Newsletter
Youth cannabis use not rising under legalization, feds admit (Newsletter: May 28, 2021)
LA smokable medical marijuana flower advances; CA & NV cannabis social use approved; Religion & legalization poll; IL drug war resolution
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Paid for by readers like you. Marijuana Moment’s newsletter and in-depth cannabis reporting is made possible by the 650+ people who subscribe to us on Patreon.
Support our work for $25/month and gain access to valuable insider data, exclusive interview audio, and more: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new report from the U.S. Department of Education shows that there has been “no measurable difference” in the percentage of high school students who have used marijuana since before states started legalizing it.
The Louisiana Senate approved a House-passed bill to legalize smokable medical marijuana. Because the body added some technical amendments, the legislation must now head back to the House before going to Gov. John Bel Edwards (D).
The state assemblies in both California and Nevada approved bills allowing or expanding marijuana social consumption lounges.
Atheists and agnostics are much more likely to support marijuana legalization than religious people are, according to a new Pew polling analysis. Still, majorities of all groups—except for white evangelical Protestants—back fully legalizing cannabis.
The Illinois House Human Services Committee approved a resolution calling the war on drugs “a failed, costly, and inhumane” effort that would “prove to be the United States’ longest and costliest war and ultimately a complete and shameful failure.”
/ FEDERAL
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a new federal strategy involving the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies that aims to “reduce the level of violence in our communities, not to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves.”
The chairman of the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association reportedly arranged for access to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for an executive of Alternate Health Corp. while also soliciting $10,000 in campaign contributions.
Several Republican members of Congress were blocked from visiting a Drug Enforcement Administration facility.
The Senate marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 38.
/ STATES
Mississippi’s secretary of state said he won’t ask the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that overturned the voter-approved medical cannabis law, but he is calling on Gov. Tate Reeves (R) to convene a special session to resolve the issue.
Nevada lawmakers sent bills reducing marijuana penalties for minors, rescinding per se driving thresholds for THC and allowing curbside pickup at dispensaries to the desk of Gov. Steve Sisolak (D).
The Colorado House of Representatives approved a bill to enact limits on marijuana concentrates, place restrictions on medical cannabis recommendations and require the state to study the impacts of marijuana on certain health outcomes, among other changes.
The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill to amend the definition of marijuana.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved an amendment to let people with criminal records work in the medical cannabis industry, but defeated another amendment to maintain rules requiring that contaminated marijuana be destroyed.
The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s medical cannabis regulations. The state’s agriculture commissioner said the ruling helps only existing, large companies.
The South Dakota legislature’s Marijuana Interim Study Committee held a second day of hearings.
A California senator authored an op-ed about his bill to legalize possession of psychedelics.
Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board held its first meeting.
Rhode Island regulators are seeking to shut down a marijuana cultivation business that tried to bribe a federally convicted former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor.
Marijuana arrests in Missouri state parks sharply dropped last year as rangers began following enforcement policies instituted after voters approved medical cannabis.
Washington State regulators approved a rule proposal to enforce the prohibition on vitamin E acetate additives in marijuana vaping products.
Maine regulators published guidance on creating marijuana testing sample packages.
—
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
The New Orleans, Louisiana City Council president introduced a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Portland, Oregon City Council approved $1.8 million in cannabis revenue-funded grants for equity, restorative justice and community reinvestment programs.
The Riverside County, California Superior Court’s record-keeping policy fails to properly deal with data of minors who have marijuana-related records, a state appeals court found.
Buffalo, New York’s mayor will host a forum for people interested in starting marijuana businesses on Friday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexico’s Supreme Court is reportedly preparing to strike down marijuana criminalization laws in light of lawmakers’ failure to enact a legalization bill on time.
Black people in the UK are twelve times more likely to be prosecuted for marijuana possession than white people are, according to an analysis by the Liberal Democrats.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the perceived risk of regular cannabis use is decreasing among older adults.”
A study of mice found that cannabis seed oil treatment “alleviated the endothelial cell damage and lipid deposition induced by a high-cholesterol diet.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The South Dakota Democratic Party tweeted, “More people in South Dakota voted to legalize marijuana than voted for Kristi Noem. The governor then took voters to court in an attempt to overturn our votes to legalize marijuana. #FailedGovernor” It also tweeted, “Has Gov Kristi Noem admitted the election was fair yet? The only stolen election in 2020 was the one where the #People passed #recreational and #medical #cannabis in #SouthDakota & she sued us.. WITH OUR OWN MONEY… You wanna talk #manipulation & #VoterFraud? #NOem? #NOep?”
The Alabama Democratic Party tweeted, “Across party lines, Americans agree that it is time to #legALize recreational cannabis. In Montana and South Dakota, states with majority GOP leadership, efforts to legalize passed with at least 16 points more support than Pres. Biden received. Now that’s a bipartisan issue!”
Decriminalize Nature posted a conspiracy theory about why it thinks the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative is opposed to decriminalizing peyote.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $178.4 million and a net loss of $24.1 million.
Planet 13 Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $13.8 million.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said, at a House hearing, “I don’t smoke marijuana but if you make it nationally legal, I’m not going to stop our people from banking it.”
GenCanna Acquisition Corp. is suing Vertical Wellness for allegedly reneging on an agreement to provide hemp drying services.
/ CULTURE
Martha Stewart spoke about her CBD products in a TV appearance.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
