Newsletter
NY cannabis licensing expansion (Newsletter: September 13, 2023)
SAFE Banking timing; DEA mistaken on Biden marijuana letter; GOP lawmakers oppose rescheduling; Study: Legalization reduces forced treatment; NM sales
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on.
Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today:
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hopes to announce a marijuana banking bill vote “in the next few days”—but he also said there are still some “outlying issues” that need to be resolved among members.
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram misspoke when she testified before Congress that President Joe Biden sent a “letter” directing a federal marijuana scheduling review, the Department of Justice indicated in a new Freedom of Information Act request response.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) said he will soon be reintroducing a revised version of the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which would undo federal criminalization of people acting in compliance with state marijuana programs.
Eight Republican U.S. senators and six GOP House members sent a letter urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to “reject” a pending marijuana rescheduling recommendation, saying it would be “irresponsible” to accept it.
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) sent a letter saying he’s “very concerned” about the Department of Health and Human Services’s marijuana rescheduling recommendation, demanding an explanation of how it was determined and who participated in the process.
The New York Cannabis Control Board voted to open the state’s recreational marijuana market to all applicants, including big businesses and existing medical marijuana companies—a move that sparked outcry among smaller and social equity operators.
A new study found that the number of young adults being forced into drug treatment for marijuana by the criminal justice system “declined significantly more rapidly” following legalization.
The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department reported that retailers sold $48.2 million worth of legal marijuana products in August—a new monthly record.
/ FEDERAL
A federal judge ruled that former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas, who was convicted of helping to steer money from a Russian oligarch toward an effort to open a marijuana business, can use medical cannabis while on probation.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) tweeted, “Mark my words: marijuana will become legal nationally, and Colorado’s approach should be a blueprint so legalization can be a success. In the meantime, descheduling can be a big step forward while prioritizing social equity.”
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) tweeted, “It’s past time we fully deschedule marijuana & legalize it 🌿”
/ STATES
Oregon lawmakers are pushing to make changes to the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization law.
Nevada regulators filed changes to rules on cannabis excise taxes.
Alaska regulators filed rules on marijuana marketing and promotional activities.
Minnesota officials are conducting interviews with candidates to be the state’s top cannabis regulator.
Connecticut regulators said the closure of one of the state’s two cannabis testing labs will have “no impact.”
Alabama regulators are being accused of incorrectly denoting whether medical cannabis business license applicants had prior felony convictions.
Massachusetts regulators will host a conversation on the intersection of cannabis and equity on Wednesday.
The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division’s Legislation Implementation & Hospitality Work Group will meet on Monday.
Michigan officials are hosting a series of expungement fairs this month and next month.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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
The Montgomery County, Tennessee Commission is including legalizing medical cannabis on its 2024 state legislative agenda.
The Duluth, Minnesota City Council voted to lower fines for public smoking or vaping of marijuana and tobacco.
The Boston, Massachusetts Cannabis Board will meet on Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
South Australian lawmakers are backing a motion calling for expanded medical cannabis access.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “in dogs with [osteoarthritis], treatment with oral full-spectrum CBD oil may reduce pain severity scores and pain interference scores but the certainty of evidence was very low.”
A review concluded that “when compared to other treatments, psilocybin was found to decrease depression scores significantly more than any other treatment.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A Harm Reduction International report concluded that governments across the world have spent the equivalent of $974 million in aid money on narcotics control over the past decade.
/ BUSINESS
Lucy Scientific Discovery Inc. is acquiring BlueSky Wellness Inc.
Safe Supply Streaming Co. Ltd. received approval to list on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Canopy Growth Corporation shareholders will decide on a board of directors election, appointment of auditors, share consolidation and other issues on September 25.
/ CULTURE
Hulk Hogan appeared in a promo for Sunburn Cannabis.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
