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NJ cops shielded from cannabis testing (Newsletter: February 21, 2023)

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WA psilocybin bill gutted; VA marijuana 280E tax reform killed; Briefs in DEA psychedelic scheduling lawsuit

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New Jersey’s attorney general issued guidance clarifying that police officers cannot be tested for marijuana in most circumstances, thanks to the state’s legalization law—with some exceptions.

The Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee gutted the major provisions of a psilocybin services legalization bill, instead turning it into a study measure—and reform advocates are blaming Gov. Jay Inslee (D).

A Virginia House Finance subcommittee killed a Senate-passed bill that would have decoupled state tax policy from the federal 280E provision, thereby allowing marijuana companies to deduct business expenses in state filings.

Veterans advocates, mental health professionals, researchers and others submitted briefs supporting a federal lawsuit challenging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s denial of a psilocybin rescheduling petition.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) is pushing lawmakers to pass a bill that would redirect marijuana revenue away from environmental conservation efforts and toward police, prosecutors and correctional officers.

/ FEDERAL

President Joe Biden‘ tweeted, “Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year. Let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production and sale, with drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border — and impose strong penalties to crack down on trafficking.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a grant aimed at helping hemp growers manage pests, plant diseases and weeds.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted, “FDA is the right agency to regulate CBD but the FDA needs clear new authority from congress to craft a risk-based framework for regulating CBD in food, supplements that’s based on the level of exposure.  Congress is going to also have to schedule Delta-8.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “Baseless & unscientific sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine helped ignite an explosion of mass incarceration in the U.S. We must right the wrongs of our failed drug war & reform our broken criminal justice system.”

/ STATES

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) left the door open to potentially trying marijuana, and also discussed the ongoing implementation of legalization. (About 23:05 into the audio.)

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (D) met with researchers who are studying how hemp can be used in building construction.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) spoke about fentanyl being laced into marijuana and other drugs.

Florida activists formed a committee focused on a proposed ballot initiative to allow medical cannabis home cultivation.

A Virginia senator said he doesn’t foresee “anything happening” on allowing recreational marijuana sales until after the November elections.

Louisiana regulators filed emergency consumable hemp product rules.

Oregon regulators sent guidance about cannabis heavy metal and microbiological contaminants testing requirements rules going into effect on March 1.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife awarded nearly $6 million in cannabis-focused grants for projects on water conservation, resource protection, cleanup, remediation and watershed enhancement.

West Virginia regulators posted a list of issued hemp licenses.

Utah regulators posted a monthly update on the medical cannabis program.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Wednesday.


Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of 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 Montgomery, Alabama City Council member is planning to file legislation allowing police to issue citations instead of making arrests for marijuana possession.

The Denton, Texas City Council is scheduled to receive a presentation on the local voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law from the city manager on Tuesday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

A Malaysian lawmaker said the government should change its drug strategy “from punishing to treating.”

An Irish senator tweeted, “Ireland needs more Reserach [sic] in the [area] of psychedelics. ESP in relation to depression, ED and addiction. Hopefully we get there and this psychedelic science research adds to those discussions.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study supported “medicinal cannabis’ potential to safely treat non-cancer chronic conditions and indications.”

A study concluded that “adolescent cannabis users are neither more resilient nor more vulnerable than adult cannabis users to the acute psychotomimetic, memory-impairing, or subjective effects of cannabis” and that “vaporised cannabidiol does not mitigate the acute harms caused by delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Massachusetts Democratic State Committee is backing legislation to allow safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board said that setting the legal age for marijuana in Minnesota’s legalization bill at 25 would “be ideal,” but also acknowledged “the benefits of setting the age at 21.”

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial board is calling on U.S. officials to do more to free American citizen Marc Fogel, who is jailed in Russia for possessing medical cannabis.

/ CULTURE

John Oliver did a segment on psychedelic-assisted therapy.

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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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