Newsletter
Fed report on cannabis legalization benefits & costs (Newsletter: October 18, 2023)
Jersey City suit on police marijuana use; Colombian president smells cannabis in NYC; CA gov signs marijuana bills; Lubbock, TX decrim
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City details the “broadly distributed” economic benefits of legalizing marijuana—such as increases in state income, housing prices and population—but also the social costs that are “more concentrated among individuals.”
Jersey City, New Jersey officials are suing the state in federal court because they want to maintain the ability to fire police officers for using marijuana—but the complaint seems to ignore a key provision of federal firearms law.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he smelled marijuana “on all the streets” during a recent visit to New York City, citing the “enormous hypocrisy” of legal cannabis sales now taking place in the nation that launched the global war on drugs decades ago.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed bills on marijuana business licensing changes, distribution of fines collected from illicit operations and membership of a state cannabis task force.
Lubbock, Texas activists turned in what they believe are more than enough signatures to qualify a marijuana decriminalization initiative for the local ballot if the City Council doesn’t enact it first.
Former Arkansas lawmakers are on opposing sides of new litigation alleging fraud in medical cannabis licensing.
A poll from the New Hampshire Cannabis Association found that 78 percent of farmers in the state are interested in growing marijuana if it is legalized—but that only 11 percent support Gov. Chris Sununu’s (R) plan to conduct sales through state-run stores.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) spoke during a hearing about mass incarceration driven by jailing people for everything from “marijuana on up.”
/ STATES
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) said she thinks the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization law “needs some fixes,” including on the issue of public use.
The Missouri legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will hold a hearing on marijuana packaging, product and labeling rules on Wednesday.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission appointed an acting executive director.
Oklahoma regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.
New York regulators extended the deadline for the current round of marijuana business license applications.
Minnesota generated $1.5 million in revenue from hemp-derived THC edibles in the first two months of a new tax on sales.
Colorado regulators are hiring a psychedelics policy advisor.
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/ LOCAL
Boulder County, Colorado officials are being sued by a marijuana business that says a misinterpretation of a settlement with another company is blocking its expansion plans.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Canadian judge upheld Manitoba’s ban on marijuana home cultivation.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabis products attenuated oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.”
A review concluded that “clinical phase I-II trials published to date reported promising results for psilocybin in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, in a relatively short time after administration.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Psychedelics researcher Roland Griffiths passed away.
The Cannabis Council of Canada issued recommendations for changes to the country’s marijuana policies.
/ BUSINESS
4Front Ventures Corp. entered into a $10 million senior secured credit facility agreement.
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Photo by Aphiwat chuangchoem.
