VA gov not interested in marijuana reform. NJ cannabis & psilocybin laws. IL record sales. MI psychedelics criminalized. Vets & ibogaine research. Equity op ed
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Top Things to Know
The Department of Health and Human Services agreed to release an unredacted version of its recommendation for reclassifying marijuana that is currently pending with the Drug Enforcement Administration. This comes in the midst of a lawsuit over a Freedom of Information Act Request for these documents.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, said that he “doesn’t have a great deal of interest” in pushing forward marijuana legislation as Democrats introduced new bills to legalize cannabis sales for recreational purposes in Virginia.
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Marijuana “is an area in which I have no interest.”
The top Wisconsin Republican Senators have expressed concerns over a medical cannabis bill that was proposed by Assembly GOP Leaders. One senator said the plan to run state-run dispensaries would be a “non starter” and compared it to a “DMV for medical marijuana.”
New Jersey legislators filed dozens drug policy reform measures for the new session of 2024. These included measures to allow marijuana commerce between states, authorize cannabis home grows, protect industry banking, institute consumer employment rights, legalize and regulate psilocybin, as well as measures that would legalize kratom.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, (D), announced that Illinois sold more than $2 billion in legal marijuana products by 2023. This included a monthly record of $1.9 billion in December.
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The state generated $417.6 millions in revenue from recreational cannabis sales last year.
The Ypsilanti City Council in Michigan unanimously passed a resolution decriminalizing psychedelics, declaring “no city funds or resources will be used for any investigation, detention or arrest” for the use of entheogenic plant.
Alaska legislators introduced new bills that create a Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. The Task Force would be tasked with recommending frameworks and licensing for therapeutic practitioners.
Stanford University researchers found that veterans with traumatic head injuries who received treatment with psychedelic ibogaine experienced “dramatic and life-changing” improvements to PTSD, depression and anxiousness.
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This is the first study that reports evidence of a single drug treatment to improve chronic disability due to repeated TBI caused by combat/blast exposures.
Geoffrey Lawrence of the Reason Foundation and Khurshid Khoja, Greenbridge Corporate Counsel, wrote an op-ed for Marijuana Moment in which they argue that social equity programs need to be redesigned so as to benefit those who have directly been harmed by cannabis prohibition.
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee of the Maine legislature rejected a proposal that would have removed marijuana from Maine’s penal code and expunged previous convictions.
A Montana judge has struck down a bill that would have significantly increased the licensing fees for marijuana dispensaries in multiple locations.
Federal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published the price and yield data of hemp for 2024.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who recently endorsed marijuana legalization, did not reply to requests for comments after receiving contributions from cannabis lobbyists and executives.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, tweeted a link to a report claiming “more teens and young adult marijuana users are experiencing psychotic symptoms.”
Three new co-sponsors have been added to the 82 total for the House bill that would legalize marijuana at federal level.
STATES
Oklahoma’s Attorney General testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee that “organized criminals” have taken over his state’s medical marijuana industry.
Oregon’s Senate Majority Leader is reported to have floated a proposal for recriminalizing drug possession.
Indiana’s Senate President pro tempore has said that marijuana legalization won’t advance this session, despite the fact that lawmakers have filed multiple cannabis reform bills.
California regulators released a consumer alert about the voluntary recall of marijuana due to pesticides.
Wyoming regulators propose changes to hemp regulations.
Missouri regulators have made changes to their marijuana product approval processes.
Alaska’s rules amending marijuana entity ownership will take effect in this month.
Nevada regulators publish an annual study on the cannabis industry in the state.
Ohio regulators have published updated numbers of medical cannabis patients and caregivers.
Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission meeting
On Friday, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (Economic Development) will hold an hearing on the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund.
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Marijuana Moment has tracked more than 900 bills relating to cannabis, psychedelics, and drug policy in state legislatures as well as Congress this year. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
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/ LOCAL
Anchorage, Alaska Assembly rejects proposal to allow marijuana dispensaries open drive-thru window and offer free samples.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Czech government has announced legislation that legalizes marijuana cultivation, possession and social clubs but not commercial sales.
Malta regulators face a legal challenge due to alleged delays in the processing of a cannabis association licence application.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The study concluded that “dietary CBD provides an alternative to the management of [inflammatory bowel diseases] by protecting against inflammation and colitis caused by [dextran sodium sulfate].
/ BUSINESS
Colorado retailers sold marijuana products worth $110,3 million in November.
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The post Fed cannabis schedule rescheduling documents to be released (Newsletter : January 12, 2020) first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
