VA gov & lawmakers’ “fruitful” marijuana negotiations; Cannabis & workers’ comp; Medicare CBD lawsuit dismissal appealed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The White House Office of Management and Budget is urging Congress to “update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products” while restricting “products that pose serious health risks.”
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies approved a funding bill blocking federal workers’ compensation programs from covering medical cannabis—”regardless of any change in the scheduling of marijuana.”
A coalition of anti-marijuana groups and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation are appealing the dismissal of their lawsuit challenging a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plan to cover hemp products for eligible patients to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) have had “very fruitful” conversations about a compromise approach to legalizing recreational cannabis sales that could pass this month as part of budget legislation, a key lawmaker told Marijuana Moment.
- A spokesperson for the governor told Marijuana Moment that she “looks forward to moving this across the finish line together” with the sponsors of earlier cannabis commercialization legislation she vetoed.
The Michigan House Families and Veterans Committee held a hearing on a bill to create an ibogaine grant program to support research on whether the psychedelic is effective in treating substance use disorder and other mental health conditions—using $50 million in opioid settlement funds.
Missouri Republican lawmakers are hopeful that President Donald Trump’s recent psychedelics executive order boosts efforts in the state to allow military veterans to get therapeutic access to psilocybin and ibogaine.
/ FEDERAL
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in response to a hemp question from Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) at a hearing that they should meet to discuss the issue.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to revise how marijuana tax revenue is allocated.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) signed a bill allowing large-size hemp drinks and letting medical cannabis dispensaries add recreational sales without local approval.
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said revenue from legalizing marijuana could help avert a “fiscal time bomb” the state is facing.
Kansas Republican gubernatorial candidates agreed on opposition to legalizing medical cannabis during a debate.
A Texas court stayed an injunction on hemp product restriction rules, allowing them to go into effect pending ongoing litigation.
Hawaii regulators are being sued over hemp product restrictions.
California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus. They also adopted emergency rules allowing cannabis businesses to modify their license designations.
Michigan wholesale marijuana tax revenue is falling short of projections.
Alabama regulators published a list of doctors registered to issue medical cannabis recommendations.
/ LOCAL
Jersey City, New Jersey officials dropped a federal lawsuit seeking to uphold the city’s ability to fire police officers for off-duty marijuana use.
Las Vegas, Nevada police are collaborating with a cannabis business on a training program to help officers identify marijuana-impaired driving.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum accused the U.S. of meddling in the country’s affairs amid investigations into sitting governors’ potential ties to drug cartels.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “CBD ingestion has prosexual effects, mainly manifested in sexual motivation, on both sexually competent and sexually inhibited male rats, while chronic CBD treatment does not produce unwanted sexual effects in the sexually competent males.”
A review concluded that “the serotonergic psychedelics have therapeutic potential in the treatment of anxiety, especially psilocybin elicited consistent anxiolytic-like effects, possibly due to 5-HT2A receptor agonism.”
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
TerrAscend Corp. is asking shareholders to approve share consolidation in preparation for potential uplisting to a U.S. stock exchange.
Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation is suing other businesses for allegedly selling illegal marijuana under the guise of hemp.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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