Newsletter
Legal cannabis prospects jump in MN with Senate flip (Newsletter: November 10, 2022)
CO psychedelics measure passes; Congressional hearing witnesses; OH & WI marijuana ballot measures approved; RI cities vote to allow cannabis sales
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Colorado voters approved a ballot measure to legalize several psychedelics and create a system of “healing centers” where people can receive supervised psilocybin services.
The House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties announced witnesses for the marijuana hearing it is holding next week—including the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama and members of advocacy groups like NORML.
Minnesota’s Senate flipped to Democratic control in Tuesday’s elections—putting the state at the top of the list of those most likely to legalize marijuana in 2023. Party leaders said at a post-election press briefing that they’ll caucus on the issue this week.
- Legal cannabis has passed Minnesota’s Democratic-controlled House but stalled in the Senate, which until now has been run by Republicans. Reelected Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Wednesday called out the GOP’s past “stalling on that and not doing anything” on the issue, adding that he “would assume now that there may be more of a desire” to pass the legislation.
Voters in five Ohio cities approved local marijuana decriminalization ballot measures.
Wisconsin voters in three counties and five municipalities approved marijuana legalization advisory referendums. The results won’t change any laws on their own, but they will send a message to lawmakers about public support for cannabis reform.
Voters in 33 Rhode Island cities and towns saw measures on their local ballots to allow recreational marijuana businesses to operate—and 25 of those were approved.
/ FEDERAL
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain tweeted, “The @POTUS kept his promises to younger Americans (with action on climate change, student loans, marijuana reform, etc.), and they responded with energy and enthusiasm.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement criticizing Russia’s decision to move American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was convicted of possessing cannabis vapes, to a penal colony.
The Food and Drug Administration sent an alert about reports of serious side effects from people exposed to fentanyl, heroin and other illegal drugs contaminated with xylazine.
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) touted his signing a marijuana legalization bill during his reelection victory speech.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) decried congressional interference in the city’s laws on marijuana and syringe exchange programs in a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to bring a bill on statehood for the District to the floor.
The Virginia Task Force to Analyze Industrial Hemp Extracts and Other Substances Containing Tetrahydrocannabinol Intended for Human Consumption released a draft report.
Alaska regulators issued responses to questions about proposed marijuana tax rules changes.
Washington State regulators touted a study showing that most cannabis consumers in the state purchase products at licensed retailers.
California regulators are accepting grant applications for the Sustainable California Grown Cannabis pilot study.
Minnesota regulators began accepting applications for licenses to grow or process hemp in 2023.
Nevada regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Tuesday.
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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
Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor tweeted, “Legal cannabis makes sense and is happening nationwide. Fights on language will continue, but there is no issue I opine on that has more broad support. Buoyed by huge victories in cities and a decent base in rural MO, a path for other issues can be seen in weed votes.”
All but a handful of the Oregon counties and cities that had local psilocybin services bans on the ballot approved the measures.
Michigan municipalities had split results on ballot measures to allow or ban marijuana businesses.
Los Angeles County, California voters approved a marijuana tax measure.
San Diego, California voters approved a cannabis tax measure.
Colorado Springs, Colorado voters rejected a ballot measure to allow recreational marijuana sales, but approved a companion question that would have taxed those sales. Separately, Palmer Lake voters approved a measure to allow marijuana sales.
Voters in several Montana counties decided on ballot measures to allow or tax marijuana sales.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A former UK policing minister accepted a job with CBD product maker Tenacious Holdings Limited.
Portugal’s national coordinator for drugs and drug addiction discussed the county’s decriminalization policy.
Manitoba, Canada’s premier spoke about her opposition to allowing safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study provided “further support for the patient-perceived effectiveness of cannabis in managing [chronic pain] symptoms and reducing analgesic medication consumption.”
A study found that “cannabidiol markedly alleviates skin and liver fibrosis.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Cannabis business owner Wanda James was elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $300.8 million and a net loss of $115.1 million.
Canopy Growth Corporation reported quarterly net revenue of C$117.9 million and a net loss of C$231.9 million.
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $39.4 million and a net loss of $22 million.
TILT Holdings Inc.’s subsidiary Jupiter Research LLC entered into a manufacture, supply and distribution agreement with Curaleaf International Limited.
Akanda Corp. made its first shipment of medical cannabis from Portugal to Germany.
FundCanna has a new chief operating officer.
/ CULTURE
The Onion made fun of a National Park Service post asking people to stop licking psychedelic toads.
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