Newsletter
Democrats talk cannabis at convention (Newsletter: August 22, 2024)
GOP senators: Marijuana a “gateway drug”; FL gov homegrow dispute; NY cannabis environmental plan; CO psychedelics education
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going.
Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Marijuana Moment spoke to several lawmakers at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with one senator saying that Kamala Harris as president will “be ready to sign” any cannabis reform bills sent to her desk.
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rick Scott (R-FL) said they believe marijuana is a “gateway drug”—and a number of other GOP senators are also expressing concerns about cannabis legalization and rescheduling.
A top staffer for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the CEO of marijuana company Trulieve are feuding over the lack of home cultivation provisions in the cannabis legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot.
The New York Office of Cannabis Management is rolling out a broad new plan to encourage environmental sustainability and set energy use standards within the state’s legal marijuana industry.
The South Dakota legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee heard testimony about concerns that the availability of intoxicating hemp-derived products is undercutting medical cannabis sales.
Colorado health care providers say education will be key to the success of the state’s new psychedelics program.
/ FEDERAL
Former President Donald Trump spoke about his decision not to use alcohol or other drugs due to seeing his brother’s struggles with addiction, adding that interviewer Theo Von’s use of cocaine was “down and dirty.”
The National Institutes of Health published an overview of recent research on how psilocybin alters brain activity.
The Environmental Protection Agency said public comments about Arizona’s legalization of marijuana are not germane to a rule about the state’s air quality plan.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said marijuana rescheduling “should come from Congress, because you don’t want to hang your hat on a single administration because a future administration could change the rules and change classifications.”
/ STATES
An Oklahoma representative raised concerns that medical cannabis regulatory employees were potentially improperly laid off after blowing the whistle on “shady purchasing practices.”
A California assemblymember said legislation he sponsored is enabling law enforcement to seize illegal cannabis.
Colorado regulators filed proposed psychedelics fee rules.
Virginia regulators published resources on cannabis for young adults.
An Ohio State Police official discussed the importance of educating people about the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana as legalization rolls out.
The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board will meet on Friday.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
The Broward County, Florida state attorney endorsed the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
Oregon counties will be taking differing approaches to enforcement when the repeal of the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization law takes effect on September 1.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The U.S. government sanctioned former Haitian President Michel Martelly for allegedly using his influence to facilitate drug trafficking.
A new German law setting a standard for marijuana-impaired driving takes effect on Thursday.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found “higher cannabis use among [hidradenitis suppurativa] patients, demonstrating efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life.”
A study concluded that “1-month oral treatment with [cannabis oil] is effective to reduce hypertrophy, improve the mitochondrial pool and increase the antioxidant capacity in [spontaneously hypertensive rat] hearts.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Service Employees International Union Florida endorsed the marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot.
A leader of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana authored an op-ed arguing that former President Donald Trump would not politically benefit by endorsing cannabis reform.
/ BUSINESS
New York legal marijuana sales have now surpassed $500 million.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
