This week, we cover a broken pledge on cannabis reform by President Trump, a finding of innocence for Attorney General William Barr following cannabis industry investigations, and the proposal from a federal commission encouraging the research of cannabis and psychedelics for medical use by veterans.
Also, we will continue to provide updates relating to the ongoing, nation-wide Black lives Matter protests.
Justice Department Clears Attorney General William Barr Of Misconduct
The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) ruled that AG William Barr was not guilty of misconduct. The accusations against Barr are related to his extensive antitrust investigations into cannabis company mergers.
The allegations came to light earlier this month when whistleblowers accused Barr of impropriety resulting from personal prejudice.
According to whistleblowers, AG Barr launched numerous investigations into cannabis company mergers based on a personal bias against the industry.
The investigations, launched by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department, resulted in the loss of millions by cannabis companies. The companies under investigation were forced to produce millions of documents to prove their tradings were above board.
According to whistleblowers, Barr had no tangible reason to launch these investigations. They claim he did so in an attempt to interfere with the growth of the industry.
The OPR has not responded to the accusation that Barr launched the investigations due to personal animosity toward the industry. However, they do acknowledge that the Antitrust Division was given substantial “latitude” while carrying out the investigations.
While the OPR ended their investigation into Barr’s actions, Barr isn’t in the clear quite yet. The allegations brought forward by whistleblowers are under review by an inspector general from the Justice Department.
Federal Commission Promotes Research Into Cannabis And Psychedelics As Treatment Options For Veterans
After months of consideration, the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) commission has a surprising proposal for our government.
According to the commission, Congress and the executive branch should actively encourage research into the effects of cannabis and psychedelics. Specifically, COVER believes that the government should explore the potential of such substances to provide mental health treatment for veterans.
The committee, headed by Jake Leinenkugel, determined that cannabis and psychedelics show a great deal of medical promise. They believe there should be more options for cannabis and psychedelics for veterans as treatment options.
“Medical cannabis and psychedelic drugs may have uses in treating mental health issues among veterans,” the commission said. “However, these substances are currently classified as Schedule 1 […], which precludes VA from conducting research.”
The commission found that the scheduling status of these substances makes their procurement unnecessarily difficult for researchers.
However, despite its scheduling, the reality is that numerous veterans across the country are turning to cannabis for relief. Because of this, COVER believes that government research into cannabis (and other substances) is more necessary now than ever.
With veterans turning to cannabis for medical relief, it’s paramount that the government better understand the effects of the substance.
While advocates have long pushed for more extensive cannabis research, COVER’s recommendations go further. Their briefing specifically mentions psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA, emphasizing the importance of researching them for their medical benefits.
Trump’s Alleged Promise To Expand Cannabis Reform Causes Confusion And Conflict
An alleged “pledge” by Trump to improve cannabis reform prior to the November election has caused conflict in recent days. According to freelance reporter Matt Laslo, Trump made a pledge to Republican senator of Colorado, Cory Gardner.
According to Laslo, Gardner is under the impression that Trump pledged to support Gardner’s STATES Act. The act would allow states to establish their own cannabis laws, free of federal interference.
In 2018, Trump vocally showed support for the legislation, going so far as to say that he “really” supports it.
However, Laslo claims Gardner was led to believe that Trump’s stance on the legislation went beyond general support. In his mind, Trump made a “pledge” to support the STATES Act prior to his run for re-election in November.
However, Mark Meadows, Chief of Staff for President Trump, made little of such claims.
When Laslo broached the subject with meadows during an interview, Meadows reportedly laughed mockingly at the reporter.
According to Meadows, Cory Gardner has been “misleading voters on marijuana,” stating further that Trump has no plans to “lift a finger” for cannabis reform.
Meadows stated that Trump has no desire to legalize or even “normalize” cannabis.
As of now, the STATES Act remains dormant on the House floor, having been introduced over two months ago.
It remains to be seen whether Trump will intervene on the bill’s behalf. However, the tone of his Chief of Staff would seem to cast significant doubt on this prospect.
BLM Protest Updates
The United States is currently experiencing a surge of activism and protesting erupting from the murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police officers.
Protesters are taking to the streets across the country to demand systemic reform against police violence.
What follows is a collection of updates related to the ongoing BLM protests.
- Trump signed an executive order threatening lengthy prison terms against those who deface government-owned memorials and statues.
- Newly appointed Portland police chief Chuck Lovell referred to the actions of protestors as “evil.” The comments came hours after protestors set fire to a local police precinct which was occupied at the time.
- Research continues to indicate that cities with large protests have not seen spikes in COVID-19 cases. Spikes in cases currently seem to be predominant in states that reopened early.
- A study of numerous American protests showed police are more likely to respond violently to protests led by Black Americans.
- Vice President Pence accuses leaders of BLM of having a “radical left” agenda.
- A new poll shows that a majority of Americans agree with the BLM movement and view police reform as necessary.
- A BLM protest in Kentucky turned deadly when a suspect fired shots into the crowd, leaving 1 dead and 1 wounded.
- Oregon’s legislature passed six new bills following weeks of demands for significant police reform in the state.
