MN Senate passes marijuana legalization; Schumer and key chairman discuss SAFE Banking; CO bill on psychedelics nears governor’s desk
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Top Things to Know
The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill legalizing marijuana, just days after the House of Representatives approved a similar measure. The Minnesota Senate will convene a bi-cameral conference committee in order to resolve differences before the final legislation is sent to Governor. Tim Walz (D).
Rep. Rep.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in a speech on the floor, praised the reintroduction a marijuana banking legislation but added that it was a “moral obligation” to include provisions before the bill passes to “undo all the terrible damage done by the War on Drugs”.
Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee (D-OH), said that committee consideration of newly introduced marijuana legislation is being delayed due to banking industry representatives trying to use this legislation to “weaken” bank rules and “undermine regulations”.
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While the SAFE Banking Act has been reintroduced and is receiving praise from the usual suspects in the cannabis and financial services industries, equity advocates also celebrate the new changes made to the text, while insisting that there are still more needed.
Colorado’s House of Representatives passed and amended a Senate Bill to regulate psychedelics in accordance with a voter-approved law. One of the newly approved amendments clarifies that using psychedelics does not violate probation or parole. The measure will now be sent back to the other committee for approval and, possibly, the governor’s desk.
Questions are raised about the audit that her office released to prepare the state for federal marijuana legalization after revelations were made about the Oregon Secretary of State’s consulting for the cannabis industry.
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, and legislators are discussing the possibility of convening a session special to prevent drug criminalization laws from expiring in Washington on July 1.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission met for what was likely its final meeting as Governor. Wes Moore, a Democrat, is preparing to sign the legal marijuana regulation act that will transfer control to an independent body which will also regulate recreational sales.
Federal
Joe Biden, the president of the United States, commuted sentences for 31 drug-related convictions. Among them were marijuana charges.
Sen. Patty Murray, (D-WA), in a speech on the floor, cited the work of a retiring Washington State official who worked to legalize medical marijuana.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN tweeted: “Expungement and legalization — It’s a good day to be Minnesotan.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, inserted comments into the Congressional Record regarding the introduction of marijuana bank legislation.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-IL, tweeted that she “stands in solidarity” with Rise employees who are on strike.
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), posted photos from an event called “Crawfish and Marijuana” he hosted.
Former House Speaker John Boehner, R-OH and Rep. Dave Joyce, R-OH spoke at a National Cannabis Roundtable.
A new sponsor has been added to the 20 co-sponsors of the House bill allowing CBD as a nutritional supplement.
A total of eight co-sponsors have now signed on to the House bill allowing CBD as an ingredient in food.
/ STATES
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), announced that she and lawmakers reached a budget agreement which includes measures aimed at “expanding enforcement powers of Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance in order to further grow legal cannabis market, including levies of fines and the closing of illegal retail shops.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D), authorized the assignment to San Francisco of Highway Patrol personnel and National Guard personnel for an operation to combat the fentanyl.
Kansas lawmakers sent Gov. Laura Kelly (D), a bill decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips.
Wisconsin’s Senate Minority Leader launched her statewide Grass Routes Tour about cannabis.
The Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee has rejected a bill that would have allowed safe consumption sites for illicit drugs.
A Florida judge informed a defendant who was charged with misdemeanor DUI that she would no longer be allowed to use medical cannabis.
Georgia Medical Cannabis Sales Begin
Washington State regulators have published a bulletin about financial agreements between cannabis processors, retailers and producers.
Oregon regulators have published a bulletin regarding rule changes pertaining to artificially produced CBN products.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for applying for hemp licenses.
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/ LOCAL
Seattle’s City Attorney and some City Council Members are proposing to ban the use of drugs in public areas.
A New York City Police Officer who was terminated after a positive test for marijuana is suing. He claims that the hemp soap is responsible.
International
The Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport visited Canada to learn more about Canada’s legal system for marijuana.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
According to a study, medical cannabis may improve non-motor and motor symptoms of Parkinson’s patients and reduce the use of opioid medications.
In a study on mice, “endogenous activation of [cannabinoid-receptor 2] plays an antitumorigenic function in non-melanoma carcinogenesis.”
ADVOCACY / OPINION, ANALYSIS & ADVOCACY
Green Thumb Industries Inc. has appointed Ethan Nadelmann, founder of Drug Policy Alliance, to its board of directors.
MN is Ready is being sued for defamation and interference with economic interests by hemp industry stakeholders. The lawsuit is related to a dispute about the provisions of Minnesota marijuana legalization legislation.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana, the North Carolina affiliate of the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana, launched a campaign against a medical cannabis bill that is pending in North Carolina.
/ BUSINESS
Canopy Growth Corp. was denied its request for a reconsideration of a ruling by a lower court in favor of GW Pharma Ltd., and GW Research Ltd.
Awakn Life Sciences Corp. has reported a quarterly revenue of C$471,813.
Organigram Inc. has asked a Canadian Court to reverse the decision of federal officials to classify its cannabis lozenges, instead of extracts, as edibles.
CULTURE
Roy Wood, Jr. made a joke at the White House Correspondents’ dinner that Donald Trump’s arrest was “like a brownie you ate 4 hours ago.”
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The article House Speaker pledges cannabis vote to committee (Newsletter for May 1, 2023) first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
