Connect with us

Newsletter

Mayors across US push Biden for cannabis reform (Newsletter: September 14, 2021)

Published

on

Biden drug war clemency move; Top drug official talks psychedelics & marijuana; 1st NY cannabis retail license apps accepted; MT ad rules revised

Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.

Get our daily newsletter.

Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…

*Rattling the tip jar* Got a few dollars you can spare to help Marijuana Moment pay our writers, keep our website running and grow into the kind of robust news organization the fast-paced world of drug policy deserves?

Join us for $25/month and be a part of our work: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

In a new interview with Marijuana Moment, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow said research demonstrating the benefits of psychedelics may be causing more people to use them. She also said scientists should be able to study the cannabis that consumers are actually buying from dispensaries instead of just using government-grown weed.

  • The top federal drug science official also talked about the need for drug decriminalization: “I’d like to see decriminalization of the individual that is taking drugs. There is no justification to put them in jail or prison. And in fact, it jeopardizes their outcome.”

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has asked about 1,000 federal prisoners with drug convictions to apply for clemency. It could be the start of mass pardons for people on home confinement so they don’t have to return to prison after the COVID-19 pandemic emergency is lifted.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to “legalize cannabis commercialization” and deschedule with a focus on racial equity. It notes that the federal government holds a patent recognizing marijuana’s medical value.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is accepting New York’s first marijuana retail license applications. Meanwhile, the state’s Cannabis Control Board hasn’t even been fully appointed yet.

The Montana Department of Revenue loosened proposed marijuana advertising restrictions that as initially proposed would have required dispensary signs to include lengthy warnings about cannabis’s effects.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a request for quotes for a high tunnel greenhouse that will be used to preserve hemp germplasm.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) wrote in a constituent letter that the federal government should not interfere with state marijuana laws.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) sent a letter criticizing the Biden administration for being “slow to engage” on the opioid overdose crisis.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) tweeted, “More Minnesotans agree than ever before: It’s well past time we legalize, regulate and tax marijuana statewide. Why does the MN GOP continue to stand in the way?”

/ STATES

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) tweeted, “362,000 marijuana cases already expunged. Thousands more to come. With our new cannabis laws, we are turning the page on the failed War on Drugs and ensuring social justice here in New Jersey.”

The South Dakota legislature’s Interim Rules Review Committee approved some medical cannabis regulations, but rejected others.

The Georgia House Medical Cannabis Commission Oversight Committee met.

A Michigan senator spoke about his bill to legalize possession of certain psychedelics.

A Mississippi senator authored an op-ed calling for lawmakers to pass a “free-market” medical cannabis program with no licensing caps.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services published a newsletter article about transitioning the state’s hemp program to federal oversight.

Nevada regulators posted a presentation on hemp and cannabis crop diseases.

Missouri regulators posted updated data on medical cannabis patient license distribution across the state.

Oklahoma regulators released an updated list of licensed medical cannabis processors.

Ohio regulators will discuss medical cannabis issues on Tuesday.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

Deschutes County, Oregon is suing state regulators over what it says are marijuana tax revenue transfers it is owed.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Saint Lucia lawmakers are expected to vote on a marijuana decriminalization bill soon.

Finland’s Green Party is pushing for marijuana legalization.

Here’s a look at where Canadian political parties stand on drug policy issues.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A case study concluded that “cannabinoids are possibly safe and effective in management of neuropathic pruritus.

A study concluded that “hemp cake, a material considered mainly as waste, may be destined for food purposes and be an alternative ingredient for the production of sustainable meat products.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Oklahoma Republican Party said it will host a medical marijuana forum.

The League of Oregon Cities and the Association of Oregon Counties are expressing concern that the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization measure is taking marijuana tax money away from localities.

The president of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana authored an op-ed about the “unintended consequences” of legalizing hemp.

/ BUSINESS

Jushi Holdings Inc. completed its acquisition of Nature’s Remedy of Massachusetts, Inc.

Rubicon Organics Inc. signed a medical cannabis supply agreement with Shoppers Drug Mart Inc.

Massachusetts regulators are reportedly investigating whether Gotham Green Partners LLC misrepresented the number of cannabis licenses it holds in the state.

Avicanna Inc. announced that a failure-to-file cease trade order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission against the company has been revoked.

COMPASS Pathways plc hired filmmaker Hamilton Morris as a full-time consultant.

TikTok took down a post with an Ohio journalist’s reporting about marijuana policy.

/ CULTURE

Melissa Etheridge will speak at a conference on how psychedelics can improve the end of life experience next month.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.

Get our daily newsletter.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
Become a patron at Patreon!

Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Advertisement

Marijuana News In Your Inbox

Get our daily newsletter.

Support Marijuana Moment

Marijuana News In Your Inbox

 

Get our daily newsletter.