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Cannabis banking & psychedelics amendments in Congress (Newsletter: September 16, 2021)

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NH lawmakers want marijuana on ballot; WA drug decrim initiative; Local TX cannabis ballot push

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Congressional lawmakers are seeking to attach amendments on marijuana banking, psychedelic research for active duty military personnel and other cannabis-related reforms to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act. Decisions on floor votes will be made next week.

Three New Hampshire lawmakers are taking steps to refer separate marijuana legalization questions to voters on the 2022 ballot.

Washington State activists announced an effort to place an initiative to decriminalize all drugs on next year’s November ballot.

Activists in San Marcos, Texas announced that they plan to put a marijuana decriminalization measure on the local 2022 ballot.

/ FEDERAL

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “Cities across the nation are sending a clear message—they want an end to marijuana prohibition. @SenBooker,@RonWyden, & I are working to pass our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end federal prohibition & undo the harms of the War on Drugs.”

Florida Democratic congressional candidate Jesse Philippe tweeted, “Hemp was criminalized to preserve the paper industry monopoly. Cannabis was only criminalized to oppress black people and leftists. It’s 2021, we know how corrupt the war on drugs has been, it’s time to end it.”

/ STATES

Texas Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt tweeted, “At the start of the #WARONDRUGS there were 100K prisoners in the entire country. Today 7.6 million people are in prison, probation or parole—With NO correlating increase in crime. Only the policy changed. Lets change it again: Decriminalized cannabis, addiction & poverty.”

Michigan lawmakers filed legislation to restrict and regulate medical cannabis caregiver home cultivation. Meanwhile, activists held a rally to push back against the proposals.

California regulators are accepting public comment on proposed emergency regulations to consolidate, clarify and make consistent marijuana rules.

New Jersey regulators voted to streamline the licensing of new marijuana businesses and approved an additional cannabis cultivation license but did not act on two dozen other pending businesses.

Montana’s top marijuana regulator spoke about ongoing efforts to propose and finalize rules for the legal market.

Iowa regulators announced that two new medical cannabidiol dispensaries will open on or around October 1.

Ohio regulators are accepting requests from medical cannabis cultivators who want to expand their grow space.

Minnesota regulators tweeted about a medical journal’s article on the issue of adding anxiety disorder as a medical cannabis qualifying condition.

Oregon regulators published an updated list of licensed marijuana businesses.

Nevada regulators will consider changes to rules on remediation and labeling of marijuana on September 28.


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

The Oshkosh, Wisconsin City Council voted to lower the fine for first-time marijuana possession offenses.

The Denver, Colorado mayor’s budget proposes to use $5.7 million in marijuana tax revenue to establish a new business development program for minority- and women-owned businesses.

Lompoc, California voters approved a ballot measure to increase taxes on marijuana manufacturing and distribution.

The Santa Cruz County, California Board of Supervisors instituted a temporary emergency moratorium on cannabis cultivation permits.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into the bloody Philippine “drug war.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study concluded that medical cannabis “may be related to a significant yet small reduction in opioid prescription medication.”

Mount Sinai’s Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research received a $5 million grant to support a clinical trial using MDMA-assisted therapy to treat veterans with PTSD.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Alabama Democratic Party tweeted, “The ADP is committed to bold ideas and we’re not settling for policy that skirts around the edges of change. That’s why we came out firmly for recreational cannabis legalization.”

/ BUSINESS

COMPASS Pathways plc acquired an intellectual property portfolio including patent applications for psychedelic substances.

The University of California, Berkeley is creating psychedelics journalism fellowships to be overseen by author Michael Pollan using funding from Tim Ferriss’s Saisei Foundation.

Vicente Sederberg LLP launched an environment, health, and safety practice for cannabis businesses.

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share.

The president of Solar Therapeutics Inc. asked to be dismissed from a lawsuit filed by Sacha Baron Cohen for allegedly violating his copyright by putting an image of his Borat character on a billboard without permission.

Green Flower launched a credential program for marijuana industry workers.

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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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