Germany moving to legalize marijuana; Congresswoman: We’re close to allowing DC sales; PA medical cannabis homegrow bill; MT relaxes CBD restrictions
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A working group of parties in Germany’s incoming government coalition have agreed to a plan to legalize marijuana. They will also allow drug checking services as a broader harm reduction measure.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a new interview with New York’s top marijuana regulator that he wants to stop large companies from controlling the cannabis industry.
- “To have the big boys come in and make all the money makes no sense.”
Ahead of Washington, D.C. Council hearing on a bill to legalize marijuana sales on Friday, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she’s “closer than ever” to removing a federal rider preventing cannabis commerce in the nation’s capital.
A bipartisan duo of Pennsylvania senators are filing a bill to let medical cannabis patients grow their own medicine instead of having to buy it at a dispensary.
The Montana Department of Revenue is rescinding proposed rules that would have blocked marijuana industry employment for people with past cannabis convictions and restricted CBD sales.
Some Arizona marijuana reform advocates say the state’s social equity program will end up benefiting big cannabis businesses instead of small players from communities harmed by the drug war.
- “This is a program that, as currently written, is designed to fail.”
/ FEDERAL
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Rahul Gupta dodged questions about safe consumption sites for illegal drugs. He was also ceremonially sworn in to the new role by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram claimed that fentanyl is being laced into marijuana, among other drugs.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) discussed his opposition to passing marijuana banking legislation ahead of comprehensive legalization.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) spoke about her letter asking President Biden to pardon people with marijuana convictions.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) reacted to opposition to her marijuana legalization bill from the South Carolina Republican Party. She also tweeted, “#StatesReformAct will grant a second chance to non-violent cannabis-only offenders incarcerated within the federal criminal justice system, affecting approximately 2,600.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “Great meeting with @USCannabisCncl on how Congress can enact meaningful cannabis reform to improve lives & livelihoods. For years I’ve worked to protect the rights of states that have overturned arcane/discriminatory cannabis policies. It’s time for action at the federal level.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted, “Annual overdose deaths from THC / Weed continues at <checks notes> ZERO EVER. ✅ Remove from Schedule I. ✅ Legalize it. ✅ Expunge Convictions. ✅ Commonsense Homegrow.”
Virginia Republican congressional candidate Heerak Christian Kim tweeted, “It is necessary for @GlennYoungkin @WinsomeSears @JasonMiyaresVA to illegalize marijuana in Virginia in collaboration with @VASenateGOP & @vahousegop. Put anti-drug leaders in Virginia Department of Health & Education. Illegal aliens perpetuate drug gangs & drug use!”
/ STATES
The campaign of Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, currently a congressman, is selling a marijuana legalization t-shirt.
Indiana’s House speaker said legalizing marijuana “makes no sense,” but the majority leader said there’s “room for discussion” on the issue.
The Louisiana House Medical Marijuana Commission held a hearing.
Mississippi lawmakers said they don’t expect a special session to pass medical cannabis legislation.
Utah lawmakers are pushing back against municipalities that are punishing local workers for using legal medical cannabis.
A Texas appeals court upheld an injunction against the state’s ban on delta-8 THC.
Montana Supreme Court officials are working on creating a new drug court focused on expunging marijuana convictions.
Connecticut officials circulated a warning about reports of potential fentanyl-laced marijuana.
Colorado regulators issued a health and safety advisory about potentially unsafe levels of mercury in medical cannabis flower produced by First Class LLC.
Michigan regulators released additional information about a recall of marijuana products and published a bulletin about conducting retesting.
Alabama regulators released draft rules for how physicians can recommend medical cannabis.
New Mexico regulators issued the state’s first recreational marijuana cultivation license.
South Dakota regulators awarded the state’s first medical cannabis patient cards.
Oregon regulators issued a technical correction to proposed cannabis rules.
New Jersey regulators discussed marijuana issues at a New Jersey League of Municipalities event.
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/ LOCAL
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Common Council members issued a statement opposing a new state decriminalization bill that would force an increase in local marijuana penalties.
San Francisco, California’s mayor announced plans to purchase property to house a safe consumption site for illegal drugs.
A federal judge dismissed Van Buren, Michigan and several local police officials from a lawsuit alleging that they conducted an illegal raid on a licensed medical cannabis grow operation.
/ INTERNATIONAL
British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie said he’s optimistic that the government’s cannabis bill will receive the governor’s assent.
An Australian senator filed a marijuana legalization bill.
A Colombian senator visited Colorado to learn about marijuana policy.
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries is funding the establishment of a hemp seed processing plant.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that medical marijuana laws “increase the probability that a 30–39 year-old woman is in the labour force, and decrease the time that unemployed 20–29 year-old men spend looking for a job.”
A study investigating marijuana’s “skunk” smell “shed light on the chemical origins of the characteristic aroma of cannabis and how volatile sulfur compound production evolves during plant growth.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “The @indgop made it clear they value their outdated partisanship ahead of creating a better economic future for the Hoosier State. A majority of Hoosiers support cannabis legalization & @INDems are ready to make this a hallmark effort for 2022.”
The U.S. Cannabis Council organized a letter signed by marijuana business leaders calling on President Joe Biden to pardon people with cannabis convictions.
ASTM International approved a standard for sampling hemp seed intended for human consumption.
The National Industrial Hemp Council is launching a pilot program for hemp testing and labeling standards.
The president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry said he thinks marijuana will be a big issue in the legislature in 2022.
The Virginian-Pilot editorial board is urging the incoming Republican House majority should pass legislation to expedite marijuana sales.
/ BUSINESS
Parallel is separating its CEO and chairman roles.
Of the 43 Ohio medical cannabis businesses that were sold over the past two years, 37 were acquired by multi-state operators.
/ CULTURE
Berner teased an upcoming social media collaboration with Weedmaps.
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