Psychedelics on Biden’s desk; NY market expansion, PA legalization hearing, Colombian president on marijuana; KS medical cannabis; top OH regulator
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Top Things to Know
The National Defense Authorization Act, which Congress sent to President Joe Biden, contains provisions that fund clinical trials of psychedelics like psilocybin or MDMA on active duty military personnel with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission held a special meeting to discuss the best way to respond to Drug Enforcement Administration threats against pharmacies. One official hinted at possible litigation that the state could file in the dispute.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), and the chairperson of the Cannabis Control Board, said that the state was poised to open 12 new marijuana dispensaries before the end of this year. This is a significant expansion of the legal market after the settlement of litigation which has stalled licenses.
The Pennsylvania House Health Subcommittee on Health Care conducted the second of a series hearings on marijuana legalization. They heard testimony from the president of the Cannabis Regulators Association (which represents marijuana supervision officials from all over the U.S.
The Colombian president Gustavo Petro criticized senators for blocking a marijuana bill this week. He said that all they did was “increase profits from drug trafficking and violence.”
Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control, which will implement the marijuana legalization laws approved by voters, will be headed by the current state’s top alcohol regulator. She has previously worked as a prosecutor or in other law enforcement positions.
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said that he was “open” to limited legislation on medical cannabis, but dismissed recent polling which showed that the majority of residents in his state supported broad marijuana legalization.
Arizona Department of Child Safety has announced that it will no longer investigate reports of marijuana being exposed to newborns if a parent is registered as a medical cannabis patient.
California Senator Scott Wiener (D), who is preparing to introduce a bill focused on therapeutic uses in 2024 after the Governor vetoed his more comprehensive legalization legislation earlier this year, said that the state was at an “inflection-point” for psychedelics.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, (D), signed a law suspending licensing fees for marijuana transportation companies until 2027.
Federal
The National Institute of Justice has published a podcast on data-informed response to emerging drugs including delta-8 THC.
The Senate Aging Committee conducted an hearing on the drug use patterns among older adults.
Sen. Cory Booker, (D-NJ), spoke on the Senate floor to commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of the First Step Act’s signing.
/ STATES
The Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, part of the Illinois legislature, is considering a proposal that would increase canopy space for cannabis growers.
Minnesota regulators have sent out a warning to consumers about products that contain cannabinoid hemp extracts with THC levels higher than the legal limit in their state.
Florida’s top medical marijuana regulator has said that 22 more business licenses may be issued within the next six-months.
In response to a request for public records, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York has released documents with redactions about its role as it developed the cannabis market in the state.
Maryland regulators have received more than 1,700 license applications for socially responsible marijuana businesses.
Arkansas regulators have approved an online portal to renew medical cannabis business licenses.
Michigan regulators have banned a marijuana-business owner for selling medical cannabis to people who are not patients.
Washington State regulators have conducted a survey in order to help guide the formation of an advisory panel and the work of local teams. The $200 million initiative will address racial and economic disparities and improve social conditions for communities that are disproportionately affected by the drug war.
Oregon regulators seek people to serve as members of a rules advisory panel concerning cannabis and Psilocybin test laboratories.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission meets on Friday.
Guam regulators will examine cannabis issues on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
St. Charles County officials in Missouri are seeking to intervene as part of a lawsuit that challenges the practice whereby municipal and county marijuana tax stacks.
International
The Netherlands will begin a pilot program for the legal supply of marijuana on Friday.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The study showed that market share for cannabis vape products fell in younger adults (23-25) and older adults >25 years immediately after [a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory on lung injury], and only for younger adults did it rebound to pre-EVALI level.”
BUSINESS
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. started trading at the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Workers at NJ Leaf, Freehold, New Jersey chose to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360.
Safe Harbor Financial provided a loan of $1.17 million for the construction of a cannabis dispensary that would provide social equity in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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The post GA officials to push back against DEA cannabis threats (Newsletter for December 15, 2023) first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
