Newsletter
Feds call out anti-cannabis discrimination—in other countries (Newsletter: May 25, 2023)
CA psychedelics bill passes; OH legalization bill; NH marijuana poll; CO psychedelic regs signed; MN cannabis licensing RFP; Revised SAFE testimony
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new State Department report notes that there is increased government tolerance for religious use of marijuana in some countries—but the document ignores U.S. law, under which cannabis remains strictly criminalized with no spiritual or sacramental exemption.
The California Senate passed a bill to legalize possession of psychedelics like psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to regulate psychedelics under a voter-approved legalization ballot initiative.
A new poll shows that New Hampshire residents continue to support marijuana legalization—but opinions are more mixed about Gov. Chris Sununu’s (R) plan to conduct cannabis sales through state-run stores.
The Minnesota Departments of Information Technology Services, Health and Agriculture have already launched a request for proposals to build out a marijuana business licensing system—even though Gov. Tim Walz (D) hasn’t even signed the legalization bill into law yet.
Bipartisan Ohio representatives filed a bill to legalize marijuana. The legislation comes as activists are collecting signatures to place a cannabis legalization initiative on the November ballot.
Dama Financial revised its testimony on a marijuana banking bill following pushback from stakeholders who slammed the company for initially telling senators at a hearing that they should “pause” on passing it in order to consider amendments.
/ FEDERAL
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s deputy director tweeted about funding opportunities and resources for cannabis research.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum posted a video about a gold and diamond grill the agency seized from a drug trafficker via asset forfeiture.
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) tweeted, “Minnesota is legalizing cannabis – but that’s not where this movement ends. Our country’s failed prohibition on cannabis and the War on Drugs’ racist legacy still has devastating consequences in Black and brown communities nationwide. We need to legalize marijuana federally.”
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 29.
The House bill to repeal the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses got one new cosponsor for a total of nine.
/ STATES
Texas’s lieutenant governor still hasn’t scheduled House-passed marijuana decriminalization and medical cannabis expansion bills for Senate consideration as the end of the session approaches on Monday.
Oklahoma lawmakers sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a bill to restrict land ownership by non-citizens, an effort to combat foreign-run illegal marijuana cultivation operations.
The Delaware legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved new funding and government staffing positions to implement marijuana legalization.
Maryland lawmakers spoke about efforts to craft marijuana legalization implementation legislation.
A Louisiana representative discussed her bill to provide employment protections for medical cannabis patients.
California generated $216.2 million in legal cannabis revenue for the first quarter of 2023.
Oregon regulators are seeking additional funding to support implementation of the state’s psilocybin services program.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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.
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/ LOCAL
A Eau Claire, Wisconsin police official discussed the implications of impending marijuana legalization in neighboring Minnesota.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s Move Forward Party said it will reclassify cannabis as a controlled substance if it is able to form a government after its election win.
Members of the European Parliament launched a new Action Group for the Medical Use of Psychedelics.
North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s government is seeking to stop the federal officials’ marijuana legalization plan from passing.
Odisha, India’s government said it will strictly enforce a ban on cannabis at Shiva temples.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that cannabis-based medicinal products “treatment was associated with improvements in fibromyalgia-specific symptoms, in addition to sleep, anxiety, and health-related quality of life.”
A study of rats indicated that “non-psychoactive cannabinoid-based pharmacotherapy may provide a therapeutic benefit for the treatment of orofacial pain associated with pulp exposure.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug Policy Alliance, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Council of Churches and other groups sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing “disappointment” with the administration’s support for a bill to increase fentanyl penalties that is getting a House vote this week.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $194.2 million and a net loss of $27.8 million.
WeedGenics was shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission over an alleged “Ponzi-like scheme.”
Agrify Corporation was notified that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements as a result of not having timely filed a quarterly report.
Bright Green Corporation entered into a securities purchase agreement with a single institutional investor with expected gross proceeds of approximately $3.5 million.
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