Newsletter
CA removes cannabis question from police job apps (Newsletter: December 13, 2023)
MDMA fed approval app; OH legalization hearing; AZ & CT sales; NH marijuana bills; Hunter Biden: gun ban for drug users unconstitutional
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Food and Drug Administration has received an application from the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation to approve MDMA as a prescription medication to treat PTSD. If approved, it would be the first legal psychedelic pharmaceutical.
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training revised police job application forms to remove questions about past marijuana use in accordance with a new anti-discrimination law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
The Ohio House Finance Committee took additional public testimony on a bill to revise provisions of the voter-approved marijuana legalization law as an alternative to a large-scale overhaul passed by the Senate last week.
New Hampshire lawmakers have pre-filed a dozen marijuana bills for the 2024 session—including measures that would legalize recreational cannabis, annul past convictions, add new medical qualifying conditions and allow home grow for patients.
Lawyers for President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden argued in a federal court motion that a ban on gun possession by drug users that he is being charged with violating is “very broad (unconstitutionally so), covering millions (if not tens of millions) of gun owners who use substances controlled under federal law, including marijuana, even if those drugs are legal at the state level.”
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection reported that retailers set a new record for marijuana sales in November—and that the state is approaching a quarter of a billion dollars worth of cannabis sales for 2023.
The Arizona Department of Revenue reported that retailers in the state have now sold more than $1 billion worth of legal marijuana products so far in 2023.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration is designating additional psychedelics as Schedule I controlled substances.
The Internal Revenue Service told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in a brief that an ayahuasca-focused church was properly denied tax-exempt status.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) tweeted, “Last week, I joined @RepDaveJoyce as a cosponsor of the STATES Act because cannabis is exactly that – a STATES’ issue.”
/ STATES
Ohio’s attorney general said he’s worried about “quality control” of marijuana products that consumers are using.
The Maine Criminal Records Review Committee is recommending that the state seal prior marijuana conviction records.
Missouri lawmakers prefiled legislation to regulate intoxicating cannabinoid products.
New York regulators announced a recall of marijuana products that were not properly tested.
An Oklahoma grand jury indicted three men for an alleged scheme to enable out-of-state residents to illegally obtain medical cannabis business licenses.
Alabama regulators awarded medical cannabis integrated licenses.
Washington State regulators are asking a federal court to reject a lawsuit seeking to block the awarding of cannabis social equity licenses.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s human resources director resigned.
Minnesota regulators launched a new marijuana newsletter.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Wednesday.
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/ LOCAL
Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina police released videos of an officer repeatedly punching a woman during an arrest that occurred after she was seen smoking what she says was a legal THC-A product.
A Pueblo, Colorado City Council member is pushing a proposal to phase out the local marijuana excise tax.
Oakland, California officials will host a cannabis equity stakeholder meeting on Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Germany’s commissioner for addiction and drug issues tweeted, “Almost 4.5 million people in Germany regularly consume cannabis – despite the ban. We must recognize this reality of life and finally ensure more health protection through controlled delivery!”
Guernsey officials released data showing that medical cannabis has been prescribed more than 13,200 times over the past 12 months.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the administration of CBD demonstrated a protective effect against Aβ toxicity both in vitro and in vivo, along with an amelioration of cognitive impairment in mice,” supporting “the potential inclusion of CBD in future nutritional guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease prevention.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
NORML is conducting a membership survey.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday. It also began wholesale operations for adult-use marijuana products in New York.
CV Sciences, Inc. acquired Cultured Foods.
Stiiizy’s co-founder is being accused by the city of Compton, California of “serial operations of various illegal cannabis dispensaries.”
Colorado retailers sold $112.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in October.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
