Newsletter
GOP Senate bill to block cannabis legalization (Newsletter: September 22, 2023)
House Dems file legalization measure; PA medical marijuana bill; Brown unsure on OH cannabis vote; UN drug decrim push; Psilocybin study; MN regulator
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Steve Daines (R-MT)—who are cosponsoring cannabis banking legislation—said they will soon be filing a new bill to “ensure marijuana cannot be legalized federally by the FDA without Congressional approval.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and 33 Democratic cosponsors refiled a bill to federally legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, with provisions to expunge prior cannabis convictions. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passed the House twice under Democratic control.
The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill to let all licensed medical cannabis grower-processors sell products directly to patients—and some lawmakers are suggesting the House could add an amendment allowing home cultivation.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said he’s not sure how he will vote on the marijuana legalization initiative on Ohio’s November ballot, even as he works to pass cannabis banking legislation in Congress.
A new report from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recommends that countries end the war on drugs and instead consider decriminalization.
- “Treating people who use drugs as criminals is not the solution.”
The Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation—which is funded by tobacco and alcohol companies—is recommending that the federal government begin issuing tax stamps for legal marijuana products to combat the illicit market.
A new study found that people who use psilocybin see “significant improvements in mental health, wellbeing, and psychological functioning.”
- There were “persisting reductions in anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse, increased cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, spiritual wellbeing, and extraversion, and reduced neuroticism and burnout.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) appointed the founder of a hemp-derived cannabis business as the state’s top marijuana regulator.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) formed a new marijuana task force and is launching a tip line for people to report illegal cannabis grows.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and lawyers for companies that sued it over the medical marijuana business licensing process are continuing negotiations over a possible settlement.
/ FEDERAL
Former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz authored an op-ed calling on Congress to amend marijuana banking legislation to include provisions to “require clear and accurate labeling of all products containing THC.”
Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent press releases touting their support for marijuana banking legislation.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “We have the momentum on our side to get the SAFER Banking Act to the finish line. Forcing legal cannabis businesses to operate in all-cash is dangerous—it’s an open invitation for robberies, mugging, money laundering, and organized crime.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) touted a letter he signed urging the Drug Enforcement Administration not to reschedule marijuana.
The House marijuana banking bill got five new cosponsors for a total of 77.
/ STATES
A former Missouri House speaker spoke about growing support for psychedelics policy reform.
The Washington State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee will review whether the state’s marijuana production matches customer demand.
A Maryland lawmaker defended the state’s marijuana licensing process timeline from criticism.
A Rhode Island judge ruled that a marijuana cultivation company that is in the process of getting its license revoked cannot continue to sell its products.
Mississippi regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.
Arizona regulators filed revised marijuana rules.
The Florida Board of Nursing is being asked to consider whether nurse practitioners should be able to recommend medical cannabis.
Colorado regulators published a bulletin about the federal marijuana rescheduling recommendation.
New York regulators posted responses to public comments on proposed marijuana rules.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board will meet on Monday.
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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
The Rock Springs, Wyoming City Council heard testimony about marijuana decriminalization.
The Trumball County, Ohio Mental Health and Recovery Board is urging voters to reject the marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the country will rewrite its cannabis policy to allow medical use only.
Canadian youth marijuana use declined over the past year.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A case study of postmenopausal women with osteopenia found that “CBD was well tolerated after 12 weeks of twice-daily oral administration and was associated with reduction in measured markers of bone turnover.”
A review concluded that “psychedelics appear to show promise for analgesia in patients with certain headache disorders and cancer pain diagnoses.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Union of B.C. Municipalities adopted resolutions asking British Columbia, Canada to increase funding and regulations for the drug decriminalization pilot program, including prohibiting possession and use in parks and sports fields.
ONE HEMP is a new alliance of CBD companies advocating for Food and Drug Administration regulation of hemp-derived CBD products as dietary supplements.
The Virginian-Pilot editorial board is calling on lawmakers to resolve the state’s “legal limbo over marijuana.”
/ BUSINESS
Kindly MD plans to go public.
PBC launched a cannabis banking certification program.
Green Thumb Industries Inc. has new board members.
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