MS gov dodges medical marijuana questions; PA bill to add small grower licenses; Study: Legal cannabis not tied to mental health problems
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A group of black small marijuana business owners are pushing back against claims from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and others that passing cannabis banking legislation now, ahead of justice-focused legalization, would only help big operators. Instead, they say current policy has a “redlining effect” that disproportionately hurts small minority-owned companies, while letting large multi-state operators continue to grow.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) dodged questions about when he will make good on his pledge to call a special session to pass a medical marijuana bill when confronted by patient advocates, including a young boy whose mom says he needs cannabis for seizures.
A Pennsylvania representative filed a bill to create a new category of small medical marijuana cultivators, called farmer-growers. They would face lower taxes, with the aim of expanding patient access to cannabis.
SPONSORED: Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce board member and iLAVA founding partner Moe Asnani authored an op-ed calling for an end to “infighting between the activist and corporate cannabis communities” and a uniting behind an agenda to enact federal reform in 2022.
A new study found that legalizing marijuana is “associated with a 6.29% reduction in suicide rates for males in the 40 to 49 age group” and that “no other mental health outcomes were consistently affected by cannabis liberalization.”
/ FEDERAL
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a new guide to preventing youth marijuana use.
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) discussed his support for descheduling marijuana but said he doesn’t think it makes sense to federally tax it.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted, “Cannabis businesses – big and small – and their employees continue to be forced to operate as high-volume cash businesses that are being targeted by violent criminals and putting communities and people at risk. It’s time to enact #SAFEBanking. We need to protect employees, patients, and customers of small businesses and help remove barriers to access capital, particularly for small and minority-owned cannabis businesses who have been disproportionately impacted by the lack of banking services.”
The Senate bill to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans got one new cosponsor for a total of eight.
The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair drug war harms got one new cosponsor for a total of 93.
/ STATES
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said he is trying to “look at what has worked and what hasn’t worked” in other states that have legalized marijuana.
Louisiana’s attorney general joined counterparts in other states in issuing a warning about marijuana-infused foods that resemble major brands.
North Carolina’s attorney general sent a warning about cannabis-infused edibles.
The Tennessee House and Senate, prompted by a district attorney’s refusal to prosecute cases concerning simple possession of marijuana, approved legislation to allow the state attorney general to ask for another prosecutor to step in if the one with jurisdiction won’t enforce a certain law.
Indiana lawmakers discussed plans to introduce marijuana bills in 2022.
Nebraska activists held petitioning events across the state for their proposed medical cannabis ballot measure.
New York’s top marijuana regulator said she doesn’t expect recreational dispensary licenses to be issued until the spring of 2023 at the earliest.
Illinois regulators are facing another lawsuit over their marijuana business license award process.
New Oklahoma emergency medical cannabis rules are taking effect on Monday.
Monday is South Dakota’s application deadline for medical cannabis establishments.
Colorado regulators filed rules on storing medical cannabis at schools.
Oregon regulators proposed rules on cannabis testing and laboratory accreditation standards.
Kentucky regulators filed amended hemp rules.
Washington State regulators are extending COVID-related allowances for marijuana curbside service, walk-up windows, hand sanitizer and mask giveaways and letting minors be present at cannabis businesses through April 30, 2022.
New Mexico regulators held a public hearing on proposed marijuana courier, manufacturing and retail rules.
Rhode Island regulators held a lottery to award medical cannabis dispensary licenses.
Florida regulators will hold a public meeting on medical cannabis tracking on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
Los Angeles, California regulators sent a report about a proposed City Council motion to amend marijuana business application processes and procedures.
Erie County, New York’s district attorney raised concerns about marijuana “gifting.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee held a hearing on drug policy issues.
South Africa’s minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development opened the application process for hemp permits.
British Columbia, Canada’s public safety minister and solicitor general sent an alert about cannabis-infused edibles ahead of Halloween.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “almost half of all participants reported using cannabis during adjuvant or palliative radiation to relieve breast cancer symptoms or treatment side effects, most commonly: pain, insomnia, anxiety, stress, nausea/vomiting, and anorexia.”
A study found that “long-term frequent cannabis use and related serum cannabinoid levels are not associated with kidney dysfunction.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association is pressing regulators to let existing medical cannabis dispensaries begin selling recreational marijuana immediately.
The National Industrial Hemp Council has a new president and CEO.
The Tulsa World editorial board is calling on Oklahoma lawmakers to strengthen medical cannabis safety standards.
/ BUSINESS
HEXO Corp. reported quarterly revenue of C$38.8 million and a net and comprehensive loss of C$68 million.
New Frontier Data is acquiring Skylight Health Group Inc.’s medical cannabis certification businesses, Canna Care Docs and Relaxed Clarity.
/ CULTURE
Nick Offerman spoke about how he stopped smoking marijuana but still keeps a stash at his house in case he changes his mind.
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