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FL AG wants to keep cannabis off 2024 ballot (Newsletter: May 17, 2023)
MN legal marijuana deal finalized; NC psychedelics bill advances; Senator wants SBA added to SAFE; AMA study on cannabis benefits; Salem psilocybin
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A Minnesota House-Senate conference committee finalized a deal reconciling differences between the chambers’ marijuana legalization bills—including the tax rate. Final floor votes to send the legislation to the governor are expected this week.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) is asking the state Supreme Court to block a marijuana legalization initiative from the 2024 ballot, arguing that it violates the Constitution’s single subject rule.
The North Carolina House Health Committee approved a bill to create a $5 million grant program supporting research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA and to create a Breakthrough Therapies Research Advisory Board to oversee it.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) is pushing to expand a bipartisan marijuana banking bill by adding new provisions to let the cannabis industry access Small Business Administration loans and programs.
The Salem, Massachusetts City Council unanimously passed a measure to decriminalize psilocybin.
A new study published by the American Medical Association found that medical marijuana is associated with “significant improvements” in quality of life for people with conditions like chronic pain and insomnia—and that those effects are “largely sustained” over time.
Washington State lawmakers, in a one-day special session, passed a bill to prevent the expiration of the state’s drug possession criminalization laws on July 1—and Gov. Jay Inslee (D) immediately signed it.
Oregon senators are requesting the state’s U.S. attorney launch a federal corruption investigation into cash-based campaign donations from cannabis company executives to the governor, secretary of state, Senate president and other elected officials.
/ FEDERAL
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Rahul Gupta is convening naloxone producers for a summit focused on the opioid overdose reversal medication’s price.
The Department of Veterans Affairs included two webinars about cannabis issues in a course catalog.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said Senate Republicans have “a general discomfort with the topic” of cannabis.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) attended a screening of a documentary about former marijuana prisoner Weldon Angelos.
The House marijuana banking bill got six new cosponsors for a total of 28.
The House bill to let Department of Veterans Affairs doctors recommend medical cannabis got three new cosponsors for a total of 21.
The House bill to protect marijuana consumers’ gun rights got one new cosponsor for a total of one.
/ STATES
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) discussed his support for legalizing marijuana through a system of state-run stores.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) knew about the secretary of state’s consulting job with a marijuana business more than a week before it became public. Separately, the governor directed regulators to make state tax compliance a requirement to issue or renew cannabis retail licenses.
A California senator said he sees “a path to pass” his bill to legalize possession of psychedelics this session.
Illinois regulators are conducting a survey on cannabis industry diversity.
Utah regulators posted an update on the medical cannabis program.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.
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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
The Baltimore, Maryland City Council approved a measure to form a Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission to distribute legal marijuana revenue.
The Springfield, Missouri City Council is considering placing a question about instituting a local marijuana tax on the August 8 ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK House of Commons is set to debate access to therapeutic psilocybin on Thursday.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “CBD reduced both nicotine withdrawal symptom severity and state anxiety during e-cigarette abstinence.”
A study of mice found that “acute cannabis smoke differentially affects lung immunity based on the THC:CBD ratio.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The chair of the Florida Democratic Party, a former state agriculture commissioner, reacted to the state attorney general trying to keep a marijuana legalization initiative off the 2024 ballot, tweeting that she “is on the wrong side of history, wrong side of this issue and is not standing with the people. Another attack on our democracy.”
Financial Stability for California Cannabis is a new coalition of marijuana companies that “seeks to raise awareness and offer solutions to severe credit issues that threaten the industry’s stability..”
/ BUSINESS
AYR Wellness Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $117.7 million and a net loss of $197.7 million.
TILT Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $42.3 million and a net loss of $4.9 million.
SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a/ Safe Harbor Financial reported quarterly revenue of $4.2 million and a net loss of $1.4 million.
HEXO Corp. filed a circular for a special meeting of shareholders to consider the company’s proposed acquisition by Tilray Brands, Inc.
Metrc received a notice of intent to award a contract from Illinois regulators for its cannabis seed-to-sale tracking system.
/ CULTURE
Showtime is reportedly working on rebooting “Weeds.”
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
