MN House to vote on legalization; WI GOP medical marijuana plan; NY Senate Cannabis Committee; NC psychedelics, Afroman suit; brands embrace 4/20
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Top Things to Know
At a 4/20 event held in the U.S. Capitol, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) and members of Congress presented their plans for marijuana legislation. Schumer also filed a motion for a veterans cannabis-research bill to be brought to the floor of Congress next week.
Minnesota House of Representatives is set to vote on marijuana legalization on Monday. The bill has been approved by 15 committees in this session. The sponsor of the companion legislation in Senate has said that a vote on the floor in this body is also expected to take place soon.
New York Senate has formed a new Subcommittee on Cannabis.
Wisconsin’s Assembly Speaker announced that Republican legislators have been meeting in order to draft a medical marijuana bill. But Democrats are skeptical, speculating the plan will be too restrictive for patients.
North Carolina lawmakers have filed a bill that would create a grant program of $5 million to support research on the therapeutic potentials of psychedelics such as psilocybin or MDMA. The board overseeing the project, Breakthrough Therapies Research Advisory Board, will also be created.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Ohio Chapter filed an amicus brief to defend hip-hop artist Afroman against a lawsuit by police, who were upset that he used footage from their marijuana raid at his home in a video.
Members of Congress and state legislators, as well as other elected officials, government agencies and other organizations, marked the 4/20 marijuana holiday with a series posts that pledged to support reforms and reminded consumers of existing laws.
This year, brands, celebrities and organisations used the 4/20 cannabis holiday as a promotional opportunity.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Last Prisoner Project (LPP), Cannabis Voter Project (CVP) and Ben & Jerry’s have launched new campaigns to urge President Joe Biden, state governors and other officials to provide relief to those who are in prison or have criminal records due to cannabis.
Federal
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, joked she didn’t understand what 4/20 was when a reporter said “happy” 4/20 at the beginning of a press briefing.
The Office of Inspector General of the Justice Department is investigating Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram for allegedly awarding millions of dollar contracts without a bid to hire former associates.
Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee (D-OH), said that his committee will hold a hearing to discuss cannabis banking legislation. However, criminal justice reforms components which will be paired together for floor action will need to pass through a separate Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-NE, spoke at a 4/20 celebration organized by the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
Three new co-sponsors have joined the House bill that facilitates state marijuana expulsions, bringing it to four.
Two new co-sponsors have been added to the House bill that would remove the 280E penalty tax on marijuana businesses. This brings the total up to seven.
/ STATES
Ohio’s Senate President said that “if I have anything to say about it…we’re not voting on recreational marijuana.”
The Florida Senate Fiscal Policy Committee modified a hemp products regulation bill to match the House companion, by removing THC cap and a prohibition on synthetic cannabinoids.
The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee conducted a hearing to discuss marijuana reform and legalization bills passed by the House.
A subcommittee of the ethics committee found Tennessee’s House Republican Caucus Vice Chair guilty of sexually harassing a legislative intern. One victim claimed he offered her cannabis gummies in exchange for seeing her tattoos and body piercings.
North Carolina representatives have filed a bill that would officially designate the 20th of April as “420 Day”. The bill also requires the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services pardon 20% of all inmates who are convicted of simple possession of marijuana every year.
A representative from Alaska discussed his bill that would remove marijuana convictions both from public records and from certain state background checks.
A Virginia delegate tweets, “Cannabis may be legal in VA, but there is no legal market yet due to Republican opposition.” We must ensure that any legalization scheme is designed to benefit small business & communities most affected by prohibition and not just large corporations.
New York regulators accept public comments on proposed marijuana research rules.
Connecticut regulators have put on hold additional cannabis licensing lotteries.
New Jersey Economic Development Authority has begun accepting applications for its Cannabis Equity Grant Program.
As part of an educational workshop for police officers on the signs and symptoms of impaired driving, the Colorado Department of Transportation provided marijuana edibles to volunteer participants.
Virginia regulators held a town-hall meeting on cannabis laws.
California regulators have launched a new newsletter on cannabis issues.
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/ LOCAL
Austin’s Police Chief spoke on marijuana enforcement policies.
The Missoula County Planning Board in Montana approved the zoning regulations that will apply to marijuana retailers and growers.
International
After the 4/20 deadline, Finland’s parliament will take up a citizen initiative to legalize cannabis.
German officials have clarified in a page of frequently asked questions that the government wants the first part to come into effect in 2023, if at all possible, and not in 2024.
The Canadian Veterans Affairs Subcommittee listened to testimony about the benefits of psychotherapy that uses psychedelics.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in Argentina highlighted a research project on medical cannabis.
A UK Member of Parliament has urged the government to remove barriers to accessing medical cannabis.
/ SCIENCE AND HEALTH
According to a study, “cannabis products that have lower THC/CBD proportions reduce anxiety and disturb sleep in cancer survivors.”
One study concluded that de facto decriminalization could be a promising way to reduce the exposure to the US carceral system. This is a known risk factor for drug overdoses and other drug-related sequelae, and a driver of racial inequalities.
/ OPINION, ADVOCACY & ANALYSIS
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger, discussed the prospects of cannabis reform on WNYC’s The Takeaway.
National Cannabis Industry Association has laid off its staff just before 4/20.
San Antonio Police Officers’ Association’s Political Action Committee is running a campaign against a local measure that would decriminalize pot, limit enforcement of abortion laws, and make other reforms.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a prohibitionist organization, published a report in which it claimed that “as America struggles with an addiction and overdose crisis, today’s report shows that commercialized cannabis products are worsening the situation.”
The New Hampshire Union Leader’s editorial board urges lawmakers to reject legalization of marijuana.
BUSINESS
Simplifya has teamed up with insurance companies and brokers that serve the cannabis industry in order to launch the Risk Mitigation Alliance.
Dutchie’s marijuana dispensary point-of-sale system was unavailable for a portion of 4/20.
/ CULTURE
Woody Harrelson spoke with members of Congress about cannabis and restorative farming.
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The post Schumer talks cannabis plans at 4/20 Capitol event (Newsletter for April 21, 2023) first appeared on Marijuana moment.
