Some holiday season highlights from Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform

Though it has been well over a month since I did a round-up of posts of note from my blogging over at Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform, but this is not because there have not been lots of noteworthy marijuana reform developments.  Rather, so much is going on in this space, I cannot come close to keeping up.  Still, here are just some of my recent posts from MLP&R that may be of particular broader criminal justice interest:

• Senator Cory Gardner talking up getting STATES Act attached to federal criminal justice reform bill

• Prez Trump signs Farm Bill, officially legalizing hemp, which means a notable statement from the FDA Commissioner

• "How Legalizing Marijuana Is Securing the Border: The Border Wall, Drug Smuggling, and Lessons for Immigration Policy"

• "Mayor de Blasio Calls for Fair Cannabis Legalization That Promotes Equity and Opportunity for All"

• Could Prez Trump's new Chief of Staff become major force pushing federal marijuana reforms in 2019?

• Billy Williams, US Attorney for Oregon, appointed to chair Attorney General’s Marijuana Working Group

• Democrat wing of congressional Joint Economic Committee releases report on "The National Cannabis Economy"

• New commentary assails "The Medical Marijuana Delusion"

• In praise of lots of great reporting on drug issues (including marijuana) at Filter

• "Marijuana Federalism's Time Has Come"

• "Why are so many countries now saying cannabis is OK?"

• "Another decade lost to the global war on drugs"