Newsletter
Feds pressed on cannabis research delays (Newsletter: March 13, 2024)
Study: marijuana aids orgasms; HI expungement; USDA hemp roadmap; WA cannabis tax cut; AZ psilocybin; Teen delta-8 THC use lower in legal states
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Andy Harris (R-MD) sent a letter demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services provide an update on implementation of their marijuana research bill that was signed into law by President Joe Biden, saying it is “unacceptable that researchers continue to face harmful barriers to cannabis research.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a new Hemp Research Needs Roadmap and announced a $10 million investment in studies on the crop. It is also proposing to develop a public-private consortium focused on streamlining hemp research.
Washington State lawmakers sent Gov. Jay Inslee (D) a bill to exempt medical cannabis patients from the state’s 37 percent marijuana excise tax when purchasing products that meet certain higher testing standards.
The Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee gutted a House-passed marijuana expungements bill, scaling it back to a pilot program to be carried out in just one county instead of aiding people with cannabis convictions statewide.
The Arizona House Health & Human Services Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to legalize psilocybin service centers where people could receive the psychedelic in a medically supervised setting.
New Orleans, Louisiana’s police superintendent claimed that “rats are eating our marijuana” in the evidence room, adding that “they’re all high.”
A new federally funded study published by the American Medical Association finds that teen use of delta-8 THC “was lower in states with adult-use marijuana legalization” and that “there were no differences in marijuana use by state-level cannabis policies.”
A new study found that for women with orgasm difficulty, “cannabis use before partnered sex increased orgasm frequency (72.8%), improved orgasm satisfaction (67%) or made orgasm easier (71%).”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) issued a legal opinion stating that convenience stores and smoke shops cannot sell hemp-derived intoxicants such as delta-8 THC—a move that some advocates fear could affect CBD sales as well.
Minnesota lawmakers filed legislation to clarify rules and restrictions for restaurants and bars that sell THC-infused drinks as well as alcohol to customers.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) tweeted, “No more delay, it’s time to legalize marijuana, expunge all records, and finally end the War on Drugs.”
/ STATES
Indiana Republican gubernatorial candidates discussed marijuana at a debate.
The Virginia delegate who sponsored a bill to legalize marijuana sales said Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) “won’t sign it.”
Michigan regulators announced that 62 marijuana social equity businesses will each receive $16,129 in funding.
New York regulators are being accused of using enforcement powers to retaliate against marijuana business operators who criticize the state’s rollout of the legal market.
California regulators issued a notice of a mandatory recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus.
Missouri regulators issued a variance for marijuana product labeling requirements.
Oregon regulators published a compliance education bulletin on various cannabis rules.
Alabama regulators are facing further delays in issuing medical cannabis business licenses amid ongoing litigation.
Vermont regulators voted to indefinitely close the window to submit applications for all types of tier-3 marijuana cultivation licenses and mixed tier-2 cultivation licenses.
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency will hold a public meeting on Thursday.
Rhode Island marijuana regulators will meet on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Pueblo, Colorado City Council reversed a move to repeal the local marijuana excise tax, instead instituting a higher rate.
Denver, Colorado officials are launching a psychedelic response training program for first responders.
/ INTERNATIONAL
French regulators confirmed that flower will not be included in the country’s medical cannabis program.
A German lawmaker pushed back against concerns about the government’s marijuana legalization plan.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
Researchers developed a new marijuana testing method “based on exhaled breath and blood sampling that incorporates kinetic changes and the presence of key cannabinoids to detect recent cannabis use within the impairment window without the false positive results seen with other methods.”
A study found that CBD “alleviates chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Boston Globe editorial board cheered a new law that allows state regulators to review agreements between municipalities and marijuana businesses they host.
/ BUSINESS
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $140.2 million and a net loss of $19.3 million.
Numinus Wellness Inc. has a new interim chief financial officer and made changes to its board of directors.
Safe Harbor Financial originated a $4.6 million credit facility for a Michigan cannabis operator.
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