Newsletter
Record-high cannabis support in Gallup poll (Newsletter: November 9, 2023)
OH marijuana law under GOP threat; FL ballot arguments; Ramaswamy votes against legalization; Canadian Senate psychedelics report; MD sales
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Gallup poll shows that 7 out of 10 Americans now support legalizing marijuana—including majorities of Republicans, Democrats and every age group.
- “The nation has reached a broad consensus on legalizing marijuana.”
Top Ohio GOP lawmakers—including the Senate president and House speaker—and prohibitionist groups are pushing to overturn or significantly revise the marijuana legalization ballot initiative that voters overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy revealed that he voted against the marijuana legalization initiative on Ohio’s ballot, saying it’s an “abandonment of the rule of law” given federal prohibition and that he doesn’t support revenue funding equity programs.
The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether a marijuana legalization initiative can appear on the 2024 ballot—with several justices asking tough questions about state attorney General Asheley Moody’s (R) effort to block voters from deciding on cannabis.
The Canadian Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs published a report calling for a “large-scale research program” to explore the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA to treat mental health conditions experienced by military veterans.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration reported that the state saw record-high recreational marijuana sales in October but that medical cannabis purchases were at the lowest monthly level since the beginning of the year.
The National Labor Relations Board approved an agreement between Shangri-La and the United Food and Commercial Workers union to settle unfair labor practice charges.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources and other state officials are being sued by hemp growers and manufacturers who say that new limits on intoxicating cannabinoid products are unconstitutional.
/ FEDERAL
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “It is long past time to act for cannabis reform, and I will not stop working to do so as the Senate Majority Leader!”
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) said that when “sexy” issues like marijuana and abortion are on the ballot, “a lot of young people come out and vote.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), a presidential candidate, tweeted, “Want evidence of the disconnect between the DC political industrial complex + X, and the exhausted majority of Americans? In an exit poll of Ohioans who voted to make abortion and cannabis legal, ONLY 25% said Joe Biden should run for re-election.”
Blumenauer Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sent a press release celebrating Ohio’s legalization of marijuana.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) tweeted, “National support for cannabis legalization continues to climb. I’ll keep fighting to end discriminatory federal practices that keep out qualified applicants for federal jobs. Time to end this drug war.”
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) tweeted about state cannabis regulators’ new social media presence.
Former New York Gov. David Paterson (D) authored an op-ed calling on Connecticut officials to enact policies allowing for partnerships between marijuana social equity applicants and hemp farmers.
The Indiana House minority leader said the state should join Ohio in legalizing marijuana.
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader tweeted, “Congratulations to Ohio on legalizing weed and codifying reproductive freedoms.”
A Pennsylvania representative tweeted, “The fact that Ohio legalized marijuana before Pennsylvania is a sin. Legalize it. Regulate it. Tax it.”
Michigan regulators announced a voluntary recall of marijuana-infused beverages.
Oklahoma regulators took action against 165 medical cannabis cultivation facilities over an alleged failure to post required signage.
California and Massachusetts regulators made social media posts congratulating Ohio on legalizing marijuana.
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/ LOCAL
Voters in Birmingham, Grosse Pointe Park, Keego Harbor and Rochester, Michigan rejected ballot measures to allow marijuana retailers.
Marshfield and Seymour, Missouri voters approved local marijuana tax ballot measures.
The Humboldt County, California Board of Supervisors is considering changes to cannabis rules.
A judge ordered three Menominee, Michigan marijuana retailers to close.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Victoria, Australia lawmaker is calling for drug decriminalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study provided “the first clinical evidence that oral CBD can be an effective and safe analgesic for dental pain.”
A study found that “a quarter of non-palliative patients with neuropathic pain had benefits from medical cannabis to achieve a clinically significant reduction in pain and improvement of quality of life, especially sleep.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a man who was denied a vanity license plate reading, “REZWEED,” which is a reference to his business that “supports and promotes” legal cannabis sales on Indian reservations.
The California Cannabis Industry Association is calling on Congress to pass legislation regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products.
/ BUSINESS
Green Thumb Industries Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $275.4 million.
Verano Holdings Corp. reported quarterly net revenue of $240.1 million and a net loss of $17.8 million.
WM Technology, Inc reported quarterly net revenue of $47.7 million and net loss of $2.5 million.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. issued a notice of redemption for all $130 million of its outstanding senior secured notes due 2024.
Glass House Brands Inc. has a new board of directors member.
/ CULTURE
Barbara Streisand wrote about accidentally smoking marijuana in her new book.
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