Austin voters decrim marijuana; MO legalization signatures submitted; New NE medical cannabis strategy; NY psilocybin bills; IL sales bounce back
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told attendees at a cannabis rally that he’s already met with six Republican senators to discuss his forthcoming federal marijuana legalization bill.
Austin, Texas voters approved a ballot measure to decriminalize marijuana and ban no-knock police raids. Several other Texas cities are working to put cannabis initiatives on local ballots for November.
Missouri activists turned in what they say are double the amount of signatures they need to qualify a marijuana legalization initiative for the November ballot.
Nebraska activists announced a new grassroots strategy to qualify medical cannabis initiatives for the November ballot after the campaign lost major donors and can no longer fund a paid signature gathering drive.
New York assemblymembers discussed their differing psilocybin bills and strategies for pursuing incremental or broader reform. One of the bills was recently amended.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported that retailers sold nearly $132 million worth of legal recreational marijuana products in April—the second-highest monthly adult-use cannabis sales total since legalization began.
/ FEDERAL
Former President Donald Trump said that various claims by former Defense Secretary Mark Esper are false, but in reaction to the allegation that he wanted to attack Mexican drug cartels with missiles, he simply offered a “no comment.”
Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer met with advocates who are pushing President Joe Biden to issue mass clemency for people with cannabis convictions.
A federal jury found a man guilty in a marijuana trafficking case in which the judge barred discussion of legalization.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to restore the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to cabinet-level status.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted in response to a post about the importance of repealing the 280E tax penalty on marijuana businesses, saying, “I agree. It’s the congressional black caucus that blocks this reform because they call it ‘whitewashing’ cannabis policy. No kidding.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted about a study on alcohol-related death rates, saying, “Cannabis/THC overdose deaths also set to skyrockets to zero in none like ever.”
Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Delia Ramirez, currently a state representative, tweeted, “I support legalizing adult use recreational cannabis. Instead of focusing public safety resources on low level drug offenses we must address the root causes of violence.”
/ STATES
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) pardoned more people with marijuana, drug and other convictions.
North Dakota attorney general candidates discussed marijuana legalization at a debate.
Oklahoma lawmakers sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a bill to make the state’s medical cannabis authority a freestanding agency.
The Colorado Senate amended and approved a bill to refelonize fentanyl possession even without a requirement that a person knowingly does so. Separately, a senator pulled his name from a hemp-derived cannabinoid regulation bill, claiming it was “hijacked” by the marijuana industry.
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a hearing on hemp production on Monday.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the marijuana business licensing process on Thursday.
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled that medical cannabis businesses denied licenses by regulators can seek judicial review without first having to mount an administrative challenge.
New York regulators posted revised medical cannabis home cultivation rules for public comment.
Georgia regulators voted to give responsibility for considering protests of medical cannabis licensing decisions to the Office of State Administrative Hearings.
Connecticut regulators received more than 15,600 marijuana dispensary license applications.
Washington State regulators sent an updated list of pesticides allowed for use in the production of high THC cannabis.
Vermont regulators published a FAQ about municipal marijuana authority, and will meet to review recommendations on cannabis business license prequalification and approve social equity applicant status on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
Cleveland, Oho’s mayor’s attempt to expunge marijuana convictions ran into legal complications and will need to be redone.
The Sacramento, California City Council is expected to consider a proposal to allow marijuana consumption lounges this month.
Los Angeles, California City Council members proposed legislation to create a program where cannabis stores could apply for official city-issued emblems.
The San Bernardino County, California sheriff’s office released a statement about the settlement of a lawsuit that Empyreal Logistics filed over the seizure of cash being transported from medical cannabis businesses.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies approved a medical cannabis and hemp bill.
Mexico’s Supreme Court is expected to consider the constitutionality of criminalizing marijuana possession on Wednesday.
A Malaysian senator is pushing cannabis reform.
Ontario, Canada’s Liberal Party is promising to crack down on the clustering of cannabis stores.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found “little support for a strong, causal relationship between adolescent cannabis use and adult mental health or cognitive ability.”
A review concluded that CBD isolates “have been shown to exert in vitro [cervical cancer] anticancer effects, causing apoptosis post treatment, as well as inducing specific immune responses, which obstruct tumor invasion and angiogenesis, and so hinder CC metastatic spread.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Maine Democratic Party sent a press release about the four-year anniversary of the legislature overriding then-Gov. Paul LePage’s (R) veto of legislation to implement marijuana legalization.
The founder of the Missouri Marijuana Legalization Movement published an op-ed calling out the backers of a legalization ballot initiative for allegedly undermining separate reform legislation.
/ BUSINESS
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. has a new interim CEO.
Green Thumb Industries is facing criticism from a billionaire investor over what he said is rampant insider selling of stock by the company’s executives.
A group of Aphria Inc. investors who are suing the company were granted class certification by a federal judge.
Missouri dispensaries sold $36.76 million worth of medical cannabis in April, a new monthly record.
/ CULTURE
Former wrestler Jake “The Snake” Roberts said that alcohol is more of a gateway drug than marijuana is.
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