Newsletter
CA cannabis record relief update (Newsletter: July 5, 2023)
Lawmakers praise FDA psychedelics guidance; GOP presidential candidate Doug Burgum on marijuana; SAFE Banking op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) applauded the Food and Drug Administration for releasing draft guidance on psychedelics research—a development that they requested through a new bill they filed just days before the agency took the step.
California’s attorney general reports that courts have now sealed, resentenced or dismissed 206,052 marijuana convictions—roughly 90 percent of those eligible for such relief.
Marijuana Moment compiled a comprehensive overview of where Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum stands on cannabis.
- As North Dakota governor, he signed low-level marijuana decriminalization into law and issued pardons—though he also signed a bill removing medical home grow rights. Additionally, he’s called on Congress to enact federal reform.
The BOWL PAC ‘s Justin Strekal argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that passing a cannabis banking and expungements bill in Congress is the first step toward enacting much-needed broader federal reforms.
/ FEDERAL
A white powder that led to the White House being evacuated on Sunday was reportedly determined to be cocaine in preliminary testing.
The National Institutes of Health is making cannabinoid receptor mediating compounds available for licensing and commercial development.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum is commemorating the agency’s 50th anniversary.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) criticized the State Department for refusing to classify an American citizen jailed in Russia for medical cannabis as “wrongfully detained.”
/ STATES
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “For years, Kentuckians living with chronic conditions, PTSD, cancer and more asked for medical cannabis – a safe and effective way to ease pain. Folks said it couldn’t be done in Kentucky, but we proved them wrong.”
A Florida senator spoke about a new law to grant medical cannabis business licenses to Black farmers.
Texas regulators filed changes to rules on smokable hemp products.
A California Agricultural Labor Relations Board subcommittee is recommending approval of rules on labor peace agreements in the cannabis industry.
Vermont regulators issued updated marijuana social equity guidance.
Colorado regulators announced a third round of grant award applications for social equity cannabis businesses.
New York regulators hosted a presentation on the use of marijuana by older adults.
Ohio regulators may consider approving new medical cannabis qualifying conditions on July 12.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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
The Baltimore, Maryland City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3 is pushing state law enforcement officials to stop barring recruits with a history of marijuana use and end random testing for current officers.
Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Portugal’s health minister said officials should exercise “a lot of prudence” when considering whether to extend the country’s decriminalization policy to include synthetic drugs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study indicated that “shortly after a state adopts [a recreational marijuana law], they experience a decrease in the average number of mental health treatment admissions.”
A review indicated that “early evidence suggests that single doses of psilocybin given with psychological support induce rapid improvement in depressive symptoms that endure for some weeks.”
/ BUSINESS
TerrAscend Corp. began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Wrigley settled a lawsuit it filed alleging that Terphogz LLC violated its Skittles trademark with a line of cannabis-infused “ZKITTLEZ” products.
Greenlane Holdings, Inc. closed a public offering with gross proceeds of approximately $4.3 million.
Canopy Growth Corporation announced it completed all conversions pursuant to $100,000,000 senior unsecured convertible debentures sold to an institutional investor.
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