Newsletter
Cannabis legalization passed by MN House (Newsletter: April 26, 2023)
CO psychedelics bills approved; HI marijuana clemency reso; NV Assembly pushes fed descheduling; TX cannabis decrim vote; NY banking hearing
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a marijuana legalization bill. Senate companion legislation is scheduled for its final committee stop on Wednesday and is expected to head to the floor in that chamber by the end of the week.
The Colorado Senate passed a bill to regulate psychedelics under a voter-approved legalization law—adopting another handful of amendments on the floor in addition to ones that were approved earlier in committees..
The Hawaii legislature passed a concurrent resolution calling on Gov. Josh Green (D) to create a clemency program for people with prior marijuana convictions on their records.
The Nevada Assembly passed a resolution urging Congress to federally legalize marijuana.
The Texas House of Representatives will vote on a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession on Wednesday—and the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee will also hold a hearing on separate broader legislation to legalize and regulate cannabis sales.
New York Assembly committees scheduled a joint hearing on marijuana banking issues.
/ FEDERAL
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation tweeted about its John R. Lewis Social Justice Cannabis Fellows who are supported by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.
Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) tweeted, “We cannot legalize marijuana and run rampant sports gambling and hard liquor ads while broader addiction and overdose rates remain unacceptably high. We are pouring gasoline on the fire.”
/ STATES
A former Michigan House speaker pleaded guilty in a federal bribery case concerning the state’s marijuana business licensing process.
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader tweeted, “As Minnesota continues to take action to legalize marijuana, we can’t even get a public hearing on a bill here in Wisconsin.”
The Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee rejected a marijuana legalization bill.
Missouri regulators detailed plans to issue cannabis microbusiness licenses.
Vermont regulators posted information about upcoming deadlines for marijuana cultivation license applications.
West Virginia regulators posted a list of licensed hemp businesses.
Georgia regulators will consider issuing medical cannabis business licenses on Wednesday.
New York officials will host a cannabis career event on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Jefferson County, Washington Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution to make psychedelics among the lowest law enforcement priorities next week.
Harker Heights, Texas officials are being accused of making misleading statements about a voter-approved local marijuana decriminalization law.
The St. Louis County, Missouri Council is considering a measure to add marijuana to the indoor public smoking ban.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Italian military halted its production of medical cannabis due to a “chronic shortage of personnel.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabidiol treatment shows therapeutic efficacy in a rodent model of social transfer of pain.”
A review concluded that “retrospective clinical studies support antiviral activities of CBD, Δ9-THC, and cannabinoid mixtures as do some prospective clinical trials, but appropriately designed clinical trials of safety and efficacy of antiviral cannabinoids are urgently needed.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of New Jersey adults found that they support allowing marijuana dispensaries to operate where they live, 53 percent to 39 percent, that 48 percent offering cannabis attractions like consumption lounges or other experiences and that 54 percent opposed the ban on marijuana consumption lounges selling food, among other findings.
/ BUSINESS
Schwazze is acquiring certain assets of Sucellus, LLC.
Nabis said it is opening the “largest cannabis-dedicated distribution warehouse in the world” in Tulare County, California.
Stiiizy is offering to hire every Burger King employee who was laid off after a Michigan franchise owner closed 26 locations.
Agrify Corporation received a notification that it is not in compliance with Nasdq’s requirement to timely file an annual report.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
