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OH cannabis signatures filed to force legislative debate (Newsletter: December 21, 2021)
AOC pushes Biden for marijuana action; Senator wants federal cannabis impairment standard; NY bill would add gay people to equity program
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Ohio activists filed what they say are more than enough signatures to force the legislature to consider legalizing marijuana early in 2022. If lawmakers don’t act, more petitions will put the initiative directly before voters on the November ballot.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called on President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to advance marijuana reform and other issues while his agenda gets stalled in Congress.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) pressed President Joe Biden’s nominee for director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a commitment to work on developing a national standard to measure marijuana-impaired driving.
A New York senator filed a bill to make it so gay, lesbian and bisexual people would qualify as social equity applicants under the state’s marijuana legalization law.
/ FEDERAL
The Bureau of Land Management announced it eradicated more than one million cannabis plants and 180,300 pounds of processed marijuana from illegal grow sites on federal lands in California this year.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) reportedly told colleagues that part of the reason he won’t support Build Back Better legislation is that he’s concerned parents would spend child tax credit payments on drugs instead of on their children.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Ending the war on drugs is an issue of racial equity. It’s time for the federal government to catch up to the rest of the country and start leading on cannabis reform.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “With bipartisan bills like my #HOPEAct, we have the chance to #passprogress and take a concrete step towards reform that will impact the lives of millions of Americans.”
/ STATES
An Indiana Republican representative said it’s”mindboggling” that more members of his party don’t embrace marijuana reform.
New Mexico regulators issued rules on marijuana products.
The chairman of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Commission is resigning.
A lawsuit challenging Illinois regulators’ marijuana business licensing decisions is being delayed until the new year.
The New York Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Program hosted a forum that included sessions on cannabis.
Oregon regulators approved stipulated settlement agreements for violations by marijuana businesses.
South Carolina regulators will begin accepting hemp cultivation permit applications on January 1.
Utah regulators sent an update about the medical cannabis program.
Oklahoma regulators posted updated lists of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries and growers.
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/ LOCAL
San Francisco, California’s mayor spoke about efforts to help marijuana businesses deal with a string of robberies.
The Paterson, New Jersey City Council gave initial approval to a proposal to ban using marijuana in public places.
Denver, Colorado officials will host a demonstration of the city’s online marijuana business licensing system on Tuesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration fined a company for alleged unlawful advertising of medicinal cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study’s findings “support the possible therapeutic role of inhaled CBD as an effective, relatively safe, and easy to administer treatment adjunct for [glioblastoma] with significant impacts on the cellular and molecular signaling of tumor microenvironment].”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “The @indgop is opposed to cannabis legalization because of federal laws. Welp, Democrats plan to decriminalize marijuana nationwide next year, creating a pathway in Indiana. @INDems are once again ready to deliver on this brighter future for Hoosiers.”
The ACLU of Maryland listed marijuana legalization as a top 2022 priority.
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board is urging city officials to consider loosening operating restrictions on marijuana businesses.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings is facing a possible wrongful death lawsuit over mislabeled CBD products that contained THC.
Glass House Brands Inc. is acquiring Plus Products Inc.
Arkansas dispensaries sold more than $250 million worth of medical cannabis this year.
/ CULTURE
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta hosted a special on using medical cannabis to treat autism.
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