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Feds focus on cannabis worker safety (Newsletter: April 1, 2024)
Biden touts marijuana moves; HI decrim expansion; FL legalization; KY medical cannabis budget; CA psychedelics & equity grants
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
President Joe Biden touted his marijuana pardons and administrative cannabis scheduling review in a new proclamation commemorating Second Chance Month.
- “My Administration has taken historic steps to end America’s failed approach to marijuana.”
Even as marijuana remains federally illegal, two federal officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are set to host a webinar on guidance for “protecting workers within the cannabis industry” in the growing number of state-legal markets.
The Florida Supreme Court has announced it will issue “out-of-calendar opinions” on Monday—likely including in a case concerning whether a marijuana legalization initiative can appear on the November ballot.
Kentucky lawmakers sent Gov. Andy Beshear (D) a budget bill that would restrict funding for the medical cannabis program until an advisory board determines there’s a “propensity” of research on marijuana’s therapeutic “efficacy”—though the provision is scaled back from an earlier version.
The Hawaii House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee amended and approved a bill to expand the state’s current marijuana decriminalization law—a development that comes as lawmakers are also advancing broader cannabis legalization legislation.
The Colorado Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee amended a social media bill to address concerns about a ban on marijuana-related posts in the initial version, but questions remain about its effect on speech regarding psychedelics and other drugs.
The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development is awarding $12 million in marijuana tax-funded grants to cities across the state to support equity programs aimed at helping people disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
A California bill to legalize psychedelic services has been amended ahead of an expected committee hearing this month.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is accepting public input on how the state’s marijuana social equity excise fee should be allocated to repair harms of the war on drugs.
NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano authored an op-ed laying out data showing that marijuana legalization has been a success for states—contrary to opponents’ misplaced fears about youth use rates, psychosis and other potential harms.
/ FEDERAL
Former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske coauthored an op-ed criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on marijuana rescheduling.
The House marijuana banking bill got three new cosponsors for a total of 111.
The House bill to federally legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor for a total of 15.
/ STATES
The Massachusetts Governor’s Council voted to hold an informational hearing on Gov. Maura Healey’s (D) mass marijuana pardon proposal.
Kentucky lawmakers sent Gov. Andy Beshear (D) a kratom regulation bill.
A Texas representative said he plans to vote against a local marijuana decriminalization ballot initiative in Lubbock.
A Missouri representative filed a bill to create a task force to study how marijuana is marketed.
Alabama regulators filed rules on medical cannabis patient and caregiver registration.
California regulators issued a notice about a recall of marijuana products due to inaccurate THC content labeling.
Florida regulators posted guidance about hemp transportation.
The Colorado Tourism Office temporarily removed website listings for cannabis hospitality businesses.
Minnesota’s Cannabis Advisory Council held its first meeting.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,400 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
Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Ontario, Canada’s chief medical officer of health is calling for the province to decriminalize drugs.
An Irish lawmaker discussed her support for legalizing marijuana.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study in Chile found “no evidence of cannabis policy changes affecting the age of onset of cannabis use across all individuals aged 12-21.”
A study of rats indicated that “cannabidiol may prevent the development of congestive hepatopathy secondary to right ventricular hypertrophy associated with pulmonary hypertension.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
An Ohio Cannabis Coalition official said regulators are moving quickly to set marijuana rules and that he would not be surprised if they beat deadlines set in the voter-approved legalization law.
/ BUSINESS
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $40.9 million and a net loss of $18.7 million.
Leafly Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $9.7 million and a net loss of $455,000. The company also has two new board members.
Compass Pathways plc’s co-founders stepped down from the board.
VS Strategies changed its name to Strategies 64.
atai Life Sciences announced positive initial results from a study of a novel, synthetic benzoate salt formulation of 5-MeO-DMT in treatment-resistant depression.
/ CULTURE
Actress Rosario Dawson spoke at a press conference with activists to push for federal marijuana descheduling..
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