VA & DEA psychedelics developments; NH Senate president on legalization; MN marijuana expungements
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said there is an “unstoppable narrative” in support of advancing psychedelic medicine and that he expects “overwhelming demand” for MDMA therapy from veterans if it is federally approved.
A Drug Enforcement Administration administrative law judge postponed a hearing on the agency’s proposed ban of two psychedelic compounds as the constitutionality of the scheduling process is being challenged in federal court.
The Ohio legislature’s Joint Committee On Agency Rule Review approved regulations to allow recreational marijuana sales to launch on an expedited basis though existing medical cannabis dispensaries starting as soon as next month.
New Hampshire’s Senate president said he hopes a House-passed marijuana legalization bill dies in his chamber, but he’s working to add amendments—including a THC limit—in case the measure does have enough support to be enacted into law.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has expunged 57,780 marijuana records—almost three months ahead of schedule.
The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill to replace the state’s $50 per ounce marijuana wholesale tax with a 7 percent sales tax.
Indiana lawmakers continue to debate whether and how the state should regulate hemp-derived delta-8 THC products.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said she supports expanding a marijuana banking bill to allow cannabis businesses to list on stock exchanges.
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) spoke about his opposition to marijuana rescheduling and cannabis banking legislation.
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) tweeted, “The marijuana trade in OK has become a front for transnational criminal organizations trafficking drugs & people. American farmland should belong to American farmers—not criminal enterprise.”
The House bill to repeal the ban on hemp industry participation by people with past drug convictions got one new cosponsor for a total of 11.
/ STATES
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said federal marijuana rescheduling will ease barriers to research.
New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial candidate Chuck Morse said he would fight to stop marijuana legalization if elected.
South Carolina’s House speaker said he “did not sense there was support in our body” to pass a medical cannabis legalization bill this session.
Indiana Democratic lawmakers spoke about the possibility that federal marijuana rescheduling could bolster efforts to legalize medical cannabis in the state.
An Oregon judge ruled that immunity granted to cannabis regulators is unconstitutional.
New York regulators acted on marijuana licenses and regulations.
Alaska regulators are proposing changes to rules on overlapping marijuana business premises.
The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission published an updated list of government positions for which holders are prohibited from being employed by or having an ownership interest in a medical cannabis business.
Massachusetts regulators are considering ways to allow marijuana to be transported to Martha’s Vineyard in light of federal rules governing the water it is surrounded by.
California regulators updated their marijuana data dashboard with information through the end of 2023.
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/ LOCAL
The Denver, Colorado Natural Medicine Work Group will meet on May 23.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Thailand’s interior minister said he is dissatisfied with the prime minister’s push to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic but will respect the decision.
Australian regulators got a rugby team to remove medicinal cannabis clinic company branding from jerseys and stadiums.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study “demonstrated a modest overall long-term improvement in chronic pain and related symptoms and a reasonable safety profile with the use of relatively low doses of individually titrated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.”
A review “emphasizes the potential of CBD as a therapeutic option for treating cardiovascular diseases through its anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant properties in different conditions such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The ACLU of Florida is endorsing the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
/ BUSINESS
Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$25.2 million and a net loss of C$26 million.
Planet 13 Holdings Inc. closed its acquisition of VidaCann, LLC.
Nabis workers in Los Angeles, California voted to join Teamsters Local 630.
Vicente LLP is being sued by a Massachusetts cannabis company over a failed deal contract.
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