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Reduced cannabis penalties in military proposed (Newsletter: April 18, 2022)
DEA: Marijuana source shifts from Mexico to US as legalization spreads; CO House approves MDMA bill; HI psilocybin measure advances
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Drug Enforcement Administration admitted in a new performance budget report submitted to Congress that “Mexican marijuana has largely been supplanted by domestic-produced” cannabis “as states enact voter referenda and legislation.” The agency also said it expects to license two more legal cultivators of marijuana to be used in research this year, for a total of six.
Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) filed a new bill to make it so marijuana penalties in the military would be reduced so they are on par with those for alcohol.
The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize MDMA in the state when it gets FDA approval. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where a hearing is scheduled for April 25.
The Hawaii House Health, Human Services and Homelessness Committee unanimously approved a Senate-passed resolution calling on state officials to form a psilocybin working group to explore the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration is moving to schedule two more psychedelics.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) said Colorado “legalized recreational marijuana and we haven’t seen any increase in teenage consumption, teenage experimentation or overall consumption.”
Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI) tweeted photos of his visit to a marijuana dispensary.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) tweeted, “Tax Day is April 18. We are reminded that Congress prohibits DC from spending the local tax dollars DC raises for abortions for low-income women and commercializing recreational marijuana, even though states are able to spend their own tax dollars for both purposes.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, said it is a “high honor” to be included on High Times’s list of the 100 most influential people in cannabis.
Ohio Democratic congressional candidate Nina Turner tweeted, “It’s time to decriminalize cannabis. It’s time to expunge records. And the industry better be equitable for Black and brown communities harmed by its criminalization. Enough is enough.” She also tweeted, “Despite similar rates of usage, Black people are FOUR TIMES more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people. Enough.”
/ STATES
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) appointed a new top marijuana regulator.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Tomorrow marks six years since we legalized medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. We can do more to improve accessibility, but I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians feel better each day because of legalized medical marijuana.” And the state’s official Twitter account posted, “This weekend we celebrate six years of legalized medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Learn how you can benefit from this program.”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, “Recreational cannabis is here to stay in #NM! In its first weekend, cannabis brought in over $672,000 in tax revenue. We’re creating a whole new revenue stream through legalized cannabis & with it, we’re going to expand opportunities for all New Mexicans.”
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, currently a congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana.
Colorado’s treasurer tweeted, “Colorado weed stores, along with other states with legal cannabis businesses, are headed into their busiest week of the year; yet these businesses must dangerously operate in a cash-based world. Let’s pass the #SAFEBankingAct this #fourtwenty.”
Washington State’s treasurer tweeted examples of robberies at marijuana businesses, saying it shows why Congress needs to pass cannabis banking legislation.
Missouri activists are running up against a deadline to collect enough signatures to qualify a marijuana legalization initiative for the November ballot.
Washington, D.C.’s Council chairman suggested that large multi-state operators are secretly behind unlicensed marijuana “gifting” businesses.
Maine lawmakers approved a bill to reimburse municipalities for up to $20,000 for costs associated with allowing marijuana businesses to operate.
The Tennessee House Criminal Justice Committee amended a bill that would have banned delta-8 THC products to instead tax and regulate them.
New Jersey’s Senate Budget Committee chairman wants to change the law to remove the right of police officers to use marijuana while off duty.
A Wisconsin senator whose medical cannabis bill is being heard on 4/20—after the session has effectively ended—said she “would have loved to hold a hearing a little bit earlier, but this is what leadership agreed to.”
A Georgia judge granted an injunction against a crackdown on delta-8 and delta-10 THC products and rejected state officials’ motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop the policy.
Montana regulators proposed rules on marijuana business proximity to places of worship or schools and on remitting local-option cannabis excise tax collections to localities.
Michigan regulators aren’t explaining why they suddenly placed administrative holds on certain marijuana products. Separately, regulators withdrew a request for rulemaking on allowing THC to be synthetically converted from hemp.
Vermont regulators will vote on closing the window for marijuana business pre-qualification applications on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s small business services commissioner said his agency is prepared to assist people in filing applications for marijuana equity licenses.
Activists in Mississippi municipalities are gathering signatures to overturn bans on medical cannabis businesses instituted by local lawmakers.
The Clark County, Nevada Commission is hosting a discussion on marijuana consumption lounges on Tuesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexican regulators awarded medical cannabis cultivation permits to 26 organizations.
Canadian senators discussed medical cannabis with Greece’s minister for development and investment.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “policy interpretations which discourage rather than encourage breastfeeding among women who use of marijuana may cause net harm, compromise autonomy, and disproportionately threaten health and wellbeing of underserved women and infants.”
A study concluded that “in New York, medical cannabis services are least available in neighborhoods with Black residents and most available in urban neighborhoods with highly educated residents.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Alabama Democratic Party tweeted, “Despite basically equal usage rates, Black people are almost 5x more likely than white people to be arrested for having a little bit of weed. The #MOREAct passed out of the US House is a great first step in righting the wrongs of racist cannabis policy. It’s time to #legALize.”
Alan Brochstein of New Cannabis Ventures had a “severe accident while he was riding his bicycle” over the weekend.
/ BUSINESS
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. pushed back against a short-seller report.
Arizona retailers sold $121.2 million worth of legal marijuana products in February.
/ CULTURE
Wiz Khalifa’s cannabis brand, Khalifa Kush, expanded its partnership with Trulieve Cannabis Corp. in Arizona.
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