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CA pushes for interstate cannabis clarity (Newsletter: January 31, 2023)

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WH punts marijuana banking to Congress; RI expungement process; VA 280E & sales bills advance; CO psychedelics board; MN legalization vote

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

California’s Department of Cannabis Control is formally asking the state attorney general to issue an opinion certifying that a law allowing interstate marijuana commerce can go into effect without putting the state at “significant risk” of federal enforcement action.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Congress is working on marijuana banking legislation—but said the Biden administration doesn’t have any plans to announce executive action to address the issue.

Rhode Island’s Supreme Court chief justice issued an executive order laying out the process for how officials will expunge tens of thousands of prior marijuana convictions under the state’s new legalization law.

Virginia lawmakers advanced several marijuana bills—including ones to clear the way for recreational sales to begin and to decouple tax policy from the federal 280E provision, thereby allowing cannabis companies to deduct business expenses in state filings.

The Minnesota Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to legalize marijuana—the latest action in the legislation’s multi-step consideration.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) appointed a 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board, which will help inform psychedelics policy under the state’s voter-approved ballot initiative legalizing entheogens and establishing psilocybin “healing centers.”

/ FEDERAL

Customs and Border Protection tweeted that its agents and officers “seized nearly 27,000lbs of marijuana nationwide during the first three months of FY23.”

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, ” We have to keep pushing for legislation that will end the federal ban on marijuana and put us on the path to restorative justice.”

/ STATES

Wisconsin’s Senate majority leader said thinks there are enough voters to get medical cannabis legislation “across the finish line.” But the Assembly speaker said that while he supports medical marijuana, he thinks “we’re not that close” to finding agreement on a passable bill this session.

The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice Committee held a hearing on several drug policy reform bills.

The Washington State House Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to allow marijuana home cultivation on Thursday. Separately, lawmakers are considering several bills on how to address drug possession once temporary criminalization laws expire this year.

A Tennessee senator filed a bill to regulate cannabinoid products.

An Oklahoma senator introduced a bill to let municipalities modify planning and zoning rules concerning medical cannabis businesses.

An Indiana representative is hopeful that a marijuana decriminalization bill will get a committee hearing this session.

A Texas representative discussed his bill to lower penalties for cannabis concentrates.

A South Dakota representative posted a thread criticizing a bill to block women who are pregnant or breastfeeding from getting medical cannabis recommendations.

Montana lawmakers are considering legislation to change how marijuana tax revenue is allocated.

Illinois regulators began accepting applications for additional marijuana dispensary licenses.

Mississippi regulators are reportedly struggling to manage the state’s medical cannabis program with the current level of staffing.

Maine regulators sent a newsletter about various marijuana issues.


Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of 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.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Basel, Switzerland’s legal marijuana sales pilot program launched.

Australia’s Parliamentary Budget Office projected that legalizing marijuana would generate $28 billion in revenue over a decade.

Canada’s minister of mental health and addictions authored an op-ed defending harm reduction drug policies from criticism by the Conservative Party’s leader.

Germany’s Union political alliance is criticizing the government’s plans to commission an expert opinion on its marijuana legalization plan.

Colombian cannabis exports nearly doubled last year.

Malta’s Association for the Responsible Use of Cannabis will begin accepting applications for non-profit cannabis clubs on February 28.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found “lower mortality rates, lesser need for mechanical ventilation, and reduced hospitalization expenses among cannabis users hospitalized with COVID-19.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

ASTM International issued a call for presentations for two upcoming events organized by its cannabis committee.

Former cannabis entrepreneur and Sebastopol, California Mayor Robert Jacob was convicted of crimes involving the sexual abuse of a child.

/ BUSINESS

Curaleaf is reportedly the subject of an investigation by Connecticut regulators over allegations of undisclosed financial interest related to loans from companies owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

TerrAscend Corp. closed its acquisition of Allegany Medical Marijuana Dispensary.

Here’s an updated look at where Wall Street banks stand on testing job applicants for marijuana and other drugs.

/ CULTURE

Willie Nelson spoke about how marijuana “saved my life.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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