Newsletter
State officials highlight cannabis for holiday season (Newsletter: December 25, 2023)
Biden’s marijuana pardons; Psychedelics in NDAA; NY gov’s cannabis veto; OH gov on legal sales; CA psychedelics initiative; CBD & sports
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
President Joe Biden issued a new proclamation expanding his marijuana pardon initiative to cover offenses committed on federal properties.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and other federal and state officials across the country praised President Joe Biden’s expanded mass marijuana pardon.
President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes provisions funding clinical trials on the benefits of psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA for active duty military service members with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
State officials from California, New York, New Jersey and other states are engaging cannabis consumers with holiday-themed messages about gifting marijuana as a present, making infused Christmas cookies and keeping products secure.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) vetoed legislation that would have allowed marijuana farmers to sell products to tribal cannabis retailers.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is pushing lawmakers to address a “ridiculous situation” where marijuana is now legal to possess and use but without any place for consumers to purchase regulated products. He also wants to redirect revenue to law enforcement.
Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), along with, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), led a group of 15 bipartisan lawmakers in sending a letter pressing the Biden administration to include American citizen Marc Fogel, who is imprisoned in Russia for medical marijuana, in any future prisoner swaps.
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office projects that a psychedelics legalization ballot initiative being proposed for 2024 could potentially “result in a net reduction of hundreds of millions of dollars in cannabis-related tax revenue.”
A study found that American Medical Society for Sports Medicine members “generally have favorable attitudes toward CBD and cannabis” and that most believe marijuana should be removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances for athletes.
An audit by the Oregon secretary of state’s office found that the voter-approved drug decriminalization law has helped the growth of treatment and recovery services for addiction, but that the state can do more to better manage the program.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called out a study that gave methamphetamine to monkeys in his annual Festivus report on government waste.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) tweeted, “Legalize Hemp.”
/ STATES
Kentucky’s attorney general-elect announced a new chair of the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, replacing a former leader who had championed a plan to spend $42 million on ibogaine research.
Pennsylvania senators spoke about their legislation to decriminalize marijuana.
A Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands senator discussed his desire for the marijuana industry to “flourish” on several islands of the territory.
Oregon regulators adopted psilocybin services rules.
Louisiana regulators filed changes to medical cannabis rules.
Colorado regulators are considering whether animal manure should be allowed to be used in cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms.
California regulators sent a reminder for marijuana businesses to update their information with state officials.
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Marijuana Moment is 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.
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/ LOCAL
Two Aurora, Colorado paramedics who forcibly injected ketamine into a man who later died were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs published recommendations on reducing barriers to research for schedule 1 controlled drugs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “preliminary studies suggest that CBD may target opioid withdrawal pathways that
make CBD a potential therapeutic option for [opioid use disorder].”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Officials with the American Society of Addiction Medicine and International Society of Addiction Medicine coauthored an op-ed claiming that requiring insurance reimbursement of medical cannabis would be “a recipe for a public health disaster, as lowering or eliminating out-of-pocket costs will encourage more consumers to become certified under a state’s medical cannabis program, and result in more frequent use of higher-potency cannabinoids (e.g., THC and CBD) that are associated with serious adverse events.”
/ BUSINESS
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. and Hi-Med LLC settled a lawsuit.
POSaBIT Systems Corporation filed an application to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has a new chief financial officer.
Theory Wellness is becoming an employee-owned company.
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