RI legalization deal announced; Clinton’s reported CBD comments; Orgs demand marijuana vote in Congress this month; OH voters back legal cannabis
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The South Dakota House of Representatives revived a Senate-passed marijuana legalization bill—using a legislative maneuver called a “smoke out” one day after it was defeated in committee.
- “We just smoked out a weed bill,” the speaker said.
Rhode Island House and Senate leaders introduced a compromise marijuana legalization bill that follows months of negotiations between the two chambers.
Former President Bill Clinton reportedly talked up CBD’s potential to “combat pain” and the need to develop a “national standard” for testing cannabis products—but the article was deleted following alleged pressure from the Clinton camp.
- The comments reportedly were made in an on-stage chat with CNN’s Sanjay Gupta at the Impact Forum last week. An event representative said the discussion was off the record and wouldn’t confirm quotes. Clinton and Gupta representatives did not respond. Cannabis & Tech Today, which published the initial report, said they “never want to retract a story and stand by the quotes” but took down the article at the author’s request following “pressure from the Clinton camp PR team.”
A coalition including ACLU, National Urban League, Human Rights Watch, United Food and Commercial Workers Union and other organizations sent a letter urging House leaders to schedule a vote on a federal marijuana legalization bill this month.
A new poll shows that most Ohio voters support legalizing marijuana. Activists collected enough signatures to force lawmakers to consider the reform this session, but if the legislature doesn’t act more petitions will put it on the ballot in November.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote in a constituent letter that he supports Missouri’s medical cannabis law but opposes marijuana legalization.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) tweeted, “I applaud @ClarkCountyNV’s Pathway to Ownership program – an initiative to address inequities within the growing cannabis industry & boost the number of minority-owned small businesses working in this field.”
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) spoke about his marijuana banking bill at a National Association of Counties conference.
A former staffer for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recorded himself smoking marijuana in her office.
/ STATES
Idaho lawmakers sent Gov. Brad Little (R) legislation to allow patients to use the cannabinoid spray nabiximols, pending federal approval.
The Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill to address worker mistreatment and labor trafficking associated with illegal marijuana operations.
A Virginia House Courts of Justice Subcommittee advanced a marijuana resentencing bill.
The Georgia House Regulated Industries Committee approved a bill to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses.
The Kentucky Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill to ban delta-8 THC products.
The Maine legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to remove restrictions on people with drug convictions from becoming caregivers or employees in the state’s medical cannabis industry on Wednesday.
Here’s a look at where South Dakota pending cannabis bills stand.
A CBD business owned by an Illinois senator paid investors back more than $144,000 as part of a settlement agreement spurred by an investigation by the secretary of state’s office.
A Pennsylvania representative hosted a forum on marijuana and social justice.
An Oklahoma senator authored an op-ed about legislation to tighten regulations on medical cannabis businesses.
Colorado regulators issued a health and safety warning about potentially unsafe levels of lead in marijuana products produced by JEM Dutch Acres, LLC.
Alaska regulators are proposing rules changes to allow the transfer of a marijuana business license to another location.
Florida regulators chose BioTrack to manage the state’s medical cannabis tracking system.
New Jersey regulators will hold the first of three public hearings to receive comments on how marijuana tax revenue should be spent on Wednesday.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday.
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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
Kansas City, Missouri’s mayor tweeted, “Current federal funds have helped fill a gap in the short term for this year and last year. Long term, we need tax revenues from recreational marijuana.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
Argentine President Alberto Fernández said “the development of cannabis for medicinal use and industrial hemp will allow us to generate 10,000 jobs.”
Costa Rican lawmakers approved a revised medical cannabis and hemp bill.
Israel’s health ministry is moving to exempt CBD from the list of dangerous drugs.
UK health officials discussed the need to increase research on medical cannabis in response to questions from lawmakers.
Canada’s National Research Council released a new certified reference material for dried, ground hemp.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that CBD’s “effectiveness in reducing various types of seizures has been proven in animal seizure and epilepsy models” and that “recent randomized, placebo-controlled trials have confirmed its effectiveness in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.”
A review indicated “a therapeutic effect on patients with PTSD when using psilocybin.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The International Cannabis Bar Association and Americans for Safe Access are urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reverse a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision finding that Joy Tea could not register a mark for a CBD-infused drink.
The president of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana authored an op-ed arguing that U.S. voters don’t actually support legalization.
/ BUSINESS
PharmaCann Inc. completed its merger with LivWell Enlightened Health.
Green Thumb Industries Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $243.6 million.
Cronos Group Inc. reported quarterly consolidated net revenue of $25.8 million and a loss of $133.9 million.
Optimi Health Corp. upgraded its common shares to the OTCQX Best Market.
/ CULTURE
Tyler Perry said consuming marijuana edibles calms him down.
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