Newsletter
Ohio voters legalize cannabis (Newsletter: November 8, 2023)
House committee pushed feds to study state marijuana laws; Cannabis amendments blocked; State Dept drug treaty comments; CA psychedelics
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…
BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Ohio voters approved a marijuana legalization ballot initiative, making the Buckeye State the 24th in the U.S. to end cannabis prohibition.
The House Appropriations Committee is pushing the Department of Justice to examine the “adequacy” of state marijuana regulations while allowing researchers to study cannabis products that consumers can purchase in legal markets.
The House Rules Committee blocked amendments to allow Washington, D.C. to legalize marijuana sales and end the practice of drug testing federal job applicants for marijuana from receiving floor votes.
A U.S. State Department official’s comments at a recent United Nations meeting about global drug treaties needing to be “highly respectful” of countries’ domestic policies that don’t have an “international dimension” bodes well for marijuana rescheduling, some legal experts say.
A California senator plans to file a revised psychedelics bill alongside an Assembly Republican that will focus on regulated therapeutic access—a departure from prior legislation to more broadly legalize substances like psilocybin that the governor vetoed.
Israel is seeing a sharp increase in medical cannabis prescriptions—especially for PTSD and pain—amid the country’s war with Hamas. October saw the largest monthly increase ever recorded for prescribed marijuana by weight.
/ FEDERAL
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) praised the passage of a spending bill containing funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to partner with institutions conducting biotech and genomics research to improve hemp genetic research and breeding with new techniques, saying that “hemp has quickly become one of Oregon’s leading cash crops.”
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) tweeted about meeting with members of the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association, saying, “Psychedelic-assisted therapy can be an effective tool for mental health care.”
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 93.
/ STATES
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader posted a video urging people to pressure their lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
The Oklahoma House Committee for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances held a hearing on accidental ingestion of marijuana products by children.
The Oregon legislature’s Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response met.
The New Jersey Supreme Court is accepting comments on proposed changes to rules on participation in pretrial intervention programs by people who received conditional discharges for marijuana offenses.
New York regulators published data on enforcement efforts against unlicensed businesses.
California regulators announced that the National Agricultural Workers Union is not a bona fide labor organization for the purposes of cannabis business labor peace agreement requirements.
The Minnesota Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is considering a loan application from a second cannabis company.
Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
—
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 Anchorage, Alaska Assembly held a hearing on marijuana regulations.
The Middletown, Delaware Town Council voted to ban recreational marijuana businesses.
Oakland, California officials hosted a cannabis equity stakeholder meeting.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Victoria, Australia marijuana legalization bill got a second reading in the Legislative Council.
A European Parliament psychedelics group held its first meeting.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study suggested that “the functional enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling is a promising drug development target for stress-related anxiety disorders.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Hispanic Cannabis Council has a new interim executive director.
/ BUSINESS
Constellation Brands, Inc. allowed its warrants to purchase shares in Canopy Growth Corporation to expire, saying it has “no other present plans or future intentions that relate to Canopy.”
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $141.3 million and a net loss of $11.2 million.
Shield Compliance published the results of a survey of licensed cannabis operators.
/ CULTURE
Jimmy Kimmel asked Magic Johnson about a cannabis strain named after him and about the marijuana policy at his company.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
