Newsletter
New “DANK Cannabis Research” bill in Congress (Newsletter: July 29, 2022)
House hemp hearing; SF psychedelics decrim; “Compromise” on marijuana study legislation; Former prisoner: Schumer’s bill leaves many behind
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s federal hemp program, with lawmakers and witnesses—including two state agriculture commissioners and industry representatives—highlighting reforms they would like to see made as part of the 2023 Farm Bill.
Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) filed a new marijuana bill in Congress called the DANK Cannabis Research Act that would, among other things, designate Centers of Excellence in Cannabis Research across the U.S
- It’s not clear if the lawmakers intentionally used the name Developing and Nationalizing Key Cannabis Research to construct an acronym that nods to consumer nomenclature.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about the compromises necessary to craft a marijuana research bill that can pass both the House and Senate—including meetings he had with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) to negotiate the deal. It meant leaving out House-passed provisions allowing scientists to study dispensary cannabis.
The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors is considering a psychedelics decriminalization measure.
Attorneys general from 15 states filed a brief opposing a lawsuit that Nebraska medical cannabis activists brought against a state policy that they say creates unfair barriers to qualifying initiatives for the ballot.
Former cannabis prisoner Craig Cesal, whose sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump, writes in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) new legalization bill will leave many people—including his former cellmates—behind.
/ FEDERAL
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing to include marijuana questions in a survey it wants to conduct on tobacco use.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) tweeted, “For too long our country has criminalized drug use instead of treating it as the public health crisis it is. Congress must pass my & @RepBonnie’s Drug Policy Reform Act to decriminalize drugs and make life-saving investments in public health strategies.”
Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate Heidi Campbell, currently a state senator, tweeted, “Not said enough: Cannabis legalization is also the right thing to do for Tennessee’s half million veterans—many of whom are managing physical and mental wounds from their service.”
/ STATES
Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidates all oppose legalizing marijuana for any use, but some GOP lieutenant governor contenders back medical cannabis.
Missouri’s secretary of state said there’s still a chance that a marijuana legalization initiative could qualify for the November ballot despite it falling short in initial county signature reviews.
A Virginia senator touted the opening of Fairfax County’s first medical cannabis dispensary.
Several new Louisiana marijuana laws are set to take effect on Monday.
Mississippi regulators filed rules on medical cannabis for healthcare providers.
Connecticut’s Social Equity Council gave preliminary approval to five marijuana retailer license applications.
The New York State Fair confirmed that smoking marijuana will be allowed at designated outdoor areas.
Pennsylvania regulators published a report on the medical cannabis program.
Hawaii’s Dual Use of Cannabis Task Force will meet on Tuesday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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.
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/ LOCAL
San Marcos, Texas officials certified that activists collected enough signatures to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the November ballot.
The Appleton, Wisconsin Common Council’s Safety and Licensing Committee advanced a resolution to place a nonbinding marijuana legalization advisory referendum on the November ballot.
A New York City Council member is asking state regulators to take action against an unregulated marijuana seller in her district.
Pueblo, Colorado activists are collecting signatures for two proposed ballot initiatives to lower marijuana taxes.
Erie County, New York’s district attorney filed charges against a man who allegedly ran an unlicensed marijuana store.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez tweeted, “More than 2,400 licenses were approved for the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes, which seeks to make the country a world power in this product.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and advisors met to discuss how to respond to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”
Ghana’s Supreme Court ruled that a law allowing licenses to be issued for growing small amounts of cannabis is unconstitutional.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health rescinded a recommendation it had issued urging police to arrest people for violations of the new cannabis law.
Canada’s Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis issued a report on CBD products.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of a model of breast cancer in mice concluded that “combined therapy with [Protopanaxadiol] proved to be a promising strategy for CBD to be developed into a novel antitumor drug, with characteristics of effectiveness, good tolerance, and the potential to overcome tumor cachexia.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Illinois Policy Institute said the state is undercutting potential marijuana revenue by taxing it too high and having strict regulations.
The Marijuana Policy Project published a voter guide for Hawaii’s primary elections.
/ BUSINESS
Tilray Brands, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $153.3 million and a net loss of $457.8 million.
Leafly Holdings, Inc. launched a program that allows researchers to access a large cannabis dataset.
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