Newsletter
Sponsor ‘confident’ cannabis banking will pass this year (Newsletter: February 14, 2022)
UT House approves psychedelics bill; OH Senate leader will block legalization; Twitch’s marijuana-friendly policy; Willie Nelson Super Bowl ad
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said he’s “confident” his marijuana banking legislation is finally going to make it through the Senate and onto the president’s desk before he leaves office at the end of this year.
The Utah House of Representatives voted 68-1 to create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics such as psilocybin for treating mental health disorders.
Ohio’s Senate president says he won’t bring a marijuana legalization measure to the floor for a vote, meaning that activists who collected enough signatures to force the legislature to consider the measure will need more petitions to place it on the November ballot.
The Missouri House of Representatives approved a bill to make it harder to qualify and pass ballot initiatives—but included a delayed implementation date that a lawmaker says was requested by a current marijuana legalization campaign.
Video game streaming service Twitch’s username policy update says references to marijuana are totally fine—treating it the same as alcohol and tobacco. But the Amazon-owned company bans mentions of psychedelics and “hard drugs.”
Marijuana icon Willie Nelson called for the legalization of…comfortable shoes in an ad for Sketchers that aired during the Super Bowl.
- “To feel so good, I just assumed The Man made them illegal.”
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum proudly displayed a pair of platform shoes worn by an undercover agent in the 1970s.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “Hundreds of millions of Americans live in states where cannabis has been legalized in some way. It’s long past time for the federal government to catch up. The Senate will move forward on cannabis legalization with justice for the communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.”
Several U.S. senators discussed their positions on the issue of marijuana legalization.
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) filed a bill to restrict the use of certain federal funds for syringes for the injection of illegal drugs or devices to “smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics.”
Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) toured a cannabis testing facility.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said Republicans should “lean in” on marijuana reform.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “If anyone knows the unjust consequences of #cannabis criminalization, it’s @weldon_angelos. Humbled to have his endorsement of my bipartisan #HOPEAct, which will help remedy the War on Drugs where it’s been most pervasive – at the state and local level.”
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) tweeted, “In my district, cartels are profiting off the illegal marijuana market through indentured servant labor, stealing land and water, and threatening Californians!”
Louisiana Democratic Senate candidate Gary Chambers said his cannabis consumption is not something that should be controversial.
/ STATES
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an executive order consolidating the regulation of marijuana and hemp under the newly renamed Cannabis Regulatory Agency.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’s (D) Drug Policy Board adopted a resolution opposing the legalization of marijuana.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana at a campaign rally.
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, tweeted, “By opposing medical marijuana, @henrymcmaster is keeping life-saving medical care from countless veterans and patients across SC. Governor, your conspiracy theories about cannabis are rooted in lies, fear and 1950s propaganda. Time to end your opposition and help get this done.”
Mississippi’s lieutenant governor spoke about the economic impact of legalizing medical cannabis.
The Washington State Senate approved a bill to increase penalties for robbing marijuana dispensaries, on par with those for robbing pharmacies.
The Oklahoma Legislative Office of Financial Transparency issued a report recommending a moratorium on medical cannabis business licenses.
A Maryland delegate tweeted, “The drug war has led to the mass incarceration of Black & Latinx Marylanders. It’s way past time we legalize cannabis, release non-violent drug offenders, as well as ensure equity & reparations for the harm done. Today, I filed the Cannabis Legalization & Equity Act.” He also hosting a series of “Weed Weekend” events.
A Michigan senator tweeted, “I passed the bill in Michigan that funded automatically expunging the records for those convicted of non-violent marijuana use. Now it’s time to legalize marijuana federally & ensure our sons, grandsons, brothers, and uncles are no longer incarcerated & have a clean slate.” He also tweeted, “Even though we legalized marijuana in Michigan, it’s still illegal for banks to provide services to cannabis businesses. This means they operate on a cash-only basis which is dangerous for them and our community. It’s time for Congress to legalize and pass the #SAFEBankingAct.”
Arkansas regulators are being sued over a policy that doesn’t allow doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations without in-person patient examinations.
Iowa regulators said they haven’t yet gotten any response from the Drug Enforcement Administration about a letter requesting a federal exemption for the state’s limited medical cannabis program.
Montana regulators proposed rules for failed marijuana laboratory test samples.
Alaska regulators are proposing changes to rules on reinstatement of marijuana business licenses after failure to renew.
Maine regulators issued guidance on separation of co-located medical cannabis and recreational marijuana cultivation operations.
Colorado regulators sent an update on medical cannabis rulemaking.
Vermont regulators will review marijuana policies on Monday and accept public comments at a hearing on Friday.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
St. Louis, Missouri’s mayor toured a black-owned medical cannabis dispensary, tweeting, “Black entrepreneurs in St. Louis are leading the way towards what I hope is an inclusive, diverse medical marijuana industry.”
Delavana, Illinois’s mayor spoke about how the city is using marijuana revenue to improve infrastructure.
Ann Arbor, Michigan is using marijuana tax revenue to help people expunge past convictions.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The president of Italy’s Constitutional Court said his colleagues should not “nitpick” referendums on cannabis and other issues, as rumors circulated that the body may block voters from being able to decide on the proposals this week.
The Spanish Parliament’s medical cannabis subcommittee will hold its first meeting this week.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in treating patients with chronic conditions such as back pain and spinal cord injuries” but that “longitudinal effects and implications on surgical outcomes and complications are poorly understood.”
A review concluded that clinical trials on psilocybin “produced promising results concerning the treatment of addiction, depression, and end-of-life mood disorders” and it has been shown to “produce durable effects with minimal toxicity.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that 65 percent of Malaysian adults support decriminalizing medical cannabis.
/ BUSINESS
Harborside Inc. closed a $45.4 million tranche of debt financing.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc closed on the acquisition of a New Jersey property and entered into a long-term lease with a subsidiary of Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.
MedMen Enterprises Inc.’s chief revenue officer resigned.
The Harry Reid International Airport tweeted, “We’re not blowing smoke! Save your super bowls for the couch, not our departure and arrival curbs. As a reminder, the possession and use of marijuana is prohibited on all airport property. Cannabis products can be discarded in the green amnesty boxes located at various entrances.”
/ CULTURE
2 Chainz is the second-largest shareholder of a new marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California. He also said Snoop Dogg should smoke cannabis during the Super Bowl halftime show.
Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about the marijuana pranks and Danny DeVito played on each other.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
