Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what's happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
We've got an update on the Arizona ballot measure. Federal appropriation legislation includes some cannabis provisions. In international news, Bermuda is looking at legalization. And we close out with Oklahoma, where the state is enforcing testing rules, and slushies are not a thing.
arizona
Smart and Safe Arizona submitted over 400,000 signatures to place a recreational marijuana measure on the November ballot. If approved, it would allow use by adults 21 and over. Although a similar initiative lost at the ballot box in 2016, proponents believe support for legalization is stronger now.
appropriations
Cannabis provisions have made their way into several new funding bills. The National Defense Authorization Act, which we mentioned last week, includes a provision allowing veterans to return to military service even if they've used marijuana while separated. Other measures would allow cannabis banking, marijuana sales in D.C., and cannabis research by universities. Keep in mind, none of these provisions are final – when it comes to appropriations, there's many a slip between the cup and the lip.
bermuda
Turning our attention abroad, Bermuda is considering legalization of cannabis for adult-use. Legislators introduced a previous plan last December, but the pandemic's economic toll (and need for additional cash) makes it more likely this will pass.
oklahoma
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) has always required that cannabis be tested, but as of this month, samples must go to an OMMA-licensed lab. The deadline for enforcement had been delayed due to a lack of testing facilities, but now 21 of them are operational, allowing the state to implement the regulation.
and finally
It's been a busy time for OMMA. In addition to the testing regulations, they've also release what they're calling a “slushy-machine guidance memo.” There's a phrase I never expected to type! You would think a product that provides medical marijuana in a way designed to beat the Oklahoma heat would be a no-brainer for approval, but no such luck.
Stay safe and be well everyone – we'll see you next week!
Originally published by Seyfarth Shaw, July 2020
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