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Biden campaign’s cannabis criticism for Trump (Newsletter: May 20, 2024)
Farm Bill & hemp; MD gov signs psychedelics bills; Fed marijuana court hearing; Legalization poll; MN cannabis law changes
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
“Joe Biden smokes sleepy Don” on marijuana policy, the president’s reelection campaign said in an email blast—contrasting the incumbent’s cannabis rescheduling move with the Trump administration’s deletion of guidance to limit cannabis prosecutions.
House Agriculture Committee leaders unveiled draft Farm Bill text that would reduce regulatory barriers for certain hemp farmers and scale back a ban on industry participation by people with prior drug felony convictions.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation to create a new Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances that will study how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access” to psilocybin, DMT and mescaline.
Attorneys for marijuana businesses suing to block federal enforcement against their in-state activities are asking the judge in the case to let the public remotely tune in to oral arguments on Wednesday by video stream or phone.
A new Fox News poll found that 69 percent of American voters support legalizing marijuana—and that includes majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents.
A Minnesota House-Senate conference committee crafted a final version of legislation to amend the state’s marijuana law—including changes to rules on equity, the license awarding process and early cultivation.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill directing marijuana regulators to oversee intoxicating hemp products.
/ FEDERAL
The Congressional Budget Office said a bill directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress if it adds psychedelics to its formulary of drugs would cost less than $500,000 over a 10-year period.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) spoke on the Senate floor against a fentanyl bill, saying it would “bring the United States back to the approach of the failed War on Drugs where we criminalized drug use while ignoring the underlying issues that animate abuse and addiction.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) tweeted, “Chinese criminal organizations are buying up OK farmland and partnering with Mexican cartels to grow and distribute marijuana. I’m leading the fight to stop it.”
Members of Indiana’s congressional delegation reacted to the federal marijuana rescheduling decision.
The House bill to federally legalize marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of 88.
/ STATES
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a bill to regulate hemp products.
Nevada’s attorney general discussed the benefits of federal marijuana rescheduling.
New York lawmakers sent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) legislation to define cannabis as an agriculture crop.
Indiana’s Senate president and House speaker reacted to the federal marijuana rescheduling move.
Wisconsin officials removed dozens of marijuana plants that were growing on the state Capitol grounds.
The Choctaw Nation Tribal Council, located within Oklahoma, voted to make it so marijuana possession convictions will not result in a mandatory assessment fee.
California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus and because of inaccurate labeling that reports more cannabinoid content than is actually contained.
Vermont regulators posted guidance about problems with the state’s marijuana inventory tracking system.
Missouri regulators transferred $15.2 million in marijuana revenue to the state Veterans Commission and public defender.
Michigan regulators published a monthly report on disciplinary actions taken against marijuana businesses.
New Jersey regulators hosted a town hall meeting about the process of obtaining a marijuana business license.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s mayor held a press conference to cheer the federal marijuana rescheduling move.
The Dewey Beach, Delaware Town Council reduced the fine for minors in possession of marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Canadian federal government rejected Toronto’s request for permission to decriminalize drug possession.
The German Bundestag Health and Traffic Committees will consider changes to the country’s marijuana legalization law on June 3.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD demonstrated potentially beneficial properties for athlete recovery such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects.”
A study’s results “add to a small but growing body of work suggesting promise for classic psychedelics such as psilocybin for chronic pain.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The American Trucking Associations sent a letter to federal officials raising concerns about the move to reschedule marijuana.
The Buffalo News editorial board cheered New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) move to replace cannabis regulatory leadership.
/ BUSINESS
4Front Ventures Corp. reported quarterly net revenue of $18.8 million and a net loss of $18.5 million.
Tilray Brands, Inc. is moving to sell shares with an aggregate offering value of up to $250 million through an at-the-market equity program.
WM Technology, Inc. received a delinquency notification letter from Nasdaq due to failure to timely file a quarterly report.
Missouri retailers sold $120.1 million worth of legal marijuana products in April.
/ CULTURE
Football players Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick were arrested for marijuana possession.
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