VA gov-elect talks marijuana legislation; Poll: Bipartisan legalization support; AZ anti-cannabis ballot measure; Nurses groups cheer rescheduling
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Congressional Research Service report suggests that the Department of Justice could ignore President Donald Trump’s marijuana rescheduling directive or slow the process by filing a new proposed rule on the issue instead of enacting one left over from the Biden administration.
- “At the time the executive order was issued, the agencies had not taken final action on the proposed rescheduling, and it remains to be seen whether and when they will do so.”
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) spoke about what she wants to see in a bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales if she’s going to sign it—including “strong labeling” provisions and directing revenue toward education.
A newly filed Arizona ballot initiative would reverse the legalization of recreational marijuana sales while continuing to allow personal possession and home cultivation.
A new poll shows that 53 percent of American voters support legalizing marijuana—including majorities in every political, age, race and gender demographic.
The American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology are praising President Donald Trump’s marijuana rescheduling move, saying it will open doors to expanded research on the potential health benefits of cannabis.
/ FEDERAL
President Donald Trump reportedly planned to announce on social media that he would move to reschedule marijuana shortly after an Oval Office meeting on the topic earlier this month but White House aides urged him not to.
The Congressional Research Service noted a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruling on marijuana consumers’ gun rights.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) tweeted, “We cannot reindustrialize America while encouraging marijuana use. We should not be handing tax breaks to bad actors and foreign drug cartels to advertise a drug that will harm Americans.”
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) tweeted, “As we face the dual mental health and addiction crises, we must expand options for care. The Freedom to Heal Act would reduce barriers for physicians to use innovative and potentially lifesaving treatments, like MDMA and psilocybin. Recovery should be possible for everyone.”
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) tweeted, “Colorado’s world-class marijuana industry drives out criminals and cartels and is supporting Colorado businesses and jobs while driving revenue for school construction. This important milestone is one that our state can continue to build on.”
Maine regulators said they don’t anticipate any changes to state marijuana laws in response to federal rescheduling.
New Jersey regulators posted an update on cannabis social equity businesses.
Washington State marijuana regulators launched a rules tracking tool.
U.S. Virgin Islands regulators are accepting cannabis research and development applications.
Missouri marijuana regulators published the latest episode of their podcast.
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/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “patients with cannabis use demonstrated significantly reduced risks in new-onset diagnoses of [chronic rhinosinusitis] and [functional endoscopic sinus surgery] compared to non-users.”
A study’s results “support the idea that [medical marijuana] substitutes for prescription painkillers.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
An American Enterprise Institute senior fellow authored an op-ed arguing that federal marijuana rescheduling should come with a requirement to put warning labels on cannabis products.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies completed a therapy training initiative supporting clinicians participating in a Department of Defense-funded study on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in active-duty military personnel.
The Colorado Springs Gazette editorial board criticized Gov. Jared Polis’s (D) support for marijuana reform.
/ BUSINESS
Headset projected that moving marijuana to Schedule III will generate $268,000 per year in 280E tax penalty savings per year for the typical median cannabis retailer.
/ CULTURE
The New York Yankees is seeking to block a cannabis apparel company’s trademark registration for products that allegedly copy the team’s logo.
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