EPA refuses to regulate cannabis pesticides, Sessions' letter to Oregon gov cites illegal grows, "The Pastor of Pot," Christie weighs in on Booker's legalization bill & more

August 7: EPA refuses to regulate cannabis pesticides, Sessions' letter to Oregon gov cites illegal grows, "The Pastor of Pot," Christie weighs in on Booker's legalization bill & more Cannabist]( [thecannabist.co]( | [@cannabist]( | [fb/cannabist]( If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to sign up yourself, just go here: [(. To view this on the web or share a link, [click here.]( [EPA won't regulate pesticides on cannabis crops, leaving consumers at risk]( Many states are just beginning to check for unapproved pesticides in cannabis products, while some have no testing program at all. California, where voters OK'd medical marijuana 20 years ago, won’t begin testing for impurities until recreational sales begin Jan. 1. Because the federal government still classifies marijuana as an illegal drug, that’s prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from evaluating the safe use of cannabis pesticides, as it does for all other crop chemicals. An [attempt by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. to register some pesticides]( for pot was rebuffed in June by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. [Jeff Sessions’ letter to Oregon gov cites ‘pervasive illicit cannabis cultivation’]( Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ marijuana-related missive to Oregon’s top official zeroed in on state police findings that cannabis legalization did little to cull black market activity, and took a similar tack to letters [recently sent to other governors](. The Cannabist on Monday obtained a copy of Sessions’ letter addressed to Gov. Kate Brown, outlining his concerns about the effectiveness of Oregon’s marijuana regulatory system. [Does Sen. Booker's marijuana legalization bill have a chance?]( An effort to legalize marijuana at the federal level inched ahead as New Jersey Democratic Sen. [Cory Booker unveiled new legislation]( to end the prohibition. Booker's bill comes as the President Donald Trump's administration has signaled its hostility toward marijuana even as eight states and the District of Columbia have greenlighted the use of marijuana. In New Jersey, a leading candidate for governor says he backs legalization even though term-limited Republican [Gov. Chris Christie is adamantly opposed]( to the idea. Quote of the Day “We should both say, ‘We will work it out...’ As opposed to you saying, ‘We will not pay,’ and me saying, ‘We will not pay.’” [—U.S. President Donald Trump,]( from a newly-released phone call to Mexico in January, pressuring Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to stop saying Mexico won’t pay for a border wall Numerology 22 That's the [number of standalone federal legislative measures]( that The Cannabist is tracking in its guide to federal marijuana and hemp bills. Regional News [Colorado cannabis investment fund members owe $4M in suits in other states]( The Colorado High Yield Fund, based in Longmont, advertised itself on its website as "a capital fund that invests in financing instruments with financial entities in the medical and recreational marijuana industry as well as the related industrial hemp commodity market." The website stated the fund would "seek to accrue and payout no less than a net 15 percent dividend" to investors, seeking to raise $50 million. The site was deactivated recently after inquiries by The Denver Post. [Meet Pennsylvania's unlikely 'Pastor for Pot']( Pastor Shawn Berkebile became an advocate for legalizing medical marijuana when he saw a family suffering in his congregation. Struggling with severe epilepsy, 9-year-old Annie's quality of life was terrible. Her parents were desperate, and said they were going to try medical cannabis for Annie. Berkebile listened. He didn’t judge, and he wanted to know more. [Ohio MMJ program faces potential glitch: No one willing to perform required tests]( Testing lab applications for Ohio’s medical marijuana program are due next month, yet to this point no Ohio college or university has said they’re willing to participate. Ohio’s medical marijuana law requires a state college or university to test cannabis products for “potency, homogeneity and contamination” before they’re sold to patients who have received physician recommendations to use the drug. More Regional Headlines + [Want to influence Massachusetts weed industry decisions? Regs board now forming]( + [Legalizing recreational marijuana could increase traffic crashes, insurance-backed group warns]( + [Norman Rockwell Museum being considered for weed dispensary]( + [Colorado medical marijuana dispensary owner sues county over denial of license renewal]( #AllThingsWeed [Why generating marijuana seeds at home from a clone is a complex endeavor]( A reader writes: I want to produce marijuana seeds. Could it be possible to induce a male from a cloned female? How do you get the male? Our own Jorge Cervantes, cannabis cultivation connoisseur, responds with all the dirt. ['Cards Against Humanity' is also 'Cards Against Weed Prohibition']( Your favorite raunchy party game is now the newest combatant in the fight to repeal cannabis prohibition in America. The makers of 'Cards Against Humanity' recently announced that they would be joining the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois. More Weed Reads + [Forbes: Nearly half of people who use cannabidiol products stop taking traditional medicines]( + [Business Insider: This 59-year-old mother of two is making millions selling legal marijuana gummies]( --------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up at The Denver Post. Please add "members@mail.denverpost.com" and "members@direct.denverpost.com" to your trusted senders list. 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