MN AG clarifies hemp letter; MA marijuana user employment protections; Seth Rogen on THC drinks; NE tribe claims punishment for pushing legal cannabis
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Attorney Josh Schiller, who is representing cannabis companies suing to overturn federal prohibition, told Marijuana Moment he is “hopeful”—yet also “nervous”—about the prospects of the Supreme Court taking up the case.
- He added that he thinks the Trump administration “is just going to do nothing” on a pending cannabis rescheduling proposal.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) defended his decision to sign a letter with colleagues from other states asking Congress to recriminalize hemp THC products, which would harm the regulated market in his own state—with his office saying he wants an “explicit federal carve-out for states with adequate regulatory schemes in place.”
The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development approved a bill to provide employment protections for marijuana consumers and medical cannabis patients.
Seth Rogen said the growing push to ban THC-infused cannabis beverages shows that “clearly someone is very threatened by them”—pointing out that marijuana is “not more dangerous than alcohol.”
- “The idea that it’s getting into some restaurants and bars and sports arenas, to me, is really exciting.”
The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska’s attorney general said state officials are punishing it for moving ahead with a marijuana legalization plan by suspending negotiations on an unrelated tobacco tax compact.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel said the Trump administration’s military strikes against suspected drug boats are exempt from a law requiring congressional approval for ongoing hostilities.
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office disputed claims that he is ending his push to include a ban on hemp products with a quantifiable amount of THC in appropriations legislation.
/ STATES
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) filed a budget proposal that would allow excess marijuana revenue to be transferred to an education fund.
Oklahoma’s attorney general touted a task force’s enforcement actions against illegal marijuana operations.
The South Dakota legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will meet on Tuesday.
An Illinois representative filed a bill to change rules for a cannabis-funded grants program.
A Wisconsin senator authored an op-ed explaining why he is cosponsoring legislation to legalize medical cannabis.
A New Jersey appellate court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a cannabis cultivator against a group of residents who opposed its proposed facility.
Illinois regulators published guidance on a move to discontinue recurring background checks for cannabis industry personnel.
Missouri regulators issued a health advisory about 7-OH.
Washington State regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues.
Hawaii regulators sent a medical cannabis newsletter.
New Jersey officials will begin accepting applications for the Cannabis Business Development Grant Program on November 13.
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/ LOCAL
The Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council gave initial approval to a budget plan to spend marijuana revenue on public safety programs.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A Canadian study found that “six years after legalization implementation, there remains mixed awareness of driving-related regulations among people who currently use cannabis.”
A study of rats found that “CBD demonstrated the ability to attenuate inflammatory markers and improve anxiety-like behavior, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic strategy to counteract obesity-induced neurobiological alterations in aging.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Maryland Association of Counties published a post on the importance of training drug recognition experts to avoid false positives for marijuana impairment.
/ BUSINESS
Planet 13 Holdings Inc. is divesting its Orange County, California retail store and closing its cultivation facility in Coalinga, California.
/ CULTURE
Elon Musk repeatedly expressed fears about “drug zombies” in an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
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