Newsletter
USPS says hemp and CBD vapes are banned from the mail (Newsletter: October 21, 2021)
FDA will use Reddit to learn about CBD & delta-8; Top Mexican senator: marijuana vote soon; Activist apes erect monolith at DEA headquarters
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Postal Service released its final rule to implement a ban on shipping vaping devices, and it clarified that hemp, CBD and marijuana vapes are generally not mailable—even if the products are federally legal.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a plan to search Reddit and additional “novel” data sources to better understand the health effects of CBD and other marijuana-derived compounds like delta-8 THC “in real-time.”
Mexico’s Senate president said lawmakers will finally pass a marijuana legalization bill “in the coming weeks or months” because there’s “no longer room for the prohibitionist policy.”
- “We are the Mexico of freedoms, and the people are aware of it.”
Activists dressed as apes erected a 2,001-pound monolith in front of Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters to urge the agency to “evolve” from its drug war mindset—a play on Stanley Kubrick’s classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
/ FEDERAL
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released new podcasts about hemp.
Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control Co-chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked witnesses at a hearing if the U.S. has “lost the war on marijuana.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said there’s momentum behind marijuana reform at the state level and “it’s a matter of time” before it is federally legalized, though there needs to be action on cannabis banking “right now.”
The House bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got one new cosponsor for a total of 32.
The House bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of two.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a bill to ease restrictions on owning and investing in minority-, women- and veteran-owned medical cannabis businesses.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, called for a state investigation into a new medical cannabis rule issued by regulators that she says creates financial and regulatory burdens that only apply to black farmers.
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, currently Cincinnati’s mayor, tweeted, “Instead of criminalizing marijuana we should legalize it and invest that money back into our communities. My plan will tax marijuana and use the revenue to create 30,000 jobs per year that pay a minimum of $60,000 per year to build the vital infrastructure that Ohio needs.”
The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to send marijuana legalization bills to interim study, delaying their consideration.
A Mississippi senator detailed new changes in the latest version of a draft medical cannabis bill.
A New York senator slammed the New York Post for its alarmist reporting about a new law that decriminalizes syringes.
An Oklahoma activist filed a court challenge against other activists’ proposed marijuana legalization and medical cannabis ballot initiatives.
Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development sent a press release urging farmers to participate in a federal hemp survey.
Montana regulators proposed marijuana rules and will hold a public hearing on November 16.
Louisiana regulators proposed changes to medical cannabis cultivation rules.
Connecticut regulators proposed recommendations for a public education campaign about marijuana.
South Dakota regulators issued a contract to a company to manage the state’s medical cannabis patient and business registration system.
Massachusetts regulators posted a medical cannabis FAQ.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 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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/ INTERNATIONAL
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government will explore ways to reduce barriers to research on psilocybin and other drugs.
Switzerland’s Social Security and Health Commission of the Council of States recommended that the country legalize marijuana.
Costa Rica’s Congress approved a bill to legalize medical cannabis.
The Philippine Department of Justice released information about 50 deadly operations in the nation’s bloody “war on drugs.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “about half of participants who ever used CBD for pain reported improved pain, and many substitute CBD for pain medications including opioids and benzodiazepines.”
A case study suggested “a significant analgesic effect of cannabis in the treatment of symptomatic headaches.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of German citizens found that 30 percent support legalizing marijuana and 59 percent back medical cannabis.
Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana highlighted the fact that Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to committing the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said he believes “this country would do better if everyone would stop smoking marijuana and doing all these drugs” during remarks in court.
The American Family Association is working to dissuade Mississippi lawmakers from passing a medical cannabis bill.
The HIV Legal Network, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs and other groups sent a letter urging Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to prioritize drug policy reform in mandates to his new Cabinet.
/ BUSINESS
HEXO Corp has a new CEO.
COMPASS Pathways plc was granted a U.S. patent for crystalline psilocybin.
/ CULTURE
Ziggy Marley called out Singapore’s government for sentencing a man to death for possessing two pounds of cannabis.
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