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Feds’ revised cannabis questions for job applicants (Newsletter: November 30, 2022)

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DC medical marijuana expansion; Poll: Voters back legalization & expungements; Bankers groups want Senate SAFE vote; CO gov psychedelics appointments

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Marijuana Moment obtained a draft of the Office of Personnel Management’s revised cannabis and drug questions for prospective federal employees. Marijuana use older than 90 days is no longer taken into consideration except in limited circumstances.

A new Data for Progress poll found that roughly three out of four U.S. likely voters support federally legalizing marijuana, expunging records and allowing cannabis businesses to access banks, among other reforms. There’s majority support in every demographic.

The Washington, D.C. Council  Business and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to remove medical marijuana license caps, give operators local 280E tax relief, prioritize equity businesses and allow on-site consumption facilities while providing for enforcement against unlicensed sellers that do not pursue new pathways to enter the legal market.

The Independent Community Bankers of America and 44 state partner organizations sent a letter calling on Senate leaders to schedule a vote on marijuana banking legislation “before year-end 2022 as a stand-alone bill or an amendment to another bill.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is set to appoint a 15-member advisory board to help implement the psychedelics legalization ballot measure that voters approved this month.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Patty Murray’s (D-WA) office said that passing marijuana banking legislation is “absolutely” a priority for the lame duck session.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) tweeted, “When we legalize cannabis federally, we should follow the lead of pioneers like Colorado. The PREPARE Act we’re going to introduce does just that by using the same process to come up with regulations. That way we’re ready when legalization happens.”

/ STATES

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) appointed a new cannabis regulation oversight officer.

Washington State’s treasurer tweeted, “The #SAFEBankingAct must be a top priority for Congress before the end of this year! Prohibiting cannabis businesses and their employees from accessing routine banking services is nonsensical for states with legal markets and outright dangerous for those working in retail spaces.”

Oregon’s House majority leader tweeted that Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) move to pardon people for marijuana “will make it easier for about 45,000 Oregonians to get a job, find housing, or participate in educational or training opportunities that might have excluded them.”

An Indiana senator discussed his support for legalizing marijuana.

Ohio regulators filed amended medical cannabis dispensary rules.

The Florida Department of Corrections is being sued by a former sergeant who was fired over a positive drug test that he says was caused by medical cannabis.

Arkansas regulators are revoking a company’s medical cannabis cultivation license.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment tweeted, “As more states legalize medical and recreational #cannabis use, we need to boost our understanding of how exposure to cannabis smoke, Δ9-THC, and #CBD during #pregnancy can affect a baby’s development and behavior.”

Virginia’s Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board met.

The Minnesota Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research will meet on Wednesday.

New York’s Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Thursday.


Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

Harker Heights, Texas’s assistant city manager defended local officials’ decision to overturn a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization initiative.

An appeal from a former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor convicted of extorting marijuana businesses was denied.

Denver, Colorado officials posted a tool where marijuana businesses can check whether locations meet proximity requirements.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Germany’s health minister said the government will commission an expert opinion to help convince the European Union to approve the country’s marijuana legalization plans. Lawmakers are urging him to move ahead as soon as possible.

The leader of the UK’s Labour Party alluded to his past drug use.

Colombia’s presidential counselor for regions is proposing to create a new agency to regulate cannabis.

Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency authorized the manufacture of a cannabis-based medicine. Separately, officials from the Council of Federal Medicine discussed medical cannabis access with lawmakers.

Manitoba, Canada’s government introduced legislation to remove the social responsibility fee currently paid by all licensed cannabis retailers for sales.

A Philippine senator discussed his support for decriminalizing drugs.

A Western Australian lawmaker tweeted, “We’ve all heard that President Biden has pardoned thousands of people who had simple #cannabis convictions against their names. It made me think – how many simple possession cases make it into our own courts every year?”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “pre-clinical evidence supports CBD as a potential treatment for stress or anxiety disorders resulting from previously stressful events, particularly by reducing fearful behavior and promoting extinction of contextual fear memories, which are hallmarks of PTSD.”

A study found that “recreational legalization is likely to increase cannabis use among adolescents and young adults who perceive cannabis as less harmful, while at the same time reduce rates of [cannabis use disorder] treatment utilization.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Cato Institute published a report examining how governments and law enforcement “increasingly surveil and influence the way doctors treat pain, psychoactive substance use and substance use disorder.”

/ BUSINESS

Organigram Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$45.5 million and a net loss of C$6.1 million.

The Flowr Corporation reported quarterly net revenue of C$1.8 million and a net loss of C$3 million.

/ CULTURE

Bill Maher and Melissa Etheridge promoted the Last Prisoner Project for Giving Tuesday.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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