Oregon drags Sessions' data, Congressmen ask DOJ about research obstruction, cannabis terpene beer & more

August 23: Oregon drags Sessions' data, Congressmen ask DOJ about research obstruction, cannabis terpene beer & 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.]( [Oregon gov, police chief say Sessions’ marijuana claims based on flawed, leaked, draft report]( Oregon's governor and the head of the state police responded Tuesday to a letter from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in which he said cannabis legalization in the state had not done enough to curb black market grows. Like leaders from [Washington and Alaska in letters last week](, Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton said that the data Sessions used to draw his conclusions came from a report that was inaccurate. [Congressmen query Sessions over reported cannabis research obstruction]( The letter from Representatives Matt Gaetz, R-Florida; Dana Rohrabacher, R-California; Jared Polis, D-Colorado; and Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon; referenced a [report from Aug. 15]( that, citing unnamed Drug Enforcement Administration officials, stated the Department of Justice has effectively shut down plans put in motion a year ago to [reduce barriers to marijuana research](. As of early August, 22 entities applied for marijuana research manufacturing licenses, but none had been approved, [DEA officials told The Cannabist]( earlier this month. [Medical marijuana states cautiously optimistic Congress will resist Sessions]( Congress will likely renew protections next month for state medical marijuana laws — but pro-pot lawmakers and advocates are still watching nervously in case Attorney General Jeff Sessions launches a last-minute sabotage campaign. For [nearly three years now,]( Congress has added an amendment to must-pass spending legislation, prohibiting the Justice Department from using federal funds to prevent states allowing medical marijuana from carrying out their own laws. A new spending bill is due before the end of September. Quote of the Day “Go after the real sources of America's crisis - the drugmakers, distributors, and retailers inside the country and overseas - and bring them to their knees.” [—Laurie Garrett, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations,]( making the case that to solve the opioid crisis, the federal government should go after Big Pharma, not drug users. Numerology $12 million That's the [amount in a stock transaction]( MassRoots Inc., a Denver-based marijuana tech and social media firm, has announced it will shell out for web-based rules and regulations company CannaRegs Ltd. Regional News [Social use marijuana clubs will soon be legal in Denver, but how many will open?]( Colorado's largest city is on the brink of licensing some of the nation's first legal marijuana clubs. But Denver's elaborate hurdles for potential weed-friendly coffee shops and gathering places may mean the city gets few takers for the new licenses. [Florida police arrest parents after teacher reports kid's backpack smells of weed]( A student's backpack that smelled like marijuana led police in Florida to his house, where they found a small grow house run by his parents. A police report says the boy told officers there are marijuana plants in his house and his dad uses his backpack to transport the drug. He also said people go to his house to buy marijuana. [Legal firms walk line on state and federal marijuana laws]( A number of Philadelphia-area law firms are setting up practices to serve the cannabis industry despite concerns of an uncertain future. Many of the city's biggest law firms have recently established practices to serve the cannabis industry as Pennsylvania gears up to make medical marijuana available to patients by early 2018. But uncertainty comes from the apparent [disconnect between state and federal laws](. More Regional Headlines + [Nevada Gaming Commission worried about legal weed drawing federal attention]( + [Indiana marijuana case leads to court restricting police seizures]( + [Alaska wants your opinion on onsite cannabis use]( #AllThingsWeed [Pro tip: When flushing weed to dodge cops, don't include container]( After cops couldn't find drugs in a bathroom, a city employee retrieved a black container with marijuana inside along with two cans of beer from the "fecal waste collector" directly beneath the men's bathroom. [Lagunitas teams up with cannabis vape company to brew new IPA]( Brewers like to describe super-hoppy IPAs the way that they might talk about marijuana: "dank," "resinous," "sticky." While breweries have tried to mimic the flavors of marijuana in beer few have actually attempted to brew with marijuana extracts. Last week, Lagunitas debuted SuperCritical, an IPA made with [marijuana terpenes]( provided by CannaCraft, a California company that makes cannabis vape cartridges called AbsoluteXtracts. [Cannabis life hacks: Five reasons you probably shouldn't smoke weed before a blind date]( Your date's less than 25 minutes away. You're on track to make a positive first impression. But you're anxious. A bong rip would help you relax, you think. Weed has been your go-to for so long, especially going out somewhere. But here are five reasons smoking weed before a blind date is a bad idea, including "You get way too hungry." 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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