ATF changes its marijuana hiring policy. TX decrim is headed to the Senate. MN psychedelics research grants.
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Top Things to Know
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has changed its hiring policies so that applicants who have grown or sold marijuana according to state laws, while in a position of “public responsibility”, will no longer automatically be disqualified.
Reps. Nydia Veazquez(D-NY) & Warren Davidson (R-OH) have filed a bipartisan legislation to give insurance companies who work with state-legal cannabis businesses a safe harbor.
The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill decriminalizing marijuana on its third reading, sending it formally to the Senate.
The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed a health bill which includes provisions for the creation of a Psychedelic Drug Task Force. This task force would be responsible for studying medical benefits and preparing Minnesota to legalize psychedelic drugs.
California Department of Cannabis Control has awarded research grants funded by marijuana revenues of nearly $20 million to projects that investigate issues like protecting “legacy strains” of cannabis, preventing industry monopsony, medical use and potency.
Twitter has updated its marijuana advertising policies again, now stating that “certified advertisers can feature packaged cannabis products as part of ad creativity.”
The U.S. Cannabis Council announced changes to its leadership–including a new executive director, board members and staff–as marijuana industry stakeholders continue to push for reform in a divided Congress.
Georgia’s Access to Medical Cannabis Commission has issued licenses for the first medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.
Federal
Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-OR), tweeted: “In case you missed this, a group Republicans just blocked a bill bipartisan for veterans on the Senate floor, because it contained a clause to study the effect of medical marijuana on veterans suffering from PTSD. Cruel is not even close to describing it.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley, (D-OR), tweeted: “I am a strong supporter of providing our veterans with access to medical cannabis so that they can receive the best treatment for themselves.” Also a strong supporter of legalization and safe banking for cannabis business.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, (D-NV), tweeted: “In Nevada, cannabis businesses that are legal create jobs and boost the economy. They deserve to have access to basic banking service.” I support the bipartisan #SAFEBankingAct, which will give these businesses the access to financial services they need to keep their employees and communities safe.
A total of 19 co-sponsors have now signed on to the House bill allowing CBD as a nutritional supplement.
One new sponsor has been added to the House bill that allows CBD as an ingredient in food. The total is now seven.
/ STATES
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), said that she was working with legislators to include provisions in the state budget to combat unlicensed cannabis sales. I am confident we can create a system to protect licensed growers and retail sellers from being undercutted by licit vendors, without reverting to overenforcement or a return to ‘War on Drugs.'” A senator tweeted. Let’s get this done in the budget.”
Washington State’s Treasurer addressed marijuana banking legislation during a meeting of the American Bar Association, stating, “I won’t quit until this is passed in Congress.”
Wisconsin’s Senate Minority Leader tweeted: “I have been working on marijuana legalization in WI since a decade.” It is no longer a question of IF, but rather WHEN cannabis will be legalized.
A Pennsylvania representative running for State Auditor spoke about his bill to allow school nurses administer medical marijuana to students.
Vermont regulators have filed emergency regulations on synthetic and hemp-derived Cannabinoids.
Illinois regulators received 2,693 applicants for the upcoming cannabis business license criteria social equity lottery.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board meets on Friday.
Alaska’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Cannabis will meet on January 28.
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LOCAL
Minneapolis’s Minnesota mayor has said that legalizing marijuana was a “long-overdue step” that needed to be taken.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Czech officials have announced that they will ban the sale of hemp-derived CBD products.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The study concluded that the “impact of the Cannabis Act in reducing youth cannabis crimes is sustained.” This supports the Act’s goals to reduce youth cannabis criminalization and the burden it places on the Canadian criminal justice system.
The results of the study on worms revealed a surprising level of functional conservation of the effects of the endocannabinoids in hedonic eating across species. They also established a new method to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of the endocannabinoid systems function in the regulation food choice.
/ BUSINESS
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced that it will open Georgia’s first medical marijuana dispensary this Friday.
Verilife employees in Chicago, Illinois have reached agreements on collective bargaining.
Some cannabis stocks soared after the reintroduction in Congress of marijuana banking legislation.
CULTURE
Kevin Smith says he quit smoking marijuana because it made him numb and stopped him from processing negative emotions.
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The article Cannabis Insurance Bill in Congress (Newsletter for April 28, 2023) first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
