Senate hemp amendment to ban synthetics; VA secretary on psychedelics; DE gov tours marijuana grow; Another PA legalization bill
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article claiming that “cannabis use increases depressive and suicidal thinking”—shortly after new administrator Terrance Cole was sworn in.
Bipartisan senators told Marijuana Moment they’re confident a final deal on rules for hemp THC products will be reached, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) filed a new amendment that would ban synthetic cannabinoid products.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins says he “opened that door” to psychedelic therapy access “wider than most ever thought” was possible, and discussed how he is collaborating on the issue with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) toured a marijuana cultivation facility ahead of Friday’s recreational sales launch, saying the state will produce “the French wine of weed.”
- “The quality of production…is so high quality that people will know, hey, if it comes from Delaware, it’s good, safe stuff.”
Pennsylvania representatives are circulating a memo to build support for another bill to legalize marijuana sales through state-run stores, arguing that “permitting private companies to sell cannabis in Pennsylvania could allow large corporations to take over the cannabis industry, putting profits before the well-being of our communities.”
A new government-funded study in Japan found that marijuana use “typically follows alcohol and tobacco, and rarely leads to further drug use,” concluding that “these findings challenge the gateway hypothesis.”
- “We did not observe patterns that support the gateway drug hypothesis.”
/ FEDERAL
Customs and Border Protection has detained for over a week a Korean-born researcher and longtime U.S. legal permanent resident who is studying a vaccine for Lyme disease, apparently due to a 2011 minor marijuana charge.
/ STATES
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) tweeted, “North Carolina’s unregulated cannabis market is crying out for order. I look forward to hearing from the Advisory Council on Cannabis as we work toward creating a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids.”
Texas’s lieutenant governor touted the Senate’s initial approval of a bill to ban hemp products with any amount of THC.
Alabama regulators are working to draft rules to enforce a new state law restricting hemp products.
California regulators sent guidance about upcoming changes to contact types within cannabis licensing systems.
Missouri regulators distributed another $23.6 million in marijuana revenue to veterans, public defender and drug treatment programs.
U.S. Virgin Islands regulators are holding information sessions about the marijuana dispensary business license application process.
Colorado regulators will hold a meeting about draft changes to marijuana rules on Tuesday.
Rhode Island regulators will host a cannabis social equity applicant workshop 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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
The Albert Lea, Minnesota City Council voted against registering what would be the state’s first licensed recreational marijuana dispensary.
The Yakima County, Washington State Commission voted to place a nonbinding measure on the November ballot about whether a local ban on cannabis dispensaries should be repealed.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices issued the first-ever approval for compassionate use of psilocybin in the European Union.
A court held a hearing challenging the Canadian government’s decision to end British Columbia’s drug decriminalization pilot less than halfway through its planned three-year duration.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “converting underutilized cannabis waste into valuable nanomaterials…presents an innovative approach to resource optimization in the cannabis sector, contributing to the principles of a circular economy.”
A study found that “CBD not only exerts antioxidant effects against cobalt chloride but also reduces [intraocular pressure] and preserves [retinal ganglion cells] when [CBD nanoparticles] was applied topically, thereby providing neuroprotection in an [ocular hypertension] glaucoma rat model.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Drug Policy Alliance published a report on focus groups it conducted about state-level marijuana reform’s lessons learned and ongoing challenges.
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable launched a petition to thank Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) for fighting to remove hemp product ban language from appropriations legislation.
/ BUSINESS
AYR Wellness Inc. entered into a restructuring agreement that anticipates an “orderly sale and/or wind-down of the Company’s remaining assets.”
A National Labor Relations Board ordered Curaleaf to rehire an employee who claims he was terminated for unionizing efforts.
SNDL Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$244.8 million.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s cannabis-focused Hawthorne unit reported quarterly net sales of $31.2 million.
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