Newsletter
GOP presidential candidate backs cannabis reform (Newsletter: July 25, 2023)
VA/DOD: no to marijuana for PTSD—but maybe to psychedelics; FL legalization court case; Study: Medical cannabis reduces Rx med use
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Republican presidential candidate Francis Suarez is calling for the federal government to “catch up” with states that have legalized marijuana—though he himself has a mixed record on cannabis issues as Miami’s mayor.
The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense issued a “strong against” recommendation on using medical cannabis to treat PTSD—but they recommended “neither for nor against” using psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca and ibogaine.
Florida’s attorney general and other prohibitionist forces are asking the state Supreme Court for more time to file briefs in a case that will decide whether voters get the chance to consider a marijuana legalization initiative on the 2024 ballot.
California activists filed a proposed constitutional amendment for the 2024 ballot that would create a $5 billion state psychedelics agency tasked with funding and promoting research on the therapeutic benefits of substances like psilocybin and ibogaine.
Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) are calling on the House Rules Committee to allow a floor vote on their amendment that would encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct research on the use of psychedelics to treat PTSD.
A new study found that “common benefits” of medical cannabis include “reduced pain intensity, anxiety and dependency on pain and psychiatric medications.”
- “Improvements in physical functioning, sleep quality and mood were reported.”
A federal judge ordered the Kansas Highway Patrol to end its “two-step” practice of detaining and searching cars based on the fact that they are traveling to or from nearby states that have legalized marijuana.
New Jersey marijuana activists are raising questions about the state’s cannabis supply and relatively high prices of products as Curaleaf announced it is laying off workers at a cultivation and production facility in Winslow Township.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Transportation, responding to a Freedom of Information Act request, released a document on “Marijuana-Related Safety Concerns” that it prepared in 2018 in response to a request from the Trump White House.
Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) said he thinks marijuana’s Schedule I classification is “pretty high.”
/ STATES
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and marijuana regulators are being sued by hemp businesses that claim the state’s new cannabis licensing process is discriminatory.
A Minnesota senator discussed the importance of expunging prior marijuana records.
A Nevada senator spoke about the benefits of a recently enacted omnibus cannabis reform bill but said that more work on social equity issues is still needed.
A New York assemblymember published a newsletter about his efforts to pass legislation on psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Oregon’s first legal psilocybin services session has reportedly taken place.
Missouri regulators will begin accepting cannabis microbusiness license applications on Thursday.
California regulators will soon be launching a communications and education campaign about the benefits of purchasing cannabis in the legal market.
Washington State regulators published a newsletter on various cannabis issues.
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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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
Santa Barbara, California City Council members have met with activists who want the body to approve a psychedelics decriminalization measure.
State’s attorneys from several Maryland counties expressed concerns about a new law that prevents police from conducting searches based solely on the smell of marijuana.
Denver, Colorado officials approved a marijuana mobile consumption license for a business that says it will be the first in the city to offer a legal space to smoke cannabis at public events like outside sporting venues and private gatherings such as weddings.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Czech President Petr Pavel expressed openness to considering legalizing marijuana, saying it “does less harm than other legal drugs.”
The Colombian lawmaker whose marijuana legalization bill fell just short of passage at the final step in the legislative process blamed the government of President Gustavo Petro for not pushing hard enough in support of the reform.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that results “show promising in vitro and pre-clinical data supporting a role of CBD in intestinal motility” and that “this includes improved gastrointestinal related outcomes in murine models of colitis.”
A study concluded that “in addition to reduced seizure frequency, CBD may have a wide range of beneficial effects beyond seizure control that warrant further investigation.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The International Cannabis Bar Association has a new executive director.
The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association formed an advisory board.
/ BUSINESS
Cookies is being sued by investors who are accusing the company of engaging in “multimillion dollar kickbacks and other self-dealing.”
Aurora Cannabis Inc. closed the sale of its Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada facility.
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