Newsletter
Lawmakers react to Biden cannabis timeline (Newsletter: June 19, 2023)
LA gov signs marijuana expungements bill; CA psychedelics legalization prospects; RI study: Youth cannabis use declines; AL licenses paused
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Bipartisan leaders of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus reacted to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra saying that the Biden administration hopes to finish its marijuana scheduling review by the end of this year.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a bill to streamline expungements for people with first-time marijuana possession convictions.
The California senator sponsoring a bill to legalize possession of psychedelics says his Senate-passed measure faces a “challenging road” ahead toward passage in the Assembly. Its first hearing there is on June 27.
A Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals study shows that youth marijuana use declined in 2022 despite legalization beginning to take effect and COVID-related social restrictions being lifted.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is delaying issuing dispensary and other business licenses it had approved due to potential inconsistencies in the application scoring process.
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy held a hearing on proposed rules to allow medical cannabis products to be sold at pharmacies.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration published an updated list of chemicals, products, materials and equipment subject to special surveillance.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) tweeted that he had a “moving meeting this morning with the family of Marc Fogel, a 62 year old American teacher facing a horrific 14 year hard labor sentence in a #Russian penal colony for having a small amount of medical marijuana. We all hope to see Mr. Fogel’s swift return home to the U.S.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) tweeted, “I’m honored to unveil the Douglas ‘Mike’ Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act, surrounded by supporters who understand just how important this is to treat service members suffering from PTSD & TBI. It’s time we think outside the box — our service members deserve it.”
The House bill to fund Department of Defense psychedelics research got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said he hopes that a head of the new Office of Cannabis Management will be in place “sometime by this fall.” Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture is taking the lead on setting up the regulatory body.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) touted enforcement actions against unlicensed marijuana businesses. Separately, a senator argued he was correct to vote against a marijuana legalization bill because the state is “not ready” for the change.
Rhode Island lawmakers sent Gov. Dan McKee (D) a bill to allow marijuana advertising.
North Carolina’s House speaker said that a medical cannabis legalization bill “is certainly a priority to a number of members” but that “there are other members who have concerns with it, and I think we need to flesh it out.”
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader tweeted that news of an aspirational timeline for a federal marijuana scheduling review’s completion “is an important step. But I won’t stop my work to #LegalizeIt right here in #Wisconsin.”
The New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee approved a bill to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes. Separately, a senator filed legislation to reinstate penalties for underage possession and consumption of marijuana and alcohol.
Illinois representatives and cannabis industry stakeholders met to discuss plans to formulate legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products.
A Kentucky representative touted his role in forcing a delayed implementation timeline into the state’s new medical cannabis law.
Oregon regulators approved temporary rules requiring marijuana retailers to obtain certificates of tax compliance.
Alaska regulators are accepting public comments on proposed changes to rules concerning rejecting or revoking acceptance of marijuana products and to rules on transportation.
Maryland regulators instituted a temporary exception to medical cannabis tracking rules as a result of issues with a state system.
Virginia regulators sent guidance about new hemp product rules taking effect on July 1.
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office published a report on tax exemptions for donated medical cannabis.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
A spokesperson for New York City’s mayor pushed back against “disrespect” that a Queens Community Board 5 member showed to the city’s top cannabis official.
An Albuquerque, New Mexico City Council member spoke about how the city now has more marijuana retailers than liquor stores.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Czech Republic’s health minister said his country is waiting for Germany to move first on marijuana legalization before it advances the reform.
The Canadian Senate Indigenous Peoples Committee published a report on how First Nations peoples have been excluded from the economic benefits of legal cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study indicated that “psilocybin had a positive impact on participants’ grief trajectories through subjective increases in participants’ acceptance, feelings of connection, positive emotions, values-congruent living, spirituality, comfort with mortality, and ability to resolve internal conflicts relating to their bereavement.”
A study found that “opioid-related law enforcement drug seizures were significantly associated with increased spatiotemporal clustering of overdoses.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is partnering with Numinus Wellness Inc. to support psychedelic experiential training of therapists.
The Washington Post editorial board said that the “suffusion of weed smoke in residential and public spaces adds heft” to arguments it previously expressed opposing marijuana legalization.
/ BUSINESS
The Parent Company shareholders approved the company’s proposed merger with Gold Flora LLC.
Acreage Holdings, Inc. is reducing the size of its board of directors in preparation for its expected acquisition by Canopy USA, LLC.
MedMen Enterprises Inc.’s chief financial officer resigned.
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