Newsletter
Ohio’s legal cannabis sales launch is here (Newsletter: August 6, 2024)
NH medical marijuana expansion; Lawmakers push FDA on MDMA; USDA hemp promotion; Social media bill threatens drug reform speech; NE legalization
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Senate passed a social media bill that could muzzle online marijuana and drug policy reform activism, according to concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union and other free speech advocates.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a bill allowing doctors to recommend medical cannabis for any condition they think it can improve—greatly expanding access to legal marijuana beyond the prior set of specific diseases.
The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control released a list of 98 dispensaries that will be able to begin selling recreational marijuana as of Tuesday.
A bipartisan coalition of 80 senators and representatives sent letters calling on the Food and Drug Administration to seriously consider approving MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Nebraska legislature’s Judiciary Committee held a joint hearing on two marijuana legalization bills that were filed as part of a special session focused on property tax relief.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative appointed another hemp industry executive to a federal trade advisory committee to help bolster efforts to promote U.S.-grown cannabis around the world.
A federal judge denied Jersey City, New Jersey officials’ request to declare that a federal law barring drug users from owning guns preempts a state law allowing police officers to consume marijuana while off duty.
The family of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who is jailed in Russia for medical cannabis he used as an opioid alternative, is “heartbroken and outraged” that he was left out of a large-scale prisoner swap.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission says it failed to collect more than $500,000 in licensing fees from marijuana business applicants over the last two years.
/ FEDERAL
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other agency leaders reportedly wanted to destroy cocaine discovered at the White House last summer.
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) discussed his support for marijuana rescheduling and cannabis banking legislation.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) sent press releases pushing for the release of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who is jailed in Russia for possessing medical cannabis.
/ STATES
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is working to finalize appointments for chair and co-chair of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) tweeted, “We’re fighting side by side with @NYCMayor to stomp out illegal smoke shops and give our legal cannabis industry the green light in New York City.”
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that local Warren officials violated open meetings laws when reviewing medical cannabis business license applications behind closed doors.
Alabama regulators filed several sets of revised medical cannabis rules.
Kentucky regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.
Colorado regulators sent a bulletin about new marijuana rules going into effect on Wednesday.
New Jersey regulators published a blog post on clean energy use in the cannabis industry.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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
Lockhart, Texas officials are proposing to split a marijuana decriminalization initiative into 13 separate ballot measures.
Norwalk, Connecticut police claimed that a smoke shop was selling marijuana laced with fentanyl.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Philippine representative sponsoring a House-passed medical cannabis bill is calling on senators to approve the legislation.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada’s mayor said the province should not decriminalize drugs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “although the included studies did not find substantial results regarding core [autism spectrum disorder] symptoms, they all reported that cannabinoid treatment had other positive effects.”
A study of rats found that “CBD protects the heart and aorta against systemic inflammation through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
U.S. Hemp Roundtable announced a plan to “National CBD Day into National Save CBD Day” on August 8.
/ BUSINESS
Green Thumb Industries Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $280.1 million.
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $141.5 million and a net loss of $21.8 million.
TerrAscend Corp. closed on a senior secured term loan for gross proceeds of $140 million.
SNDL Inc. shareholders elected board of directors members.
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