Newsletter
Cannabis banking finger pointing in Senate (Newsletter: July 13, 2023)
Lawmakers’ marijuana & psychedelics testimony; DEA’s strange anti-drug pitch to teens; NC medical cannabis dead; Berkeley psychedelics
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and lead GOP marijuana banking bill sponsor Sen. Steve Daines (R-MNT) seem to disagree on what needs to happen before a committee vote can be held to send the SAFE Banking Act to the floor, and time is running out before the August recess. Meanwhile, a senior Republican Senate aide told Marijuana Moment that a Democratic senator’s push to amend Section 10 of the SAFE Banking Act is the “main issue” holding it up—not anything having to do with potential social justice additions that progressives want.
- “Gutting the section is a non-starter for Republicans.”
Several members of Congress testified before the House Rules Committee about their marijuana, psychedelics and drug policy amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act—but decisions on getting floor votes are delayed amid unrelated controversy.
Former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Acting Director Regina LaBelle says the U.S. has a lot to learn from Portugal’s “pioneering” drug decriminalization law, arguing it “yielded positive results” and “save[d] lives.”
North Carolina’s House speaker is all but declaring a Senate-passed medical cannabis legalization bill dead for the year.
- “As long as there’s not a majority of the Republicans willing to vote for it, it won’t come up.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration published a blog post telling young people that instead of doing drugs they should spend time trying to become Instagram influencers and playing video games.
The Berkeley, California City Council approved a measure to “de-emphasize the use of City funds and resources to assist in the enforcement of laws” criminalizing possession, cultivation, processing and preparation of psychedelics for personal use.
/ FEDERAL
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted, “Beating the overdose epidemic, which affects red states and blue states alike, is a key priority for @POTUS. @ONDCP released a whole-of-government response to fight a growing threat: the dangerous and deadly combination of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.”
The U.S. Sentencing Commission published an overview of marijuana sentencing data.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted that “the entire Biden family, especially Hunter and Joe, need to take a drug test, including all staff to screen for cocaine.”
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) tweeted, “Legalizing adult-use cannabis is good for our economy and the right move for Minnesota. Now we’re looking for a Cannabis Management Director to implement responsible regulations of Minnesota’s new cannabis market.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “When we work together to do what’s right, we can accomplish amazing things for Kentuckians…. 🤝Legalized sports betting & medical cannabis”
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader said she will be filing a marijuana legalization bill later this summer.
Ohio regulators approved adding irritable bowel syndrome as a medical cannabis qualifying condition, but rejected adding obsessive-compulsive syndrome and autism.
Missouri regulators published guidance on marijuana packaging, labeling, and product design rules.
Connecticut regulators posted a notice about new marijuana rules taking effect on July 28.
North Dakota regulators will brief lawmakers on an annual medical cannabis report on August 31.
Michigan regulators are conducting a survey about enforcement visits to marijuana businesses.
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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
Multnomah County, Oregon officials suspended a plan to distribute drug harm reduction supplies.
The Prince George’s County, Maryland Council is considering a proposal to limit where marijuana businesses can operate.
Detroit, Michigan officials will begin accepting applications for a second round of marijuana business licenses on August 1.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová pardoned two people serving jail sentences for growing medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “no statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use before and after legalization among adolescents” but that “there was an increase in the proportion of adolescents who reported any perceived parent cannabis use from before to after legalization.”
A review of psilocybin therapy concluded that “rapid clinical improvement of various symptoms was observed,” that “the greatest evidence for the use of psilocybin was found in treating tobacco addiction and anxiety and depression related to life-threatening illnesses” and that “no serious adverse events were reported in the studies.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Republican Campaign Committee released an ad attacking Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR) for alleged “shady” ties to the marijuana industry.
/ BUSINESS
SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a/ Safe Harbor Financial is launching interest-bearing commercial deposit accounts for cannabis businesses.
RISE workers in Warwick, Rhode Island voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union 328.
NCS Analytics is partnering with Delaware regulators to provide analytics services for the state’s cannabis seed-to-sale tracking system.
/ CULTURE
The Premier Lacrosse League entered into a partnership with Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. to make its ReCreate products the official CBD of the league.
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