Newsletter
DEA ordered to address new cannabis rescheduling accusations (Newsletter: January 9, 2025)
Court strikes marijuana user gun ban; NY cannabis lounges; FL medical marijuana patient rights; Ukraine medical cannabis; CBD tampon pulled off market
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A Drug Enforcement Administration judge ordered the agency to respond to new allegations that it actually opposes the marijuana rescheduling proposal it is supposed to defend and that it had improper communications with opponents of the reform.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has again ruled that the federal ban on gun ownership by people who occasionally use marijuana is unconstitutional.
A New York assemblymember filed a bill to allow on-site marijuana consumption businesses to sell foods and drinks and host live performances such as concerts—though it’s not clear when regulators plan to license the first such facilities.
A Florida senator introduced a bill to protect medical cannabis patients’ parental rights by clarifying that courts can’t deny custody “based solely on the parent’s status as a qualified patient” and that using medical marijuana doesn’t constitute “neglect or child endangerment.”
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanyshyna announced that officials have given final approval to the first medical cannabis products under the country’s new legalization law.
A company that makes CBD tampons is pulling them from the U.S. market after the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter asserting that the “adulterated” products are not approved for sale in the U.S. and are being “misbranded” due to the addition of the cannabinoid.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said he’s “tremendously disappointed” by the failure of a bill to restrict intoxicating hemp products amid Democratic infighting, saying it was “irresponsible” of the House speaker not to bring it to a vote.
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and Department of Revenue are now accepting license applications for psychedelic healing centers and other business categories, as well as for facilitators to conduct psilocybin sessions.
/ FEDERAL
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow authored a blog post about the agency’s 50th anniversary.
/ STATES
An Ohio senator said that “improving the adult-use marijuana law” and “keeping intoxicating substances away from our children” are priorities for the new session.
A Mississippi representative suggested that medical cannabis patients should generally not experience problems with gun rights as long as they are being discreet.
A Florida appeals court ruled that a drug-sniffing dog’s alert did not justify a police search of a vehicle because it could not differentiate between legal medical cannabis and illegal marijuana.
Virginia’s hemp product restriction law is not preempted by the federal Farm Bill, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled.
Massachusetts’s incoming top marijuana regulator spoke about his plans for the role.
Rhode Island regulators filed proposed marijuana rules.
The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability posted cannabis revenue data.
Kentucky officials are reminding people that it is still illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana in light of the state’s new medical cannabis law.
New Jersey regulators published an overview of their cannabis work in 2024.
Montana regulators sent a marijuana newsletter with updates on various issues.
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/ LOCAL
Colorado Springs, Colorado officials released draft recreational marijuana sales rules.
Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Argentinian officials approved new medical cannabis and hemp rules.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study suggested that “CBD is a non-toxic product with antibacterial and antibiofilm potential, exhibiting promise as a therapeutic alternative for oral diseases.”
A study found that “cannabis sativa alleviates experimentally acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.”
/ BUSINESS
Amplify ETFs announced the liquidation of the Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF.
SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a/ Safe Harbor Financial announced a four-year extension and modification of its commercial alliance agreement with Partner Colorado Credit Union.
Missouri retailers sold $130.9 million worth of legal marijuana products in December.
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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
