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Trump picks cannabis-friendly congressman for AG (Newsletter: November 14, 2024)

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HI & PA could legalize in 2025; New GOP Senate leader anti-rescheduling; TX marijuana bills; Poll: How women choose cannabis; MO market outperforms

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

President-elect Donald Trump has named Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), one of the most marijuana-friendly Republicans in Congress, to serve as the next attorney general. He has voted for Democrat-led cannabis legalization bills.

Newly elected incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) not only opposes marijuana legalization, but has also called for a reversal of the Biden administration’s plan to reschedule cannabis and has criticized Democrats for working to increase the industry’s access to banking services.

  • The rescheduling rule “fails to provide adequate science and data to support moving marijuana to schedule III and should not have been signed or published… It remains the case that marijuana has no currently accepted medical use.”

Following the results of last week’s elections, advocates say Hawaii and Pennsylvania are the states most likely to legalize marijuana in 2025, while opportunities to pass more incremental cannabis reforms exist in North Carolina, Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Texas lawmakers have begun prefiling a number of cannabis bills for the 2025 session, including proposals to legalize recreational marijuana, expand the current limited low-THC medical program and add new restrictions on hemp.

A new poll shows that the health and wellness benefits of marijuana are among the leading motivators for women to try cannabis or consume it more frequently, and that price is by far the leading factor when deciding which products to buy.

Missouri’s legal marijuana market has grown to $1.4 billion—outperforming states with older cannabis legalization laws like Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

/ FEDERAL

President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for using the death penalty against people who sell illegal drugs.

The National Cancer Institute is supporting a study on the “safety and side effects of a second episode of psilocybin-assisted group therapy and how well it works in treating anxiety and distress in patients with cancer that has spread from where it first started.”

/ STATES

Colorado’s attorney general touted a $225,000 settlement agreement with a cannabis company accused of misrepresenting industrial hemp products and other violations.

Wisconsin’s Assembly speaker suggested it could be difficult to get “consensus” among Republicans on legislation to legalize medical cannabis.

A Pennsylvania senator discussed his bill to allow medical cannabis patients to obtain concealed carry permits for firearms.

New York regulators are being sued by cannabis farmers over alleged license stacking that benefits larger players.

California regulators posted an update on enforcement efforts against recently prohibited hemp products.

Maryland regulators launched a cannabis public health data dashboard.

Missouri regulators transferred $6.5 million from the medical cannabis program to the Missouri Veterans Commission.


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.


/ INTERNATIONAL

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the International Criminal Court should “hurry up” with its investigation into the nation’s bloody “war on drugs,” and the current government said it would be obliged to comply with any international arrest warrant over the issue.

The New South Wales, Australia Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance published a report on cannabis regulations.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study “demonstrates the safety and efficacy of [phytocannabinoid]-based formulations for cosmeceutical applications.”

A study of mice found that cannabis extract “can be a promising alternative for the treatment of obesity and its consequences.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The U.S. Cannabis Council hired Mercury Public Affairs.

/ BUSINESS

AYR Wellness Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $114.3 million and a net loss of $50.5 million.

WM Technology, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $46.6 million.

iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $40.3 million and a net loss of $11.6 million.

Unrivaled Brands filed for bankruptcy.

Illinois dispensaries sold $22.2 million worth of medical cannabis products in October.

/ CULTURE

Sting said he has “smoked marijuana, but it’s not so interesting to me anymore.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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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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