not the only unhappy Nebraskan. Governor Pete Ricketts recently declared that there is no such thing as medical marijuana. Further bulletins as events warrant.

CALIFORNIA

It’s been a busy week for the Golden State. The legislature approved two marijuana measures. Assembly Bill 1827 freezes tax rate increases until July 2021. Assembly Bill 1525 allows cannabis banking under California state law. A bill which would have set new rules for the hemp industry, was not passed. Since it faced opposition from hemp farmers and others in the cannabis industry, that may be for the best.

In other news, a federal court ruled that the state must turn over information concerning three marijuana businesses to the DEA. California argued that the agency did not adequately explain the need for the information. The DEA said it was necessary for an investigation into the illegal import and transport of marijuana oil from Mexico. Ultimately, the judge sided with the agency.

FLORIDA

The big news in Florida is the approval of medical marijuana edibles. No sooner did the state’s Department of Health publish new rules, than Trulieve started making them available in their dispensaries.

THE MORE ACT

There’s also news on the federal level. Rep. Jerry Nadler’s (D-NY) MORE Act will come up for a vote this month. The bill would decriminalize cannabis and expunge the criminal records of nonviolent marijuana offenders. The legislation is both historic, and likely doomed to failure in the Senate.

ELEPHANTS AND CBD

The Warsaw Zoo is offering its three African elephants CBD in hopes of relieving their stress over the death of their alpha female. The CBD will be administered through their trunks. Zookeepers hope to study the effects of the CBD on the elephants and make the findings public.

AND FINALLY

If CBD for humans is more your speed, Seyfarth will be hosting a webinar, “CBD News You Can Use: FDA’s Progress and Other Updates” on October 1, 2020. More information and a link to register will be available shortly.

Stay safe and be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!