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Schumer’s cannabis bill timeline announced (Newsletter: February 7, 2022)
House & Senate in marijuana banking talks; WI gov vetoes cannabis penalty bill; DEA psilocybin rescheduling petition
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
As the House passed cannabis banking legislation for the sixth time, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) told Marijuana Moment he’s in discussions with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) about how to add more equity provisions to get them to a place where the SAFE Banking Act can pass the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revealed at a press conference that he plans to formally file his federal marijuana legalization bill in April. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) also discussed his separate cannabis legislation at the event.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) vetoed a bill to increase penalties for marijuana extraction. His veto message calls for legalization instead and highlights how criminalization has a racially disproportionate impact.
A Seattle doctor filed a petition asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule psilocybin. The move comes shortly after a federal court dismissed a lawsuit that he and two terminally ill cancer patients brought seeking access to the psychedelic for end-of-life care.
Former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney slammed his home state South Carolina Republican party in a new op-ed over its opposition to a popular GOP-led medical marijuana bill.
/ FEDERAL
The Internal Revenue Service posted a memo clarifying that marijuana businesses are not eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit due to 280E.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said Democrats have committed to holding a hearing on her marijuana legalization bill, adding that the U.S. has “the best cannabis of the world.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “We’re at a critical inflection point with #cannabis policy. Sensible, bipartisan bills – #HR3105 #SAFEBanking #HOPEAct – take tangible steps toward the change Americans have called for and create opportunities for both chambers/parties to get on board. It’s time to #PassProgress.”
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) spoke about her support for marijuana banking legislation.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) tweeted, “Marijuana should be legalized. RT if you agree.”
The Senate marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 41.
The House bill to decriminalize drugs got one new cosponsor for a total of 17.
The House bill to facilitate marijuana expungements got one new cosponsor for a total of four.
/ STATES
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, currently Cincinnati’s mayor, tweeted, “It’s 2022, it’s time to #LegalizeIt. If we legalize marijuana and invest that tax revenue back into our communities, we can create thousands of good-paying jobs across Ohio. It’s just common sense.”
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, currently a congressman, tweeted, “Happy National Hemp Day — as governor of Florida, I will legalize marijuana!”
Virginia’s Senate president pro tempore tweeted about her bill on resentencing for people with past marijuana convictions, saying. “@GovernorVA are you going to lift a finger to help? We can save money, treat people fairly and be a national model at the same time. This can be the bipartisan bill of the year!” Lawmakers are considering various pieces of legislation to resentence people incarcerated on previous cannabis convictions.
The New Mexico Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee approved a bill to increase the number of marijuana plants that can be grown by small cultivation businesses and make other cannabis rules changes.
The South Dakota Senate Local Government Committee approved a bill to allow unzoned municipalities to prohibit medical cannabis businesses from being located in sensitive land use areas.
Kansas House Democrats tweeted, “Really? Mississippi legalized medicinal marijuana before Kansas? Tell your #ksleg-islator you want hearings for HCRs 5025 & 5026, constitutional amendments that give KS voters an opportunity to vote on medicinal & recreational marijuana legalization.”
Maryland’s House Judiciary Committee chairman authored an op-ed about his new marijuana legalization bill.
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering several bills to amend medical cannabis rules. Meanwhile, officials sent $38.5 million in medical marijuana tax revenue to schools.
An Indiana representative tweeted, “Medical marijuana is far safer than opioids.”
Pennsylvania regulators issued a mandatory recall of medical cannabis products due to additives not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Mississippi regulators are planning to accept medical cannabis license applications by June.
The Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions is stepping up scrutiny of data on marijuana businesses bank accounts.
Florida regulators filed updated hemp extract rules.
Washington State regulators are considering changes to rules for the use of pesticides on marijuana.
Vermont regulators will discuss marijuana issues on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
A Springfield, Massachusetts city councilor is calling on the state attorney general to investigate the city’s process for awarding host community agreements to marijuana businesses.
Albuquerque, New Mexico officials are accepting marijuana retail applications.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama included a question about medical cannabis legalization in a citizen survey.
Belize’s minister of home affairs and new growth industries said a pending cannabis reform bill will be split into two parts.
Thailand’s health minister wants small cannabis growers to be able to conveniently register via an app.
The Chilean Senate Public Security Commission approved medical cannabis home cultivation legislation.
UK lawmakers sent a letter asking colleagues to support rescheduling psilocybin.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “patients with a [positive marijuana screen] had decreased associated risk of mortality compared to [negative for all drugs and alcohol] patients, including subgroups of ICU and younger patients.”
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital developed a method to “objectively determine impairment from THC intoxication at the individual level.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “There are now 37 states including Mississippi where patients with debilitating health conditions can legally access medical marijuana — and Kentucky still isn’t one of them. Let the GOP supermajority know it’s past time to get this done.”
The Boston Herald editorial board criticized efforts to decriminalize drugs.
The Credit Union National Association celebrated the House’s passage of marijuana banking legislation.
Marijuana Justice is pushing to use Virginia cannabis tax revenue to support guaranteed direct payments to people harmed by the war on drugs.
/ BUSINESS
Leafly Holdings Inc. will begin trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market on Monday.
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. closed its acquisition of MPX New Jersey, LLC.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
