GOP congressman: Biden a cannabis “boomer”; FL ag commissioner’s Marijuana Moment op-ed; Poll: WA voters back drug decrim; Federal kratom briefing
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A Missouri Republican representative who expected his marijuana legalization bill to get a floor vote on Monday is blaming the House majority floor leader for instead “holding up” the legislation.
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running for the state’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination, describes in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed how her lawsuit on Second Amendment rights for medical cannabis patients is part of a push to get the federal government to evolve on marijuana.
A poll found that 53 percent of Washington State voters support or lean toward supporting a drug decriminalization initiative that activists just launched a signature drive to place on the November ballot.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called out President Joe Biden for being a “recalcitrant boomer” who has failed to follow through on his marijuana campaign promises.
The National Institutes of Health hosted a presentation on the potential benefits of kratom, titled, “Can a Controversial Tree Help End the Opioid Crisis?”
/ FEDERAL
National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow said research does not support the efficacy of forced treatment for substance misuse issues.
The Internal Revenue Service denied nonprofit status to an organization that wants to fund research on the benefits of psychedelics.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) filed a bil to reduce the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine to 2.5:1.
Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is being sued for allegedly misappropriating proprietary marijuana legalization strategies from a campaign he did not end up joining.
House Small Business Committee Republicans highlighted a company that makes store fixtures for the cannabis market.
Florida Democratic Senate candidate Allen Ellison tweeted, “An estimated 40k Americans are incarcerated for marijuana offenses. In contrast, the overall legal cannabis industry is booming. I think it’s way past time to decriminalize cannabis use, possession and the sale of it. We need a new path forward.”
Georgia Democratic congressional candidate Vincent Ford discussed his support for decriminalizing marijuana.
/ STATES
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, a former Cincinnati mayor, tweeted, “It’s time to end the war on drugs in Ohio. When I’m governor, we’re going to legalize cannabis and invest that tax revenue right back into our communities. We’re going to create 120,000 good-paying jobs for Ohioans.”
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore’s ties to Green Thumb Industries present potential conflicts of interest if he is elected, according to a media report.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for marijuana legalization.
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams discussed her support for decriminalizing marijuana.
Kansas’s House majority leader said a medical cannabis bill could be dead for the year unless the Senate shows more interest. The chairman of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee said the reform will be in “full effect in the next few years” but “I don’t know if it’ll be this year.”
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee tweeted, “Legalized marijuana in NJ is complicating accountability for those facing legal consequences for illegal drug use in PA.”
A Tennessee bill to regulate delta-8 THC products was tabled.
Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator resigned from his position.
Utah regulators filed medical cannabis cultivation and testing rules.
Montana regulators filed amended rules on the marijuana product packaging and labeling application and approval process.
California regulators published an FAQ clarifying that out-of-state hemp products can be sold in the state.
Connecticut regulators have received more than 4,700 applications to win marijuana business licenses in a lottery.
A Minnesota Department of Human Rights report about the Minneapolis Police Department cited public defenders’ claims that officers pretend to smell marijuana to justify searching vehicles.
Oregon regulators released a list of questions and answers about psilocybin testing, tracking and accreditation.
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/ LOCAL
The Las Cruces, New Mexico City Council declined to set specific hours that marijuana dispensaries can operate.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming that Mendocino County, California police and prosecutors conspired to extort cash and cannabis from farmers.
The Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Commissioners voted to bar police from consuming cannabis while off duty, contrary to the state attorney general’s interpretation of the law.
The Madison County, Mississippi Board of Supervisors voted to opt out of allowing medical cannabis dispensaries.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK’s government-owned British Business Bank’s Future Fund has invested in a CBD oil company.
The president of the Guernsey Home Affairs Committee said his panel will not support the Health & Social Care Committee’s cannabis plan.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study demonstrated the “protective potentials of C. sativa against iron-mediated oxidative renal injury.”
A review concluded that “psilocybin treatment may decrease depressive symptoms among participants with” major depressive disorder.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Alabama Democratic Party tweeted, “Help us apply pressure to our representatives in Montgomery! Legalizing cannabis will be a positive, progressive step for AL, but it will face tough opposition. We need to show that legalization has resounding grassroots support.”
/ BUSINESS
urban-gro, Inc. completed its acquisition of Emerald Construction Management Inc.
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. expanded its partnership with PharmaCann Inc. on a New York property.
A New York judge ruled that a lawsuit claiming that Acreage Holdings participated in a scheme to squeeze a partner out of a medical cannabis license can proceed.
Canadian retailers sold C$336.4 million worth of legal marijuana products in February.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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