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MN House panel touts cannabis decrim for racial justice (Newsletter: December 29, 2020)

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NJ marijuana bill hits snag; CBO examines cannabis research bill’s budget impact; DC decriminalizes drug paraphernalia

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New Jersey marijuana legislation hit another snag as Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he is unwilling to sign current bills that remove penalties for those under 21. But under the voter-approved ballot measure, legal cannabis will be a state constitutional right as of January 1 and it’s not clear lawmakers can enact a fix by then.

The Minnesota House Select Committee On Racial Justice issued a report recommending that the state decriminalize marijuana and expunge records for past cannabis convictions.

In a new report, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that a marijuana research bill approved by the House this month would have a “negligible” impact on the federal deficit because cannabis cultivators would pay registration fees to cover costs.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed a bill to decriminalize drug paraphernalia and allow the distribution of harm reduction tools that advocates say will save lives.

/ FEDERAL

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a fact sheet on marijuana- and drug-impaired driving.

/ STATES

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) sent a press release about Shenandoah Valley Hemp, LLC opening a hemp fiber processing and CBD processing facility in the state.

New Mexico’s House speaker said he thinks marijuana legalization has a good chance of passing in 2021.

An Illinois judge rejected a motion to force regulators to immediately issue marijuana craft cultivation licenses.

A Nebraska senator filmed a video for the state’s ACLU chapter about efforts to put marijuana reform measures on the state’s 2022 ballot.

Missouri regulators published data on cumulative medical cannabis sales.

Alaska regulators included a question about changes in marijuana consumption in a survey about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.


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/ LOCAL

The Deschutes County, Oregon district attorney says he is concerned about the governor’s proposal to delay the shift in funding to drug treatment under a voter-approved decriminalization measure.

Kansas City, Missouri police are blaming an increase in car crash fatalities on marijuana.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine is encouraging the use of medical cannabis in traditional medicines.

Nigerian lawmakers are considering legislation to increase marijuana penalties.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “chronic cannabis use can significantly dampen stress reactivity in female rats.”

A review demonstrated “potential therapeutic benefit with minimal physical and neurocognitive risk for the use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in [treatment-resistant] PTSD.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

AARP posted medical cannabis guidelines for caregivers.

/ BUSINESS

AFC Gamma filed to go public on the NASDAQ.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange launched a new index for nine medical cannabis companies.

/ CULTURE

Rapper T.I. joined Viola as social justice and reform ambassador.

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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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