Anti-drug group hides sponsors amid backlash; CA senator talks psychedelics bill’s path; AR marijuana activists oppose ballot measure
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America has removed the corporate sponsor page from its website amid a backlash from marijuana reform supporters who wanted to know why the NFL, Krispy Kreme and other major brands were backing a group that is working to block federal legalization legislation.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said a marijuana banking bill “requires changes” in order to pass. He made the comments in conjunction with a briefing about a new report from current and former cannabis regulators who are proposing 10 specific amendments to achieve equity.
- “Before moving forward, legislation like SAFE Banking requires changes to ensure that the communities most harmed by our broken marijuana policies receive support and small cannabis businesses can have the same access to capital as large multi-state operators.”
California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) spoke to Marijuana Moment about his psychedelics legalization bill stalling—despite a last-minute deal with police lobbyists to remove synthetics like LSD and MDMA—and the path forward to passing it next year.
A new poll found that drug policy is the second most common issue Americans say they have changed their minds on—with almost twice as many saying they’ve shifted in a “more liberal” direction on it than moved to a “more conservative” position.
Some Arkansas marijuana activists are opposing the legalization measure on the state’s November ballot, arguing it is a cash grab by the existing medical cannabis businesses that funded it.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Every 25 seconds, someone is arrested for possessing drugs for personal use in the U.S. It’s time we bring Brittney Griner home and take action to end the war on drugs in our own country by legalizing marijuana at the federal level and expunging nonviolent drug crimes.”
The House bill to clarify that the Right to Try law covers Schedule I substances got one new cosponsor for a total of five.
/ STATES
Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey, currently the attorney general, said the concerns she expressed when unsuccessfully trying to convince voters to reject a marijuana legalization ballot measure “may have been, fortunately, unnecessary.”
Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Martin tweeted, “While our neighbor Arkansas is on track to bring in $60 million in funds for communities as a result of legalizing cannabis, Tennessee continues to criminalize small drug offenses and lets the cartels maintain control. Legalizing cannabis is simply common sense.”
Connecticut Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski tweeted, “Why should CT FireLamont? While Ned touts social equity and the legalization of marijuana, state agencies under his watch are being sued over denial of licenses.” In a related development, regulators asked a judge to transfer a lawsuit filed by a rejected cannabis company to administrative court.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, a former congressman, tweeted about discussing marijuana legalization at a rally.
A Maryland delegate tweeted,”Free everyone locked up for cannabis possession. Expungement isn’t enough! #LegalizeIt”
South Dakota’s top medical cannabis regulator is stepping down.
Ohio regulators posted revised medical cannabis dispensary rules.
A former Maine prosecutor was sentenced to two years of probation for her role in an alleged illegal $13 million marijuana operation.
Colorado’s Intoxicating Hemp and Tetrahydrocannabinol Products Task Force announced its upcoming meeting schedule.
Alaska regulators will host a listening session on the marijuana licensing process on Monday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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 San Marcos, Texas City Council voted to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the November ballot rather than immediately enact the reform.
The Seattle, Washington City Council’s Finance Committee approved a package of cannabis equity bills.
The Clark County, Nevada Commission voted to delay consideration of rules for marijuana consumption lounges.
New York City police seized about 20 vehicles they say were involved in illegal cannabis sales.
The Burlington, Vermont City Council voted to create a local cannabis commission.
New Albany, Mississippi’s mayor vetoed a move by the Board of Alderman to allow medical cannabis businesses.
The San Diego County, California Board of Supervisors approved the language of a November ballot measure to tax marijuana businesses in unincorporated areas.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Germany’s drug and addiction commissioner spoke about the process for forming and passing marijuana legalization legislation.
Thailand’s public health minister is discouraging tourists from visiting the country to smoke marijuana.
Ghana’s Supreme Court explained why it overturned a cannabis cultivation licensing law.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review summarized the “anti-neuroinflammatory activities of CBD against various neurological disorders.”
A study concluded that “using marijuana-related hospital discharge as a measure of marijuana abuse/misuse, the results indicate a sizable rise in marijuana-related hospital discharges after the entry of retail cannabis stores” but that “there is a lack of evidence that traffic crash incidents are affected by the entry.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine resigned as a member of the U.S. Cannabis Council in protest of what it says is “increasing influence of corporate cannabis priorities over the council that has continually overshadowed or siloed equity-focused recommendations.”
The Upstate New York Poison Center said it has seen “a sharp increase in the number of calls…for children and teens who have eaten marijuana edibles.”
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs Inc. reported $218.2 million in quarterly revenue and a net loss of $8.3 million.
GW Pharmaceuticals is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to uphold a federal judge’s rejection of a CBD extraction patent lawsuit filed by Canopy Growth Corporation.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Teamsters Joint Council 25 entered into a joint agreement that will give Teamsters Local 777 exclusive jurisdiction for organizing cannabis workers in Illinois.
Tilray Brands, Inc. received approval to market medical cannabis products in Poland.
Cybin Inc. announced it received a Drug Enforcement Administration Schedule I license to support a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of its a proprietary psilocybin analog that’s being developed to treat major depressive disorder.
/ CULTURE
Mike Tyson said he uses cannabis and psilocybin before fights.
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Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
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