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MN cannabis expungement effort begins (Newsletter: June 13, 2023)
RI House votes to legalize psilocybin; Mike Pence on marijuana; CT recreational sales overtake medical cannabis; UFCW op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize possession and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says that “work is underway” to begin expunging marijuana convictions as part of the state’s new legalization law.
Marijuana Moment compiled a comprehensive look at where Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence stands on cannabis.
- In Congress he voted six times against protecting state medical cannabis laws from federal raids and has called marijuana a gateway drug. As governor he signed a large-scale criminal justice bill that included provisions to reduce some marijuana penalties.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection reported retailers sold $22.7 million worth of legal marijuana products in May—a new monthly record, with recreational sales outpacing medical cannabis for the first time.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union’s Ademola Oyefeso authored a Marijuana Moment op-ed arguing that as the cannabis industry grows, worker protections must grow with it.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded the state’s first dispensary, cultivation, processing, transport and testing licenses.
/ FEDERAL
The House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee hosted a roundtable discussion on psychedelics as a treatment option for PTSD.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “The SAFE Banking Act has bipartisan support because it’s common sense: legal cannabis businesses should be able to access the financial services they need. I’m working to get this bill to the Senate floor.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) said it is “time to go ahead and get those federal protections and officially legalize marijuana.”
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) called drug decriminalization “outlandish and negligent.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) suggested that political commentator Keith Olbermann may be smoking “stale” marijuana and hallucinating amid a debate about how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handled classified documents.
/ STATES
Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) announced his pick to serve as the state’s top marijuana regulator.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) vetoed an omnibus medical cannabis reform bill, apparently over concerns about a provision to extend implementation of a new tiered licensing fee for cultivation operations. Separately, the attorney general sent a press release praising the governor and lawmakers for enacting other marijuana legislation this session.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) tweeted, “It’s about darn time we listen to the people and legalize and tax marijuana in Wisconsin, much like we already do with alcohol.” He also discussed his support for legalization in a speech at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention, where the Senate minority leader additionally spoke about the need to legalize cannabis.
A Massachusetts representative spoke about her bill to decriminalize psychedelics.
The Minnesota representative who sponsored a now-enacted marijuana legalization bill said there are Republican lawmakers who didn’t vote for it but are secretly happy it passed.
A Florida marijuana legalization campaign got another $550,000 in contributions from Trulieve.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, located within North Carolina, is considering placing a marijuana legalization referendum on the tribe’s September ballot.
Missouri regulators defended their initial steps on a marijuana microlicense program from criticism.
The Colorado Department of Transportation launched a new education effort to deter marijuana-impaired driving by young people.
Vermont regulators are conducting a listening tour about new rules on hemp-derived products this month.
Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board posted a meeting schedule for the next few months.
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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
Lubbock, Texas activists are planning to launch a petition to place a local marijuana decriminalization initiative on the ballot.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “CBD is an effective novel treatment option in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex and Dravet syndrome” and that “data supporting CBD’s applicability in anxiety, Parkinson’s Disease, schizophrenia, insomnia, pain, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis and as an anti-aging agent is promising, but more research on bigger groups of patients is needed to establish its role in modern medicine.”
A study found “continued robust clinical response and remission from depression with a single dose of psilocybin and simultaneous psychological support in patients with cancer and” major depressive disorder.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Council of Churches and Drug Policy Alliance, among other organizations, sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to grant clemency to people convicted of federal crack cocaine offenses.
/ BUSINESS
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. co-founders and other shareholders including Major League Baseball have submitted instructions to withhold votes for four of the company’s six director nominees.
Canopy Growth Corporation provided an update on its management cease trade order and said it is working with auditors to complete restated financial statements.
Michigan retailers sold $245.9 million worth of legal marijuana products in May.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
