NY vetoes hemp legislation; MO marijuana expulsions & psychedelics, Colombia legalization, DEA pharmacy threats pushback; NJ grant & fee reduction
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Top Things to Know
The Colombian government has decided to decriminalize drug possession, removing the existing fine. This is a result of a previous ruling by the Constitutional Court. The Colombian government is pushing for a vote on marijuana legalization by the end the year.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), vetoed legislation that would have permitted hemp seeds to be added to animal feed for horses, pets and camelids like llamas or alpacas. The governor claims that the federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved hemp feed for animals. She is directing officials in the state to investigate the issue “immediately.”
Virginia Senator says he is “confident” lawmakers can pass a bill legalizing marijuana sales. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, says that now that Democrats hold majorities in the House and Senate it will be “challenging” to get a bill to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk.
Missouri courts expunged over 100,000 marijuana cases during the first year after legalization. However, some counties did not meet Friday’s deadline set by the constitution to remove felony cannabis records.
Missouri lawmakers have pre-filed bills that will legalize medical use of Psilocybin in 2024 and require clinical studies to explore the therapeutic potential of this psychedelic.
A Georgia pharmacist has reacted to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent letter threatening pharmacies who want to distribute medical cannabis oil under state laws, stating that cannabis can “get patients off of these high doses opioids.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), Attorney General Matthew Platkin, (D), and New Jersey Gov.
New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission lowers the registration fee for medical marijuana patients to $10 every two-years to combat the falling numbers of enrollments as recreational markets expand.
Federal
On Thursday, the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety of Head Start will be hosting a webinar on marijuana use.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) and Rep. Madeleine Dean(D) led a group dozens of legislators to send a letter pressuring credit card companies for a new merchant code for gun and ammo retailers. They said that the firms “routinely implemented different MCCs for different jurisdictions based on differences in local laws, such as cannabis and gambling.”
/ STATES
The Oregon Governor has formed a task force. Tina Kotek, a Democrat from Oregon, has recommended recriminalizing public drug use.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D), tweeted: “The revenue that we would generate by legalizing marijuana could invest back into our communities.” Right now, this money is going to other states. “It’s time for us to join our neighbors and legalize and tax marijuana just as we do alcohol.”
A spokesperson for Florida’s Attorney General said that a medical marijuana recommendation company’s request to submit a brief is “borderline frivolous” in a case opposing a proposed ballot initiative legalizing marijuana.
Illinois regulators have published draft cannabis tax regulations.
Colorado regulators have issued an official notice to correct “inaccuracies”, as they call them, in the reports regarding changes to marijuana tracking regulations.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ top marijuana regulator talked about the revenue generated by the industry.
Washington State regulators will be hosting a discussion this month about the rulemaking regarding THC.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a program that focuses on the cultivation, harvesting and processing cannabis.
Tuesday, the New York Cannabis Advisory Board meets.
Vermont regulators are hosting a seminar on marijuana business license qualification this Wednesday.
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LOCAL
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is asking state legislators to give him more authority in enforcing laws against marijuana businesses that are not licensed. He said he would shut down “every illegal shop within 30 day.”
Detroit, Michigan officials have been sued by a psychedelic group for alleged discrimination.
International
Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves Robles spoke about his support for the legalization of marijuana.
Check out what the new Argentine President Javier Milei thinks about drug policy.
German legislators discussed the delays in examining a bill legalizing marijuana.
Three new cannabis association licences have been issued by the Maltese regulators.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
According to a study, “long-term oral CBD administration in healthy research beagles demonstrated a favorable safety profiles regarding ocular tolerance.”
According to a review, “psilocybin is a promising candidate for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it shows the greatest efficacy in treating depression.”
BUSINESS
Maridose has launched a new group devoted to the development of cannabis-based medicines for preclinical and clinical studies.
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The post Virginia cannabis sales could become legal in 2024. (Newsletter – December 12, 2023) first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
