Newsletter
Biden “always supported” legal medical cannabis, WH says (Newsletter: September 5, 2023)
Tribal legalization vote this week; MD marijuana equity portal; CA cannabis licensing grants
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, asked about the impact of moving cannabis to Schedule III, said President Joe Biden has “always supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.”
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will decide on a marijuana legalization referendum on Thursday. If approved, the tribe would be the only legal seller of recreational cannabis within North Carolina or any neighboring state.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration launched a new portal that allows people to check eligibility for a social equity marijuana business license before regulators begin to accept applications later this year.
The California Department of Cannabis Control is expanding eligibility and doubling award amounts for a grants program to help local jurisdictions establish marijuana retail licensing programs.
/ FEDERAL
The Food and Drug Administration has received hundreds of comments on draft psychedelic research guidance.
The National Center on Health, Behavioral Health and Safety hosted a webinar about marijuana, children and families.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) tweeted, “I’m the guy (along with Jared Polis and Earl Blumenauer) who got hemp legalized. And I refused to vote for the bill to tax marijuana as a condition of legalizing it. (would have made even more marijuana criminals).”
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) tweeted, “@DEAHQ still classifies #Cannabis as a Schedule I drug — alongside heroin — and considers it more dangerous than Schedule II drugs like meth and cocaine. That’s just ridiculous. Kudos to @HHSGov for recommending that cannabis be reclassified down to Schedule III.”
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill to address illegal water usage at unlicensed marijuana cultivation sites.
The Leech Lake band of Ojibwe, located within Minnesota, is preparing to legalize marijuana.
Illinois regulators filed revised cannabis rules.
Utah regulators filed proposed rules on hemp product processing and labeling.
Montana regulators are seeking applicants to serve on the Hemp Advisory Committee.
Michigan regulators published a FAQ on cannabis and the environment.
Maine regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed marijuana rules on Wednesday.
Virginia regulators will consider issues including medical cannabis and safe driving on Thursday.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
The Czech government is moving to regulate, rather than ban, sales of kratom, CBD and HHC products.
The Irish Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs held its fourth meeting.
A former Mexican ambassador to the U.S. said that “the war on drugs has been a disaster.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “in vivo CBD blocks development of breast cancer tumors.”
A review concluded that “MDMA can potentially reduce PTSD symptoms even in treatment-resistant cases by increasing certain neurohormones, i.e. dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and oxytocin.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Lake Research Partners leaders published an op-ed calling on marijuana legalization advocates to “frame the debate around what the new cannabis taxes will fund, like rural infrastructure” and “use reassuring messengers, like veterans, police chiefs and Republican prosecutors, to emphasize that the unpopular war on drugs has profited drug cartels, and that legalization would allow the police to go after violent criminals.”
Fox News commentator Judge Jeanine Pirro cited the increasing acceptance of marijuana as a reason the U.S. is “turning into a third world country.”
/ BUSINESS
An Organigram Holdings Inc. board member resigned.
Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries, PharmaCann and Acreage sent a letter urging New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to let them sell recreational marijuana in the state.
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