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NY could see $1.5 billion in cannabis sales in 2025 (Newsletter: January 6, 2025)
FL medical marijuana workplace protections; Rick Perry on psychedelics; MD cannabis rules for police recruits; How marijuana affects music enjoyment
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
New York Office of Cannabis Management officials are projecting that the state’s legal marijuana market could exceed $1.5 billion in sales in 2025.
A Florida representative filed a bill to protect medical cannabis patients who work in government jobs from employment discrimination by shielding them from being punished for off-duty use—with an exception for law enforcement agencies.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who also served as energy secretary in the first Trump administration, told Joe Rogan that the president-elect’s choices for key health policy positions are a “great gift” for the psychedelics reform movement—particularly when it comes to ibogaine as a treatment option for mental health conditions.
Montgomery County, Maryland officials are considering loosening restrictions on past marijuana use by police recruits to help address a staffing shortage.
Researchers are recruiting participants for a study on how marijuana affects people’s musical perception and tastes—in partnership with a consumption lounge where consumers are surveyed in a real-world setting about specific songs played in the space.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R) argues in a new op-ed that the state should restrict “potentially dangerous” intoxicating hemp products while expanding the limited medical cannabis program to “include far more medical conditions than it currently does.”
The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission is preparing to release draft regulations for the state’s marijuana industry for public comment.
A Black Missouri family spoke about how they are “building a legacy” in the legal marijuana industry through a microbusiness license they were awarded, with one member pointing out that the “War on Drugs certainly hit our ethnicity the most.”
/ FEDERAL
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcohol should be labeled with a warning about its cancer risk.
The Drug Enforcement Administration published the 2024 edition of its Drugs of Abuse resource guide.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) discussed her support for marijuana banking legislation.
/ STATES
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) tweeted, “This week, legal cannabis sales in New York hit $1 billion! Since taking action to close unlicensed shops, we have seen legal sales skyrocket – a testament to the hard-working business owners who have helped create the strongest, most equitable cannabis industry in the nation.”
Oklahoma lawmakers filed legislation to restrict medical cannabis purchase amounts and to regulate dispensary advertising.
Delaware’s top marijuana regulator is stepping down.
Maryland regulators filed proposed changes to cannabis rules.
Illinois regulators adopted changes to hemp rules.
Mississippi regulators posted guidance about medical cannabis taxes.
Minnesota regulators are close to signing cannabis compacts with several Indian tribes.
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Testing Advisory Council met.
Washington State marijuana regulators will host feedback sessions this month on rulemaking for acceptable forms of identification.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
The Dover, Delaware City Council overrode the mayor’s vetoes of marijuana regulation measures.
A San Francisco, California supervisor is calling for drug users to be mass arrested and put into “compulsory detox and treatment.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A case series concluded that “low doses of cannabis extract ameliorate non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease patients.”
A study found that “there was a strong preference of natural sources over synthetic alternatives for psilocybin (75%), DMT (56%), and mescaline (56%) but that ” 67.7% of respondents agreed to switch to using synthetic alternatives to psychedelic substances if it would lessen the environmental impacts caused by the overharvesting of natural sources.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The chair of the Florida Democratic Party tweeted, “Legalize cannabis!”
/ BUSINESS
Stiiizy disclosed that some customer data was accessed by a cybercrime group.
/ CULTURE
Kieran Culkin said he pranked Mark Ruffalo and other actors by replacing a prop joint with real marijuana during a stage production.
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