Newsletter
Changes in cannabis questions for fed hiring up for WH approval (Newsletter: February 28, 2023)
PA GOP senator: change gun form marijuana question; OK GOP: vote against legalization; Study: CBD can help reduce cigarette smoking; Expungement op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Office of Personnel Management is seeking White House approval for proposed changes to federal hiring practices that would treat past marijuana use by applicants much more leniently than current policy does.
The Oklahoma Republican Party is urging voters to reject the cannabis legalization initiative on next week’s ballot, calling it “a cornucopia that provides only delights for the marijuana user to the detriment of other citizens.” U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) also spoke out against the measure.
A Pennsylvania Republican senator is asking the head of the State Police to consider changing a question on the gun license form that asks if an applicant is an “unlawful user of marijuana” in light of a recent federal court ruling on the issue.
Illinois lawmakers formed a new cannabis working group that they say will focus on steering industry expansion in a business-friendly way while also meeting the equity goals of the state’s legalization law.
A new study concluded that “significant inhibition of nicotine metabolism pathways by CBD and 7-OH-CBD suggests that cannabinoids may inhibit nicotine metabolism, potentially impacting tobacco addiction and cessation.”
- “You don’t need much CBD to see the effect,” one of the researchers said.
Last Prisoner Project staffers write in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that record clearance and resentencing provisions of the cannabis legalization initiative on Oklahoma’s March 7 ballot represent key components that must be included in any reform—even as they point out areas where the measure can be improved.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Sentencing Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to rules on marijuana criminal history and other issues on March 7 and 8.
The National Institute of Justice tweeted about crime labs’ challenge in differentiating legal hemp from illegal marijuana.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) tweeted about meeting with members of the Latino Cannabis Association.
Former Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) tweeted, “It is more important than ever to stay on the pulse of the electorate. @CPEARCoalition’s new polling shows 2/3 of likely Republican voters support ending the federal prohibition on cannabis.”
/ STATES
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) tweeted, “While we have accomplished a lot, there is still work to be done — like expanding Medicaid and broadband access, legalizing medical marijuana and immediately #AxingYourTaxes.”
Former Oklahaoma Gov. Frank Keating (R) authored an op-ed urging voters to reject the marijuana legalization initiative on the March 7 ballot.
Utah lawmakers sent Gov. Spencer Cox (R) a bill to make changes to medical cannabis rules, including by adding PTSD as a qualifying condition.
North Carolina’s House speaker said he thinks a medical cannabis bill will have more support in his chamber this session.
Maryland’s House speaker tweeted about discussing cannabis equity issues with Martin Luther King III.
The Connecticut legislature’s Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a bill concerning resentencing people with cannabis convictions on Wednesday.
A New Mexico senator joked that marijuana should be made the official aroma of the state.
Here’s a look at where South Dakota marijuana reform bills stand this session.
Iowa regulators rejected a petition to allow vaporizable flower in the state’s limited medical cannabidiol program.
Colorado regulators published a compliance tip about medical cannabis tracking system requirements.
New York’s chief cannabis equity officer spoke about the rollout of legal recreational marijuana sales, suggesting that the next dispensary will open in Astoria, Queens.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Restoration Grant Program is making available $20 million in funding for remediation, habitat enhancement and conservation projects, and to assist small marijuana cultivators become fully licensed.
Nevada regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Tuesday.
Washington State regulators will begin accepting applications for cannabis social equity retail licenses on Wednesday.
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/ LOCAL
The New York City mayor’s office tweeted, “The NYC Sheriff’s Office is a critical partner in our crackdown on unlicensed cannabis stores. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cannabis plants and edibles have been removed from stores this month — and we’re not stopping there.”
Jersey City, New Jersey officials will host a cannabis job fair on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Spanish Medicines Agency notified the International Narcotics Control Board that the country intends to quadruple medical cannabis production this year.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “mechanistic evidence provided by pre-clinical research shows great potential for CBD as a much-needed improvement in the clinical treatment of” traumatic brain injury.
A study found that “acute psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility in rats.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The West Virginia Democratic Party posted a video of testimony from a representative of the First West Virginia Church of Cannabis in support of a religious freedom bill.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs and Columbia Care Inc. agreed to extend the deadline for the former company to complete its acquisition of the latter from March 31 to June 30.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $70.5 million.
/ CULTURE
Major League Baseball executives will participate in a panel at the NoCo Hemp Expo on March 29.
Ric Flair reportedly said he will be the face of a cannabis product to treat erectile dysfunction.
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