Newsletter
DOJ extends cannabis pardon app comment period (Newsletter: July 19, 2023)
Luxembourg legalization; NYC marijuana equity loans; Study: Cannabis benefits veterans; ME rep talks marijuana wins this session
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Luxembourg’s Ministry of Justice announced that a law legalizing possession and personal cultivation of marijuana will take effect on Friday.
The Department of Justice is extending a public comment period on application forms people can fill out to receive certificates showing their federal marijuana possession convictions were pardoned by President Joe Biden.
Maine Rep. David Boyer (R), who previously led a ballot campaign to legalize cannabis in the state, spoke to Marijuana Moment about his legislative wins as a freshman lawmaker—including new laws on gun rights, home grow and bail reform for cannabis consumers.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation is launching a new Cannabis NYC Loan Fund to support marijuana businesses owned and operated by social and economic equity applicants.
A new study involving military veterans found that medical cannabis “was reported to improve quality of life and reduce unwanted medication use”—indicating that it can “play a harm-reduction role, helping veterans to use fewer pharmaceutical medications.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) appointed leadership for the new Office of Social Equity that was created by the state’s marijuana legalization law and named members to the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council.
The family of American citizen Marc Fogel, who is jailed in Russia for possessing medical cannabis he used to treat chronic pain, is stepping up its push for the Biden administration and Congress to do more to free him.
/ FEDERAL
Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a meeting with several state attorneys general to discuss efforts to combat fentanyl.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is accepting public comments on a draft Harm Reduction Framework it developed.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) responded to a tweet from rapper Wiz Khalifa saying he was going to “stoned af and throw this first pitch at the pirates game” by posting a photo of himself holding a 420 flag.
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 62.
The House bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got one new cosponsor for a total of 22.
The House bill to regulate CBD-infused foods got one new cosponsor for a total of 10.
/ STATES
Details of a forthcoming Massachusetts psychedelics reform ballot initiative are emerging.
Arkansas’s House speaker appointed a new member to the Medical Marijuana Commission.
The chairman of Pennsylvania’s House Health Committee included marijuana legalization in a list of issues his panel is considering.
A New York senator sent a letter urging regulators to take action against unlicensed marijuana sellers.
Alaska regulators adopted rules on exterior window pickup at marijuana dispensaries.
Utah regulators filed changes to rules on cannabinoid product registration and labeling.
Colorado regulators are considering proposed rule recommendations to establish and amend fees required for marijuana business applications, renewals, licenses and permits.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation defended its decision to deny a man’s gun license renewal as a result of his medical cannabis use, citing federal law.
Michigan regulators published an advisory bulletin on regulatory assessments for marijuana licenses.
New Jersey regulators approved additional marijuana business licenses.
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/ LOCAL
The Manhattan, New York City district attorney reached a non-prosecution agreement with the owner of unlicensed marijuana shops under which he will pay and forfeit more than $400,000 in taxes and proceeds from illegal sales.
The Columbia, Missouri City Council voted to allow microbusinesses to sell recreational marijuana.
Denver, Colorado officials posted a list of nonprofits, business improvement districts, registered neighborhood organizations and community organizations that cannabis businesses can partner with to fulfill social impact plan requirements.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Appeals judges for the International Criminal Court ruled that an investigation into the bloody Philippine “drug war” can resume.
Ontario, Canada’s premier said Toronto’s plan to decriminalize drugs is the “craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “a subset of dystonia patients who use medical cannabis under clinical observation reported significant subjective improvement during 30 months of use in average.”
A review concluded that “all included studies suggest that psychedelics promise therapeutic value for eating disorders.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Teamsters is pressing Green Thumb Industries to “address its workers’ safety concerns” following the death of an employee at a cannabis cultivation and processing facility.
The R Street Institute published an overview of how Schedule I status impedes research on drugs.
/ BUSINESS
The Green Thumb Industries worker who died during a shift at a cultivation and manufacturing facility reportedly had repeatedly left work with breathing problems on previous occasions.
Curaleaf Holdings is moving to reorganize its U.S. assets in order to list on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Philip Morris is acquiring Syqe Medical, which makes a metered-dose inhaler for pain reduction treatment using medical cannabis.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. is suing Harvest of Ohio and Harvest Grows over allegedly unpaid loans and other fees.
ETF Managers Group’s CEO resigned amid a Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into alleged nondisclosure of conflicts of interest related to the firm’s cannabis ETF.
Numinus Wellness Inc. reported quarterly revenue of C$6 million and a net loss of C$7.3 million.
/ CULTURE
Supermodel Gigi Hadid was arrested for marijuana possession in the Cayman Islands.
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