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DEA says novel cannabinoids are banned (Newsletter: February 14, 2023)
Senate veterans marijuana bill vote; CO gov touts cannabis vending machine; HI psychedelics bill advances; WA marijuana regulator drug policy
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Drug Enforcement Administration said in a new letter that it considers delta-8 THCO and delta-9 THCO to be illegal controlled substances even when synthesized from legal hemp plants.
The U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on a bill to mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs study the effects of marijuana on military veterans with PTSD and chronic pain on Thursday.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is promoting the state’s first marijuana vending machine.
The Hawaii Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to create a new Beneficial Treatments Advisory Council to study the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and MDMA and create a “long-term strategic plan to ensure the availability” of the psychedelics.
The Minnesota House Human Services Policy Committee and Senate Transportation Committee both amended and approved companion marijuana legalization bills.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is reviewing a policy that says its enforcement officers can’t have used marijuana within the past three years—but allows them to drink alcohol—a tougher restriction than Seattle Police or State Patrol officers face.
A Louisiana representative filed a package of marijuana legalization and regulation bills.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting an event on “the importance of cultural competence and cultural humility in preventing drug use and misuse” on Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency tweeted, “Hemp offers new economic opportunities for America’s farmers, and we are pleased to offer coverage to hemp producers.”
/ STATES
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said that “if you’re going to have a war on drugs, which is this thing we’ve been doing in our country since the 1970s and 80s, it can become a war on people who have a health issue.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said that fentanyl is being mixed into marijuana.
The Colorado attorney general’s office is reportedly involved in an effort to define limits on possession and home cultivation of psychedelics.
The Utah Senate approved a bill to make changes to medical cannabis rules.
Oklahoma House and Senate leaders discussed medical cannabis and the marijuana legalization initiative on the March ballot.
Kansas House Democrats included marijuana legalization in their policy platform for the new session. Separately, senators introduced a medical cannabis bill focused on access for military members and veterans.
A spokesperson for Pennsylvania House Democrats said that “any expansion of the marijuana industry for adult use would need to emphasize health and safety, social justice, and equity, as well as supporting the industry’s workforce.”
The Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee defeated a bill that would have deemed drivers with small amounts of THC in their systems guilty of driving while intoxicated and granted police the power to search vehicles based on the smell of marijuana in certain circumstances.
The New Jersey Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee held a hearing on economic incentives for the cannabis industry.
The Georgia Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs held a hearing on a bill to prohibit the purchase of hemp products to individuals under eighteen years old.
A Massachusetts representative discussed her psychedelics legalization bill.
A typo in New York law is complicating efforts to get relief for prior marijuana convictions.
The director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission resigned following reports that he and other top managers reserved bottles of rare alcohol for themselves and friends.
Ohio regulators are accepting public comments about adding irritable bowel syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
Nevada regulators discovered additional cannabis products treated with an unapproved pesticide.
Alabama regulators are asking some medical cannabis business license applicants to fix deficiencies with their submissions.
Michigan regulators published a monthly report on disciplinary actions taken against marijuana businesses.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s mayor authored an op-ed about his “vision of safety, equity and justice” in the cannabis industry.
An initiative on the San Antonio, Texas May ballot to decriminalize marijuana and block enforcement of abortion laws is facing a legal challenge before the state Supreme Court.
Islip, New York is being sued by a former park ranger who says he was improperly fired for texting his wife about her medical cannabis use.
/ INTERNATIONAL
British Columbia, Canada’s premier defended the province’s drug strategy from criticism.
A Mexican senator who previously served as interior secretary said she is optimistic about advancing marijuana legalization legislation this session.
Sri Lanka’s Department of Ayurveda is taking legal action against manufacturers of a marijuana-infused chocolates being marketed around Valentine’s Day.
A Kenyan lawmaker tweeted, “World economy runs on gold, petroleum and hemp (bhang). Kenya and the wider Africa must legalize and begin farming industrial and medicinal hemp/bhang! Let’s legalize the weed and free Africa economies from debts!”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “restrictions on medical cannabis purchase and possession force many patients to choose between effectively treating their health condition and breaking the law, despite the drug being legal for medicinal use in their state.”
A case study examined the experience of “a 22-year-old mare suffering from chronic crib-biting and wind-sucking, and the successful outcome of four weeks-therapy with CBD.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of New Jersey adults found that their top priorities for investing cannabis revenue are education and public health initiatives.
The New York State Bar Association is hosting an event on regulation of hemp-based cannabinoids on Wednesday.
/ BUSINESS
Forian Inc. is selling its cannabis software subsidiary, Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. (d/b/a BioTrack), to Alleaves, Inc.
Ayr Wellness Inc. has a new CEO.
Chippewa Valley Bank is being sued by Native American cultural and religious center Mashkikii-Boodawaaning Inc., also known as Medicine Fireplace, for allegedly improperly refusing to open a checking account over its members ritual and sacramental use of peyote.
Gaize, Inc. launched what it calls a “first-of-its-kind fully automated, non-invasive and portable eye movement test” to screen for impairment from cannabis and other drugs.
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