Newsletter
Trump links cannabis & gun violence (Newsletter: April 17, 2023)
Booker: Marijuana “dangerous”; Legalization on DE gov’s desk; Bipartisan congressional bill; WA interstate commerce to gov; NV psychedelics
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Former President Donald Trump, who is running again, suggested in a speech at an NRA conference that “genetically engineered” marijuana may be causing mass shootings.
Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) faces April 22 and 26 deadlines to act on a pair of complementary marijuana legalization and regulation bills now that they have been formally transmitted to his desk. He vetoed a measure to legalize cannabis last year, but this year’s proposals passed with more than enough support to potentially override him this time.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) called marijuana a “dangerous drug” that he nonetheless wants to legalize and regulate, and said it’s “frustrating” that the cannabis industry is so “overwhelmingly non-diverse” while people continue to have difficulty expunging records.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Cannabis Caucus Co-chair Rep.Dave Joyce (R-OH) filed a bill to direct the attorney general to form a commission to prepare for federal marijuana legalization by recommending regulations modeled after those for alcohol.
Washington State lawmakers sent Gov. Jay Inslee (D) a bill to allow interstate marijuana commerce. Two other West Coast states—California and Oregon—already have similar cross-border cannabis trade laws on the books.
The Nevada Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a revised bill to create a Psychedelic Medicines Working Group that will develop an “actionable plan on how to enable access” that is “safe, accessible and affordable.”
The Parabola Center for Law and Policy is stepping up its efforts to push back against corporate monopolization of the marijuana industry by hosting an event featuring regulators from three states and rolling out a list of 50 new partner companies that agree to its equity principles.
Curaleaf’s application to renew its license to sell recreational marijuana at most of its stores in New Jersey was rejected by state regulators—a move the company called an “outrageous act of political retaliation.”
/ FEDERAL
The National Institute on Drug Abuse published a request for information on illicit drug markets, including “the interaction with, or influence of, drug markets with one another (e.g., the impact of cannabis policies on the illicit opioid market).”
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) tweeted, “Book bans. Abortion bans. Trans people bans. Marijuana bans. Immigration bans. They really are going full 1950’s here, and not in a cool way.”
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) will speak at a cannabis event on Tuesday.
The House bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got three new cosponsors for a total of 17.
The House bill to allow CBD as a food ingredient got one new cosponsor for a total of six.
/ STATES
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed a bill to restrict delta-8 THC products.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a hemp product restriction bill after lawmakers approved his proposed amendments.
New Jersey’s Senate president reportedly said home cultivation of cannabis is coming “soon” for “certain qualifying conditions.”
Connecticut’s House majority leader is pushing to include state-level 280E tax relief for marijuana businesses in the budget.
The Nevada Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee approved a resolution calling on Congress to reschedule marijuana. Separately, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted to indefinitely postpone a bill requested by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) that was focused on cracking down on illicit marijuana sales.
The chairman of the New York Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee filed a bill to ban cannabis-infused candy.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a case concerning the odor of cannabis and police searches on Wednesday.
Massachusetts regulators are seeking public comment on potential marijuana host community agreements, municipal equity and social consumption rules changes.
Washington State regulators sent an update about pesticide-tainted marijuana products.
Illinois Department of Public Health employees maintained a document that made fun of photos of medical cannabis patients, an audit revealed.
Alabama regulators are considering 90 medical cannabis business license applications.
Georgia regulators approved the state’s first medical cannabis testing lab.
Colorado’s Natural Medicine Advisory Board held its first meeting. Separately, the Department of Transportation published a post about the results of an impaired driving survey conducted by cannabis company Native Roots.
Michigan regulators posted updated lists of pesticides approved for use on hemp and marijuana.
Mississippi now has nearly 6,600 approved medical cannabis patients.
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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
Bell County, Texas is suing Killeen over its voter-approved local marijuana decriminalization law.
The Portland, Oregon City Council approved a proposal to strip cannabis tax revenue from a racial justice advocacy group.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Canada’s Supreme Court upheld Quebec’s ban on cannabis home cultivation and processing.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he will no longer show documents related to cannabis industry involvement by family members of former President Vicente Fox “out of respect for an ex-president.” Separately, officials in Oaxaca issued a statement clarifying that permits for “free and unrestricted consumption [of cannabis] have not been granted.”
Brazil’s Ministry of Justice is asking the Superior Court of Justice to allow the cultivation of medical cannabis.
Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs convened.
Morocco’s government said its reelection as a member of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs “confirms the Kingdom’s recent wise choice regarding the legal use of cannabis, medical, cosmetic and industrial.”
German lawmakers are pressing the government to enact aspects of its marijuana legalization plan sooner.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabis products are usually well tolerated and may improve the quality of life of patients with cancer.”
A study found that “cannabidiol inhibits inflammation in rat osteoarthritis.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll found that likely Kentucky Republican primary voters oppose legalizing marijuana, 50 percent to 34 percent.
The Cannabis Regulators Association sent a letter urging congressional leaders to support establishing a federal commission on marijuana, invest in research on the issue and encourage federal agencies to engage with states.
The Heritage Foundation published a report on the “failure of cannabis legalization to eliminate an illicit market.”
Students for Sensible Drug Policy will hold a congressional lobby day on Thursday.
/ BUSINESS
Insa laid off workers in Massachusetts.
Awakn Life Sciences Corp.’s head of psychedelic medicine resigned.
Canopy Growth Corporation entered into an exchange agreement with Constellation Brands, Inc. subsidiary Greenstar Canada Investment Limited Partnership to extinguish C$100 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding unsecured notes.
/ CULTURE
A proposed marijuana-friendly celebrity golf event featuring John Daly and actor Christopher McDonald, who played Shooter McGavin in the film “Happy Gilmore,” was blocked by the Gaylord, Michigan City Council.
Mike Tyson appeared not to be able to handle a marijuana smoking challenge from Wiz Khalifa.
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