Rand Paul’s festivus marijuana banking slam on Dems; DEA’s drug emoji guide for parents; Robbery preparedness for cannabis dispensaries
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…
Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.
Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A top Maryland lawmaker officially filed a bill to put marijuana legalization on the November 2022 ballot for voters to decide. The House speaker has said the legislature will vote to advance a cannabis referendum “early” in the year.
In his annual festivus airing of grievances, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blasted Democrats for failing to pass marijuana banking while they have the majority.
The Drug Enforcement Administration published a guide aimed at helping parents decode the emojis that young people use to discuss drugs like marijuana, psychedelics and other “bomb ass shit.”
Americans for Safe Access released a robbery preparedness guide for marijuana businesses amid a spike in thefts against dispensaries.
/ FEDERAL
The White House Office of Management and Budget is moving ahead with proposed changes to the North American Industry Classification System that include cannabis business categories but declined requests to add more specific categorization.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a Jamaican woman’s past marijuana convictions do not warrant her removal from the country.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) filed a bill to create a task force that would, among other things, issue recommendations on providing “reentry assistance and reunification planning and community-based programming for women victims of the war on drugs.”
Maryland Democratic congressional candidate Mckayla Wilkes authored an op-ed about her experience being arrested for marijuana and her support for legalization.
/ STATES
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, currently a congressman, tweeted, “It’s long past time to legalize marijuana in Florida.”
Michigan Senate Democrats tweeted about the one-year anniversary of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signing a cannabis bill into law, saying, “The bill helps underwrite the Michigan set aside fund to equitably help folks impacted by marijuana policing start fresh.”
Washington State senators filed a bill to prevent many employers from drug testing applicants for cannabis or using a positive marijuana test to fire an employee who was not impaired on the job.
A Missouri representative says he plans to refile legislation to add Schedule I drugs such as psychedelics to the state’s Right to Try law.
Alaska regulators adopted changes to rules on marijuana business employee badges and on civil fine schedules.
Colorado regulators published a report on developments in the state’s marijuana market last year.
Ohio regulators published a reference guide for allowable medical cannabis days-supply limits.
New Jersey officials issued safety advice for the holiday season, including giving “guests a safe space (locked up is best) to keep potentially dangerous items including marijuana edibles.”
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on January 7.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,300 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
New York City’s Department of Transportation launched a public awareness campaign about marijuana-impaired driving.
A candidate for Polk County, Iowa attorney tweeted, “In our discussions about marijuana legalization and/or decriminalization, we must center the communities of color who have been most impacted by the failed war on drugs.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
A UK member of Parliament who worked on medical cannabis legislation failed to disclose his being hired as chairman of a cannabis distribution company.
The Malta lawmaker who sponsored the recently enacted marijuana legalization law spoke about its implementation.
Israel’s ambassador to the southeast U.S. tweeted about new research on medical cannabis and autism, saying, “As a mother to a special needs child who for years went with almost no sleep, I can say first hand that medical cannabis oil has changed her life and ours.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found a “negative association between [medical marijuana law] implementation and [nursing home] deaths,” which “may reflect increased likelihood of transfers due to threat of Federal enforcement, penalties for poor outcomes, and liability concerns.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Iowa Democratic Party tweeted, “Marijuana should be legal in Iowa.”
The Brookings Institution published an analysis of the challenge of finding a congressional majority to pass any given marijuana reform bill.
/ BUSINESS
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. closed its acquisition of Ohio Cannabis Clinic, LLC, d/b/a Ohio Cannabis Company.
/ CULTURE
Pete Davidson was turned away from a MedMen dispensary in West Hollywood, California apparently for not having proper ID on him.
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.
