Newsletter
Cannabis is more accepted in sports, NFL study says (Newsletter: August 26, 2024)
Cornel West: Dems must “follow through” on marijuana; MO THC expungements; Ventura boycotts MN State Fair over cannabis ban
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen.
If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Independent presidential candidate Cornel West told Marijuana Moment that Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats “gotta follow through” on marijuana legalization. Ending the broader drug war should “absolutely” be part of her agenda, he said.
Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is calling on marijuana consumers to boycott the State Fair due to its ban of on-site cannabis use despite allowing alcohol and tobacco. He also told Marijuana Moment in an interview that if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz run on cannabis legalization it would “help ensure their victory” in November.
The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District ruled that officials must expunge convictions for possessing THC, just as they must do for records concerning marijuana itself, under the state’s voter-approved legalization law.
A new study funded by the National Football League says moves by sports associations to lower marijuana penalties “signal a shift in the acceptability of cannabinoid use in athletics”—but that ongoing federal prohibition has “hampered” research on the benefits and risks.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s treasurer is pushing for a forensic audit of the agency amid its several ongoing challenges.
A new lawsuit accuses Jersey City, New Jersey’s mayor of firing police officers for off-duty marijuana use in contravention of state law as a “ruse” to get attention for his gubernatorial campaign.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article about a study concluding that daily marijuana use increases the risk of head and neck cancers.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) discussed his support for marijuana rescheduling and cannabis banking legislation.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) tweeted, “Recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states. Federal law needs to catch up. The SAFE Banking Act is a commonsense measure to ensure that entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry have access to our financial system, just like any other business in any other regulated industry.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tweeted, “Hemp is vital to our economy. We won’t let overregulation stifle the industry either.”
/ STATES
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) touted a decline in drug overdose deaths in the state.
Missouri’s secretary of state is reviewing an emergency rule to implement Gov. Mike Parson’s (R) executive order banning intoxicating hemp products.
A Minnesota representative whose romantic partner established a cannabis business while she sponsored legislation to reform marijuana laws denied wrongdoing.
The Vermont Supreme Court denied an appeal from a former transit worker who is seeking unemployment benefits after he says he was improperly fired for medical cannabis use.
California regulators sent an advisory about a recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus.
Montana regulators adopted rules on marijuana sampling protocols and quality assurance testing requirements.
Nevada regulators awarded six additional cannabis consumption lounge permits.
Utah regulators published guidance on the medical cannabis provider electronic verification system.
The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday.
—
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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
The Oakland, California Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on September 5.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Bahamian agriculture and marine resources minister said the government will take steps to address the Rastafarian community’s concerns about recently passed cannabis legislation.
Antigua and Barbuda’s government is moving to amend cannabis legislation to include fines for public smoking.
Canada’s Federal Court ruled that British Columbia’s minister of mental health and addictions should be a respondent to a lawsuit challenging the province’s decision to scale back its drug decriminalization policy.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “THC:CBD is an effective adjunct for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting despite standard antiemetic prophylaxis, but was associated with additional adverse events.”
A study found that “one in 3 orthopaedic trauma patients used medical cannabis” and that “patients considered cannabis could potentially be an effective option for managing traumatic [musculoskeletal] pain and believed that cannabis could reduce opioid usage following acute musculoskeletal trauma.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Ohio Bankers League said it has “never been more important for Congress” to pass marijuana banking legislation as recreational cannabis sales launch in the state.
The New York Post editorial board is criticizing state officials for moving to relax minimum distance rules between marijuana dispensaries.
/ BUSINESS
The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. entered into definitive agreements to divest its Florida assets.
Canadian retailers sold C$402 million worth of legal marijuana products in June.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
