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Is cannabis banking still possible this year? (Newsletter: December 15, 2022)
NY gov signs hemp bill; Congressional marijuana report; 2 million expungements in past 5 years; MT projects more cannabis revenue than alcohol
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A tweet from a well-connected D.C. journalist caused a stir by reporting that marijuana banking won’t be part of the omnibus appropriations bill that congressional leaders agreed to a framework for, but Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and industry leaders are stepping up the push—even as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) renewed his opposition to including unrelated “poison pills.”
- Meanwhile, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) deleted a tweet in which she appeared to suggest that SAFE Banking won’t pass this year.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill aimed at expanding the state’s hemp market by promoting collaborative partnerships to identify more opportunities to utilize the crop and its derivatives for packaging, construction and other purposes.
A new Congressional Research Service report looks at the “expanding policy gap” on marijuana as more states continue to enact legalization while Congress refuses to pass significant federal reforms.
A new NORML report shows that nearly 2 million marijuana convictions have been pardoned or expunged in the U.S. over the past five years.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s (R) budget projects that marijuana revenue will continue to grow year over year while alcohol taxes remain relatively flat.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing to permanently extend rules making it easier for people with opioid use disorder to access drugs like methadone for use at home. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra cited the decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips as a successful harm reduction strategy, and expressed openness to safe consumption sites for illegal drugs if the evidence says they work.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’s Fiscal Year 2022-2028 Strategic Plan mentions cannabis and psychedelics research.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted nearly $5 million for sustainable hemp fiber research.
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) tweeted, “The legalization of #cannabis does not lead to an increase in impaired driving, according to a study done by @CPEARcoalition. A federal regulatory framework for #cannabis rooted in science and data can help combat the issue of danger on the roads.”
Rep.-elect Wiley Nickel (D-NC) spoke about his father’s use of medical cannabis when he was dying of cancer.
/ STATES
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) tweeted, “Nearly two-thirds of Wisconsinites support legalizing marijuana. The will of the people should be the law of the land.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “There are only 18 days left of 2022, and I have to say, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. From the best two-year period for economic investment to helping those impacted by natural disasters or chronic pain through medical cannabis, we have made progress for Kentuckians.”
Minnesota’s outgoing House majority leader and another lawmaker spoke about plans to pass marijuana legalization legislation in 2023.
A Montana senator authored an op-ed calling on Congress to pass marijuana banking legislation.
A New Hampshire representative replied to a Marijuana Moment article about a new bipartisan legalization bill, tweeting, “The NH House and Senate started the year last week in a ‘Joint Convention’.”
Vermont regulators posted revised marijuana business rules.
Members of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board are questioning regulators’ oversight of doctors and third-party certification companies.
The New York Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board held a meeting at which advocates pushed back against the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) decision to reject a recommendation to use opioid settlement funds to support safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Subcommittee met.
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families tweeted, “Some packaging for cannabis edibles are designed to mimic name brand candy. At a quick glance, even adults have a hard time telling the difference between them. These ‘recreationals’ can pose severe health risks if ingested by children, so keep them stored safely & out of reach.”
Tennessee’s Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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
New York City police are under federal investigation over allegations that they planted illegal drugs during car stops.
Buffalo, New York Common Council members expressed concerns about unlicensed marijuana sales.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Irish Oireachtas Justice Committee issued a report recommending that the government consider legalizing marijuana and other drugs.
A Thai Parliament committee removed a section of a pending cannabis and hemp regulation bill that stated marijuana is not a drug.
Victoria, Australia’s Legalise Cannabis Victoria Party won two seats in the Legislative Council, and other newly elected members from other parties also support legalization.
The Canadian government published expectations for risk-management measures during clinical trials on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
The head of Frankfurt, Germany’s drug department supports the federal government’s marijuana legalization proposal.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD can prevent cardiac oxidative damage in many conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, or even through the cardiotoxic effects induced by chemotherapy, which makes it a potential target for future clinical use to minimize the deleterious effects of many pathophysiologies.”
A study suggested “a potentially significant role of Cannabis in treatment-resistant Fibromyalgia women.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Staffers from NORML and Smart Approaches to Marijuana participated in a debate on legalization hosted by Vox.
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve laid off employees at its McKeesport, Pennsylvania cultivation facility.
The Ontario Securities Commission said it no longer has a reasonable prospect of getting convictions against former CannTrust Holdings Inc. executives charged in connection to alleged growing of marijuana in unlicensed rooms.
Founders of Dutchie are suing the company’s executive chairman and four directors, claiming their removal was invalid.
MariMed, Inc. has a new interim CEO following the unexpected death of its CEO.
Illinois retailers sold $130.5 million worth of legal recreational marijuana products in November.
/ CULTURE
The author of the poem that appears at the end of the video game Minecraft said he decided to release the work into the public domain after taking psilocybin.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
