Newsletter
Cannabis doesn’t drive car crashes, study finds (Newsletter: February 6, 2024)
PA legalization hearing; MD marijuana odor; RI psilocybin; FDA hemp feed rec approved; Killer Mike: Cannabis industry as reparations
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A bipartisan group of 50 House and Senate lawmakers sent a letter demanding Attorney General Merrick Garland answer questions about the potential link between state marijuana legalization and the “proliferation” of illicit cannabis farms linked to the Chinese Community Party—including whether the operators have bank accounts.
The Pennsylvania House Health Subcommittee on Health Care held the latest in a series of hearings on marijuana legalization—taking testimony from cannabis businesses on issues such as market launch timing, equity and taxes.
The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee held a hearing on bills to protect gun rights for medical cannabis patients and repeal a current law that prevents police from conducting searches of vehicles based on the smell of marijuana.
The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill that would temporarily legalize possession, home cultivation and sharing of psilocybin.
A Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine recommendation to allow the use of hemp seed meal as animal feed for egg-laying hens was approved by an Association of American Feed Control Officials committee.
The Osseo, Minnesota City Council is considering a proposal to authorize the state’s first government-owned marijuana dispensary.
A new study concluded that marijuana use “was not associated with higher odds of” motor vehicle collisions—but alcohol drinking was.
- “In fact, high self-reported acute cannabis use was associated with lower odds” of car crashes.
A new study found that eight in 10 Canadians believe psilocybin-assisted therapy is “a reasonable medical choice” to treat existential dread at the end of one’s life.
Rapper Killer Mike said Black people should be given control over the marijuana industry as a form of reparations—jokingly asking New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) to call Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) about securing a cannabis license for the rapper, who lives in Atlanta.
/ FEDERAL
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow authored a blog post on the need to end stigma for drug misuse issues, saying that “even if medical science has changed its views on addiction, policies and social structures have been slower in following the science toward a public health-based approach.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned a lower court ruling that had cleared Los Angeles County, California child and family services officials of intentional infliction of emotional distress and judicial deception claims brought by parents who sued after their daughter was removed from their custody due to their using medical cannabis to treat her severe autism.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) tweeted, “Keeping marijuana classified as a Schedule I drug is increasingly out of step with medical research, state law, and public opinion. That’s why I joined 11 of my colleagues to call on the Biden administration to deschedule and legalize marijuana altogether.”
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) tweeted, “Criminalizing marijuana at a federal level harms our communities, contradicts state laws, and is out of step with public opinion. That’s why I joined my colleagues @SenWarren and @SenFettermanPA in urging the Biden Administration to deschedule marijuana entirely.”
Texas Republican congressional candidate Jose-Sanz was arrested for marijuana possession in 2012.
/ STATES
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) tweeted, “We need to decriminalize medical marijuana so Kansans with chronic pain and disorders like PTSD don’t have to suffer. Providing this relief is long overdue and would also boost our economy — it’s time to work together and get this done.”
Georgia’s agriculture commissioner is calling on lawmakers to pass legislation restricting consumable hemp products.
Members of the New York Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis sent a letter urging regulators to “do better” at launching recreational marijuana sales.
The South Dakota Senate Health and Human Services Committee rejected a bill to restrict medical cannabis use by people on probation or conditional release.
A Tennessee representative filed legislation that would put nonbinding marijuana advisory questions on the November ballot.
A Virginia Republican senator sent a press release claiming that “Democrats produced our current crisis by decriminalizing marijuana.”
A Hawaii senator said that “possibly the cure for cancer can be found in cannabis, and it’s certainly helping people with PTSD, stress, pain relief.”
Illinois regulators posted revised cannabis rules.
The Colorado Tourism Office is now including cannabis content in its promotional material.
Massachusetts regulators published a bulletin about safety and sanitary requirements for marijuana processing.
California regulators posted a new form for cannabis surety bonds.
New Jersey regulators posted updates on the medical cannabis program.
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/ LOCAL
Denton, Texas activists are seeking to intervene in the state attorney general’s lawsuit against the city’s marijuana decriminalization law.
The Nome, Alaska Common Council rejected a proposal to ban drive-through and curbside sales of marijuana products.
Albany County, New York lawmakers are proposing to create a task force to focus on directing marijuana revenue to communities harmed by criminalization.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was mailed cannabis by activists.
Ukrainian and German officials met to discuss cannabis issues.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabis may help cancer patients and survivors manage symptoms.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s president and CEO spoke about the decision to allow hemp-derived beverage brands to exhibit at the organization’s conference.
The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board is calling on city officials to provide treatment on demand for substance misuse issues.
/ CULTURE
Singer Michael Buble said he was on psilocybin when selecting players for his team at the NHL’s All-Star weekend.
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