National Urban League backs legal marijuana; Celebs push Biden on cannabis clemency; WADA reviews athlete cannabis ban; MI homegrow restrictions fight
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…
BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued health warnings about delta-8 THC.
- “Historical use of cannabis cannot be relied upon in establishing a level of safety for these products in humans.”
Detroit, Michigan voters will decide on a ballot measure to decriminalize psychedelics this November.
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s Executive Committee announced it will review marijuana’s status as a banned drug for athletes. The move comes in the wake of criticism it received after Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension from the Olympics for cannabis.
The National Urban League, a 100-plus-year-old civil rights organization, is calling for cannabis legalization with a focus on social equity—including reserving half of business licenses for impacted communities.
- “Marijuana enforcement is more harmful than marijuana itself.”
Drake, Killer Mike, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, T.I., Kevin Garnett, Deion Sanders and others sent a letter calling on President Joe Biden to issue a “full, complete and unconditional pardon” to anyone convicted of a nonviolent marijuana offense.
- “Enough is enough. No one should be locked up in federal prison for non-violent marijuana offenses.”
Michigan medical marijuana patients and caregivers will hold a rally on Wednesday to push back against what they say is a greedy corporate effort to restrict home cultivation rights that’s being mounted by big cannabis businesses.
/ FEDERAL
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on President Joe Biden’s nominee for director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) tweeted, “The @sbcountysheriff is working hard to shut down large-scale illegal cannabis grows. Unfortunately, California laws are standing in the way of a long-term solution to this problem. We need to continue working until this illegal activity no longer threatens our community.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the state’s lieutenant governor, tweeted, “It’s 4:20 on 420 days until the election and our most recent hotel room on the campaign trail was room 420. That’s the tweet.”
Maryland Democratic congressional candidate Mckayla Wilkes tweeted, “27 years since the 1994 Crime Bill. This bill, the crime bills of the 80s, and similar state-level policies led to the U.S. having the highest incarceration rate on the planet. Let’s be clear: @LeaderHoyer was on every single one of those bills. We need to see some damn change: – Ending the War on Drugs & expunging records – Ending mandatory minimums & cash bail – Abolishing private prisons.”
/ STATES
South Dakota Gov, Kristi Noem (R) tweeted that a legislative committee “approved the majority of the draft guidance for the Department of Health’s medical cannabis program after months of public input.” She also tweeted, “I’m proud of the job the Department of Health did in streamlining this process. My Administration is fully on board to make certain South Dakota continues to implement the most responsible, patient-focused medical cannabis program in the country.”
Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen West tweeted, “Blue states can make marijuana — federally an illegal drug — legal & allow it to be transferred outside those states after purchase & the Feds say nothing. As Governor, I will defend Texas sovereignty and uphold our laws. I will not allow the federal government to usurp Texas’ authority and undermine our laws. If Colorado can make marijuana legal, then noise suppressors for firearms will be legal in Texas.” Meanwhile, Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt tweeted, “It’s time to decriminalize marijuana and end the war on drugs once and for all.”
Rhode Island’s House speaker said if lawmakers don’t tackle marijuana legalization during a special session in October the issue will carry over to January, and he also discussed the differences in details among competing proposals while saying that the reform won’t be a big revenue source (starting around 8:30 into the audio).
Oklahoma lawmakers pressed regulators about medical cannabis compliance oversight efforts at a hearing.
New Jersey courts posted information about expunging marijuana records.
New Hampshire regulators announced that medical cannabis patients can now shop at all dispensaries in the state, instead of just the one they were previously registered with.
Ohio regulators approved a plan to more than double the number of medical cannabis dispensary licenses.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled that regulators must provide information on how many patients use medical cannabis to treat opioid use disorder.
A member of New York’s Cannabis Control Board spoke about the process of getting the state’s legal market underway.
The director of New Mexico’s medical cannabis program defended regulators’ process for opening production license applications.
Colorado regulators will host a marijuana work group rulemaking meeting on Wednesday.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 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
The Chicago, Illinois City Council delayed a vote on the mayor’s plan to relax marijuana business zoning rules.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council voted to allow only equity businesses to get recreational marijuana licenses for another year and to direct cannabis revenue to reparations efforts.
The Aurora, Colorado City Council rejected a proposal to allow marijuana social consumption businesses.
The Billings, Montana City Council voted to delay decisions on marijuana business licensing and zoning.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Québec, Canada Court of Appeal ruled that local bans on marijuana home cultivation are constitutional.
Colombia’s Ministry of Justice tweeted, “Colombia is a pioneer in the regulation, industrial production and commercialization of #Cannabis for medicinal purposes.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “cannabidiol enhances verbal episodic memory in healthy young participants.”
A survey of psychiatrists found that they “largely believed psychedelics show treatment promise and strongly supported federal funding for medicinal psychedelic research.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Cannabis Regulators Association named its first executive director and announced that its membership has expanded to 35 states and territories.
/ BUSINESS
WM Technology, Inc. acquired Sprout.
Akerna is acquiring 365 Cannabis.
Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $43.3 million.
Canopy Growth Corporation is launching a line of CBD vapes through Circle K convenience stores.
Wesana Health Holdings Inc. committed $1.5 million in funding to assess the viability of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies’s MDMA-assisted therapy to treat traumatic brain injury.
Colorado retailers sold more than $202 million worth of marijuana products in July.
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.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.
