Newsletter
Cannabis banking & psychedelics discussed in Congress (Newsletter: July 13, 2022)
CT marijuana sales near; Bill Clinton praises CBD for pain study; Libraries want legalization revenue; NBA players union cannabis partnership
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) spoke before the House Rules Committee about his latest push to include his marijuana banking legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—revealing a new Congressional Budget Office score that says it’ll save taxpayer money and discussing a potential broader cannabis omnibus bill that could include this and other reforms.
Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) testified before the House Rules Committee to ask that their separate NDAA amendments on studying the benefits of psychedelics for military members with PTSD and other conditions be allowed to proceed to floor votes.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said the state is “about six months away” from launching recreational marijuana sales, and officials gave initial approval to the first cannabis cultivation licenses.
Former President Bill Clinton thinks the results of a clinical trial on CBD for pain management are “very encouraging” as his foundation works to “reduce opioid addiction and deaths,” according to a press release from TR Processing, which supplied the cannabinoid for the study. The company also announced that a former White House deputy drug czar joined its board.
The EveryLibrary Institute says that public libraries stand to benefit substantially from marijuana tax revenue and it is urging them to get involved early in the process of drafting legalization bills and initiatives to ensure they are included.
The National Basketball Players Association announced a new partnership with former player Al Harrington’s CBD brand Re+Play.
/ FEDERAL
Former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli said the Biden administration should embrace safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service sent a press release recognizing National Hemp Month.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) tweeted, “Cannabis has widely accepted medical uses. It’s long past time to decriminalize marijuana and to expunge non-violent convictions. Proud to join @SenWarren, @SenBooker, @SenMarkey, @RonWyden, and @SenSanders on this letter [to President Joe Biden.”
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) tweeted, “My bill the CLIMB Act would address real-world, operational issues facing the cannabis industry and help open the sector to more small, minority-owned, women-owned businesses.”
/ STATES
Seven Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidates said they plan to vote for a marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot, while one Republican contender said he will vote no.
Kansas’s attorney general filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that a CBD product seller brought against state officials after being raided by local police.
A federal judge dismissed a suit accusing Washington State marijuana regulators of racial bias.
Colorado regulators are offering technical assistance courses to marijuana businesses on securing funding and financial protections. Separately, they released updated demographic information about cannabis business licensees.
Michigan regulators are conducting a survey about notifications of marijuana product recalls.
California regulators sent a press release marking the one-year anniversary of the Department of Cannabis Control’s formation.
South Carolina regulators posted lists of permitted hemp facilities, seed providers, brokers, transporters and labs.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed medical cannabis rules on Thursday.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday.
The South Dakota legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will meet on Thursday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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.
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/ LOCAL
Seattle, Washington’s former city attorney joined NORML’s board of directors.
The Detroit, Michigan City Council voted to open phase I applications for recreational marijuana business licenses.
The Barrington, Rhode Island Town Council placed a question on whether to allow marijuana businesses on the November ballot.
The Evanston, Illinois City Council rejected a proposal to allow public possession of marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s health minister denied claims that he supported cannabis reform in order to benefit a family business. Separately, the secretariat of the Court of Justice issued a directive banning people from using or consuming marijuana within its premises.
Ireland’s Oireachtas Justice Committee held a hearing on drug possession penalties.
A member of the UK House of Lords pressed government officials on medical cannabis access issues.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study demonstrated that “the use of medical cannabis among patients with musculoskeletal conditions effectively reduced pain levels.”
A review concluded that “the efficacy of CBD in treating epileptic seizures has been confirmed by randomized controlled trials for Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex,” and while “the incidence of side effects reported in subjects of the studies is high,” “most studies indicate a good safety profile and tolerance to the drug, with most of the adverse effects being mild to moderate and transient.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Toronto Star editorial board is cheering a Canadian bill to sequester drug possession records.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Student Marijuana Alliance for Research and Transparency named 11 student ambassadors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
/ BUSINESS
Jushi Holdings Inc. said its CFO resigned to work at another cannabis company and it will “take steps to enforce its contractual rights” under a 12-month noncompete agreement.
Tilray Brands, Inc. closed an investment in HEXO Corp.
Lume Cannabis Co. closed four of its Michigan stores.
Michigan retailers sold $187.4 million worth of legal marijuana products in June.
Arizona retailers sold $122.4 million worth of legal marijuana products in April.
/ CULTURE
Ozzy Osbourne bought four ounces of cannabis at a dispensary but decided not to smoke it.
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