Newsletter
Cannabis can help ease skin diseases, study says (Newsletter: August 28, 2023)
Bahamas legalization plan; USDA hemp advisors; Trump drug czar on kratom; MO marijuana rule for foster parents; Faith leaders back safe injection site
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Government officials in the Bahamas unveiled a plan to legalize marijuana for medical, religious and scientific use.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative doubled the number of hemp industry representatives on federal trade advisory committees.
Former Trump White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director James Carroll revealed how top federal officials intervened when the Food and Drug Administration tried to ban kratom—criticizing the agency’s “bias” and stopping it “on the spot” from moving ahead with scheduling.
The Missouri Department of Social Services adopted an emergency rule clarifying that foster parents are allowed to possess and grow marijuana inside of their homes—with some limitations on where they can smoke or vape it.
Only about one in 10 Ohio prosecutors plans to utilize a recently enacted law letting them independently seal low-level drug conviction records—and most of those say they’d focus on marijuana-related offenses, according to an Ohio State University survey.
A coalition of 35 Christian and Jewish faith leaders filed a brief asking a federal court to keep alive a lawsuit that seeks to let a safe consumption site for illegal drugs begin operations amid a Department of Justice effort to have it dismissed.
A new scientific review concluded that minor cannabinoids produced by hemp and marijuana—like THCV, CBDV, CBC, CBM and CBN—can ease symptoms of “dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and pruritus.”
An Alabama judge rejected medical cannabis regulators’ request to postpone a hearing in a lawsuit challenging their business licensing process so that they could decide on winners for a third time in an open meeting.
New data from the Arizona Department of Revenue shows that legal marijuana sales in the state began to slip toward the end of spring.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General issued a memo outlining concerns about the Drug Enforcement Administration’s use of polygraph examinations in pre-employment vetting.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) again spoke about fentanyl-laced marijuana.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) tweeted, “In Minnesota, we’re righting the wrongs of a broken system. Legalizing adult-use of cannabis is a significant step towards ending unjust incarcerations and addressing the racial disparities that have plagued our communities for far too long.”
The House bill to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of eight.
/ STATES
A Minnesota representative posted an article about the growing movement to legalize psychedelics in the state.
A New York judge kept in place a temporary restraining order preventing regulators from issuing additional marijuana dispensary licenses, but is allowing 30 licensees to move ahead with opening their operations.
Alabama regulators posted the scores it used to award medical cannabis business licenses. Meanwhile, a judge is considering an amended lawsuit that seeks to overturn all of the state’s medical marijuana regulations.
New Mexico marijuana regulators are asking lawmakers to change rules on background checks, plant counts and education.
Oregon regulators are resuming minor decoy operations at marijuana and alcohol businesses.
Ohio regulators released updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
The Colorado Cultivation, Manufacturing, & Testing Standards Work Group will meet on Thursday.
California Cannabis Advisory Committee subcommittees will meet September 5-7.
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/ LOCAL
The St. Louis, Missouri Board of Alderman president is working on legislation to allow marijuana social use lounges.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Germany’s health minister taped an interview about marijuana legalization with the rapper SIdo.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported that the number of people detained for cannabis offenses declined last year.
A former Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada mayor discussed the city’s drug decriminalization trial.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabidiol attenuates nicotine self-administration in mice.”
A review concluded that “MDMA assisted psychotherapy decreases PTSD symptoms, dissociation, functional disability, and depression.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Albany Times Union editorial board is calling on New York officials to address what it sees as shortcomings in the state’s marijuana laws.
The Houston Chronicle editorial board is pushing for harm reduction approaches to drugs.
/ BUSINESS
Glass House Brands Inc. completed the first tranche of a $15 million series D preferred stock offering.
Acreage Holdings announced that a former Canadian prime minister and the company’s former CEO resigned from its board of directors.
Mississippi dispensaries sold $4.4 million worth of medical cannabis products in July.
/ CULTURE
Shaggy pushed back against a rumor that he drinks marijuana-infused tea.
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