Newsletter
Fed financial official slams Congress for cannabis inaction (Newsletter: September 10, 2021)
Drug decrim could be on CA 2024 ballot; RI lawmakers push for equity in legalization; WY marijuana ballot signature push
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A federal National Credit Union Administration board member said at a cannabis conference that Congress’s failure to pass marijuana banking legislation is “simply ludicrous”—and he thinks broader legalization “is going to happen.” He is also pushing to form a federal interagency working group to develop a “principles-based approach to cannabis banking” that can be used to press lawmakers for change.
The California senator whose bill to legalize possession of psychedelics recently stalled until next year said at a forum that he’s confident the measure will pass—and that the state will ultimately decriminalize all drugs. Activist funder David Bronner said at the event that he wants to put that broader reform on California’s 2024 ballot.
Several Rhode Island lawmakers—including the Legislative Black and Latino Caucus chair—joined activists at a press conference to urge House and Senate leaders to reach a deal on a marijuana legalization bill that centers social equity and workers and pass it in a special session this fall.
Wyoming’s secretary of state has provided official petitions for 2022 medical cannabis legalization and marijuana decriminalization initiatives. Activists will hold events in seven cities this weekend to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.
/ FEDERAL
The Food and Drug Administration rejected applications for nearly 950,000 vaping products but said it needs more time to review proposals from Juul.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “The federal prohibition on marijuana has disproportionately harmed young people of color. @SenBooker, @RonWyden, and I are working to pass our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end the federal prohibition and undo the harms of the War on Drugs.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “For the sake of patients across the country, as well as the United States’ medical research superiority across the globe, the challenges posed by the overly stringent Schedule I classification of cannabis must be addressed.”
Washington State Democratic congressional candidate Jason Call tweeted, “We have to do more than simply legalize marijuana or push for minor reforms. We need to fight for the abolition of the carceral system (that has racist roots and disproportionately harms BIPOC) and a revisioning of what constitutes true justice.”
/ STATES
Alabama’s state treasurer was chosen to be the executive director of the Medical Cannabis Commission at the body’s third meeting.
New York’s Senate majority leader appointed a former senator as her pick to serve on the Cannabis Control Board.
A subcommittee of the Colorado Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Task Force is recommending that lawmakers place a 10 percent THC potency cap on medical cannabis.
New Mexico regulators filed emergency rules on cannabis manufacturing.
Subcommittees of the Oregon Cannabis Commission met.
Utah regulators published a list of registered hemp products.
The Washington State Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force will meet on Tuesday.
Tennessee’s Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on October 1.
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/ LOCAL
Boston, Massachusetts’s mayor and another mayoral candidate said they have purchased legal marijuana.
A Seattle, Washington City Council member hosted a forum on the benefits of psychedelics.
Los Angeles, California regulators launched a webinar series on marijuana business procedures.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canada’s New Democratic Party said it supports “safe and equitable” access to psychedelic therapy.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study “demonstrated for the first time the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties of CBD directly in dogs’ immune cells.”
The Fireside Project is collaborating with University of California, San Francisco researchers on a study of the effectiveness of its psychedelic peer support line.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The R Street Institute is asking Congress to reject the Biden administration’s proposal to permanently control fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I.
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve reached a settlement with employees and applicants who sued after allegedly being improperly fired or rejected for jobs based on a consumer report.
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. asked a federal judge to deny a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that Terphogz LLC violated its trademark with cannabis products sold under the name “Zkittlez.”
Leafly launched new advertising tools for cannabis brands.
Missouri medical cannabis businesses are asking people to pressure regulators to rescind rules that restrict advertising.
Arkansas dispensaries have sold more than $400 million worth of medical cannabis since the program began.
/ CULTURE
Snowfall co-creator Eric Amadio and Den of Thieves director Christian Gudegast are partnering with Cookies and Gashouse on a new drama series about the cannabis industry.
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