DC marijuana sales ban advances in Congress; Fed event speaker: Legalization doesn’t boost youth use; TX hemp bills; MA sales
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. Senate confirmed Terrance Cole as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the National Cannabis Industry Association sent a letter urging him to complete the federal rescheduling process in a “timely and transparent manner.”
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government approved a bill containing a rider to keep blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales, and leaving out cannabis banking language that was included in past sessions.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) filed a bill to let small marijuana growers and manufacturers ship products directly to consumers across state lines via the U.S. Postal Service once federal cannabis prohibition ends.
A top marijuana researcher at a federal event hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration said legalization doesn’t increase youth cannabis use and there’s even been a “decrease in rates of consumption” in recent years.
- He also discussed issues like terpenes, impairment testing, CBD products and the need for more nuanced regulation around cannabinoids themselves.
The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee approved a bill to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC as Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appeared to shift his position on the issue after previously vetoing similar legislation.
Pennsylvania senators filed a bill to clarify that a person’s status as a medical cannabis patient cannot be used against them in parental custody rulings in family court.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission announced that retailers in the state have now sold more than $8 billion worth of recreational marijuana products since legalization—in addition to nearly $1.5 billion in medical cannabis sales.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that cities and counties cannot stack local marijuana taxes.
A Missouri Cannabis Regulation Division official said its new process of conducting unannounced visits to marijuana facilities to collect product samples for testing shouldn’t disrupt business operations.
South Dakota farmers see hemp as a way to bring jobs to small towns and to pull heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
/ FEDERAL
President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Sara Carter, tweeted that a bill he signed to classify fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I is a “formidable weapon against the cartels and their dealers.”
The Library of Congress published an article about a new Italian hemp restriction law.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) tweeted that he’s “glad to see the EPA launching a formal investigation into the toxic pesticides being used at illegal grow sites in Siskiyou County. This isn’t just about illegal marijuana—it’s about banned chemicals contaminating soil and water and organized crime networks operating unchecked in rural California.”
/ STATES
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said psychedelic therapy “isn’t a red or a blue issue. This is an American issue. This is a human being issue.”
The chair of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee said his panel will not take up a version of bipartisan marijuana legalization legislation and that the Senate should approve it first to “show us that there is a real serious interest” in the issue.
Alabama regulators are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging their medical cannabis business licensing process.
Minnesota regulators held a lottery to award cannabis retailer business licenses.
Kentucky regulators conducted their first inspection of a medical cannabis dispensary.
California regulators held a workshop about the cannabis appellations program.
Washington State regulators sent a newsletter with updates on various cannabis issues.
Vermont regulators will host an event about cannabis rule amendments on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Colorado Springs, Colorado City Council overrode the mayor’s veto of marijuana revenue legislation.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK National Health Service will publish medical cannabis patient data by the end of the year.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study “supports Bedrocan® medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for [fibromyalgia] with a potential effect on [functional dyspepsia] and [irritable bowel syndrome] symptoms.”
A study found that “cannabis industry workers are at risk for [work-related asthma], emphasizing the need for interventions to address workplace respiratory hazards.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Ohio Cannabis Coalition is launching a campaign to encourage safe marijuana use.
/ BUSINESS
Acreage and Verano are urging a federal judge to dismiss class action lawsuits accusing them of selling products with unlawfully high levels of THC.
Miss Grass launched a cinematic ad campaign for its hemp-derived gummies.
/ CULTURE
Former football player Ricky Williams discussed his cannabis meeting at the White House.
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