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Lawmakers’ yearly cannabis memo Congressional scientists overview hemp selections Report variety of hashish scientific tests in 2022 KS cancer individual raided Subscribe to acquire Cannabis Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every single weekday early morning. It is the most effective way to make certain you know …
CA psychedelics bill gutted; Colombian president talks legal marijuana exports; NAACP legal arm pushes state expungements; Record MI cannabis sales 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 …
State AGs push action on marijuana “copycat” foods; MLB allows CBD sponsorships; NE medical cannabis ballot push
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House Appropriations Committee posted spending bill reports that include provisions on hemp industry challenges, CBD marketing, medical cannabis for veterans and research on the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and psychedelics.
Twenty-three state attorneys general sent a letter calling on Congress to pass legislation allowing major food brands to take action against unlicensed marijuana sellers who “market illicit copycat THC edibles to children.”
MLB is now reportedly allowing baseball teams to be sponsored by CBD companies.
Nebraska activists announced they’ve collected 120,000 signatures to put medical cannabis initiatives on the November ballot, but are “begging” voters to help get the tens of thousands more they need to qualify before a deadline in the next two weeks.
In a new Marijuana Moment op-ed, Ari Hoffnung of Bridge West Consulting argues that New York should fund programs to aid social equity businesses through a new Cannabis License Transfer fee to be applied on high-dollar mergers and acquisitions.
/ FEDERAL
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that an “unfortunate mistake” by U.S. officials prevented American basketball player Brittney Griner, who is being detained in Russia after allegedly being caught with cannabis vapes at an airport, from being able to call her wife.
The Department of Justice and attorneys for a proposed safe consumption site for illegal drugs have once again agreed to a delay on the deadline for the Biden administration to reveal its position in the case as “productive” negotiations continue. The government’s response is now due August 8.
The Food and Drug Administration is preparing a proposed rule to establish a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and other tobacco products. It is also reportedly preparing to take Juul products off the market.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Drug Testing Advisory Board discussed cannabis testing issues at a meeting.
South Carolina Democratic congressional candidate Annie Andrews tweeted, “I support legalizing cannabis. But unlike @NancyMace, I believe it should be legal, taxed, and regulated in all 50 states. Her proposal would do absolutely nothing for SC. But that’s what she always does.”
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill on cannabis beverages. Separately, the Assembly Business and Professions Committee approved legislation requiring cities to allow medical marijuana delivery.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) named new members to the Cannabis Advisory Board. Separately, the lieutenant governor tweeted, “It is incumbent upon us to create a socially responsible cannabis industry here in NYS that ensures jobs and opportunity for minorities who have long been subject to unfair enforcement when it comes to cannabis use.” And regulators announced that a firm run by former basketball player Chris Webber will co-manage the state’s $200 million Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund.
North Carolina House Agriculture Committee leaders removed provisions to permanently legalize hemp from the Farm Bill.
The Pennsylvania House Health Committee amended a kratom regulation and consumer protection bill to instead simply lower the legal age for purchase from 21 to 18.
A Kentucky representative who is sponsoring a medical cannabis bill said he doesn’t believe Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has the authority to legalize it by executive order.
A Montana senator spoke about how lawmakers may address marijuana legislation in 2023.
A new Colorado law allows marijuana industry workers to receive responsible-vendor designations.
The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that in light of decriminalization, the odor of marijuana does not provide probable cause but only reasonable suspicion.
Massachusetts cannabis regulators and staff will meet with a mediator to discuss issues related to the governance of the agency.
Michigan regulators published an advisory bulletin on changes to the marijuana business employee background check process.
Oklahoma regulators said they expect their medical cannabis oversight budget request to increase for fiscal year 2023.
Utah regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program.
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Marijuana Moment is already 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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
The Linn County, Oregon Board of Commissioners voted to place a measure on the November ballot to ban psilocybin production, manufacturing and service centers.
The Hunterdon County New Jersey sheriff said he wants to ban police officers from using marijuana.
Albany, New York’s is promoting a cannabis event city officials are holding with state regulators on Monday.
A Racine County, Wisconsin supervisor said marijuana is safer when it’s legal and regulated.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Swiss Federal Council voted to remove the requirement for physicians to have a special permit to prescribe medical cannabis.
The Italian Chamber of Deputies Justice Commission approved a bill to allow home cultivation of up to four cannabis plants.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra compared marijuana to opiates, saying that while it has medical uses, it can be misused.
Members of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on CBD were removed or resigned, according to conflicting statements.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “there is promising evidence that [medical cannabis] may have a beneficial effect on the onset and duration of migraine headaches in adults.”
A study found that “psilocybin has long-lasting antidepressant-like effects in flies.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana is asking its supporters to contact Attorney General Merrick Garland about their concerns with cannabis reform.
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc. is laying off 12 percent of its workforce.
Sundial Growers Inc. entered a “stalking horse bid” to acquire Zenabis Global Inc.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. has a new CFO and chief administration officer.
Tilray Brands, Inc. hosted a delegation from the Luxembourg Ministry of Health at its facility in Cantanhede, Portugal.
An explosion at an Ilera Healthcare facility in Taylor Township, Pennsylvania left several people injured.
/ CULTURE
Novels and TV shows are increasingly working psychedelics into their plots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
NH legalization bill amended; MO psychedelics hearing; MD lawmakers vote to fund legal marijuana implementation; MI local drug decrim effort 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 …
KY medical cannabis bill filed; MS senator brings hemp to marijuana meeting with gov; CA spends $100M on marijuana cannabis grants for cities 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 …
RI leaders close to legalization deal; Bourbon-selling KY senator worried about medical marijuana; Record IL cannabis sales
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…
Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.
Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The federal monopoly on growing cannabis for research has officially ended, with two companies telling Marijuana Moment that they’ve harvested their first Drug Enforcement Administration-approved crops in recent weeks.
Rhode Island’s House speaker and Senate president indicated in opening remarks at the start of the legislative session that they are nearing a deal on how to regulate the marijuana industry in a new legalization bill expected to be filed this month. But Gov. Dan McKee (D) might not be on board with a key detail.
Kentucky’s Senate majority floor leader—who owns a bourbon company called “Kentucky Senator”—said he opposes medical cannabis despite strong support from his constituents.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported that marijuana businesses set a sales record in December, closing out a year with nearly $1.4 billion worth of legal cannabis products sold—more than doubling 2020’s total.
/ FEDERAL
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “The War on Drugs has been a war on people—particularly people of color. I’m working to pass our bill to end the federal marijuana prohibition, enact criminal justice reforms, and ensure equity for those impacted by the War on Drugs.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted about a local move to reduce some marijuana charges, saying, “Lebanon 🔴 is one of Pennsylvania’s most conservative counties. I commend the DA for adopting these common sense changes to marijuana charges. Legalization is “inevitable” in PA. Those aren’t my words. They belong to a Republican state Senator.”
Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker tweeted, “There is overwhelming bipartisan support to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky. The politicians blocking it know that very well.”
Texas Democratic congressional candidate Coy Branscum tweeted, “I support federal efforts to legalize adult use marijuana. This will be a boon for investment in our country and will provide much needed criminal justice reform for our country.”
/ STATES
Mississippi’s lieutenant governor pushed back against Gov. Tate Reeves’s (R) criticism of pending medical cannabis legislation, while the House speaker said it is “not the top issue” for the session. Separately, a senator is proposing a medical marijuana bill that would ban smoking.
Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Martin tweeted that voters told him it’s a priority to work on “updating Tennessee’s antiquated marijuana laws.”
The Louisiana legislature’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Committee met.
An Indiana representative said he doesn’t think there’s enough support in the legislature to pass marijuana reform.
A Wisconsin senator applauded Gov. Tony Evers (D) for pardoning people with marijuana convictions.
Montana’s Supreme Court has been slow to set up a specialized court to handle marijuana expungements.
Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator said implementing delivery services can “take a big chunk out of” the illegal market.
Virginia regulators are considering amending rules for marijuana field tests and are accepting comments on proposed changes to rules on medical cannabis product labeling and access to facilities.
Illinois regulators are beginning rulemaking on changes to the medical cannabis program.
The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets tweeted, “We’re proud to announce that our Hemp Program Plan has been approved by @USDA. All growers who were licensed under our former Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program need to reapply under this new program in order to grow hemp this year.”
Colorado regulators gave an update on the marijuana program in the Department of Revenue’s annual report.
Oklahoma regulators sent an update about a switch to new medical cannabis licensing software this month.
The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission reported on hemp projects it is funding.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 800 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
Portland, Oregon officials posted application materials for cannabis business emergency relief funds.
Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he will “never, never apologise for the deaths” in his nation’s bloody “drug war.”
London, England’s mayor clarified that a new arrest diversion plan will only apply to people under 25 and for marijuana only, not other drugs. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted by saying that “illegal drugs destroy lives and fuel violence.” And the leader of the Labour Party said he’s “not in favour of changing the drugs laws.”
Quebec, Canada’s government is denying access to marijuana and alcohol retail locations to people who have not received COVID vaccinations.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that medical cannabis “use for chronic pain is increasing with cannabis legalization.”
A study of mice suggested that “both cannabinoids and terpenes in oil extracts should be considered as potential therapeutic agents against epileptic seizures and epilepsy.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “Nine out of 10 Kentuckians support legalizing medical marijuana. Republicans in Frankfort aren’t representing Kentucky’s interests — just their own.”
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “A state that Donald Trump won by 16 points [Montana] made recreational cannabis legal. The @indgop’s opposition to marijuana is more out of touch with most of the larger @GOP. Their partisanship is harming Indiana’s economic potential.”
The Association for Cannabis Health and Medicine will host a summit on cannabis in sports on January 22.
/ BUSINESS
MJBiz was acquired by Emerald Holding, Inc.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company acquired Luxx Lighting and True Liberty Bags.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. won a dismissal of a lawsuit that accused the company of misleading investors about the quality of its cultivation facilities.
The Honeybee Collective raised a $107,000 funding round.
/ CULTURE
David Crosby gave a reporter tips about how to roll a joint and spoke about his forthcoming cannabis brand.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.