Chronicle AM: DEA Says CO Not New Crackdown, Tunisia Easing Cannabis Penalties, More… (3/17/17)

Yesterday's DEA raids in Colorado do not signal a new crackdown, the agency says; Georgia CBD cannabis oil legislation looks set to advance, Rand Paul reintroduces a federal asset forfeiture reform bill, and more.

[image:1 align:right]Marijuana Policy

DEA Raids Targeting Illicit Colorado Pot Distribution Ring Hit 20 Locations. The DEA and state and local law enforcement agencies raided at least 20 sites Thursday in a crackdown aimed at what it called a “large-scale illegal marijuana grow and distribution operation.” DEA said the operation was selling exclusively outside of Colorado, which would have put it under DEA scrutiny even under the Obama administration's policy or largely letting states do their own thing. The DEA said Thursday's raids were not part of a new crackdown.

Medical Marijuana

Georgia Lawmakers Reach Compromise on CBD Cannabis Oil Bill. Lawmakers appear to have reached an agreement that would add six illnesses and conditions to the state's list of qualifying medical conditions, allow the use of CBD cannabis oil in hospice care, and keep the allowable level of THC in cannabis oil at 5% or less. That means Senate Bill 16 should now be able to pass out of the House Human Services Committee and head for a House floor vote.

New Yorkers Suffering Chronic Pain Will Be Able to Use Medical Marijuana Starting Next Week. After announcing in December that it planned to add chronic paid to its list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, the Health Department said Thursday patients could start getting recommendations for chronic pain beginning next Wednesday. The department also announced that physicians' assistants can now recommend medical marijuana. “Improving patient access to medical marijuana continues to be one of our top priorities, as it has been since the launch of the program,” Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a statement. “These key enhancements further that goal.”

Hemp

Arizona Hemp Bill Advances. The House Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee approved Senate Bill 1337 Thursday. The measure would authorize industrial hemp production and explicitly does not require federal approval. The bill has already passed the Senate, but it still faces votes in the House Rules and House Appropriations committees before heading for a House floor vote.

Asset Forfeiture

Rand Paul Files Federal Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill (Again). US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has reintroduced Senate Bill 642, the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act. The bill would target and limit federal civil asset forfeiture. Paul introduced the same bill last year. A companion measure, House Resolution 1555, has been filed in the House by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).

International

Tunisia to Ease Marijuana Penalties Beginning Monday. For years, anyone caught with any amount of cannabis faced a mandatory minimum jail term, but the National Security Council said Wednesday that beginning next week, first offenders caught with cannabis will be pardoned as soon as judgement is pronounced. The council action comes as legislation that would have pardoned the first two possession offenses remains tied up in parliament.