CO gov: Biden did “very little” on marijuana; FL senators bash DeSantis’s anti-legalization push; Study: Cannabis for chronic pain
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Vice President Kamala Harris included legalizing marijuana in a to-do list of things to accomplish if she’s elected president, alongside items like enhancing border security, preserving reproductive rights, expanding healthcare and investing in clean energy.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said during an event with Willie Nelson that Vice President Kamala Harris will legalize marijuana as part of a “freedom agenda” if elected president—noting that President Joe Biden has “done very little” on the cannabis issue during his term.
Bipartisan Florida senators are hitting back at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over his administration’s use of taxpayer dollars—including funds earmarked to “abate the opioid epidemic”—to support anti-marijuana ads ahead of a vote on a legalization ballot measure.
Two new polls show that a majority of Florida likely voters support the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot, but only one has it meeting the 60 percent threshold needed to be enacted under state law.
A new scientific review of research on marijuana and chronic nerve pain concludes that cannabinoid treatment offers “significant relief from chronic pain” with “minimal to no side effects”—potentially providing patients a “life-changing alternative” to pharmaceuticals.
- “The positive effects of cannabinoids in pain management are clear and their merit in the treatment thereof is evident.”
Michael Bronstein of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that lawmakers should legalize what he calls “natural marijuana” rather than allow hemp-derived synthetics like delta-8 THC to be “marketed as harmless, healthy or lighter versions of cannabis.”
Managers of New York’s Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund earned $1.7 million over the last reported 12-month period and stand to make millions more, even while the program has faced charges of predatory lending, secrecy and mission failure.
The Washington State Auditor’s Office issued a critical report on the state’s marijuana tracking system, saying regulators are still using a “stopgap” solution with “significant limitations.”
William Perry of the nonprofit This Must Be the Place authored an op-ed explaining how it felt when was invited to a drug overdose prevention event at the White House but then denied entry at the last minute due to a Secret Service background check.
/ FEDERAL
House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee Republicans published a report claiming that the Chinese government is “engaging in drug warfare through its role in illegal marijuana grow operations” in the U.S.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) tweeted that he has “led the fight to eradicate illegal marijuana grows.”
/ STATES
Indiana gubernatorial candidates discussed marijuana legalization during a debate.
A New York senator said he plans to introduce legislation to address what he called “mismanagement” by marijuana regulators.
The Kentucky legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Health Services held a hearing on the medical cannabis program.
The Florida marijuana legalization campaign received another $10 million donation from Trulieve. Meanwhile, the opposition campaign launched a new aid claiming the initiative would allow people to smoke in public.
Here’s a look at campaign finance reports from South Dakota committees supporting and opposed to the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to potential pesticide contamination.
Ohio regulators recalled marijuana products they say were sold in packaging children could easily access.
Massachusetts’s acting top marijuana regulator defended the state’s oversight of testing labs.
Delaware’s top marijuana regulator said he won’t “slow walk” the launch of the recreational market for cities that are behind on preparations.
Missouri’s director of revenue said in a court brief that municipalities and counties should be able to stack marijuana taxes.
Colorado regulators published a bulletin on newly adopted marijuana rules.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to attend a Senate hearing on the nation’s bloody “war on drugs,” a lawmaker said.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that medical marijuana cardholders “are significantly less likely to experience antiemetic overuse than non-MMJ cardholders.”
A study found that “psilocybin reduces heroin seeking behavior and modulates inflammatory gene expression in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex of male rats.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of Canadian adults found that they support marijuana being legal, 62 percent to 33 percent.
/ BUSINESS
Canadian retailers sold C$465.1 million worth of legal marijuana products in August.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post Harris puts cannabis legalization on to-do list (Newsletter: October 28, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.