NH Legalization Commission; NE Medical Marijuana Ballot; Stock Market Access in SAFE; Fed psychedelic Study Funds
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Top Things to Know
Minnesota’s House of Representatives has given final approval to a bipartisan marijuana legalization agreement. The Senate will likely act soon on the legislation, and send it to Gov. Tim Walz. Tim Walz (D), to be signed into legislation.
Nebraska activists filed two complementary initiatives to legalize medical marijuana that they hope will qualify for the ballot in 2024.
The New Hampshire Senate has voted to establish a Commission to Study State Controlled Sales of Cannabis. This commission will issue a final report on the legalization of marijuana in state-run shops by the end of this year. The New Hampshire Senate also introduced bills to legalize cannabis with no restrictions and to allow patients of medical cannabis to grow their medicine.
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House lawmakers are currently working on a compromise legalization bill that will include provisions for state-run stores and private licensed shops. The legislation is expected to be considered next week.
The SAFE Banking for Equity Coalition is pushing senators for an expansion of a marijuana banking law by adding provisions that would allow the industry to access capital markets and stocks exchanges. But some justice advocates argue this is a bridge too many as Congress refuses to end prohibition.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has provided $1.5 million to fund research on the use of psychedelics in treating drug addiction.
According to a new survey, 30 percent of young adults have declined or withdrawn their applications for government positions due to the strict marijuana policies that are required for clearances.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, announced after a long delay his appointment to the Cannabis Control Commission.
Federal
The National Park Service released a press statement about its efforts to clean up the trash and chemicals that were left behind by an illegal marijuana growing site in Death Valley National Park.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included marijuana information in its resources on secondhand smoke, e-cigarette aerosols and other tobacco products.
Sens. Sens.
Sen. Jon Tester (D MT) discusses the failure of his floor vote to encourage Veterans Affairs to investigate medical cannabis.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, discussed his support for the marijuana banking bill during an Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) event. Separately he stated that he supports a veterans’ medical cannabis research bill, despite voting to prevent it from being advanced.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OR, tweeted: “It is absurd that cannabis businesses do not have access to banking.” “@RepBlumenauer is working with me to change this!”
/ STATES
Former Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, spoke of his involvement in a medical marijuana testing business.
Wisconsin’s Senate Minority Leader said, “Because the Republicans appear to suffer from’reefer mania’ and misinformation we are not able” to move forward on marijuana reform.
The California Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a bill that will reform the cannabis tax laws. Department of Tax and Fee Administration statistics show that a large percentage of marijuana businesses did not pay any taxes by the May 1 deadline.
In June and July, the Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference is hosting events on a proposed ballot initiative for marijuana legalization.
Wyoming Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a man who was convicted of marijuana and meth charges following a traffic stop. The substances were discovered in the vehicle.
Michigan regulators propose changes to marijuana laws.
Nevada regulators will be considering changes to marijuana regulations on Tuesday.
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International
Costa Rican officials have approved the first license for medical cannabis cultivation and processing in the country.
British Columbia, Canada municipal laws are being passed that critics say undercut the pilot drug decriminalization program in the province.
Gandaki Province’s Chief Minister, Nepal discusses the economic benefits of legalizing cannabis.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The study concluded that “cannabidiol rich non-psychotropic Cannabis L. oils reduce peripheral neuropathy by regulation of CB2-mediated neuroinflammation.”
According to a review, psychedelic assisted psychotherapy has the potential to be an effective treatment for amyotrophic lamina sclerosis.
ADVOCACY / OPINION, ANALYSIS & OPINION
Former Veterans’ Committee Chairman of the Cannabis Association of New York State said that he had been removed from his post for “publicly complaining about the lack of marijuana licenses granted to veterans”, as opposed to those given to people with previous convictions.
BUSINESS
TILT Holdings Inc. has closed a sale of senior secured promissory bonds up to a principal amount of $4.5 million.
Akerna Corp. shareholder is suing in order to stop the merger of Gryphon digital mining Inc. and Akerna Corp.
Quest Diagnostics provides employment drug tests. The company reported that positive marijuana test results reached a 25-year high in 2017.
Houston’s restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee faces a federal racial-discrimination lawsuit by a Black couple that was kicked out of the restaurant for allegedly smelling marijuana.
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The post MN House passes final marijuana legalization bill (Newsletter May 19, 2023) appeared initially on Marijuana Moment.
