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CO online cannabis sales bill signed by gov (Newsletter: June 5, 2023)
CA marijuana cafes bill passes; NV psychedelics vote; Hunter Biden lawyers cite cannabis & guns ruling; NJ equity licenses
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to legalize online marijuana sales.
The California Assembly passed a bill to legalize cannabis cafes—allowing marijuana retailers to sell foods and beverages along with having on-site consumption.
The Nevada Assembly Health and Human Services Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to create a Psychedelic Medicines Working Group charged with developing an “actionable plan on how to enable access” that is “safe, accessible and affordable.”
Hunter Biden’s lawyers have reportedly told Justice Department officials they will challenge the constitutionality of the ban on gun possession by people who use drugs if he is prosecuted—specifically citing a recent judge’s ruling concerning marijuana consumers that his father’s administration is appealing.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission voted to exclusively accept requests for certain marijuana business license categories from social equity applicants for a period of one year.
The Rhode Island Department of Health launched a new online medical cannabis registration system.
/ FEDERAL
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged a question about whether people who use illegal drugs should be able to possess guns.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’s determination that an El Salvadoran woman does not have “good moral character” and therefore should be denied naturalization due to operating a state-licensed marijuana business.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) tweeted, “Welcome to the club, Minnesota! As more and more states legalize adult-use cannabis, it’s time for Washington to pass our SAFE Banking Act and give legally operating cannabis stores the banking privileges afforded to every other business. Let’s get it done!”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said marijuana legalization has “not been a pretty picture.”
Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) sent a press release about their bill to loosen restrictions on some hemp growers.
/ STATES
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill to regulate kratom.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) ruled out taking action to advance marijuana reform, saying she will instead “keep pushing through the legislative process.”
The New Hampshire Senate approved a bill to legalize fentanyl and xylazine testing strips.
A North Carolina senator discussed legislation he is cosponsoring to legalize medical cannabis.
California regulators filed proposed changes to marijuana track and trace rules.
Oregon regulators are proposing rulemaking on CBN manufacturing.
Utah regulators filed changes to medical cannabis and hemp rules.
Colorado regulators issued additional information about reports of adverse health events allegedly related to the consumption of marijuana-infused products from Sima Sciences, LLC.
A Michigan judge lifted a ban on media attending court hearings in a lawsuit between a marijuana testing lab and regulators.
Arkansas regulators renewed a medical cannabis cultivation business’s permit. Separately, a company waging a lawsuit against that license’s awarding is arguing that the state attorney general should not be able to represent regulators in the case.
Ohio regulators posted updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
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/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado officials updated a list of neighborhoods with an “undue concentration” of marijuana businesses.
New York City’s top cannabis official said she “anticipated” the high amount of unlicensed marijuana sales taking place.
The Seattle, Washington City Council will consider a measure to locally criminalize drug possession and use on Tuesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne spoke about the country’s religious exemption to grow and use marijuana for members of the Rastafari faith.
Bern, Switzerland lawmakers approved a measure expressing support for a pilot project on controlled cocaine sales.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabinoids have been shown to safely offer important potential in treating motor symptoms in [Parkinson’s disease] and some non-motor symptoms.”
A study found that “cannabidiol-decorated berberine-loaded microemulsions improve [irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea] therapy.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Cannabis Industry Association reduced its staff by nearly half.
The Washington Examiner editorial board criticized the reform work of the Drug Policy Alliance, calling its staff “propagandists.”
/ BUSINESS
Acreage Holdings, Inc.’s CEO resigned.
Tilray Inc. is being sued by Docklight Brands, Inc. over its alleged reneging on a deal to sell Bob Marley-branded marijuana products.
HEXO Corp. closed the first of two tranches of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $11.5 million.
/ CULTURE
MMA fighter Nate Diaz suggested that his fight with Jake Paul be relocated outside of Texas due to the state’s marijuana testing rules.
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