PA gov on legalization; OH gov: Marijuana advocates should stop “whining”; OK Senate prez differs with gov on medical cannabis; AK psychedelics report
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) told Marijuana Moment he thinks President Donald Trump “was given bad information” before signing a cannabis rescheduling executive order.
- “I think the president thought he was making a good decision—and I support the president on the vast majority of his policies—but I think he was poorly advised.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) is touting his push for marijuana legalization, but advocates say he needs to play more of a leadership role by convening bipartisan lawmakers for negotiations about the details of a bill that can pass and he can sign.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said cannabis consumers and advocates should stop “whining” about a bill he signed to roll back provisions of the voter-approved marijuana legalization law and add restrictions on hemp products.
Oklahoma’s GOP Senate president pro tempore opposes Gov. Kevin Stitt’s (R) proposal to put a measure on the ballot to roll back medical cannabis legalization—suggesting that “instead we continue to push the regulations [and] we continue to regulate the industry.”
The Hawaii House Health Committee and Human Services & Homelessness Committee approved a bill to allow terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over the age of 65 to use medical cannabis in health care facilities, subject to certain limitations.
The Alaska Legislative Task Force for the Regulation of Psychedelic Medicines issued a report recommending that the state move forward with plans to provide regulated access to psychedelics if the federal government authorizes medical use of substances like psilocybin and MDMA.
/ FEDERAL
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is increasing the contract award size for synthesis and distribution of marijuana and other drugs for research.
The Government Accountability Office published a report about the identification of “emerging street drugs.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration is partnering with NFL Alumni Health on an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) criticized Washington, D.C. officials for allocating money to the Medical Cannabis Social Equity Fund in a House floor speech.
/ STATES
Pennsylvania’s Senate majority leader said that “when the House Democrats passed recreational marijuana last year, and they came up with that crazy plan to have the state stores implement it, we heard nothing from the governor on whether or not he’d even sign the bill.”
Colorado lawmakers are considering legislation to change marijuana tax rules.
California’s new top marijuana regulator discussed strategies for continuing to grow the legal market.
Members of the Florida Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement are still awaiting answers about how Gov, Ron DeSantis’s (R) administration shifted opioid settlement funds toward the effort to defeat a marijuana legalization ballot initiative in 2024.
New Jersey regulators instituted an administrative hold on marijuana products that interacted with a business that is under review.
The Maryland Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday.
The Ohio State Medical Board’s Medical Marijuana Committee will meet on Wednesday.
Minnesota regulators sent information about a cannabis social equity mixer event on Wednesday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
A Kenyan presidential candidate discussed his support for legalizing marijuana.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “medicinal cannabis use was associated with reduction in pain measures and improvements in quality of life among some individuals with endometriosis.”
A study indicated “a ‘mindset-over-molecule’ pattern wherein psychological context (‘set’) is more strongly associated with psychedelic outcomes than substance type alone.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The New York Times editorial board is calling for a federal tax on marijuana, the recriminalization of products with more than 60 percent THC and a crackdown on “outlandish” medical claims about cannabis.
The National Hispanic Cannabis Council has a new co-executive director.
/ BUSINESS
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. announced it expects quarterly net revenue to be approximately $120 million.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. received commitments for a private placement of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes.
Missouri marijuana businesses are suing retailers for allegedly illegally selling THCA hemp flower.
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