Newsletter
Bipartisan cannabis decrim bill in WI (Newsletter: November 17, 2021)
IN Democratic Party pushes legalization; Austin removes marijuana restriction for first responders; Study: Psychedelics reduce opioid use
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.
- John: “I’m a big fan of your work, and I can only imagine the time you put into Marijuana Moment to provide such timely and important news in such a confusing and fast moving space.”
Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A bipartisan group of Wisconsin senators and representatives filed a new marijuana decriminalization bill.
The Indiana Democratic Party is rolling out a major push for marijuana legalization, saying that if the Republican-controlled legislature fails to enact reform it will become a “hallmark issue for the 2022 state and midterm elections.”
First responder applicants in Austin, Texas will no longer be questioned about their past marijuana use after activists pushed for the local change by the Austin-Travis County EMS.
A new study found that use of psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin and DMT is associated with “55% reduced odds of daily opioid use.”
- “Over study follow-up after adjusting for a range of potential confounders, psychedelic use remained independently associated with a significantly reduced odds of subsequent daily opioid use.”
/ FEDERAL
Current former Food and Drug Administration officials spoke about ongoing efforts to consider potential CBD regulations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Injury Center tweeted, “Did you know more than 50% of states have legalized #marijuana for medical use?”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service tweeted to remind farmers to complete a federal hemp survey.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a California man on supervised release does not have a due process right to use medical cannabis.
Sen Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “I’ve joined @ewarren in urging President Biden to use his executive authority to pardon all non-violent cannabis offenses.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tweeted, “Federal prohibition isn’t working and states know it. 47 have spoken and want Washington to get out of the way on #cannabis.” She also tweeted, “My hometown paper @postandcourier highlights an important part of my new legislation – states decide how they want to regulate cannabis and the feds provide a tax and regulatory framework based on what’s already legal in 47 states.”
Rep. Don Young (R-AK) tweeted, “It’s far past time to update our #cannabis laws for the 21st Century. I’m proud to help @RepNancyMace introduce the States Reform Act to protect individual liberty, expunge nonviolent records, & defend the right of states to set their own cannabis policy.”
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) tweeted about discussing his bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement at a hemp industry conference.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) tweeted, “It’s been 50 years of the War on Drugs, of addiction and mass incarceration. These stories show the humanity that can be lost in bad policies.”
/ STATES
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at his first campaign rally.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, currently a congressman, tweeted about his support for federal marijuana legalization.
New Jersey Assembly committees advanced bills to allow harm reduction centers to open with approval from the state health commissioner and to decriminalize syringes.
Illinois Senate Democrats tweeted about a lawmaker attending a ribbon cutting at a new marijuana dispensary.
Washington State regulators sent guidance on transitioning to a new marijuana tracking system.
Connecticut regulators selected BioTrack to manage the state’s cannabis seed-to-sale tracking system.
Rhode Island regulators published a checklist for retailers of hemp-derived consumable CBD products.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to complete a federal hemp survey.
South Carolina regulators published a list of permitted hemp brokers.
Tennessee’s Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 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.
—
/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado’s auditor said that city officials have implemented some, but not all, recommendations on marijuana taxes.
The Lake Gorge, New York Village Board voted to ban marijuana retail businesses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Malta’s parliament began debating a marijuana legalization bill.
The Argentina Chamber of Deputies Committee on Agriculture and Livestock considered a medical cannabis and hemp bill.
The Uruguayan government is promoting the country’s marijuana industry abroad.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “having [medical marijuana laws] with strict regulations generate health gains, but not in states with lax regulations.”
A study found that a polymeric nanoparticle formulation of CBD “has an anti-fibrotic and anti-hypertrophic effect in a mouse model of non-ischemic heart failure.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Americans for Prosperity tweeted, “Almost 70% of Americans support legalizing marijuana, and over 90% now support allowing patients to access medical marijuana. It is time for Congress to restore a proper understanding of and allow them to make the best decisions for their citizens.”
Students for Sensible Drug Policy published a list of 40 BIPOC drug policy reform leaders under the age of 40.
/ BUSINESS
TILT Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $53.4 million and a net loss of $7.1 million.
WM Technology, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $50.9 million.
TerrAscend Corp. reported quarterly net sales of $49.1 million.
Schwazze is acquiring Smoking Gun, LLC and Smoking Gun Land Company, LLC.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. signed a national distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits for its hemp and CBD products.
Meadow launched a new Dynamic Delivery program that allows customers to order cannabis from mobile dispensaries.
Pistil Data closed a $6.5 million seed funding round.
/ CULTURE
Mike Tyson spoke about his experience with psychedelic toad venom.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
