Newsletter
Psychedelics amendments cleared for floor votes in Congress (Newsletter: September 14, 2023)
CA marijuana tracking sustainability bill to gov; NY lawmakers: Let cannabis growers sell to tribes; CA psychedelics ballot measure; SAFE amendments
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House Rules Committee is allowing two psychedelics amendments to a Department of Defense spending bill to get floor votes—but it blocked two marijuana proposals from advancing.
California lawmakers sent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) a bill that would change how marijuana plants must be tracked in a way that supporters say will promote environmental sustainability by eliminating the use of single-use plastic tags.
The chairs and ranking members of the New York Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committees are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to sign a bill that would allow marijuana farmers to sell products to tribal cannabis retailers.
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office projects that a proposed psychedelics research ballot initiative would cost $6.6 billion to implement but could also generate revenue for the state through intellectual property agreements for new scientific discoveries.
Former top Los Angeles, California cannabis regulator Cat Packer published a new paper calling for further equity amendments to a marijuana banking bill that may get a Senate committee vote soon.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the smell of marijuana on its own does not establish probable cause for police to search a vehicle.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration held a listening session on proposed rules on prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) criticized New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) move to temporarily suspend the right to carry firearms in public places, saying, “Does she question what impact her state’s wide-open, recreational marijuana use may have on criminal activity? Of course not.”
The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 70.
The House bill to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations got two new cosponsors for a total of 24.
The House bill to strip highway funds from states that legalize marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of two.
The House bill to ease restrictions on hemp growers got one new cosponsor for a total of seven.
/ STATES
Alaska regulators filed changes to rules concerning the presence of infants at marijuana businesses.
Missouri regulators posted guidance on the approval process for marijuana products.
Alabama’s top medical cannabis regulator spoke about the path forward to launching the market.
Washington State regulators will soon issue status notifications to cannabis social equity retail license applicants.
Michigan marijuana regulators will hold a public meeting on Thursday.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.
The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Subcommittee on Federal Rescheduling will meet on Friday.
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will hold a hearing on a proposal to allocate $42 million to research on treating opioid use disorder with ibogaine-assisted therapy on Friday.
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/ LOCAL
The Seattle, Washington City Council’s Public Safety Committee approved a drug enforcement proposal.
The Harker Heights, Texas City Council heard public comments from residents who want officials to implement a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law.
A judge rejected an effort to block a Menominee, Michigan referendum on marijuana business licensing.
The Pueblo West, Colorado Metro Board voted to allocate 25 percent of marijuana excise tax revenue to sponsoring community events.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Scotland’s secretary of state said the UK government will not block its plan to open safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
The UK Home Office tweeted, “Drugs like cannabis and nitrous oxide that harm our neighbourhoods will not be tolerated. Police forces are being encouraged to use their stop and search powers to tackle drug misuse in communities when there is enough evidence to secure an arrest.”
Colombia is seeing record-high levels of coca crop cultivation and cocaine production.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabidiol acts as [a] molecular switch in innate immune cells to promote the biosynthesis of inflammation-resolving lipid mediators.”
A study of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic found that “users of hallucinogenic drugs had higher psychological well-being and lower scores on psychopathology scales, both at baseline and during follow-ups.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Boston Globe editorial board says federal marijuana rescheduling could boost research.
/ BUSINESS
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. has a new CEO.
Colorado retailers sold $137.3 million worth of legal marijuana products in July.
Missouri retailers sold $119 million worth of legal marijuana products in August.
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