Newsletter
FBI cannabis arrest data is messy (Newsletter: October 19, 2023)
Psychedelics hearing in Congress; German legalization debate begins; OH marijuana poll; Study: Psilocybin heals childhood trauma stress; MO tax suits
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Federal Bureau of Investigation report shows that marijuana accounted for nearly a third of all drug arrests in the U.S. in 2022—but internally inconsistent data and recent methodology changes make it difficult to draw conclusions about long-term cannabis enforcement trends.
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health was scheduled to hold a hearing on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to address the suicide crisis among military veterans on Thursday. But what would be the first-ever congressional hearing on psychedelics was postponed to a date yet to be determined shortly after being announced.
Germany’s Bundestag held the first debate on the government’s marijuana legalization bill.
A new poll shows that 57 percent percent of Ohio likely voters support the marijuana legalization initiative on the November 7 ballot—including majority backing from Republicans despite GOP elected officials campaigning against it.
A new study suggests that psilocybin can help adults deal with the long-term impact of childhood trauma, finding that the “effect of adverse childhood experiences on psychological distress was lower for people” who recently used the psychedelic.
Missouri marijuana businesses have filed two lawsuits challenging local governments’ practice of “stacking” municipal and county cannabis taxes, which they say violates the state’s voter-approved legalization law and drives up costs for consumers.
/ FEDERAL
A federal judge sentenced two lobbyists to prison after they were convicted of conspiring to provide $42,000 in bribes to a Michigan marijuana regulator.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) reiterated her opposition to legalizing marijuana.
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 85.
/ STATES
Maryland’s comptroller posted a warning about potentially fraudulent cannabis dispensary license mailers.
The Oregon legislature’s Joint Interim Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response held its first hearing.
An Ohio senator authored an op-ed urging voters to reject the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission heard more testimony on a proposal to spend $42 million on ibogaine research.
Missouri regulators began releasing some cannabis products from an administrative hold.
The Minnesota Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board approved a $10 million loan to a company to “establish a state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility.”
Iowa regulators are issuing an increasing number of medical cannabis patients cards on a monthly basis.
Michigan regulators posted new marijuana videos to an online library.
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/ LOCAL
Prince George’s County, Maryland Council advanced legislation to restrict where marijuana dispensaries can operate.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “participants displayed reduced anxiety at month 3 post-[medical marijuana] treatment initiation” and that “they also reported reductions in medication use, particularly for benzodiazepines,” concluding that the results “support the use of medical marijuana as a treatment for anxiety and PTSD.”
Harvard University is launching a new Study of Psychedelics in Society and Culture with support from a $16 million gift from the Gracias Family Foundation.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The president of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association called Jersey City’s lawsuit over the ability to fire police for marijuana use a “waste of taxpayer dollars.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association President Charlie Baker, a former Massachusetts governor, cited the organization’s work to “advance commonsense changes to sports betting and marijuana testing policies” in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Oregon Cannabis Association and Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon merged.
/ BUSINESS
Verano Holdings Corp. began trading on Cboe Canada.
Cannabis business-focused debit card processor Omni Technologies said its participating retailers “have been experiencing an elevated rate of transaction declines” in recent weeks due to “a targeted debit network blockage of transactions submitted from FP Omni merchants.”
Washington, D.C. businesses sold $4.4 million worth of medical cannabis products in September.
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