Newsletter
Biden admin can legalize cannabis, congressional report says (Newsletter: November 4, 2021)
CO rejects marijuana tax boost; OH cities decrim cannabis; NY hemp & delta-8 rules approved; Strict MT cannabiz employment regs
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Congressional Research Service report says the Biden administration can federally legalize marijuana without waiting for lawmakers to act. It also says the president can unilaterally grant mass amnesty to people who’ve violated federal cannabis laws.
Colorado voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have increased state marijuana taxes to fund an education program. A separate Denver measure to boost local cannabis taxes to fund pandemic research also failed.
Voters in seven more Ohio cities approved local marijuana decriminalization ballot measures, bringing the total number of jurisdictions to have enacted the reform in the state to 29 so far. Seven other cities rejected cannabis measures on Tuesday.
New York regulators approved rules for the cannabinoid hemp program—including allowing the sale of whole flower and infused foods and beverages, but banning delta-8 THC products.
The Montana Department of Revenue proposed strict new rules that would prohibit people with any kind of criminal conviction within the past three years from working in the marijuana industry—even if it’s for simple cannabis possession that’s now legal in the state.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) wrote about his opposition to marijuana legalization in a constituent letter.
/ STATES
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) appointed an assemblyman to the Cannabis Advisory Commission.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, “Since taking office, we’ve: … ✅ Legalized cannabis… We’re not done delivering for New Mexicans and in 2022, we’re going to #KeepNMBlue.”
Texas Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt spoke about how his father is serving a prison sentence for a drug offense.
The Florida House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee heard a presentation about medical cannabis.
Ohio regulators posted a second round of questions and answers about medical cannabis dispensary applications.
Oregon’s Department of Agriculture tweeted about a federal hemp survey.
Massachusetts regulators will host a workshop about marijuana social equity applications on Thursday.
The New Jersey attorney general’s office will host an event on marijuana-related employment issues on Monday.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a technical assistance session for commercial cannabis cultivators on Tuesday.
New Jersey regulators will hold a public meeting about marijuana issues on Tuesday.
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/ LOCAL
The Denton, Texas City Council discussed a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Borough Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization measure.
Voters in Camillus Village, Geddes, McGraw Village, Homer and Tully, New York rejected ballot proposals to ban marijuana businesses, while those in the Town of Camillus approved such a measure—though the final results will be determined by absentee ballots.
Billings, Montana voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed recreational marijuana dispensaries. Meanwhile, voters in Missoula County, Park County and Yellowstone County approved cannabis tax proposals.
Mill City, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure to allow marijuana sales, while Estacada voters approved a tax on cannabis sales.
Lamar, Colorado voters approved ballot measures to allow and tax marijuana sales, while Mead voters rejected a measure to repeal an existing ban on cannabis sales.
Lapeer, Michigan voters rejected a ballot measure that would have banned recreational marijuana businesses. Meanwhile, Clawson voters rejected a proposal that would have allowed adult-use cannabis businesses to operate.
Randolph and Methuen, Massachusetts rejected ballot measures to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries.
Deschutes County , Oregon received a federal grant to combat illegal marijuana cultivation.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS called for “urgent action against the criminalization of people who use drugs.”
The UK House of Commons debated medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “increasing evidence suggests that [cannabis-based medicine] is efficacious in the treatment of tics and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with” Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
NORML published a book summarizing scientific evidence of cannabis’s medical effects.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies has a new board member.
The Drug Policy Alliance sent a press release noting the one-year anniversary of Oregon voters approving a drug decriminalization ballot measure.
/ BUSINESS
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s cannabis-focused Hawthorne unit reported quarterly sales of $329.1 million.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $53.9 million.
Microsoft funded research on using hemp and other sustainable materials to build data centers.
Leafly published a report finding that cannabis is the fifth most valuable crop in the U.S.
/ CULTURE
Lil Nas X said using psilocybin mushrooms helped with his process for writing his new album.
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