Newsletter
Cannabis banking sponsor’s final push (Newsletter: December 26, 2022)
WI gov open to GOP medical marijuana compromise; WA interstate cannabis commerce bill; MD hearing on legalization, workplaces & driving
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) made a final symbolic push for his marijuana banking measure in his last committee meeting as a member of Congress before he retires—filing the SAFE Banking Act as an amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill but ultimately not forcing a vote.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said he senses that Republican lawmakers are increasingly open to passing medical cannabis legislation. He also reiterated that he’ll put full recreational marijuana legalization in his budget proposal in the new year.
A bipartisan group of Washington State senators filed a bill to allow interstate marijuana commerce.
The Maryland legislature’s Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup met to discuss marijuana safety issues—including those related to workplaces and impaired driving.
/ FEDERAL
Congress’s omnibus appropriations bill extends the temporary scheduling of fentanyl-related substances for another two years and enacts a new prohibition on the use of federal funds to purchase smoking pipes for for harm reduction purposes.
The final report of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol notes that former President Donald Trump’s legal team “used a case challenging a local marijuana ordinance that had passed by one vote to gain access to Dominion’s voting machines” as part of his unsuccessful effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), as part of his annual Festivus thread, tweeted, “Of course, Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and White House and still couldn’t get cannabis reform bills passed. I would go much further and end the federal war on a plant entirely, but at LEAST let legal business operate as a legal business. The war on cannabis is among the many dumb things congress does, but it’s by no means the dumbest.” He also tweeted, “Trump produced his first campaign items this month – trading card NFTs. I really really want to talk to the staffer who had to explain NFTs to him. I bet it went a lot like when I had to explain hemp to Mitch.”
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) tweeted, “I was proud to sign this letter to @POTUS. Treating #cannabis like heroin is ridiculous and causes disproportionate harm to African Americans. It’s time for that to END. The fact that this letter is bipartisan gives hope that we can make progress in the new year!”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) tweeted, “Cannabis justice is racial & economic justice & the time to act is NOW.”
The House bill to seal marijuana records got one new cosponsor for a total of 22.
/ STATES
Iowa’s House speaker and Senate majority leader said they don’t expect legislation to legalize marijuana to gain any traction in 2023.
The new co-chairs of the Washington State House of Representatives Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee previewed the panel’s work on cannabis issues.
A New Jersey assemblymember’s involvement in a cannabis dispensary plan is leading to allegations of unfair political influence.
The Ohio Legislative Service Commission published briefs on marijuana banking and the state’s medical cannabis program.
The Oregon Tax Court issued a ruling in a case on marijuana business tax deductions.
Colorado regulators issued a bulletin about marijuana rules changes taking effect on January 1.
Connecticut regulators completed the lottery process for recreational marijuana business licenses and opened the process for selected applicants to proceed with the next steps.
Four California Department of Cannabis Control employees anonymously shared concerns about labor conditions at marijuana grow sites, while the agency said on the record that workers should take any complaints to the separate Department of Industrial Relations.
Vermont regulators announced changes to the marijuana product registration process.
Alaska’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Marijuana will meet on Tuesday.
/ LOCAL
New York City’s sheriff spoke about efforts to combat unlicensed marijuana sales.
A San Francisco, California supervisor criticized police for carrying out a “militarized raid” on a store that allegedly sold psilocybin.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he hasn’t “formed a view” on legalizing marijuana or other drugs.
Argentina’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation approved cannabis research and development projects.
The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany parliament blocked a proposal to shield people from prosecution for personal possession of marijuana.
A Western Australia lawmaker pressed the government to consider the economic potential of cannabis legalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study demonstrated “a positive signal of improved seizure frequency in children treated with [cannabis-based medicinal products] for [treatment-resistant epilepsy].”
A study found that “lifetime psilocybin use was associated with lowered odds of lifetime suicidal thinking, planning, and attempts,” but that “LSD was associated with increased odds of these same outcomes” and that “MDMA/ecstasy, peyote, and mescaline did not share associations with [suicidal thoughts and behaviors].”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The California District Attorneys Association is opposing a state bill to legalize possession of certain psychedelics.
The National Urban League cheered the Department of Justice’s move to combat disparities in sentencing for crack and powder cocaine.
The Drug Policy Alliance posted a Twitter thread about the defeat of marijuana banking legislation.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf pushed back against a news report about early funding from an offshore company controlled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Cannabis and psychedelics law firm Vicente Sederberg LLP announced that cofounder Christian Sederberg is stepping down as a partner.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. closed a loan secured by a cultivation and manufacturing facility in West Virginia for aggregate gross proceeds of $18.9 million.
Trulieve and Acreage Holdings didn’t respond to press questions about the apparent lack of follow through on charity donations that were promised by business applicants for Connecticut medical cannabis licenses that the multi-state firms later acquired.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
