Newsletter
Cannabis banking to Senate floor soon (Newsletter: September 28, 2023)
OH marijuana poll; House caucus pushes hemp fix in Farm Bill; MA psychedelics ballot push; Study: Legalization didn’t increase youth use
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Senate Banking Committee approved a marijuana banking bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has pledged to bring it to the floor along with amendments on expungements and gun rights for cannabis consumers.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer Schumer (D-NY) said he will bring the committee-approved marijuana banking bill to the floor “very soon”—but a group of Republican senators say they will fight to kill the measure.
A bipartisan group of 22 state attorneys general sent a letter urging congressional leaders to pass the marijuana banking bill, which they say will bolster public safety and aid states’ ability to collect tax revenue.
The New Democrat Coalition—a pro-business, center-left group of nearly 100 House Democratic lawmakers—is calling on Congress to use the next Farm Bill to reduce regulatory burdens on industrial hemp growers.
A new poll found that Ohio likely voters support the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot, 59 percent to 36 percent.
Massachusetts activists filed two versions of a psychedelics legalization ballot initiative—one allowing home cultivation and one not—and after conducting polling they are pursuing the more expansive measure that will let people grow their own entheogenic plants and fungi.
A new study published by the American Medical Association examined whether Canada’s legalization of marijuana affected use rates among high-risk young adults, finding that “rather than detecting increases, however, the results revealed decreases overall.”
- “This study aligns with research from U.S. jurisdictions which have largely found that legalization has not drastically altered consumption patterns among youths and young adults.”
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R), Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) and Secretary of State Bob Evnen (R) said they oppose Democratic senators’ request to provide a “streamlined” process to mass pardon marijuana convictions.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said on the Senate floor that he knows a couple whose daughter died after smoking fentanyl-laced marijuana.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about growing support for marijuana policy reform.
The Senate marijuana banking bill got 10 new cosponsors for a total of 22.
The House bill to federally legalize marijuana got 10 new cosponsors for a total of 56.
/ STATES
The Montana legislature’s Economic Affairs Interim Committee held a hearing on the state’s marijuana program.
A Pennsylvania senator tweeted, “We’re gearing up to pass Adult Use in Pennsylvania. We might be slow but we’re going to get it right.”
The Minnesota representative who sponsored the bill that created the state’s marijuana legalization law says the top regulator for the program needs to have a strong regulatory background.
Michigan regulators issued a bulletin about a recall of marijuana products due to non-compliant creation and packaging.
New York’s top marijuana regulator said he expects the state to issue more than 1,000 marijuana business licenses in a coming application round.
Massachusetts regulators pushed back on lawmakers’ claims about “scandals” with their oversight of the marijuana industry.
Rhode Island regulators published a bulletin on warnings required to be displayed at medical cannabis businesses.
Minnesota regulators said the state now has 1,250 registered hemp product businesses.
Oregon officials are ending two grants funded by the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization law.
Alaska’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Marijuana will meet on Tuesday.
Washington State regulators will host discussions on rulemaking concerning cannabis samples on October 6 and 11.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
Bell County, Texas officials are urging a court not to hold oral arguments on its lawsuit that seeks to overturn Killeen’s voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law.
The St. Paul, Minnesota City Council voted to ban marijuana and tobacco smoking in city parks and within 25 feet of public buildings and workplaces.
Detroit, Michigan police raided a self-described “psychedelic church.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Victoria, Australia Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on proposals to reduce hemp industry regulations.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “marijuana use one to six times/week was inversely related to the risk of kidney stones in males.”
A review concluded that psychedelic-assisted therapy “could offer an effective and safe alternative in treating many disorders, including various substance use disorders, PTSD and comorbid conditions, Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Major Depressive Disorder (MMD) as well as depression and anxiety in life threatening diseases.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Ohio Republican Party’s chairman criticized activists behind a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
/ BUSINESS
TILT Holdings Inc. has a new permanent CEO and board chair.
4Front Ventures Corp. is launching a program to allow dispensary customers to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar to donate to The Weldon Project and Mission [Green].
The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. changed its OTC Market ticker symbol to “CBSTF.”
MediPharm Labs Corp. launched medical cannabis products in the Australian market.
/ CULTURE
Amy Sedaris spoke about using cannabis with Andy Cohen.
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