Newsletter
NM launches legal cannabis regulatory site (Newsletter: April 6, 2021)
Mexico marijuana bill advances; Key chairs push back on DEA hemp rule; DC mayor ready to legalize; Record IL sales
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Mexican Senate Justice Committee advanced a marijuana legalization bill as amended by the Chamber of Deputies toward a final floor vote. Two more committee stops are expected, and the deadline to get it all done is April 30.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA) and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Chairman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack saying that proposed Drug Enforcement Administration hemp rules could criminalize aspects of the extraction process—contrary to the will of Congress.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said officials are “ready” to launch recreational marijuana sales in the nation’s capital as soon as Congress gets out of the way.
- “We’ve prepared our alcohol and beverage office to be prepared to implement regulation.”
New Mexico’s Regulation & Licensing Department got a head start on implementing marijuana legalization by launching a new website for the Cannabis Control Division that will be created by a bill that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) hasn’t even signed into law yet.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported that retailers sold $109 million in recreational marijuana in March—smashing the prior monthly record by more than $20 million. That’s about $3.5 million in adult-use cannabis sales every single day.
/ FEDERAL
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is proposing to add questions about CBD and update questions about marijuana on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
The Government Accountability Office published a report on state good samaritan laws that shield people from criminal penalties when seeking medical help during drug overdose situations.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “States around the country continue to legalize marijuana—it’s time for the federal government to catch up. We must end the federal prohibition on marijuana but go further & enact measures to lift up people who were unfairly targeted in the failed drug war.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted a link to an article about Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pushing marijuana reform along with another link to a report on cannabis policy recommendations that was published by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Our movement to reform discriminatory federal cannabis laws has momentum. Let’s keep fighting until we get it done.”
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) said it is time to end federal marijuana prohibition.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) tweeted, “This is the first #NationalCannabisAwarenessMonth where marijuana is legalized for adults in New Jersey — that’s worth celebrating. While we’ve taken an important step in the fight for progress, our work to balance the scales of justice is far from over.”
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “We must end the stupid, costly, awful, ineffective, racist war on drugs. Magic mushrooms 🍄 ( and weed) are literally classified at a federal level Schedule I same as say, crystal meth.”
Michigan’s attorney general tweeted, in response to criticism from a state Republican Party official about her cannabis reform advocacy, “The marijuana industry employs over 18,000 workers in Michigan, and that number is growing. Also, CBD is known to be an effective cure for anxiety-driven, all caps/exclamation point riddled Easter tweets. Lucky for you, it’s legal in Michigan.”
The West Virginia House of Representatives defeated an amendment to decriminalize marijuana.
The Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs said a pending marijuana legalization bill “will be a net positive for Latinx communities, but more can be done to ensure that the economic stimulus from the cannabis industry is spread equitably.”
The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is scheduled to hear several marijuana penalty reform bills on Tuesday, while other panels will take up medical cannabis and hemp bills later in the week.
South Carolina’s medical cannabis bill could die without a Senate debate.
A Vermont senator spoke about efforts to implement the legalization of marijuana sales.
Illinois regulators approved dozens of new marijuana dispensary business licenses.
Oklahoma regulators scheduled additional training classes for medical cannabis tracking software.
Massachusetts regulators launched a new marijuana website.
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/ LOCAL
Denver, Colorado’s mayor said he has been “converted” from a marijuana legalization opponent to a supporter and that he thinks President Joe Biden can be convinced as well.
The Richmond, Virginia City Council approved a resolution endorsing Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D) amendments to expedite marijuana legalization in the state.
New York City Republican mayoral candidates clashed on marijuana policy during a debate.
The Dallas County, Texas district attorney tweeted about localities’ moves to reduce marijuana arrests.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The mayor of London, England said he will launch a review to examine the benefits of legalizing marijuana if he is reelected.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “at 100% of the recreational marijuana outlets visited, the pseudo-underage patrons were required to show age identification to enter” and that “California recreational marijuana outlets avoid selling marijuana to underage customers.”
A study suggested that “Cannabis extracts, when properly prepared, can significantly decrease cancer cell viability while protecting healthy cells from cytotoxic effects.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The president of the Connecticut State Medical Society authored an op-ed urging lawmakers not to legalize marijuana.
DCMJ published a public service announcement about its “Joints for Jabs” free marijuana giveaway on April 20 to people who get coronavirus vaccines.
/ BUSINESS
Planet 13 Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $23.8 million and a net loss of $2.9 million.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. is expanding its Pennsylvania real estate partnership with a subsidiary of Jushi Holdings Inc.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. is acquiring a Pennsylvania medical cannabis dispensary license from Anna Holdings LLC.
A subsidiary of Jushi Holdings Inc. completed its acquisition of Franklin Bioscience NV, LLC.
Unleashed Entertainment LLC filed a lawsuit alleging that CBD Global Sciences conspired with Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman to illegally use the brand name “Dog Unleashed.”
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