Newsletter
Swing state voters back cannabis legalization, new polls show (Newsletter: August 16, 2024)
CA hemp restrictions blocked; USDA notice on Chinese CBD policy; Dallas marijuana decrim; NV cannabis protections for athletes
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Likely voters in the presidential battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin strongly support legalizing marijuana, federal rescheduling and cannabis industry banking access, according to new polls commissioned by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.
Bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers said in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken that medical cannabis is “necessary to subdue” the pain of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who is jailed in Russia for possessing marijuana.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent a notice about a new move by China to classify CBD as a precursor chemical—though the agency says the hemp industry will see “trade and commercial benefit” because there will now be a “clear harmonized tariff system.”
The California Senate Appropriations Committee effectively killed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) plan to fold hemp products into the marijuana supply chain, a proposal that industry advocates say would have closed businesses and shrunk state revenue.
The Dallas, Texas City Council voted to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the local November ballot despite opposition to the reform from the police chief.
The Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau is advancing a proposed rule change to protect athletes such as boxers and MMA fighters from being penalized for using or possessing marijuana in compliance with state law.
A new study found that marijuana legalization “did not contribute to a more pronounced rise in Schedule II stimulant distribution”—and that there was even a small decrease in stimulant prescriptions in legal states, which “could be the result of self-medicating with cannabis.”
Florida lawmakers are filing legislation to ban public smoking of marijuana or tobacco if voters approve the cannabis legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot.
The New Jersey Civil Service Commission overturned the firing of a third Jersey City police officer who was fired for using marijuana while off duty.
/ FEDERAL
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the Food and Drug Administration’s rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) discussed his support for marijuana rescheduling and cannabis banking legislation.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI said she thinks she supports marijuana rescheduling but isn’t sure of her position on cannabis banking legislation.
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) touted Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s signing of a marijuana legalization bill as Minnesota governor.
/ STATES
The Arkansas Supreme Court is allowing the campaign behind a proposed medical cannabis ballot initiative to intervene in a case accusing the secretary of state of improperly rejecting a separate abortion rights measure.
New York cannabis regulators are being sued by an employee who claims she was denied job advancement due to racial discrimination.
Minnesota regulators are being sued by a marijuana business license applicant who says he was improperly denied social equity status.
The Michigan Court of Appeals is considering a case on whether South Lyon officials can block a proposed measure to overhaul marijuana business zoning rules from appearing on the local ballot.
Washington State regulators filed proposed rules on cannabis samples.
California regulators published guidance on how cannabis products could be considered attractive to children.
Georgia’s medical cannabis patient count is growing by about 1,000 people a month.
Oregon regulators heard a presentation from the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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
New York City officials appealed a judge’s ruling that they improperly padlocked a convenience store that allegedly sold marijuana without a license.
Meade County, South Dakota’s sheriff claimed that crime will increase if voters approve the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
The Clark County, Nevada Commission’s chairman said it is “inevitable” that casinos will get involved in the cannabis industry.
Akron, Ohio officials are requiring medical cannabis businesses to obtain additional local permits to sell recreational marijuana.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Norwegian Green Party is pushing for marijuana legalization.
Berlin, Germany officials decided after a long delay that the State Office for Health and Social Affairs will be responsible for processing cannabis club applications.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “greater permissiveness in US state cannabis regulations does not appear to correlate with traffic fatality rate increases, but greater medicalization and fiscal operation does.”
A study found that “receipt of psilocybin-assisted group therapy was associated with a large pre-post decrease in HIV-related shame.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Cato Institute published a brief on the federal budgetary implications of marijuana legalization.
/ BUSINESS
Lykos Therapeutics is reducing its workforce by approximately 75 percent.
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $43 million and a net loss of $9.8 million.
Acreage Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly consolidated revenue of $39 million and a net loss of $24.1 million.
Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$29.2 million.
4Front Ventures Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $18.7 million and a net loss of $4.9 million.
Zen Leaf workers in Rogers Park, Illinois won a collective bargaining agreement, while employees at the Evanston, Illinois location voted to join Teamsters Local 777.
Colorado retailers sold $113.8 million worth of legal marijuana products in June.
Ohio retailers sold more than $11.5 million worth of recreational marijuana products in the first four days of legal sales.
/ CULTURE
Federal officials charged five people over the fatal ketamine overdose of Matthew Perry.
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