FEDERAL
Title: Marijuana-friendly states ask Congress to make banking legal for the weed industry
Author: Tech Crunch
Date: 16 January 2018
URL: https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/16/marijuana-banking-attorneys-general-letter/
Extract: A bipartisan group of 18 attorneys general from states with recreational and medical marijuana wants to bring the industry’s financial side out of the shadows, and they’re asking Congress for help in a new letter:
The grey market makes it more difficult to track revenues for taxation purposes, contributes to a public safety threat as cash intensive businesses are often targets for criminal activity, and prevents proper tracking of large swaths of finances across the nation.
To address these challenges, we are requesting legislation that would provide a safe harbor for depository institutions that provide a financial product or service to a covered business in a state that has implemented laws and regulations that ensure accountability in the marijuana industry such as the SAFE Banking Act (S. 1152 and H.R. 2215) or similar legislation.
This would bring billions of dollars into the banking sector, and give law enforcement the ability to monitor these transactions.
POLITICS
Title: GOP And Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Agree: Legalize Marijuana
Author: Forbes
Date: 16 January 2018
Extract: On Monday, New York Republican gubernatorial hopeful Joel Giambra unveiled a proposal to legalize marijuana and use the resulting tax revenue to fund subway repairs and other transportation projects.
“I think that legalizing marijuana and using the revenues to create an infrastructure fund to deal with these problems is a much more appropriate way to solve our problems than raising new taxes,” he said.
And in Illinois, Democrat JB Pritzker spoke about the benefits of ending cannabis criminalization and taxing its sales before an assembled group of reporters on Friday.
“Criminalizing marijuana hasn’t made our communities safer. What it’s done is disproportionately impact black and brown communities,” he said. “The criminalization of cannabis never has been and never will be enforced fairly, and it’s time to bring that to an end.”
Title: Republican AG candidate Erika Harold up for ‘exploring’ legalizing marijuana
Author: Chicago Sun Times
Date: 16 January 2018
Extract: Erika Harold opposed legalizing marijuana back in 2014 when she ran for Congress — but on Tuesday, the Republican attorney general candidate said she believes Illinois should start “exploring” legalization.
She noted that there is a push in Illinois to legalize pot, and the state should be ready.
NEW YORK
Title: Gov. Cuomo Proposes Study of Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Author: New York Law Journal
Date: 16 January 2018
Extract: Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants New York to fund a study of the possible impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in the state, the Democratic governor said at his annual budget address in Albany on Tuesday afternoon. He also introduced several other proposals including a possible surtax on pharmaceutical company sales of opioid medications, and a tax on companies that sell over the internet
New York GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Supports Adult-Use Cannabis Program
PENNSYLVANIA
Order could force PA to reveal more about medical marijuana applicants
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