FDA head on CBD regs; Lawmakers want federal clemency fix; David Letterman’s marijuana experience; Cannabis safety taskforce; LA worker protections
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Delaware House of Representatives narrowly failed to provide the required supermajority support needed to pass a bill to legalize and regulate marijuana sales—but a procedural move by the sponsor means it can be reconsidered at a later date. Separate legislation to simply legalize cannabis possession is already on the governor’s desk.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf admitted at a House hearing that his agency has been slow to regulate CBD products, but suggested that Congress may need to act first. He also faced questions from lawmakers about kratom.
Lawmakers at a House Judiciary Committee hearing said it’s time to fix the federal clemency process to make it easier for people with marijuana and drug convictions to get pardons and commutations.
The Louisiana House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee approved a bill to provide workplace protections for state employees who have medical cannabis recommendations.
The King County, Washington Council voted to create a cannabis safety taskforce amid a wave of deadly robberies against marijuana businesses.
David Letterman told Kevin Durant about the time he got so high on marijuana before a baseball game that he became fixated on the pitcher’s mound and doesn’t even remember who won.
- “Wow, that guy is standing on a mound of dirt. Whoa, it’s actually a mound of dirt.”
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is being asked by Delaware State University to investigate Georgia police over a drug search they conducted against a bus carrying the school’s women’s lacrosse team.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow spoke about applying public health lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to substance misuse issues.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) appeared to dismiss a question about progress on finalizing his federal marijuana legalization bill.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “The #SAFEBankingAct would: ☑️Help small cannabis businesses ☑️Support innovation ☑️Create jobs ☑️Strengthen public safety That’s why I’m leading efforts in the Senate to keep this bipartisan bill in the final competitiveness package.”
Michigan Democratic congressional candidate Adam Hollier, currently a state senator, tweeted, “In Michigan, I worked to fund the Clean Slate package to allow for automatic marijuana conviction expungement. When I get to Congress, I will work on legislation to legalize marijuana and expunge records nationwide.”
/ STATES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said he is disappointed that Senate Republicans blocked a vote on a marijuana legalization bill.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “As you can see, Pennsylvania is falling behind. Legalized marijuana is what the majority of Pennsylvanians want, plus it keeps revenue here. Tell the legislature to send a bill to my desk so we can #LegalizeIt.”
Missouri’s secretary of state said he will not use random sampling to verify signatures for a marijuana legalization initiative and another measure, and will instead use the traditional method of line-by-line checking of petitions by local election officials.
Washington State’s treasurer tweeted, “It’s imperative that Congress act now to allow the legal and regulated cannabis industry in states across the country to access safe banking.”
Nebraska activists are piloting a paid signature drive to qualify two medical cannabis ballot initiatives.
The Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee advanced legislation to ban smoking or vaping marijuana in motor vehicles.
A Connecticut senator who voted against a marijuana legalization bill said he is concerned that large businesses will control the market and shut out people of color.
The Colorado Supreme Court declined to take up cases on evidence found by drug-sniffing dogs in the wake of marijuana legalization.
North Dakota regulators filed amended medical cannabis rules.
New York regulators approved 58 additional recreational cannabis cultivation licenses.
Illinois regulators began issuing new craft cannabis cultivation licenses.
Oklahoma regulators released updated medical cannabis licensing and revenue data.
Nevada regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Tuesday.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s mayor said that safe consumption sites where people can use illegal drugs under medical supervision should be open 24 hours a day.
Rochester, New York officials will host a public meeting on marijuana business zoning and regulations on Wednesday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Trinidad and Tobago Senate approved a cannabis licensing bill.
Mexico’s Senate majority leader listed marijuana legalization among the issues he expects lawmakers to tackle in the next legislative period.
Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is supporting the development of psychedelic medicines.
Madrid, Spain’s Assembly debated cannabis.
A Malaysian lawmaker is calling on the government to recognize the medical uses of cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “people use medical cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs” but that “despite rigorous self-reporting from patients who attribute their reduction or cessation of prescribed medication to the use of medicinal cannabis, most results are mainly drawn from observational studies.”
A study of mice concluded that “CBD may be a more effective treatment option for the management of chronic pain.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug Policy Alliance released a new strategic plan.
ASTM International and the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification signed a licensing agreement related to certifications for the cannabis industry.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs was granted a $27.99 million reduction in property taxes and $10 million in sales tax exemptions for a cannabis cultivation facility it plans to build in Wawarsing, New York.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. and its executive chairman Boris Jordan are being countersued in an ongoing dispute over the acquisition of an Oregon business for allegedly undertaking actions “which appear to be the typical type of tactics used by Russian oligarchs.”
Canopy Growth USA LLC is being sued by a former employee who says she was discriminated against and wrongfully terminated for being Latina.
Arkansas dispensaries sold $24 million worth of medical cannabis products in April.
/ CULTURE
The wife of American basketball player Brittney Griner, who is being detained in Russia after allegedly being caught with cannabis vapes at an airport, discussed the case with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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