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KY gov wants to sell cannabis to other states (Newsletter: December 10, 2021)
Biden drug czar open to safe consumption sites; MO marijuana smell bill; VA lawmakers talk psychedelics decrim
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta said the Biden administration is open to allowing safe consumption sites for illegal substances—if the evidence supports it as a harm reduction measure.
- “If you’re looking to save lives, and you’ve reached a historic precedent levels of deaths, you cannot avoid looking at any and every option in order to save those lives.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said legalizing medical marijuana is “the future” and that he wants to let farmers grow cannabis to sell to other states.
Two Virginia lawmakers hosted an event where activists kicked off an effort to decriminalize psychedelics.
A Missouri representative filed a bill to prevent police from using the smell of marijuana as “probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of a motor vehicle, home, or other private property.”
/ FEDERAL
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on youth mental health that urges people to “avoid substances that can ultimately make you feel tired, down, or depressed, such as alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and tobacco.”
The administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency spoke about changes to hemp crop insurance rules.
The Congressional Research Service published a report on the differing hemp provisions in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “I’m working with @SenBooker and @RonWyden to pass our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end federal prohibition. It’s long past time to end the federal prohibition on marijuana and ensure equity for communities impacted by the War on Drugs.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized the newly confirmed U.S. attorney for Massachusetts for not wanting to prosecute people for possessing marijuana and other drugs.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) spoke about efforts to build bipartisan support for her marijuana legalization bill.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “My bipartisan bill will help redress the consequences of the War on Drugs and remove obstacles preventing hundreds of thousands across the country from reaching their American Dream.”
Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Henry Martin tweeted, “Today would be a good day for the President to legalize marijuana and pardon all the non-violent offenders who are imprisoned for it.”
The House bill to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor for a total of 15.
The House bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got one new cosponsor for a total of 36.
/ STATES
A spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) criticized Congress for “continued inaction” on marijuana banking.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, is facing an ethics investigation over allegations that she did not properly disclose income related to medical cannabis lobbying work.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana.
The Michigan House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling on Congress to “clarify” its position on the legality of marijuana.
New York’s Assembly majority leader spoke about marijuana issues at a union meeting. Separately, the state’s top cannabis regulator spoke about efforts to implement legalization.
A Maine representative who is sponsoring a drug decriminalization bill authored an op-ed arguing that the state should follow Oregon in enacting the policy.
South Dakota activists announced they’ve collected more than 15,000 signatures for a marijuana legalization initiative they hope to place on the 2022 ballot.
Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection accepted the cannabis Social Equity Council’s request to keep the application period open for 90 days for all business license types that will be selected through the first lottery.
An Illinois judge set next steps in a case challenging regulators’ marijuana business licenses decisions.
Washington State regulators proposed rules on cannabis quality control testing.
Oregon regulators will hold listening sessions about the psilocybin therapy program next week.
Guam regulators will discuss marijuana rules on Monday.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,300 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
Marijuana seized in Brattleboro, Vermont was not laced with fentanyl despite earlier reports, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Jackson County, Oregon commissioners discussed legislation to limit marijuana cultivation licenses to land that is already endowed with water rights.
Atlantic City, New Jersey officials shut down a cannabis cafe over lack of required permits.
Denver, Colorado officials will host an information session about marijuana hospitality businesses on Tuesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Bahamian agriculture minister said the government will propose marijuana legislation “in the next year or so.”
The UK’s secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs said hemp is “an interesting crop.”
The Welsh government criticized a new UK drug crackdown plan and said it prefers to take an approach based in harm reduction.
A Guernsey lawmaker is pressing for information about a cannabis memorandum of understanding with UK officials.
A journalist who covered the bloody Philippine “drug war” was shot and killed.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of Food and Drug Administration warning letters about improper marketing of products that allegedly prevent or treat COVID-19 found that “cannabidiol products were the most frequent subject of violation.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “It’s time to legalize cannabis & create a better future for Indiana.”
The Family Research Council is pushing back against the movement to normalize psychedelics.
The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and other organizations proposed a framework for decriminalizing drugs.
/ BUSINESS
The Canadian Securities Exchange is proposing to make it easier for U.S. cannabis companies to be included in exchange-traded funds and indexes.
Capcom Co., Ltd. is letting Japanese police use characters from its Ace Attorney video game series in a campaign to discourage youth marijuana use.
/ CULTURE
The Onion made fun of an announcement about the world’s biggest marijuana brownie.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
