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NY cannabis bill getting votes today (Newsletter: March 30, 2021)
NM special marijuana session; KS reps OK medical cannabis; RI drug decrim hearing; Biden DOJ pick obfuscates decrim record; LA legalization poll
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Three New York Senate and Assembly committees are scheduled on Tuesday morning to take up a marijuana legalization bill that was filed just before midnight on Saturday—with floor votes expected to follow soon after.
The Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee voted to approve a medical marijuana bill. Its next stop is the House floor.
New Mexico lawmakers are likely to see multiple competing marijuana legalization bills in this week’s special session—and are expected to advance cannabis regulation and expungements measures separately from one another—with one Republican senator already circulating a draft of his proposal.
The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee discussed a bill to decriminalize all drugs in advance of a separate joint hearing this week on competing marijuana legalization proposals from the governor and top lawmakers.
Associate attorney general nominee Vanita Gupta now claims she “never advocated for the decriminalization of all drugs” even though she admits to writing an op-ed that said states should “decriminalize and defelonize simple possession of all drugs, particularly marijuana.”
A new poll found that 67% of Louisiana voters want to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. Just 16% want medical cannabis only and 8% favor blanket prohibition.
/ FEDERAL
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent was fired for being present at the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’s Veterans Health Administration tweeted, “Marijuana: natural = safe, right? Not necessarily.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “The War on Drugs has been a war on people. NY is taking an important step to address its harms. And I am working to end the federal prohibition on marijuana and help the communities who have been hurt—especially communities of color.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) tweeted, “We need to ensure that legal cannabis businesses can access the banking system. Forcing these businesses to operate as ‘cash-only’ is putting business owners and communities at risk.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said he will be meeting with the White House to discuss recent marijuana-related firings.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) tweeted, “With legalized cannabis growing in states across the country, it is essential that the businesses that support this budding industry be provided the back-end support needed to thrive and survive, and that includes access to banking services.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) tweeted, “I applaud @DickGottfried and other New York leaders for a historic marijuana legalization deal. It is one of the most progressive state programs we have seen (with huge market potential) and will absolutely help change the national discussion. It’s a game-changer long overdue.”
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) tweeted, “I applaud this effort that will ensure Virginians are not penalized as the Commonwealth transitions to legalized marijuana.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) tweeted about the letter he and other lawmakers sent President Joe Biden urging him to stop firing White House staff over marijuana.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted, “Under Joe Biden’s drug policy, Hunter Biden would have been disqualified from being a White House staffer.”
/ STATES
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed a bill providing employment protections for medical cannabis patients.
A Montana representative filed Gov. Greg Gianforte’s (R) plan to amend and implement the voter-approved legalization of marijuana. The House Business and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on a competing proposal on Tuesday.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) named his three picks for the state’s Cannabis Control Board.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he has not endorsed a proposal to place THC potency caps on medical cannabis but did express some concerns with stronger marijuana that’s available to consumers.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said she will call a special session in late May or early June so lawmakers can address medical cannabis reforms and other issues.
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero (D) said in congressional testimony that she plans to use $50 million in expected marijuana legalization revenue to fund infrastructure upgrades.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) tweeted a link to a news story about a study that found “teenagers’ addiction rates for cannabis are about the same as for prescription opioids, according to a new study of drugs and youth.”
Michigan’s attorney general and courts posted resources for people who want to apply to have prior marijuana and other convictions expunged.
The West Virginia House of Delegates rejected an amendment to use hypothetical revenues from marijuana legalization to reduce personal income taxes.
The Nevada Assembly Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill to require more than a positive blood test to determine if someone is driving under the influence of marijuana.
The Alabama House Judiciary Committee will vote on a medical cannabis bill on Wednesday.
Oklahoma regulators issued a safety alert about marijuana edibles that apparently cause hospitalizations.
Washington State regulators released a list of updated pesticides approved for use on marijuana.
A Washington, D.C. Council member will host an event on marijuana industry equity on Wednesday.
Alaska regulators will consider marijuana business license applications, updates on implementation of licensing and ongoing and proposed regulations projects on Wednesday and Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
Albany, New York’s mayor and other officials issued a statement endorsing a pending statewide marijuana legalization bill.
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Yang tweeted, “Yes New York is legalizing marijuana! About time! 👍🗽❤️”
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Scott Stringer, the city’s comptroller, tweeted, “This is a historic moment for justice. Equity will be at the center of NY’s cannabis legalization and this will mean reinvestment into communities harmed by over-criminalization and over-policing — and that’s due in no small part to the work of advocates like @DrugPolicyOrg.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The president of the Mexican Senate’s board of directors announced a multi-party agreement to approve a marijuana legalization bill by the April 30 deadline.
Panamanian lawmakers are considering medical cannabis legislation.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study suggested that ” increased THC exposure was related to pain-related improvement, while increased CBD exposure was related to improved mood.”
A study that involved dosing cats with THC and CBD found that “all observed adverse events (AEs) were mild, transient and resolved without medical intervention” and that “constitutional (lethargy, hypothermia), neurologic (ataxia) and ocular (protrusion membrana nictitans) AEs were more common with oils containing THC.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Buffalo News editorial board said New York must be willing to tweak its marijuana laws over time as more information on their effects surfaces.
The Drug Policy Alliance pushed back against an argument made by former Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin’s defense team that drugs were responsible for George Floyd’s death.
The Better Business Bureau warned consumers to be cautious about working with medical cannabis consulting company MoGreenCard.com.
/ BUSINESS
Green Thumb Industries is reportedly under federal investigation for possible pay-to-play violations related to its quest to win marijuana business licenses.
Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. received approval to graduate to the Toronto Stock Exchange from the TSX Venture Exchange.
Missouri medical cannabis sales have now exceeded $2 million per week.
/ CULTURE
Michael Douglas said he used to blame his poor short-term memory on marijuana but no longer does.
Jimmy Fallon joked about New York’s pending legalization of marijuana.
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