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MN gov signs legal cannabis into law (Newsletter: May 31, 2023)

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NV Senate passes psychedelics bill; NC medical marijuana hearing; FL legalization ballot challenge court schedule; NH cannabis legislation stalls

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a marijuana legalization bill into law—making the state the 23rd in the U.S. to end cannabis prohibition. Legal possession and homegrow will go into effect August 1, with licensed commercial sales expected in 12-18 months.

The Nevada Senate passed a bill to create a Psychedelic Medicines Working Group charged with developing an “actionable plan on how to enable access” that is “safe, accessible and affordable.”

The North Carolina House Health Committee held a hearing on a Senate-passed bill to legalize medical cannabis, with the lead sponsor testifying about how marijuana helped him get through cancer chemotherapy.

The Florida Supreme Court laid out a briefing schedule for considering whether a proposed marijuana legalization ballot initiative violates the state Constitution’s single subject rule as the attorney general has claimed.

The New Hampshire House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee declined to take action on an amendment to legalize marijuana through a multitiered system of state-controlled stores, privately operated agency shops and dual-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries—with key lawmakers indicating they plan to revisit the issue later this year.

/ FEDERAL

The National Institute of Justice will host a webinar on methods for measuring THC in cannabis products on June 27.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) noted Minnesota’s new cannabis legalization law, tweeting, “Our fight isn’t over — it’s unjust that cannabis is still federally criminalized. We need to legalize marijuana nationwide.”

/ STATES

South Dakota’s attorney general expressed concerns about marijuana legalization in neighboring Minnesota.

New Jersey’s Senate majority leader suggested that cannabis revenue could be earmarked for schools.

Oklahoma’s Senate president pro tem touted legislation that lawmakers passed to combat illicit marijuana cultivation.

A Wisconsin former Senate majority leader and a former Assembly speaker discussed the prospects for medical cannabis legislation in the state.

A California senator said he’s hopeful about his psychedelics legalization bill advancing, in part because there are a lot of new “open-minded” members of the legislature session but he also said there is no point in reintroducing his vetoed legislation to allow safe consumption sites for illegal drugs since Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) continues to be opposed.

New York regulators enacted emergency rules on enforcement against unlicensed marijuana sellers, approved a settlement of a lawsuit that has prevented them from licensing retailers in areas of the state and modified an agreement to make it easier to raise $150 million to aid social equity dispensaries.

Florida regulators filed emergency rules on medical cannabis caregiver background screenings.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday.

Washington State’s Cannabinoid Science Work Group will meet on Thursday.


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.

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

/ LOCAL

A petition to remove Butte County, South Dakota Commission members over their handling of medical cannabis issues failed to collect enough valid signatures.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Nepal’s finance minister said the government is studying legalizing medical cannabis cultivation.

The Canadian House of Commons rejected a motion to condemn the government’s harm reduction approach to drugs.

The head of the UK Labour Party said he would “respect” the Scottish Parliament’s decision if lawmakers vote to legalize safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study on impaired driving found that “there was no relationship between THC concentrations measured in blood, [oral fluid], or breath and [standard deviation of lateral position] or coherence at any of the timepoints studied.”

A study found that marijuana legalization “increases the wages of young adults but has no significant effect on the wages of adults in general.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party is planning an evolution of its mission now that marijuana is legal in the state.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is calling on congressional leaders to take action about the Food and Drug Administration’s “misguided use of incomplete safety data as the basis for its continued refusal to regulate CBD as a dietary supplement or food additive.”

/ BUSINESS

Canopy Growth Corporation and Indiva Inc. entered into a license assignment and assumption agreement providing Canopy exclusive rights and interests to manufacture, distribute, and sell Wana branded products in Canada.

Akanda Corp. and Veridia Canada Ltd. mutually agreed to terminate a loan agreement.

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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.

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