House officials sends marijuana banking to Senate; Feds fund psilocybin for cigarette cessation study; FBI changes marijuana policy again
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House of Representatives formally passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which contains marijuana banking provisions. But the path ahead in the Senate is complicated, with key lawmakers indicating they are not in favor of the move.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which loosened its marijuana policy for agent applicants earlier this summer, more recently added a new arbitrary restriction: Anyone who has used cannabis more than 24 times as an adult is disqualified.
Mississippi lawmakers reached a deal on medical cannabis legislation to replace the voter-approved measure that was overturned by the state Supreme Court, and they’ll ask Gov. Tate Reeves (R) for a special session as soon as Friday. In a related development, the commissioner of agriculture and commerce told lawmakers in a letter that he wants no part of regulating medical marijuana as long as it remains federally illegal.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is funding research on whether psilocybin can help people quit smoking cigarettes.
- “To my knowledge it’s the 1st grant from the US government in over a half century to directly study therapeutics of a classic psychedelic.”
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Health and Human Services said a study it funded on differences in opioid-related outcomes among pregnant and parenting women in states with and without medical cannabis laws has been submitted to a scientific journal for publication.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) spoke in a Senate floor speech about a departing staffer’s role in helping to craft cannabis legislation.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) tweeted, “A few months ago, the largest illegal drug bust in LA County History was conducted in #CA25. While progress was made to combat the illegal marijuana grows, there is still more work to be done to eradicate this problem. I promise to continue to work to combat this problem.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the state’s lieutenant governor, spoke about both major parties’ reluctance to embrace marijuana reform.
Kentucky Democratic congressional candidate William Compton tweeted, “Here is something that hasn’t been talked about lately: Marijuana. It needs to be legalized. The revenue, alone, would create a massive boost to KY’s economy. Tobacco is our cash crop, it’s time we add Marijuana into that!”
/ STATES
Florida Senate Agriculture Committee members pressed regulators on the lack of medical cannabis licenses awarded to black farmers.
Oklahoma regulators are being sued over the revocation of medical cannabis cultivation licenses.
Montana regulators gave lawmakers an update on formulating marijuana rules. They also revealed that regulations will ban hemp-derived CBD from being sold in marijuana dispensaries.
A new Washington State policy will take effect next month that makes it easier for people with criminal records to participate in the marijuana industry.
An Ohio representative who is sponsoring a marijuana legalization bill tweeted that it’s been referred to the House Finance Committee and that he’s pushing to get a hearing scheduled.
Missouri regulators said that some medical cannabis products were put on hold in the state’s track and trace system “inadvertently.” Meanwhile, the state has now spent more than $6.7 million defending against legal challenges to licensing decisions.
Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Commission met.
Nevada regulators will discuss marijuana business issues on Tuesday.
New Jersey regulators will host a webinar on marijuana rules on Tuesday.
Maine regulators will convene the first meeting of the new Medical Marijuana Workgroup on Tuesday.
Michigan regulators will hold a quarterly meeting on marijuana issues on Wednesday.
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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.
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/ LOCAL
Missoula County, Montana officials held a meeting to explain a marijuana tax ballot measure.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Scotland’s lord advocate announced a plan to allow police to issue warnings for Class A drugs instead of making arrests.
Canadian retailers sold C$338.9 million worth of legal marijuana in July.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “the price of Ohio’s medical marijuana continues to drive dissatisfaction” with the state program.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Cannabis Regulators Association sent comments about federal marijuana legalization provisions to senators.
The Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association, Oklahoma Dairy Producers Association and other groups sent a letter asking regulators to place a moratorium on issuing new medical cannabis cultivation licenses.
NBC’s Brian Williams made a marijuana edibles joke on air.
/ BUSINESS
Cresco Labs Inc. is acquiring Bay, LLC d/b/a Cure Pennsylvania.
Green Market Report is being acquired by Crain Communications.
Investors in Civilized are pushing out the company’s founders.
Several unlicensed marijuana dispensaries are now operating on the St. Regis Mohawk reservation located within New York.
Eaze launched a program to bring free medical cannabis to low-income patients.
Cookies launched a new product that combines THC and non-psychedelic mushrooms.
The Associated Press Stylebook tweeted, “THC is OK in all references to tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that gives marijuana its high. CBD is OK for cannabidiol, a compound in cannabis that does not cause a high and is often sold as a dietary supplement or included in creams and other personal care products.”
/ CULTURE
Clint Eastwood won a court default against the CEO of Norok Innovation Inc., which the actor says misappropriated his name to falsely make people think he endorsed its CBD products.
PBS’s Nova will air an episode on the science and criminalization of cannabis on Wednesday.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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