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TN sends limited medical cannabis bill to governor (Newsletter: May 6, 2021)

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CO gov signs medical marijuana bill for schools; MN legalization advances again; French lawmakers displays joint in Parliament

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill requiring schools to store medical cannabis for use by students who need it. Lawmakers also recently sent separate legislation to his desk that will double the amount of marijuana that is legal to possess.

Tennessee lawmakers sent Gov. Bill Lee (R) legislation to add new low-THC medical cannabis qualifying conditions and create a commission to study enacting a more robust medical marijuana program if federal law changes.

The Minnesota House Taxes Committee approved the majority leader’s marijuana legalization bill. That’s 11 committee approvals so far, and there’s just one more to go before it’ll be on the floor this month.

A French lawmaker caused a stir by waving around a marijuana joint on the floor of the National Assembly as a new parliamentary report recommended that the county legalize cannabis.

/ FEDERAL

Marijuana business owners testified in the federal trial against a former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and other federal agencies are accepting grant applications to support research on the “effects of changes in the legal status of cannabis on health-related behaviors and outcomes” and the “effects of variations in the legal provisions applicable to legalized cannabis.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he’s “putting together the final touches” on his federal marijuana legalization bill and that “you’ll see it very soon.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “The SAFE Banking Act is not only an economic bill, it’s about equity too. This bill will make it easier for cannabis entrepreneurs without wealthy friends and families to get banking services and loans they need to get their businesses off the ground.”

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) wrote about his support for marijuana reform in a constituent letter.

The House bill to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor for a total of 13.

/ STATES

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) commuted the sentence of a man serving a 22-year prison sentence for a marijuana crime.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Doylestown is the latest Pennsylvania municipality to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Municipalities shouldn’t have to do this individually; instead, our state legislature should pass comprehensive marijuana reform, including legalization.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) tweeted, “Legalizing and taxing marijuana, much like we do with alcohol, just makes sense. Doing so would generate an estimated $165M in revenue for our state starting in 2022, and now—as we recover from #COVID19—is not the time to be leaving dollars on the table.”

Kansas’s House majority leader said it will be “pretty tough” to pass a medical cannabis bill this year, though the chamber does plan to debate the legislation on Thursday.

The New Jersey Assembly Health Committee approved a bill to change ownership restrictions for medical cannabis businesses.

The Idaho Senate approved a bill to prohibit marijuana advertising that advocates say could also silence cannabis policy reform efforts.

A Utah bill allowing more providers to recommend medical cannabis took effect.

California regulators are extending the public comment period on proposed safe harbor warnings for marijuana smoke and THC exposures.

Colorado regulators sent a bulletin on new marijuana testing and decontamination rules.

Michigan regulators sent a bulletin about annual financial statements that medical cannabis businesses must file.

Mississippi regulators will hold a hearing on proposed medical cannabis testing rules on Tuesday.

The Washington State Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force’s Technical Assistance & Mentorship Workgroup will meet on Tuesday.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,100 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.

/ LOCAL

Durham, North Carolina police released data on misdemeanor marijuana enforcement.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “cannabidiol confers neuroprotection in rats in a model of transient global cerebral ischemia.”

A study identified “a disparity between the common terms used by researchers in academia and those used by cannabis consumers.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Marijuana Policy Project hired a director of social equity and inclusion.

/ BUSINESS

Credit Suisse Group AG said it will no longer execute transactions in shares of marijuana companies with U.S. operations or hold them on behalf of clients.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s cannabis-focused Hawthorne unit reported quarterly net sales of $364 million.

Jushi Holdings Inc. closed its acquisition of Dalitso LLC.

Sundial Growers Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire Inner Spirit.

Massachusetts retailers have now sold more than $1.5 billion worth of legal marijuana since sales began.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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