Newsletter
Legal cannabis bills advance in HI (Newsletter: February 17, 2023)
1st Senate marijuana bill clears committee; WI gov puts legalization in budget; WA homegow vote; IL gov: cannabis creates jobs; Another MN panel
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved a bill to mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs study the effects of medical cannabis for veterans with PTSD and chronic pain. It’s the first time a standalone marijuana bill has cleared a Senate panel.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) again included provisions to legalize recreational and medical marijuana in his biennial budget request. Some GOP legislative leaders have expressed openness to enacting a limited medical cannabis reform.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said during his State of the State and Budget speech that marijuana legalization has created more than 30,000 jobs since 2020.
Hawaii Senate committees approved two separate marijuana legalization bills, and a House panel advanced legislation to promote research into the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin and MDMA.
The Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee approved a bill to finally allow adults to grow their own marijuana at home—more than a decade after voters passed a legalization ballot initiative.
The Minnesota House Education Finance Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill—the ninth panel in the chamber to do so this session. Companion cannabis legislation is also advancing in the Senate.
The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee held a hearing—but did not vote—on a marijuana decriminalization bill.
/ FEDERAL
Food and Drug Administration advisory committees recommended that opioid overdose antidote Narcan become available over-the-counter.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a short podcast about efforts to help hemp growers navigate rules and regulations.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on fentanyl trafficking.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a group of eight other lawmakers in sending a letter pressing Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide documents concerning the case of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who is imprisoned in Russia over medical cannabis.
/ STATES
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said he does not support a pending medical psilocybin bill and that he would prefer to wait for federal approval. Separately, a former senator who supports psychedelics reform criticized the legislation for being too focused on “people making money.”
The Texas attorney general’s office is urging the state Supreme Court to invalidate a San Antonio ballot initiative to decriminalize marijuana and block enforcement of abortion laws.
Guam’s attorney general said people should stop using marijuana if failed drug tests are preventing them from getting government jobs.
Oklahoma’s attorney general took over the prosecution of an attorney charged with aiding illegal marijuana operations.
Delaware’s House speaker said that he still opposes a bill to legalize marijuana but that if it advances he will support separate legislation to tax and regulate sales.
The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved legislation to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips and to allow people who sell drugs to be charged with first-degree murder if the substances they sell are “proven to have been a substantial factor” in someone’s death.
A Colorado Senate Health & Human Services Committee hearing on a bill to reverse medical cannabis restrictions was canceled, with bill sponsors conceding that the legislation will not advance. Separately, lawmakers filed a bill to legalize safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The Virginia House Appropriations Committee chairman’s budget plan would slash funding for the Cannabis Control Authority.
The Montana House Taxation Committee held a hearing on a bill to eliminate the state’s 4 percent tax on medical cannabis sales and end counties’ ability to add an additional 3 percent local option tax.
The Connecticut legislature’s Transportation Committee held a hearing on a bill to include information about cannabis impairment in driver’s education courses.
The Kentucky House Agriculture Committee heard a presentation on hemp wood.
Pennsylvania regulators filed revised hemp rules.
The Colorado Department of Transportation published resources for marijuana budtenders.
Alaska’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Marijuana will meet on Tuesday.
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/ LOCAL
The San Antonio, Texas City Council certified May ballot placement for an initiative to decriminalize marijuana and block enforcement of abortion laws.
The Las Vegas, Nevada City Council delayed a vote on marijuana lounge regulations.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The European Commission is referring Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union for voting against the European Union’s position on World Health Organization recommendations concerning cannabis scheduling.
Ontario, Canada’s government-run marijuana stores announced steps to reduce price margins.
Zimbabwe is removing hemp from its list of dangerous drugs and setting a limit of 1 percent THC content.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the ability of rare [cannabis-derived phytocannabinoids] to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in human keratinocytes through modifications of [endocannabinoid] and [mitogen-activated protein kinase] signaling opens new perspectives for the treatment of inflammation-related skin pathologies.”
A study indicated that “CBD treatment might be a safe, effective treatment for mastocytosis-associated pain.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Lincoln Journal Star editorial board is calling on Nebraska lawmakers to legalize medical cannabis.
/ BUSINESS
TILT Holdings Inc. announced that it completed transactions to reduce its debt.
Eagle Protect is warning cannabis cultivators and processors about the potential risk of microbial cross-contamination from gloves.
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