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Germany’s legal cannabis details leaked (Newsletter: October 20, 2022)
US congressman talks marijuana on Colombia trip; NBA still not cannabis testing; MD legalization hearing; SD campaign ads; KS medical testimony
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Details of the German health minister’s plan for marijuana legalization leaked—and they’re being criticized as too restrictive by lawmakers who support cannabis reform as well as too rushed by conservative legislators.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who just returned from a congressional delegation to Colombia, told Marijuana Moment that cannabis reform and ending the war on drugs was a “significant part” of his conversations on the trip. Legalization legislation has been advancing there, and the country’s new president has called for global drug reform.
The Maryland House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup met to discuss plans to merge the state’s marijuana, alcohol and tobacco regulators under one agency as polls show voters poised to approve a legalization referendum on the November ballot.
The Kansas legislature’s Special Committee on Medical Marijuana held its second of three planned hearings to prepare a medical cannabis bill that lawmakers can pass in 2023.
South Dakota supporters and opponents of the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot launched new ads—with the latter showing kids and saying they are “future drug addicts, future suicide victims, future victims of an impaired driver.”
The National Basketball Association will reportedly continue its policy of not randomly testing players for marijuana for the third season in a row. Permanent removal of cannabis testing is expected to be a topic in upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and its players association.
/ FEDERAL
The National Cancer Institute is hosting a webinar on Wednesday about grants to fund research to “assess the benefits and harms of cannabis and cannabinoid use among adult cancer patients during active treatment.”
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said there’s “a lot of activity” around crafting combined cannabis legislation with banking and other components, and that he thinks “this thing’s going to get passed this cycle.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “It’s time to legalize Marijuana.”
California Republican Senate candidate Mark Meuser authored an op-ed about his support for federally legalizing marijuana.
Rhode Island congressional candidates agreed on federally legalizing marijuana during a debate.
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey, currently a state senator, discussed equity in the cannabis industry at a debate. The governor tweeted, “When we legalized cannabis, we made a point to take steps to repair the damage of the past. We’ve got more to do, but we’ve expunged the records of more than 800k non-violent offenders and are reinvesting revenues in communities hardest hit by the war on drugs.” Bailey said it wouldn’t be a priority of his to reverse legalization.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana during a debate. He also tweeted, “I trust Minnesotans to make their own decisions when it comes to the use of adult-use, recreational cannabis. It’s time we #LegalizeMN.” Separately, the lieutenant governor tweeted, “Minnesotans are ready to legalize adult-use cannabis in our state – @Tim_Walz and I want to get it done.”
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said that while he supports President Joe Biden’s cannabis clemency move, he doesn’t have the “legal ability” to issue blanket pardons under state law.
Georgia Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Charlie Bailey spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana.
Arkansas attorney general candidates disagreed over the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot during a debate.
Kansas attorney general candidates discussed medical cannabis during a debate.
Massachusetts’s treasurer reportedly told activists in a meeting that she did not ask the Cannabis Control Commission chair to apply for the position, apparently contradicting claims made by the top regulator.
A Missouri senator called the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot “reckless and dangerous.”
Florida regulators are facing challenges from unsuccessful applicants over their decision to award a medical cannabis license set aside for Black farmers.
Maryland regulators will discuss non-delta-9 THC products on Thursday.
The Oregon Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production’s Law Enforcement Subcommittee will meet on Thursday.
Michigan regulators will host an education session on cannabis banking on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
Colorado Springs, Colorado’s mayor and district attorney appeared in an ad urging voters to reject local ballot initiatives to legalize and tax recreational marijuana sales.
Cleveland, Ohio officials rescinded filings they made that had sought to expunge marijuana convictions because the move would actually require action on the part of the affected person.
The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors voted to extend the sunset date for medical cannabis dispensaries and temporary marijuana business permits.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia City Council voted to create a Cannabis Advisory Task Force.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The chairman of Thailand’s House Scrutiny Committee said a pending cannabis and hemp regulation bill has been revised to address lawmakers’ concerns. Separately, the Pheu Thai Party is rescinding a call to disband the ruling Bhumjaithai Party over alleged violations related to its marijuana reform policies.
Luxembourg’s health minister said medical cannabis will continue to be sold exclusively at hospital pharmacies.
French lawmakers are considering the Directorate General of Health’s proposal to extend the country’s medical cannabis trial by at least a year.
A Brazilian senator filed a bill to remove restrictions on medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that the “impacts of legalization on youth cannabis use after 1 year are mixed” in that while there was “an increase in cannabis initiation among youths who had never used cannabis, there was no change in the overall prevalence of cannabis use, implying a possible offsetting increase in cannabis cessation among existing users.”
A review concluded that “according to three controlled studies, psilocybin may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in the context of cancer-related psychological discomfort for at least six months after a single acute treatment for mood and anxiety disorders.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of Minnesotans found that 60 percent want the state to legalize marijuana-derived edibles, seven percent support the current law allowing only hemp-derived edibles and 21 percent don’t want any intoxicating edibles to be legal.
The South Dakota Democratic Party tweeted, “Reminder: Kristi Noem used taxpayer dollars to overturn voter-approved recreational marijuana and defied the will of the people. It’s high time to elect Democrats who will respect South Dakotans’ decisions.”
The ACLU of Colorado endorsed the psychedelics legalization initiative on the November ballot.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is urging Maryland voters to approve the marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot.
The California Cannabis Industry Association published a report on what it says are the dangers of unregulated, hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoid products.
/ BUSINESS
Green Thumb Industries Inc. signed a deal to sell medical cannabis at Circle K gas stations in Florida.
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. and BZAM Holdings are merging.
Curaleaf conducted two previously unreported recalls of mislabeled medical cannabis products in New York.
Trulieve Inc. settled a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by an employee who says they were improperly denied paid leave after suffering an on-the-job injury.
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