Newsletter
Biden DEA pick open to medical cannabis laws (Newsletter: April 14, 2021)
IL marijuana revenue outweighs alcohol; Tribute to cannabis pioneer Steve Fox; CT legalization poll; CO sales data
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Anne Milgram, President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, called a New Jersey medical cannabis bill “workable” while serving as the state’s attorney general. Those are very limited comments, but a DEA head who potentially understands the medical benefits of marijuana would undermine its ongoing status as a Schedule I drug.
Longtime marijuana activist Steve Fox, who was a driving force behind Colorado’s historic cannabis legalization measure and so many other movement wins, has passed away. His colleagues have launched a GoFundMe to support his family during this difficult time.
The Illinois Department of Revenue reported that as of last quarter the state now takes in more tax revenue from marijuana sales than from alcohol.
A new poll found that 67% of Connecticut residents support legalizing marijuana. The public backing comes as two cannabis legalization bills are advancing in the legislature.
Colorado retailers sold $167 million worth of legal marijuana in February. Cannabis sales for the first two months of 2021 are $78 million higher than for the same period last year.
/ FEDERAL
The Biden administration is reportedly expected to support a temporary extension of a Trump-era policy expanding mandatory minimum sentencing for a range of fentanyl-related substances.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) tweeted, “By legalizing adult-use cannabis, New Mexico is taking bold steps to get our economy moving again, create new jobs and economic opportunities, and begin to undo the disparate harm of criminalization.”
The House resolution that calls for legalizing marijuana, expunging drug convictions and allowing safe consumption sites got one new cosponsor for a total of 18.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) sent a press release about an auction of marijuana-themed license plates to benefit the state Disability Funding Committee.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “The war on drugs has forever been a story of racial injustice. Even last year — during a global pandemic — a disproportionate number of Black PA’ians were arrested for marijuana. It’s time we #LegalizeIt and stop locking people up for possession.” He also tweeted, “Yesterday, New Mexico became the seventh state since November to legalize adult-use marijuana. Pennsylvania is falling behind. Residents want legalization.”
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) authored an op-ed criticizing pending marijuana reform legislation.
Michigan’s attorney general launched a new webpage to inform people about a new law that expunges prior marijuana and other convictions.
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a construction company needs to pay for the cost of its injured worker’s medical cannabis.
Virginia’s House speaker posted a video of herself singing the recently approved marijuana legalization bill.
Connecticut House leaders are working to craft a marijuana legalization bill that can get enough votes to pass even if a number of Democrats oppose it.
The Illinois House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill to regulate CBD and Delta-8-THC products this week.
The Iowa Department of Human Services is being sued by a woman who says she is being blocked from becoming a preschool teacher due to an expunged prior marijuana charge.
Oklahoma regulators revoked the license of a medical cannabis testing lab.
A member of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is stepping down.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will hold a training session on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
San Francisco, California’s mayor held a press conference to emphasize that the annual 4/20 rally in Golden Gate Park is canceled.
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams criticized rivals for supporting drug policy reform.
/ INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she wants a bipartisan approach to treating drugs as a health issue, but the opposition National Party doesn’t seem interested.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “all studies exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant activities after CBD use.”
A study found that “the vast majority of patients self-selecting into cannabis use for treatment of nausea likely experience relief within a relative short duration of time, but the level of antiemetic effect varies with the characteristics of the cannabis products consumed in vivo.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New Mexico Republican Party criticized Democrats for enacting a marijuana legalization law.
Americans for Safe Access launched an action alert urging House and Urban Development Sec. Marcia Fudge to issue guidance allowing patients to use medical cannabis in federal housing.
AAA is hosting an event about New Jersey marijuana laws on 4/20.
/ BUSINESS
Organigram Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$14.6 million and a net loss of C$66.3 million.
Mydecine Innovations Group says it has identified previously uncharacterized compounds in psilocybin mushrooms and is going to screen them to test for therapeutic effects.
/ CULTURE
South Park is partnering with adidas to launch a Towlie shoe on 4/20.
Actor Jaleel White launched a Purple Urkle cannabis brand with 710 Labs.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
