Newsletter
IRS advice for ‘rapidly growing’ cannabis industry (Newsletter: September 29, 2021)
PA legal marijuana bill; States & cities push SCOTUS to take safe injection case; Ag officials’ hemp push; Grand Rapids psychedelics decrim resolution
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service’s Small Business / Self-Employed Division wrote a blog post offering tax compliance advice to the “rapidly growing” marijuana industry.
- “While there are 14 states that still ban cannabis use, we expect both unlicensed and licensed marijuana businesses to grow.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers filed a new bill to legalize marijuana with a focus on social equity for communities harmed by the war on drugs.
Ten states, Washington, D.C. and more than a dozen cities and counties are calling on the Supreme Court to take up a case that could determine the legality of opening safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is encouraging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow a dual designation for hemp as a specialty crop so that farmers can be eligible for a broader pool of federal grants.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan City Commission passed a resolution endorsing the decriminalization of psychedelics. But unlike measures approved in other cities, it doesn’t immediately make any changes to enforcement practices.
/ FEDERAL
The House of Representatives approved a bill to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The sponsors of the Senate companion bill urged their colleagues to support its advancement in that chamber.
House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) tweeted, “I’m grateful to see Los Angeles dismiss more marijuana convictions — now let’s do it nationally. We must pass the #MOREAct to federally decriminalize marijuana and work to undo the harm criminalization has caused in communities of color.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) tweeted, “The MORE Act would: 1. Remove the federal prohibition on marijuana 2. Expunge prior convictions of marijuana crimes 3. Tax marijuana 4. Set up a new government spending program Tomorrow in judiciary committee, I’ll be offering an amendment to remove the tax and spend provisions.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, “Tomorrow, Congress will be taking the next step toward ending the federal marijuana ban when @HouseJudiciary begins consideration of the #MOREAct, which @HouseDemocrats passed last year. It’s past time we fix our country’s broken marijuana laws and restore justice.”
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) tweeted, “After decades of working to end the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, we’ve finally passed the EQUAL Act. The War on Drugs has been a failure and this disparity is a glaring example of its inequity. We must undo the harm done to communities of color.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) tweeted, “Far too many in our communities still suffer from the racist disparities of America’s war on drugs.”
The House bill to federally legalize marijuana and fund programs to repair drug war harms got seven new cosponsors for a total of 73.
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed a bill to defelonize drug possession.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said a special session to pass a medical cannabis bill could be called soon. Meanwhile, the Legislative Black Caucus’s Special Select Committee held a hearing on medical marijuana.
Maryland’s House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup scheduled several meetings for the next few months.
An Oregon regulator said 44 percent of inspected hemp farms were found to be growing illegal marijuana.
New Mexico regulators posted draft rules for marijuana manufacturing, retail and courier businesses.
Florida regulators are being accused by a physician of breaking the law to stage a sting operation against his medical cannabis recommendation practices.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is being sued for allegedly improperly destroying a farmer’s hemp crop.
The Minnesota House Research Department published a report on the state’s medical cannabis program.
West Virginia regulators are reminding medical cannabis patients that a deadline to sign up for a two-year card is coming up on Thursday.
Washington State’s Cannabis Science Task Force Steering Committee will meet on Friday.
New Jersey regulators rescheduled a marijuana informational webinar to October 13.
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/ LOCAL
The Aurora, Colorado City Council again rejected a proposal to allow marijuana social use businesses.
A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging Miami, Florida’s restrictive medical cannabis business rules can go back to state court.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Spanish lawmakers filed a marijuana legalization bill.
Thailand’s Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives is offering loans for community enterprises and agricultural cooperatives to plant cannabis.
Italian activists held a protest to push the country’s Council of Ministers to extend the deadline to certify signatures on a marijuana referendum because some local officials are taking too long to do so.
Irish lawmakers will get a briefing on medical cannabis on Wednesday.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabis legalization is generally associated with increased use of cannabis and not associated with frequent use or use disorder among cannabis users, including among members of demographic subgroups most affected by criminalization.”
A study found that “time features plus phone sensor data had 90 % accuracy in detecting cannabis ‘high.’“
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Los Angeles Times editorial board endorsed safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The Connecticut Business & Industry Association hosted a forum on marijuana issues for employers.
/ BUSINESS
A federal judge dismissed a shareholder lawsuit that accused Tilray, Inc. of fraudulently overstating the value of a marketing and revenue-sharing agreement it entered into with Authentic Brands Group Inc.
C3 International, Inc. and its CEO and president were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with allegedly scamming at least 40 investors out of approximately $2 million.
Leafly Holdings, Inc. has a new CFO.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. extended its long-term real estate relationship with Goodness Growth Holdings, Inc.
/ CULTURE
Former basketball player Chris Webber announced plans to build a $50 million cannabis operation in Detroit, Michigan.
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