Newsletter
MN legal cannabis bill approved in 1st committee (Newsletter: January 12, 2023)
NJ gov touts marijuana market in SOTS; CT gov calls NY cannabis plan “crazy”; HI legalization push; Top WI lawmaker: Medical marijuana deal not close
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill. This is the first stop for the legislation, which was filed last week—and it’ll likely go through another dozen panels or so before reaching the floor.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) touted the growth of the state’s marijuana industry during his State of the State address—pointing to the president of the minority-owned cannabis business he invited as a special guest.
There’s now a tri-state war of words over cannabis, with Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) touting his state’s rollout of marijuana sales and calling New York “crazy” for starting with just one dispensary. Last week, New Jersey and New York officials criticized each other’s plans.
Wisconsin’s Assembly speaker pushed back on the Senate majority leader’s suggestion that a deal on medical cannabis is “close”—again warning Gov. Tony Evers (D) that putting recreational marijuana legalization in his budget will “poison the well.”
Hawaii lawmakers and advocates announced a push to legalize marijuana in the 2023 session under new pro-reform Gov. Josh Green (D).
Kentucky’s Senate president said for the first time that he’s open to passing medical marijuana legislation—but argued that it would need to have tight restrictions “to prevent abuse.”
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) posted a thread of 2022 accomplishments, noting that “for the first time in U.S. history, we enacted federal cannabis reform legislation – a new law that will help us research marijuana’s potential health benefits.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) cited the Cannabis Caucus that she co-chairs as an example of bipartisan collaboration.
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) proposed budget includes funds to step up enforcement against illegal cannabis operations.
Spokespeople for Virginia’s attorney general and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discussed efforts to remove illegal cannabis products from stores.
The North Dakota Senate approved a bill to increase medical cannabis patients’ 30-day THC limit.
Maryland’s Senate president and House speaker discussed plans to craft a regulatory framework for marijuana sales this session.
Utah’s Senate majority leader filed a bill to amend medical marijuana rules and ban synthetic cannabis products.
A West Virginia delegate introduced a marijuana legalization bill.
A Maine senator tweeted that he “made plans with the Speaker of the House for legislation on the expungement of cannabis convictions.”
A South Dakota representative filed a bill to block women who are pregnant or breastfeeding from qualifying to become medical cannabis patients.
Oklahoma lawmakers filed bills on water use by medical cannabis cultivators.
A New York senator touted her work to make the state “a global leader in industrial hemp production.”
A Connecticut representative spoke about the launch of legal marijuana sales.
A Missouri representative tweeted, “How you gone police people’s use of the word ‘recreation’ while using the word ‘marijuana’ that has racist, pejorative roots? Go off though.”
Colorado lawmakers are expected to consider several cannabis issues this session.
Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator will reportedly hold a closed-door meeting with industry participants next week.
Michigan regulators will host an education session on IT services for marijuana businesses on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Harker Heights, Texas City Council declined to accept a petition to reverse its repeal of a voter-approved local marijuana decriminalization law, meaning it will likely appear on the May ballot.
The Killeen, Texas City Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss pending litigation from Bell County over the city’s marijuana decriminalization law.
Queens, New York Borough Cabinet received a marijuana revenue briefing from state regulators.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell spoke about the ongoing work of the Commission on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation.
Germany’s Free Democratic Party is pushing the health minister to unveil a marijuana legalization bill “as soon as possible.”
Thailand’s Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said that people will soon need to present an ID in order to purchase cannabis.
British Columbia, Canada’s government is considering whether to allow cannabis consumption spaces to operate.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “CBD improves cardiac function and reduces renal injury in a mouse model of cytokine storm” and indicates that “CBD significantly reduces systemic and renal inflammation to contribute to the improvements observed in a cytokine storm-model of cardiac and renal injury.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “It’s past time to legalize cannabis. Why? More than 80% of Hoosiers support cannabis legalization in some form. The @indgop should set aside its partisanship and legalize marijuana. It’s a win-win for the Hoosier State.”
The Asian Cannabis Roundtable launched as a formal organization.
The Cannabis Association of New York released its 2023 legislative agenda.
/ BUSINESS
urban-gro, Inc. has a new chief operating officer.
Jones Soda Co. is bringing its Mary Jones cannabis-infused beverage brand to the Washington market.
Springbig Holdings was warned by Nasdaq that its share price fell below its minimum bid price requirement.
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