GOP congressman: Legal marijuana “the worst thing”; CA AG on cannabis & tribes; PA legalization boost from federal reform; LA psychedelics bill to gov
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
President Donald Trump and federal officials are facing another lawsuit seeking to stop marijuana rescheduling—this one from a coalition of prohibitionist activists, substance misuse professionals, doctors and a cannabis-focused biopharmaceutical corporation.
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) claimed that people who live in places that have legalized marijuana tell him “it’s the worst thing they’ve ever seen happen.”
- He was responding to a constituent who pressed about his opposition to reform, asking, “Why do you want medical cannabis patients like myself and so many others in this room to die?”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) withdrew from participating in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana that she had initially jointly filed with the attorneys general of Indiana and Nebraska.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) issued an opinion finding that Indian tribes cannot engage in marijuana commerce with legal businesses without getting their own cannabis licenses from state officials—a determination that comes as a bill on the issue is advancing in the legislature.
A Pennsylvania senator said the Trump administration’s marijuana rescheduling move is “politically good” for efforts to legalize cannabis in the state because it could “create a permission structure for Republicans” to embrace the reform.
- It “creates political cover for Republicans who may want to move forward.”
Louisiana lawmakers sent Gov. Jeff Landry (R) a bill to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program, using opioid settlement dollars to fund clinical trials aimed at developing alternative treatments such as psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA.
/ FEDERAL
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) discussed his hemp regulation legislation with an industry group.
Oklahoma Republican congressional candidate Kelly Walsh currently works at a cannabis testing laboratory.
/ STATES
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is proposing a significant tax increase on medical cannabis sales.
Oklahoma’s attorney general touted enforcement actions against unlicensed marijuana operations.
Illinois lawmakers sent Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) legislation to amend various cannabis rules.
Vermont lawmakers sent Gov. Phil Scott (R) a bill to change various marijuana rules.
Michigan representatives sent a press release about their ibogaine research bill.
California regulators are proposing changes to rules on cannabis pesticide testing requirements.
New York regulators posted new cannabis resources for military veterans.
Washington State regulators will consider changes to cannabis rules on Wednesday.
Colorado regulators will hold a hearing on proposed changes to marijuana tax rules on June 30.
/ LOCAL
Los Angeles, California regulators sent a newsletter with various cannabis updates.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Nepalese lawmaker is pushing the government to legalize cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study suggested that “CBD is associated with protective effects against disuse-related muscle atrophy, accompanied by reductions in oxidative stress markers, alterations in proteolytic pathways, and changes in mitochondrial-related markers.”
A study of patients with pediatric epilepsy found that “cannabidiol treatment was associated with sustained improvements across multiple measures.”
/ BUSINESS
STIIIZY’s cartridges do not infringe PAX Lab’s patents, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruled.
Vireo Growth Inc. is consolidating subordinate voting shares, multiple voting shares and super voting shares at a ratio of 30-for-1.
Verano Holdings Corp. announced a 1-for-5 reverse stock split.
Massachusetts retailers sold $23 million worth of adult-use marijuana products over Patriots’ Day weekend, which coincided with 4/20.
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