Newsletter
DEA cannabis lawsuit dismissed but judge says rescheduling could be coming (Newsletter: August 31, 2021)
NY arrests drop bigtime; OH legalization cleared for sigs; MS official refuses to regulate medical marijuana; Ex-NFL player talks cannabis benefits
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s refusal to reschedule marijuana—but one judge said in a concurring opinion that cannabis may soon be reclassified anyway.
The Ohio Ballot Board cleared activists to begin collecting signatures for a proposed marijuana legalization initiative. An initial round of petitions will force lawmakers to consider the reform—and if they don’t pass it, more signatures will put it on the 2022 ballot.
New NYPD data shows that marijuana arrests have declined much more significantly in New York City than in other places that have previously legalized cannabis—likely thanks in large part to a unique provision of the law that allows public smoking.
Mississippi’s agriculture commissioner said he wants no part in regulating a federally illegal drug as lawmakers near a deal on medical cannabis legislation to replace the voter-approved measure that the Supreme Court overturned.
Former football player Steve Gleason, who has ALS, testified to Louisiana lawmakers about how medical marijuana saved him from a “downward spiral” of side effects from prescription medications.
/ FEDERAL
President Joe Biden is considering granting clemency to certain people with drug convictions who were released to home confinement so they don’t have to return to prison following the coronavirus pandemic.
Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Thomas McDermott Jr., currently the mayor of Hammond, said he supports legalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted that she’s “delivering on the issues that matter most to New Mexico’s young leaders: ✅ Legalized cannabis….”
Texas Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt tweeted, “Decriminalize marijuana. End the war on drugs. Repair the lives of black and brown people devastated by mass incarceration.”
New York’s Assembly majority leader and a top senator spoke about how Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is prioritizing marijuana legalization implementation.
A Mississippi senator said he told Gov. Tate Reeves (R) that he would be able to review a draft medical cannabis bill for a special session “soon.”
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in two cases in favor of a medical cannabis dispensary that converted to a for-profit business despite challenges from local officials and a competing operator.
Kansas regulators amended hemp rules.
Alaska regulators are proposing rules changes concerning the reinstatement of marijuana business licenses.
Utah regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program.
Oklahoma regulators published a list of licensed medical cannabis growers.
The South Dakota legislature’s Medical Marijuana Study Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday.
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/ LOCAL
The Oakland, California Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
A Seattle, Washington City Council member will participate in a symposium on decriminalizing psychedelics on September 8.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Taliban is moving to ban opium production in Afghanistan.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is directing local governments to ease restrictions on hemp.
Canadian politicians are discussing legalizing alkyl nitrite, also known as poppers.
A Malaysian lawmaker is calling on the government to legalize hemp and kratom.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study’s results “support the potential therapeutic utility of CBD in [Parkinson’s disease], as both neuroprotective and symptomatic agent.”
A study found that “hemp extract improves the natural immunity of bees.”
/ BUSINESS
HEXO Corp completed its acquisition of Redecan.
Harborside Inc. reported $15.4 in quarterly net revenue.
Red Light Holland Corp. and Creso Pharma Limited are terminating a planned merger.
Bexson Biomedical is working on developing wearable psychedelic delivery devices.
Denver, Colorado’s Patterson Inn, which has an allegedly haunted past, plans to apply for a marijuana hospitality license.
/ CULTURE
The Nib published a Box Brown editorial cartoon on corporate cannabis prices.
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