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NH state-run cannabis stores bill passes House (Newsletter: February 17, 2022)
OK psilocybin bill advances; Italy legalization referendum blocked; AL decrim vote; DC 4/20 marijuana tax holiday; WY speaker backs cannabis decrim
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a bill to legalize marijuana and conduct sales exclusively through state-run stores. Advocates have concerns it could be preempted under federal law.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed a bill to let senior citizens access medical cannabis without having to get a doctor’s recommendation. It also sets a marijuana tax holiday to take place during the week of 4/20.
The Oklahoma House Public Health Committee approved a bill to decriminalize possession of psilocybin and encourage research into the therapeutic effects of the psychedelic for people with PTSD, depression, opioid use disorder and other conditions.
Wyoming’s House speaker and other top lawmakers filed a bill to decriminalize marijuana. The measure comes as activists are collecting signatures for a pair of cannabis reform initiatives they hope to place on the 2024 ballot.
The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to decriminalize marijuana and provide expungements for people with prior convictions. Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed medical cannabis legislation into law last year.
The New York Senate and Assembly sent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) a bill to grant temporary marijuana business licenses to hemp growers and processors to help the state prepare a timely launch of the adult-use market. There are equity, labor and sustainability requirements for participating businesses.
Italy’s Constitutional Court blocked voters from being able to decide on a marijuana and psilocybin referendum despite the fact that activists collected more than half a million valid signatures to qualify for ballot access.
/ FEDERAL
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra sent a letter to a senator pledging that federal funds will not be used to “put pipes in safe smoking kits.”
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency tweeted, “DYK an adjudicative determination may be negatively impacted if an individual knowingly invests in business ventures pertaining to marijuana growers and retailers? This determination will continue while the cultivation/distribution of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.”
The Food and Drug Administration tweeted a link to resources on questions and answers about cannabis products.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a short podcast about a hemp webinar series it is hosting.
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions will hear testimony from the Minority Cannabis Business Association at a hearing on small and minority-owned businesses on Thursday.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “The racist, classist war on drugs must end.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted, “From lifetime criminal charges + imprisonment, to disqualification from the Olympics, the costs of weed prohibition are staggering. Time to end the racist war on drugs. Legal Weed for USA 🇺🇸”
Texas Democratic congressional candidate Coy Branscum tweeted, “Marijuana should be legal on the federal level. When I’m in Congress, legalization will be a top priority for me.”
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) tweeted, “Colorado has been a leader in Cannabis since day one, and last year we hit a record of $2.23 billion in calendar year 2021, up from $2.19 billion in 2020, the previous high water mark.” The treasurer tweeted, “Colorado has been a leader in cannabis since Day One. Last year we hit a record of $2.23 billion in 2021, up from $2.19 billion in 2020, the record for sales in Colorado.”
Texas Democratic comptroller candidate Janet Dudding spoke about the many uses for legal marijuana tax revenue.
An amendment from Kansas’s House minority leader to let voters decide on medical cannabis was blocked.
California’s Senate majority leader filed a bill to discontinue the cannabis cultivation tax.
The Louisiana House Health Committee held a hearing on the medical cannabis program.
An Illinois representative filed a bill to make it so positive marijuana tests will not prevent people from clearing their past cannabis records.
Kentucky Democratic lawmakers plan to file marijuana legalization and medical cannabis bills on Thursday.
An Ohio representative tweeted, “Disappointed to see my Republican colleagues shut down debate on my legalization bill and now the legalization ballot initiative, but mark my words… Legalization will pass on the ballot this fall. And it won’t be close.”
Pennsylvania regulators are being sued over a medical cannabis vaping product recall.
Oregon regulators are proposing rules changes on cannabis testing, laboratory accreditation and concentration limits.
Minnesota regulators released the results of a medical cannabis patient survey.
A Massachusetts regulator authored an op-ed about efforts to improve equity in the marijuana industry.
Nevada regulators posted updated medical cannabis program data.
Washington State regulators will host an online informational session on the marijuana rules development process on Thursday. Separately, the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force’s Community Reinvestment Workgroup will also meet on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Indiana Borough, Pennsylvania Council discussed a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The San Diego, California City Council voted to reduce cannabis cultivation taxes.
Lafayette, Louisiana officials filed a lawsuit to have a police officer fired again after he successfully challenged his termination over a failed drug test he says was caused by CBD use.
The West Seneca, New York Police Department tweeted, “If your drug dealer’s phone number was how rich you are, how many dollars would you have?”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was detained to potentially face extradition and drug charges in the U.S.
Mexico’s Senate majority leader said that a draft marijuana legalization bill that’s circulating is not the final version.
A Bogota, Colombia policy setting guidelines for research on cannabis was signed into law.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “CBD reduces cocaine consumption in mice.”
A study found that “MDMA-[assisted therapy] for severe PTSD may also lead to subclinical improvements in alcohol use” and “does not appear to increase risk of illicit drug use,” providing “preliminary evidence to support the development of MDMA-AT as an integrated treatment for co-occurring PTSD and [alcohol and substance use disorders].”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Governors Association published a report on state responses to drug-impaired driving.
Disabled American Veterans tweeted a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs video about marijuana policies.
/ BUSINESS
Optimi Health Corp. said Canadian officials added it to a list of approved suppliers under the country’s Special Access Program for unapproved drugs such as psilocybin.
/ CULTURE
The International Olympic Committee pushed back on U.S. runner Sha’Carri Richardson’s suggestion that racism could be behind the disparate treatment she faced after testing positive for marijuana and a Russian skater who tested positive for a performance enhancing drug.
Rosario Dawson spoke about her involvement in the cannabis industry.
Christopher Walken discussed his marijuana use.
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