Marijuana scholarship bill in Congress; AK cannabis record-sealing law takes effect; Study: Medical marijuana for pain; DEA hearing op-ed
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Marijuana Moment sent a letter asking a Drug Enforcement Administration judge to reconsider his decision to not allow livestreaming of the hearing on federal cannabis rescheduling that begins next week—citing the judge’s own order that acknowledges that “national public interest in this issue predicates towards a policy of transparency.”
Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Dina Titus (D-NV) filed a new bill that would create a marijuana-focused scholarship program for students pursuing careers in cannabis while also funding research on the plant at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) allowed a criminal justice bill containing provisions to let people keep marijuana conviction records confidential to take effect without his signature.
A new study from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management involving more than 6,000 chronic pain patients in the state’s medical marijuana program found that 55 percent “were able to improve their life enjoyment and pain interference in general activity within 4 months of starting medical cannabis.”
- “Medical cannabis patients report improvement in pain symptoms after four months.”
Jason Ortiz of Last Prisoner Project argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s upcoming federal cannabis rescheduling hearing includes the “wrong voices.”
- “A decision about whether to continue one of the most outdated and destructive drug policies in American history should not exclude the people and advocates most directly affected by it.”
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission gave approval for a business to start growing the state’s first legal medical marijuana plants and separately voted to begin accepting applications for product manufacturers.
/ FEDERAL
A former U.S. Agency for International Development official authored an op-ed criticizing the Trump administration’s “drug war” tactics.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) sent a letter urging Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to expand the Great American Cotton Plan by including hemp and other fibers.
/ STATES
Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes tweeted, “When I’m governor, we’re going to legalize marijuana.”
A Connecticut representative reacted to accusations of him having a conflict of interest on cannabis policy.
Colorado regulators published guidance about unified marijuana business license applications.
Massachusetts regulators sent an update on four internal working groups’ progress toward implementing rules for marijuana social consumption businesses.
Rhode Island regulators issued a final medical cannabis business license.
Michigan regulators are conducting a survey on cannabis product recalls.
California regulators sent updates about various cannabis issues.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Thursday.
Vermont regulators will host a budtender training on Thursday.
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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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/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that adoption of recreational marijuana legalization “may help to reduce the size of illegal cannabis markets, or there may be shifting law enforcement seizure priorities in those states.”
A review concluded that “both naturalistic and therapeutic use [of psychedelics] mitigate the effects of racial trauma.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Cannabis Council of Canada is suspending its active operations.
/ BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. shareholders approved several proposals.
/ CULTURE
Seth Rogen discussed his role in normalizing cannabis use.
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