AOC & GOP cannabis expungements bill in Congress (Newsletter: December 3, 2021)

NYC safe consumption sites for drugs; Financial orgs want marijuana banking in NDAA; Jamaica’s new “good ganja sense” campaign

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow said “there’s no evidence to my knowledge that occasional [adult] marijuana use has harmful effects.”

• “I don’t know of any scientific evidence of that.”

New York City opened the first safe consumption sites for illegal drugs in the U.S. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration, which has voiced support for harm reduction approaches in general, will respond.

The Credit Union National Association, Defense Credit Union Council and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions sent a letter urging Congress to pass marijuana banking legislation through the National Defense Authorization Act.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness launched a new “Good Ganja Sense” campaign to smash myths about cannabis and boost education. It features bus ads, a website and a catchy jingle.

/ FEDERAL

A federal judge paused the deadline for filing pretrial motions in the case of an alleged Maine marijuana and money-laundering operation involving public officials to give the defendants more time to review evidence.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said he thinks there’s a “good chance” of passing marijuana banking legislation through the National Defense Authorization Act. He also tweeted about bipartisan backing for the move, saying, “I appreciate the support of these Senators – as well as  @SenatorHick & @SenatorBennet. By including #SAFEBanking in the final NDAA, we can safeguard our financial system, reduce the public safety risk & better support small & minority-owned businesses.”

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and former Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), who did not support marijuana legalization while in office,  joined the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation as co-chairs.

Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker tweeted, “When I get to the Senate, I will file the legislation to finally legalize cannabis, and will call it the Gatewood Galbraith Justice and Healing Act.”

Kentucky Democratic congressional candidate William Compton tweeted, “In congress, I would fully support legalizing Marijuana on the federal level. Kentucky’s cash crop had always been tobacco, why can’t we add Marijuana to create more revenue?”

/ STATES

Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, currently the attorney general, tweeted, “60{b574a629d83ad7698d9c0ca2d3a10ad895e8e51aa97c347fc42e9508f0e4325d} of Pennsylvanians support marijuana legalization. Every second wasted on this is another second folks who’ve possessed small amounts of marijuana spend dealing with an unjust record. Let’s get it done.”

Illinois’s lieutenant governor hosted an event about a marijuana revenue-funded grant program, saying, “The #R3 program invests 25{b574a629d83ad7698d9c0ca2d3a10ad895e8e51aa97c347fc42e9508f0e4325d} of adult-cannabis tax revenues back into communities that have suffered historic disinvestment. Our goal is to repair the harm by investing in these communities, and this work can only be done in collaboration with those same communities.”

Mississippi lawmakers said they plan to pass a medical cannabis bill early in 2022.

A Massachusetts senator filed a bill, by request of a citizen, that would amend alcohol regulations to mirror more restrictive marijuana ones.

The New Mexico legislature’s Finance Authority Oversight Committee discussed the cannabis microbusiness loan program at a hearing. Separately, regulators will hold a public hearing on proposed marijuana labor peace agreements and solvents rules on Wednesday.

The Oklahoma Senate will hold a hearing with medical cannabis regulators on Wednesday.

Maryland’s House Cannabis Legalization Workgroup will meet on Wednesday.

Connecticut regulators increased the acceptable amount of mold in tested marijuana products without issuing a formal rule about the change.

The California Cannabis Control Appeals Panel proposed rules changes.

New Jersey regulators posted a webinar about the marijuana business license application process.

—
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/ LOCAL

McGraw, New York voters narrowly approved a ballot measure to allow retail sales and on-site consumption of marijuana.

The Greensport, New York Board of Trustees voted to opt out of allowing marijuana dispensaries and on-site consumption facilities.

The Toms River, New Jersey Township Council voted to permanently ban recreational marijuana businesses.

The Missoula, Montana City Council approved marijuana regulations.

The city of Gloucester, Massachusetts is being sued by a marijuana business over allegedly excessive and illegal community impact fees that must be paid in order to operate.

The Hartford, Connecticut Planning & Zoning Commission’s draft marijuana rules would encourage dispensaries to be located downtown.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Mexico’s Supreme Court will consider a case challenging the prohibition on growing hemp on Wednesday.

Spanish lawmakers said they will seek to pass marijuana legalization legislation in 2022.

Singapore’s Court of Appeal upheld death sentences for two men convicted of conspiring to traffic marijuana.

New Brunswick, Canada’s finance minister filed a bill to allow privately run marijuana stores and direct-from-producer farmgate operations.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “high CBD cannabis extracts downregulate the expression of several key fibrotic genes indicating their anti-fibrotic potential at the transcriptional level.”

A review concluded that “both classical and a-typical psychedelics are promising treatment options in patients with terminal illness.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Marijuana Policy Project hired a communications director who previously worked for members of Congress.

The Chacruna Institute published a guide for best practices for psychedelic plant medicine churches.

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America is urging people to ask members of Congress not to include marijuana banking language in the National Defense Authorization Act.

/ BUSINESS

Harborside Inc. is acquiring UL Holdings Inc. and LPF JV Corporation and is expected to rename itself as StateHouse Holdings. The company also announced a non-brokered private placement of units worth gross proceeds of up to $10 million.

Flower One Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $14.1 million.

Headset raised an $8.6 million funding round.

The Parent Company has a new managing director of social equity ventures and chief people officer.

/ CULTURE

Aaron Carter said he smoked marijuana with Michael Jackson.

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