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Truckers back legal cannabis to combat labor shortage (Newsletter: June 9, 2023)

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Fetterman on psychedelic therapy; Congresswoman pushes Biden for marijuana action; Chris Christie’s cannabis record

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) is urging the Biden administration to take executive action on marijuana reform and “get this done now” because she’s not sure that Congress can “get anything passed that would make sense.”

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said at a hearing that psilocybin mushrooms could represent a “revolution” in mental health treatment and an economic “boon” for his home state of Pennsylvania, which he referred to as the “mushroom capital of the world.”

A new American Transportation Research Institute report found that 66.5 percent of commercial truck drivers support federal marijuana legalization, with the institute’s analysis concluding that cannabis reform would “ease pressure on the industry’s driver shortage.”

Marijuana Moment compiled a comprehensive look at where Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie stands on cannabis.

  • He has called marijuana a “gateway drug” and said legal sales revenue is “blood money”—but has shifted from saying he would federally “crack down” to saying states can “do what they want.”

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee approved Gov. Dan McKee’s (D) nominees to the Cannabis Control Commission, sending them to the floor for a vote on final confirmation.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) is facing two separate lawsuits from county officials and environmental conservation groups that are seeking to overturn his veto of a bill to reallocate how marijuana revenue is spent.

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum posted a video about “Drug Free USA” stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

The House marijuana banking bill got six new cosponsors for a total of 40.

The House bill to encourage university marijuana research got one new cosponsor for a total of two.

/ STATES

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced the start of enforcement actions against unlicensed marijuana businesses.

A North Carolina representative coauthored an op-ed calling on the legislature to pass a medical cannabis legalization bill.

A Washington, D.C. judge ruled that a man must stop smoking medical cannabis in his apartment after a neighbor complained about the odor.

The superintendent of the Alabama State Banking Department spoke at a medical cannabis industry event.

Colorado regulators published a compliance tip about marijuana decontamination and remediation.

Washington State regulators sent an update on pesticide testing at cannabis grow sites.


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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

/ LOCAL

The Clackamas County, Oregon Board of Commissioners voted to place nonbinding questions on the May 2024 ballot asking if voters want to amend or repeal the state’s drug decriminalization law.

Denver, Colorado officials are accepting applications to participate in a fourth and final cohort of an entrepreneurial assistance program for aspiring cannabis business owners.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Czech Republic’s health minister expressed doubt that the country could launch a system of legal marijuana sales by 2024.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “data obtained from clinical trials showed some beneficial results of cannabinoids as a single or as add-on therapy in reducing the spasticity and pain related to” multiple sclerosis.

A study concluded that “psilocybin has the potential to be a cost-effective therapy for severe depression.”

/ BUSINESS

Green Thumb Industries is facing additional unfair labor practices claims filed by Teamsters Local 777, which says the company “spied on” workers by “reading messages in a private Discord server during” their strike and has been “diverting hours from part-time workers who exercised their right to strike and giving them away to temporary workers.”

TerrAscend Corp. is acquiring Derby 1, LLC.

Atlas Global Brands Inc. is ceasing operations at its facility in Gunn, Alberta, Canada and laying off approximately 50 employees.

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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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