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Schumer’s cannabis legalization petition (Newsletter: September 25, 2023)
SAFER Banking vote this week; GOP rescheduling block; NCAA marijuana move; WY ballot dispute; Ramaswamy: Expand DEA; WI legalization; MI psychedelics
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Steve Daines (R-MT) filed a new bill to block the Biden administration from rescheduling marijuana without Congress signing off. It’s called the Deferring Executive Authority (DEA) Act.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is circulating a petition to “demand” federal marijuana legalization. The push comes as Schumer also works to advance cannabis banking legislation in Congress.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (R-OH) said his panel will “decisively” pass a marijuana banking bill this week—but some GOP lawmakers may want changes. Meanwhile, an anti-drug group says the legislation will cause car crashes and ER visits.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy—who says he supports legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing some psychedelics—nonetheless wants to expand the Drug Enforcement Administration even as he proposes vast cuts to other agencies.
Wyoming marijuana activists are considering suing the secretary of state over what they say is “incorrect” signature gathering guidance that kept two cannabis reform initiatives from qualifying for the 2024 ballot.
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader announced the introduction of a new marijuana legalization bill—while surrounded by cannabis plants in the middle of a hemp field.
Ohio’s secretary of state is forcing county officials to let a marijuana decriminalization measure appear on the Harbor View ballot over a prosecutor’s objection—one of three cities voting on local initiatives this November alongside a statewide legalization proposal.
A Michigan senator filed a bill to legalize psychedelic plants and fungi containing psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline.
The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports is recommending that the association’s three divisional governance bodies vote to remove marijuana from the list of banned drugs for student athletes.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are planning to reintroduce a revised bill to support research on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin to treat mental health conditions.
/ FEDERAL
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “We’re working to pass SAFER Banking to address some of the barriers to ensure cannabis businesses, particularly smaller and minority-owned businesses, will have access to critical banking infrastructure.”
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) tweeted, “We’ve already led the way with marijuana legalization in Colorado – and we’re taking it national! With our PREPARE Act, we’re setting our country up for success when marijuana becomes legal nationally.”
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) sent a press release about the federal marijuana legalization bill he recently reintroduced. He also tweeted, “It’s past time we reverse the failed policies criminalizing marijuana & finally end the War on Drugs. Today, I’m reintroducing the MORE Act, landmark legislation to correct the injustices of the past & create new opportunities for those impacted the most.”
The House bill to legalize marijuana and expunge convictions got 13 new cosponsors for a total of 46.
The House bill to strip highway funds from states that legalize marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of three.
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) took responsibility for appointing a top marijuana regulator who resigned in light of revelations that her business sold illegal cannabis products.
The Indiana legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services held a hearing on the potential of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions.
A North Carolina representative said it is unlikely his psychedelics research bill will pass this session.
A Florida senator who pushed to get medical cannabis business licenses awarded to Black farmers received an award from Minorities for Medical Marijuana.
A New York judge imposed a stay on enforcement of rules targeting third-party cannabis platforms that are being challenged in a lawsuit brought by Leafly.
Georgia regulators are proposing changes to medical cannabis rules.
Oklahoma regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.
Vermont regulators pushed back against claims they had approved an “open cannabis consumption event.”
Nevada regulators will hold a workshop on marijuana rules on Tuesday.
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/ LOCAL
Columbia, Missouri officials announced that city job applicants will no longer be penalized for positive marijuana tests during the pre-employment stage.
New York City police are making nearly twice as many drug arrests per month since Mayor Eric Adams took office.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Colombian President Gustavo Petro noted contradictions in U.S. drug policy, saying, “it was thought here that it was necessary to make marijuana illegal 50 years ago, and that led to many people being killed in Colombia. But now you can go out and buy it at the corner store here in New York. And so many dead on our side, and who is apologizing?”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “highly purified CBD has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of drug resistant epilepsy not related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome or Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.”
A study found that “the psychedelic N,N-dipropyltryptamine prevents seizures in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Hispanic Cannabis Council estimated that U.S. Latinos spend $2.5 billion annually on marijuana.
The American Council of Cannabis Medicine said it filed a marijuana rescheduling application.
/ BUSINESS
A Show-Me Organics TV ad was rejected by Missouri TV stations.
The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. closed a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $25 million.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced the open market purchase of senior secured notes worth $47.6 million.
A National Labor Relations Board ruled that I.N.S.A. Inc. must bargain with a union even though it lost an election to represent the company’s workers.
Canadian retailers sold C$446.1 million worth of legal marijuana products in July.
/ CULTURE
Former basketball player Al Harrington authored an op-ed about the relative lack of Black ownership in the cannabis industry.
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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
