Trump surgeon general pick on psychedelics; Marijuana industry disappointed about SOTU; VA medical cannabis in hospitals; Cannabis prisoners op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, said she wouldn’t recommend that other people use psilocybin like she has—but added that she supports “exciting” research being done on psychedelics’ therapeutic potential.
An American Civil Liberties Union Official gave Marijuana Moment a preview of the arguments the organization’s lawyers plan to make to the Supreme Court next week in a case challenging the federal ban on gun possession by cannabis consumers.
The National Cannabis Industry Association’s chairman said President Donald Trump “missed an opportunity” to talk about marijuana reform in his State of the Union address—saying, “The industry has heard promises before, including support for rescheduling. What’s missing is delivery.”
The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill to allow medical cannabis use in hospitals and create a new state working group to publish guidelines on the issue.
The Last Prisoner Project’s Stephanie Shepard argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed for Black History Month that rescheduling cannabis “does not free a single person from prison, clear a single criminal record or repair the racial harm created by decades of cannabis prohibition.”
The Nebraska legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to protect doctors who recommend medical cannabis from civil, criminal or disciplinary action.
An Indiana bill to ban intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived products died as a key legislative deadline passed.
/ FEDERAL
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy launched a new ad “to raise public awareness for the grave threat that illicit drugs pose to human life.”
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a case challenging Maryland’s cannabis social equity business licensing rules.
The House bill to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to study psychedelics got one new cosponsor for a total of three.
/ STATES
Kansas lawmakers held a press conference to promote bills to legalize recreational and medical marijuana.
Colorado lawmakers are considering several cannabis reform bills this session.
A Nebraska court began a criminal trial of a notary accused of misconduct in relation to medical cannabis legalization ballot initiative petitions.
Missouri regulators published draft changes to cannabis business rules.
Guam regulators approved the territory’s first two cannabis business licenses.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board approved changes to regulations.
California’s top marijuana regulator discussed his plans for overseeing the industry.
Oregon regulators sent a newsletter with updates about the psilocybin services program.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Monday and Tuesday.
The New York Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday.
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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.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
The Welsh Conservative Party leader is criticizing Plaid Cymru’s support for drug decriminalization.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “anxiety significantly decreased over the study period in both flower and edibles groups” and that “CBD-dominant edibles were associated with less anxiety over time in this naturalistic study.”
A study’s results “experimental support for the traditional use of C. sativa roots in [gastrointestinal] disorders and indicate their potential as a non-psychoactive source of bioactive constituents.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The National Cannabis Industry Association announced new board of directors members,
/ BUSINESS
Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. is selling its property in Creston, British Columbia.
Leading Retirement Solutions published a cannabis industry retirement report.
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