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In a filing with the federal government ahead of a key deadline this week, a group of former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) leaders is asking the agency to hold a public hearing on the proposal to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)—saying that the move is “likely the most consequential rulemaking DEA has ever attempted.” “Given the magnitude of the impact of the proposed rule and considering we face an unprecedented drug overdose crisis in this country,” said the group of six former DEA administrators and three former acting administrators, “we write to emphasize that a hearing on this rulemaking is in the public interest.” The group’s ask was submitted one day before a Thursday deadline to file comments requesting that DEA hold a hearing on the rescheduling proposal. “As DEA made clear in the Proposed Rule, additional data and rigorous scientific analysis is needed to determine whether marijuana is appropriately placed into Schedule III,” the former drug enforcement officials wrote. “Sifting through the competing claims about marijuana’s pharmacological effects, potential for abuse, and implications for public safety, are best done at a hearing.” They assert that the rescheduling recommendation “proposes to change the definition of currently accepted medical use, as well as change the way the federal government implements our international treaty obligations.” The request, which comes on the heels of a leading prohibitionist group attempting to extend the public comment period on the rescheduling proposal, is seen by reformers as a way not only to push back on the Biden administration’s rescheduling plan but also to potentially delay the formal implementation of the action amid an effort by opponents to shoot it down. The anti-legalization organization, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), also asked for an administrative hearing on the move, arguing that the rescheduling proposal “fails to consider research demonstrating that marijuana plays a causal role in the development of psychosis, including schizophrenia, in certain individuals.” SAM has for years denied that cannabis itself offers any appreciable medical benefit outside of limited therapeutic uses of some of its components in federally approved pharmaceutical drugs. The group has also argued that the 60-day public comment window on rescheduling that opened late last month should be extended by another 30 days. SAM’s requests were submitted by Torridon Law PLLC, a firm founded by former Attorney General Bill Barr, who led the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration and who faced criticism after initiating investigations into cannabis industry mergers that were described as improper. SAM’s comment to DEA—one of more than 20,000 that have been posted so far—says DOJ’s proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III would be “the most significant relaxation of restrictions on a psychoactive substance” since CSA became law. SAM officials said at a webinar last week that it is weighing “all legal options” to challenge the proposed cannabis move, while encouraging supporters to oppose the pending change. Overwhelmingly, those who’ve so far requested that DEA hold a hearing on the proposed move are opponents to the reform. Others include the Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis, which focuses on harm caused by marijuana. One reform proponent who’s requested a hearing on rescheduling is attorney Khurshid Khoja, of Greenbridge Corporate Counsel PC. Khoja argues in his letter to DEA that the rescheduling change would, among other things, “sweep currently non-scheduled cannabinoids,” such as THCV and THCA, into Schedule III. National advocacy groups in support of marijuana reform, meanwhile, such as the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), NORML and the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), told Marijuana Moment they do not plan to request a hearing ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Separate from the request for a hearing, the public has until July 22 to submit comments on the overall rescheduling proposal. Rescheduling opponents have also amplified rumors that current DEA officials might oppose the proposed change—rumors that a top Biden administration official appeared to acknowledge this month. In early May, SAM President Kevin Sabet said he’d heard rumors that DEA Administrator Anne Milgram “did not sign off” on the landmark decision, suggesting that the agency wasn’t on board. As it turned out, Milgram did not put her name on the proposed rescheduling rule, leaving it to Attorney General Merrick Garland to sign the document. GOP lawmakers in Congress questioned Milgram about the matter during a hearing, but she replied it would be “inappropriate” to comment. As for what happens next, SAM is holding out hope that DEA could reject the rescheduling recommendation or, alternatively, move marijuana to Schedule II. Sabet pointed to interpretations of international law, for example, that read drug treaties as prohibiting any move outside of Schedules I and II. While DOJ will take all public comments submitted by July 22 into consideration as it weighs the reform, it said in the notice that one of the topics its especially interested in hearing about is the “unique economic impacts” of the rescheduling proposal given that state-level legalization has created a “multibillion dollar industry” that stands to benefit from possible federal tax relief under the reform. Indications that DEA might not be on board came alongside the rescheduling move itself, with the proposed rule in the Federal Register noting several times that the agency believes “additional information” needs to be collected via public comment or a possible administrative hearing could influence the final scheduling decision. “DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana,” the document said. Even before the formal announcement, it had been reported that certain DEA officials had been “at odds” with the Biden administration over the rescheduling push. Asked about the status of the proposed move of cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act at a recent event in Sacramento, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said his agency made its recommendation based on available science and evidence. Asked whether there was resistance at DEA, he responded, “Talk to the DEA.” “Our scientists reviewed the evidence,” Becerra added. “FDA bases its action on the science and the evidence before us. We took action.” Biden ‘Commends And Welcomes’ Maryland Governor’s Mass Marijuana Pardon, White House Says Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Former DEA Leaders Push Agency To Hold Public Hearing On Marijuana Rescheduling Proposal appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The North Carolina Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would legalize medical marijuana, with bipartisan members once again pushing strongly to enact the reform despite consistent resistance from the House. Just one day after senators attached the medical cannabis proposal to a hemp- and kratom-related measure and then advanced it through the Judiciary Committee, the Senate Rules Committee signed off on the legislation and sent it to the floor, where it was approved on second reading in a 33-9 vote, with further amendments. A final Senate vote is expected on Monday, after which point the measure would go back to the House, where its fate remains uncertain. The underlying legislation originated in the House, so the Senate’s choice to amend it with the medical marijuana language further underscores the chamber’s seriousness about getting the job done, even if it has to force the House’s hands on an issue the chamber has appeared reluctant to take up. As revised with this week’s committee amendment from Sen. Michael Lazzara (R), the bill would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients with certain qualifying conditions. That’s in addition to the original provisions on restricting kratom and intoxicating hemp cannabinoid products such as delta-8 THC. The cannabis text is similar to that of a standalone bill from Sen. Bill Rabon (R), a cancer survivor who has sponsored multiple medical marijuana proposals. The senator previously described his interest in using the hemp legislation as a potential vehicle after his latest standalone stalled in the House. “The people that need and can benefit from medical-grade cannabis are dying. They’re dying every day,” Rabon said in the Rules Committee hearing on Thursday. “They’ve died for six years since I started working on this. I want to know where the compassion in this room is. I want to know because I’m not seeing it.” “People that need help have the right to try to stay alive—to stay with their loved ones another day, to feel good about life—not to be put on morphine so they don’t know what world they’re in, but to have a meal, to be able to clean themselves, to have a conversation with their loved ones before they die,” he said. “They deserve that right.” The senator emphasized that he was speaking from personal experience. As he’s previously disclosed, Rabon said his doctor advised him to use marijuana before he went through serious chemotherapy, and he visited his local law enforcement to tell them that he intended to break the law to use the plant for therapy. Packages of marijuana then regularly showed up in the mail, and he’d take “three puffs” of cannabis after work to treat his symptoms. “If you’re scared of the boogeyman, so what? Sleep with the lights on,” he said on Thursday. “I’m telling you, this is something that we should do. I know. I’ve been there. I’ve lived it. You folks who are so dead set against it haven’t walk in my shoes, but I stand before you and tell you I was close to death a long time ago, and I would have died had I not broken the law and I had not taken the advice of my health care provider and gotten a cannabis product.” “I was ready to give up. I couldn’t eat. There’s not a trash can in this room that would hold how much vomit I’d throw up every day,” Rabon said. “I’m going to push it. I’m going to stay in this legislature until it passes.” On the floor on Thursday, members also adopted an amendment to expand a proposed cannabis production commission to add another pharmacist, as well as an emergency room physician. Rabon said the change was responsive to requests from House lawmakers, adding that further amendments are expected during Monday’s third reading consideration of the bill. Senators also rejected a floor amendment to expand the bill to legalize adult-use marijuana. Here are the main components of the medical cannabis provisions of the bill: Patients would be allowed to access cannabis if they have a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. Smoking and vaping would also be allowed, but doctors would need to prescribe a specific method of delivery and dosages for patients under the revised legislation. And they would need to reevaluate patients’ eligibility for the program at least once a year. The bill provides for up to 10 medical marijuana suppliers who control the cultivation and sale of cannabis. Under the bill, a Compassionate Use Advisory Board would be established, and it could add new qualifying medical conditions. Separately, a Medical Cannabis Production Commission would be created to ensure that there’s an adequate supply of cannabis for patients, oversee licensing and generate enough revenue to regulate the program. The measure would further create a North Carolina Cannabis Research Program to “undertake objective, scientific research regarding the administration of cannabis or cannabis-infused products as part of medical treatment.” There don’t appear to be specific equity provisions that many advocates push for as part of legalization legislation. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said in April that he’s had bicameral discussions about the prospect of moving the medical marijuana proposal from Rabon forward as part of the hemp measure. Rabon’s standalone legislation moved through the Senate and was taken up by a House committee last year, but it has not advanced further in that chamber. Certain Democratic senators, such as Sen. Graig Meyer (D), have said that any future proposal would need to include “some type of decriminalization language,” in addition to the limited medical cannabis program. So it’s unclear whether the Democratic caucus would back the amended hemp bill as it’s currently drafted, as it calls for a relatively conservative medical cannabis authorization. House Majority Leader John Bell (R) said last year that while there were “still discussions going on” about the medical marijuana bill, he was “very sure you won’t see that bill move” due to insufficient support among Republicans. He said that was “unfortunately” the case. A previous version of the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act from Rabon passed the Senate but did not get a vote in the House of Representatives in 2022. The Senate president previously acknowledged that opinions are shifting when it comes to marijuana in the state, and he said that Rabon specifically “for a long time has looked at the issue.” House Speaker Tim Moore (R) is among key lawmakers who have downplayed the idea of enacting medical cannabis legislation, saying at one point that “there are a lot of concerns” with Rabon’s bill that moved through the Senate. Rabon also took another step, including medical marijuana regulatory appointments for the yet-to-be-enacted program in a separate measure that passed the Senate in March. — 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. — An Indian tribe in North Carolina launched the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary in April—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) have also asked federal, state and local officials what steps they were taking to enforce marijuana prohibition ahead of the tribe’s April 20 launch. Meanwhile in North Carolina, a state judge declared in February that anyone who “has the odor of marijuana” will be barred from entering the North Carolina Superior Courts of Robeson County. The order, from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Gregory Bell, said that smelling like cannabis is grounds for removal from the courthouse, and the sheriff will be directed to “ask you to leave and come back without the odor owns [sic] your persons.” Pennsylvania Could See Up To $2.8 Billion In Marijuana Sales In First Year Of Legalization And Create 45,000 Jobs, Analysis Finds Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post North Carolina Senate Gives Initial Approval To Bill That Would Legalize Medical Marijuana In Rebuke Of House Opposition appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

President Joe Biden “commends and welcomes” the news that Maryland’s governor has issued over 175,000 pardons for marijuana and paraphernalia convictions, the White House says. At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked whether the president had a response to the Maryland clemency action, and she said “we certainly welcome the news, and it builds on the president’s work to reform how the nation approaches marijuana.” She also used the moment to tout Biden’s role in directing an administrative review into cannabis scheduling that’s resulted in the Justice Department proposing to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The president “has been clear that no one—no one—should be in jail just for possessing marijuana,” Jean-Pierre said. “And he has a record number of pardons for prior federal offenses of simple possession and use of marijuana.” The press secretary noted that Biden has called on governors to “to do their part and to take action” by following his lead to issue state-level cannabis clemency, citing additional pardon moves in Massachusetts and Oregon that were at least partly responsive to his federal proclamation in 2022. Late last month, Biden also discussed his mass marijuana pardons at a rally in Philadelphia, where he finally acknowledged that his clemency actions did not expunge records after he had repeatedly suggested they did. For his part, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said he intends to work with lawmakers to facilitate expungements as a follow-up to has pardons. While the federal pardons didn’t seal records, the Justice Department has been distributing certificates to eligible people who apply for the largely symbolic document. Biden might have adjusted his rhetoric to reflect the realities of the clemency action, but he hasn’t indicated that he’s willing to offer relief for offenses beyond simple possession. In fact, he’s specifically said that growing or distributing cannabis is “a different deal.” To that end, there are still people in federal prison over non-violent marijuana offenses. And advocates have pushed the Biden administration to do more, including keeping his key cannabis campaign pledge to decriminalize marijuana. Meanwhile, the proposed rule to federally reschedule marijuana was officially posted last month, kicking off a public comment period that’s expected to elicit a major response from supporters and opponents of cannabis reform. A prohibitionist group is asking the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to extend that comment period by another month. The White House drug czar, Rahul Gupta, has also discussed the rescheduling move multiple times over the past month, framing it as a “historic” reform that could open the door to cannabis-based drug development. However, he’s also inflated the impact of a Schedule III reclassification, at one point suggesting it would address racial disparities in marijuana enforcement. The Biden-Harris campaign has also drawn a contrast between the marijuana policy actions of their administration and that of former President Donald Trump, pointing out that DOJ under his administration rescinded federal cannabis enforcement guidance that generally laid out a policy of non-interference with legal marijuana states. Pennsylvania Could See Up To $2.8 Billion In Marijuana Sales In First Year Of Legalization And Create 45,000 Jobs, Analysis Finds The post Biden ‘Commends And Welcomes’ Maryland Governor’s Mass Marijuana Pardon, White House Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

As Pennsylvania lawmakers step up their push for marijuana legalization, a new report projects that the state would see up to $2.8 billion in adult-use sales in the first year of implementation, generate as much as $720 million in tax revenue and create upwards of 45,000 jobs. The advocacy organization Responsible PA teamed up with the firm FTI Consulting to produce the analysis, which looks at a number of potential economic impacts of legalization for the Keystone State under different scenarios for how robust the legal cannabis market would be. By comparing the experiences of other states that have enacted the reform, as well as trends in the state’s existing medical cannabis market, analysts determined that Pennsylvania recreational marijuana sales would range from $1.7 billion to $2.8 billion in the first year. Assuming a six percent retail sales tax and a 15 percent wholesale cannabis excise tax, and factoring in other potential tax sources such as income tax from new cannabis workers, the report says the state would bring in $420 million to $720 million in marijuana tax revenue in the first year. Additionally, FTI estimated that adult-use legalization would create between 26,250 and 44,500 new jobs. “Nearly two-thirds of the jobs supported by the adult use market would be direct cannabis jobs, with the remaining third supported indirectly or through induced spending,” it says. To meet demand in the recreational market, analysts also said that the state would need to issue between 43 and 100 new licenses for retailers. There are a number of variables in the report such as the tax rate that are based on theoretical legalization legislation, so it’s possible that the economic impact could be different depending on what cannabis reform plan lawmakers actually enact. For example, this year’s budget request from Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) calls for a 20 percent tax on marijuana sales—though bipartisan lawmakers have said they feel that’s too high. During an X Spaces event on Wednesday, Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) discussed that issue, while more generally arguing that there are enough members who back legalization in the Senate to get an adult-use bill through. The conversation with the Pennsylvania legislators comes just days after bipartisan state lawmakers announced their intent to file a new bill to legalize recreational marijuana, soliciting support from colleagues. Street was also among advocates and lawmakers who participated in a cannabis rally at the Pennsylvania State Capitol this month, where there was a significant emphasis on the need to incorporate social equity provisions as they move to advance legalization. Laughlin, for his part, also said an event last month that the state is “getting close” to legalizing marijuana, but the job will only get done if House and Senate leaders sit down with the governor and “work it out.” Warren County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Robert Greene, a registered medical cannabis patient in the state, also spoke at that rally. In January, Greene filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn a ban preventing medical marijuana patients from buying and possessing firearms. Two Pennsylvania House panels held a joint hearing to discuss marijuana legalization in April, with multiple lawmakers asking the state’s top liquor regulator about the prospect of having that agency run cannabis shops. — 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. — Also in April, members of the House Health Committee had a conversation centered on social justice and equity considerations for reform. That took place days after Rep. Amen Brown (D) filed a marijuana legalization bill that he described as “grounded in safety and social equity.” “I’m here to get this done,” Brown said at a recent rally, noting that he and other people he knows have a “personal experience” with current marijuana policy. At a prior meeting in March, members focused on criminal justice implications of prohibition and the potential benefits of reform. At another hearing in February, members looked at the industry perspective, with multiple stakeholders from cannabis growing, dispensing and testing businesses, as well as clinical registrants, testifying. At the subcommittee’s previous cannabis meeting in December, members heard testimony and asked questions about various elements of marijuana oversight, including promoting social equity and business opportunities, laboratory testing and public versus private operation of a state-legal cannabis industry. And during the panel’s first meeting late last year, Frankel said that state-run stores are “certainly an option” he’s considering for Pennsylvania, similar to what New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) recommended for that state last year, though a state commission later shied away from that plan. The cannabis proposal the Brown filed in the House in April is an identical companion to a bipartisan Senate cannabis legalization measure that was introduced last year. North Carolina Senators Attach Medical Marijuana Legalization Amendment To Hemp Bill The post Pennsylvania Could See Up To $2.8 Billion In Marijuana Sales In First Year Of Legalization And Create 45,000 Jobs, Analysis Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“We’ve seen it with other really important issues, whether we’re talking about reproductive rights or voting rights, the court can come back and reverse their decision.” By Mohamed Ibrahim, MinnPost The smell of marijuana emanating from a vehicle during a traffic stop was once enough for a police officer to conduct a search of a car and everyone in it. But a decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court shortly after marijuana was legalized that prevents officers from using cannabis odor as the only reason for a vehicle search has put that practice to an end, and Minnesota lawmakers recently enshrined the ruling into law. The language codifying the decision is one of many provisions included in the judiciary and public safety supplemental budget bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) at the end of the session in late May. The package includes millions of dollars in grants for services targeting crime victims, as well as changes to statutes ranging from traffic stop reform to law enforcement training requirements. This month, MinnPost is highlighting a specific provision each week. No more searches for cannabis odor only The new language states that a law enforcement officer’s perception of the odor of cannabis cannot be used as the “sole basis” to search a vehicle or any of its contents, the driver or any of the passengers in the car. The original bill the language came from—Senate File 3938, authored by DFL Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten of St. Paul—was more robust, banning officers asking drivers to consent to warrantless searches during traffic stops. The change in statute was inspired by a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court in September, where a 5–2 majority ruled that the smell of marijuana alone doesn’t justify a vehicle search by an officer. Oumou Verbeten said in an interview that it was essential to codify the decision in law due to the court’s ability to later overturn it. “We’ve seen it with other really important issues, whether we’re talking about reproductive rights or voting rights, the court can come back and reverse their decision,” she said. “It’s important for us to have this be a part of our strategy to try to pass legislation and codify these rights and other things that are important to us, and not just rely on the courts.” Targeting racial disparities was also a concern, Oumou Verbeten said. According to a 2020 report by the American Civil Liberties Union, between 2010 and 2018, Black and white residents used marijuana at similar rates, but Black people were 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana use. The legalization of marijuana in Minnesota went into effect on August 1 last year, and individuals 21 and older can now possess up to two ounces of marijuana flower, 800 milligrams of edibles and eight grams of concentrated THC. When it comes to vehicles, however, cannabis use is similar to alcohol in that it is illegal to use or be under the influence of marijuana while driving, and drivers and passengers cannot have open or unsealed packages or containers in the vehicle. When cannabis possession and use were still illegal, officers would routinely use the smell of marijuana emanating from a vehicle as a reason to conduct a search because it gave them probable cause, said Mike Hanson, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety. But after the decision by the court, and now after the change in law, officers need more evidence before conducting a search or conducting a field sobriety test. “That could be an interview with the driver, or there could be observations of evidence in the car that are in plain view that indicate that marijuana was just recently used in the vehicle,” Hanson said. “So instead of just smelling the odor of marijuana and then conducting the search, the officer has to put more work into building the pieces that make that probable cause puzzle come together to then justify the search.” According to Mike Monsrud, assistant executive director of the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board, there are no mandated cannabis-related learning objectives for law enforcement since legalization and no plans to institute required trainings. But, he said, all schools that teach the Professional Peace Officer Education Program are required to update their curriculum to align with state law, and state licensing test questions have been updated to conform with new requirements. Currently, there is only one POST Board-approved training course related to marijuana. Beyond odor, other indicators will be key for determining whether a driver is under the influence, said Sgt. Tyler Milless, coordinator of the Minnesota State Patrol’s Drug Recognition Evaluators (DRE). That could include dilated pupils, bloodshot eyes, eyelid flutters or relaxed inhibitions, and enough of those signs could lead to a standardized field sobriety test. “We think about it the same way we think about alcohol—what we’re worried about is impairment,” Milless said. “In our realm of traffic safety, our biggest concern is making sure citizens get home or to their location in a safe manner.” Going forward, the state is currently administering an oral fluid test pilot program, which is a roadside test that involves an officer collecting oral fluid from a driver suspected of being under the influence. The test, which can identify up to six different substances in about five minutes, is used in 26 other states and is aimed at helping officers more quickly determine whether a driver has used a substance other than alcohol. The pilot program, which is completely voluntary at the moment, began in January and has since completed 271 attempts. The results of the pilot program will be compiled into a report for the Legislature, which Hanson said he hopes will permanently fund going forward to keep impaired drivers off the roads. “We still have a significant problem on Minnesota roads with impaired drivers, whether it’s alcohol, whether it’s cannabis or whether it’s a combination thereof, or something else,” Hanson said. “It’s really all about saving lives because impaired drivers are responsible for more than a third of our fatalities every year, so anything we can do to keep an impaired driver off the road is a good public safety strategy.” This story was first published by MinnPost. Woman Faces Possible 30-Year Prison Sentence In Minnesota For Possessing Bong Water The post Minnesota Lawmakers Codify Court Decision Ending Marijuana Odor As Justification For Vehicle Searches appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A new study on the impacts of medical marijuana on older adults finds that cannabis-based products may provide multiple therapeutic benefits for the demographic, including for health, well-being, sleep and mood. Authors also observed “sizable reductions in pain severity and pain interference among older aged patients [reporting] chronic pain as their primary condition.” The research, published this week in the journal Drugs and Aging, is meant to address what authors call “a general paucity of high quality research” around cannabis and older adults “and a common methodological practice of excluding those aged over 65 years from clinical trials” at a time when older patients are increasingly turning to medical marijuana for relief. “International evidence that older individuals may be the fastest-growing increase in the use of medical marijuana, coupled with their frequent exclusion from controlled trials, indicates a growing need for real-world evidence to assess the effectiveness and safety of these drugs for older individuals,” the paper says. “There were consistent improvements across measures of general health and well-being after 3 months of treatment. There were also sizable reductions in pain severity and pain interference.” The five-person research team, from the UK-based organization Drug Science and Imperial College London’s Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, looked at data from T21, a “large observational study of individuals seeking prescribed cannabis for a range of primary conditions in the UK” that was launched in 2020. The prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) has been legal in the UK since 2018, authors note, although “there has been a lack of access on the National Health Service and CBMPs is most commonly prescribed via the private sector.” And while national guidelines recommend only two products and one synthetic cannabinoid, “there are currently over 200 unlicensed CBMPs available for prescription in the UK.” “Older aged individuals experience considerable improvement in health and well-being when prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products.” Patient outcomes were measured by self-reported measures of quality of life, general health, mood and sleep. Results showed “consistent improvements in each of the four well-being measures between entry to treatment and the 3-month follow up.” “Older aged individuals who continue on CBMPs report considerable improvement in health and well-being when prescribed CBMPs,” the analysis found. “While the extent of improvement in quality of life and mood was less for older individuals that for those aged under 65 years, it was still substantial and, together with improvements in general health and sleep, suggests that older aged individuals may derive multiple health benefits from CBMPs.” “There were significant reductions in depressed mood and in sleep difficulties.” The levels of improvement on general health, quality of life and sleep, the research says, “were similar for older and younger aged individuals.” Authors said the findings begin to fill a gap in existing marijuana research. “There is currently a lack of published data on prescribed medical cannabis use in older individuals in the UK,” authors wrote. A national survey by the Centre for Medical Cannabis “failed to distinguish older individuals aged over 55 years,” they noted, and population data on marijuana use by people older than 59 is not collected by the country’s Office for National Statistics. Survey data also didn’t differentiate between medical and recreational use. There were some notable differences between the younger and older groups of patients surveyed in the new study. For example, a larger proportion of older patients were female, more reported chronic pain as a primary condition and more likely to be taking multiple prescribed drugs. They were less likely, however, to have used marijuana before and less likely to have reported using it daily prior to the start of treatment. “Theses analyses indicated a substantial reduction in pain severity.” In terms of products prescribed, patients over 64 were “more likely to receive CBD dominant oil and less likely to receive THC dominant flower by prescription.” “Despite these differences, there was evidence of consistent improvement across multiple measures of well-being for these individuals after initiating use of medical cannabis,” the report continues. “Although it appeared that the extent of improvements in both mood and quality of life was lower in those aged 65 years or older compared with younger individuals, the improvements were considerable and contribute to our currently limited understanding of medical cannabis in older individuals.” On this side of the Atlantic, U.S. officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced this spring that the agency will use $8.4 million to support clinical trials into the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat chronic pain in older adults. A government notice about the grant program says the research can include “classic” psychedelics—including psilocybin, DMT, LSD and mescaline—as well as similar compounds such as MDMA. Cannabis and ketamine are not considered psychedelics for the purposes of the clinical trials. A federally funded study last year, meanwhile, found that among U.S. adults, cannabis and psychedelic use were both at “historic highs,” while teen marijuana use remained stable. Most Consumers Use Marijuana To Treat Health Issues, But Very Few Call It ‘Medical,’ AMA Study Finds Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney. The post Older Patients Using Medical Cannabis ‘Experience Considerable Improvement In Health And Well-Being,’ Study Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Hemp provisions of a large-scale agriculture funding bill that is advancing in the House could “create confusion” for the industry due to a lack of clarity around the type of allowable products, congressional researchers say. In a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) that was published on Monday, analysts looked at proposed changes to federal hemp rules under two pieces of legislation that recently moved through committee and that have stirred controversy among cannabis stakeholders. Most of the report focuses on how the measures as amended would effectively ban many consumable hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD products containing any “quantifiable amounts” of THC. It would also clarify that intoxicating synthetic cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC are prohibited. “Congress is continuing to debate these proposed changes as it proceeds to consider these bills,” CRS said. “These provisions have both supporters and detractors.” Supporters include prohibitionist groups and certain major marijuana companies, while the hemp industry largely opposes the language, even if stakeholders generally agree that there’s a need to create a regulatory framework for consumable hemp products to address public health concerns that have emerged since the crop and its derivatives were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. CRS said the provisions wouldn’t necessarily ban all consumable hemp cannabinoid products, “but would require determinations by [U.S. Department of Agriculture] based on available scientific research and quantification methods.” But hemp stakeholders say the proposal would fundamentally disrupt the cannabinoid market. “This approach recognizes the rapidly evolving landscape of hemp derivatives,” the report says. The provisions CRS described have been included in an Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, as well as the 2024 Farm Bill, both of which were approved in committee in the past month. But unlike the Farm Bill language, the amendment adopted in the separate spending legislation “does not include a definition of industrial hemp, although the bill makes allowances for industrial hemp for use in hemp cannabinoid products,” CRS said. “This exclusion could create confusion since the term is not defined.” Meanwhile, the Farm Bill that advanced through the House Agriculture Committee last month also contains provisions that would reduce regulatory barriers for certain hemp farmers and scale-back a ban on industry participation by people with prior drug felony convictions. Specifically, it would make it so the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), states and tribal entities could choose to eliminate a policy that prevents people with felony drug convictions in the past 10 years from being licensed to produce industrial hemp. However, advocates had hoped to see more expansive language, such as what was described in Senate Democrats’ recent summary of their forthcoming Farm Bill draft. Under that plan, there would be a mandate to eliminate the ban, rather than simply authorizing it, and it would cover all hemp producers, not just those growing it for non-extraction purposes. That said, the Senate Agriculture Committee has not yet released the draft text of their bill, so it remains to be seen if the summary description matches what will ultimately be released. Bipartisan House lawmakers filed standalone legislation last year that would broadly lift the felony ban for would-be hemp producers. Lawmakers and stakeholders have also been eyeing a number of other proposals that could be incorporated into the Farm Bill—and which could come up as proposed amendments as the proposal moves through the legislative process—including measures to free up hemp businesses to legally market products like CBD as dietary supplements or in the food supply. — 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. — In the background, the hemp market started to rebound in 2023 after suffering significant losses the prior year, the latest annual industry report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that was released in April found. The data is the result of a survey that USDA mailed to thousands of hemp farmers across the U.S. in January. The first version of the department’s hemp report was released in early 2022, setting a “benchmark” to compare to as the industry matures. Bipartisan lawmakers and industry stakeholders have sharply criticized FDA for declining to enact regulations for hemp-derived CBD, which they say is largely responsible for the economic stagnation. To that end, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in April, where he faced questions about the agency’s position that it needed additional congressional authorization to regulate the non-intoxicating cannabinoid. USDA is also reportedly revoking hemp licenses for farmers who are simultaneously growing marijuana under state-approved programs, underscoring yet another policy conflict stemming from the ongoing federal prohibition of some forms of the cannabis plant. For the time being, the hemp industry continues to face unique regulatory hurdles that stakeholders blame for the crop’s value plummeting in the short years since its legalization. Despite the economic conditions, however, a recent report found that the hemp market in 2022 was larger than all state marijuana markets, and it roughly equaled sales for craft beer nationally. Meanwhile, internally at USDA, food safety workers are being encouraged to exercise caution and avoid cannabis products, including federally legal CBD, as the agency observes an “uptick” in positive THC tests amid “confusion” as more states enact legalization. Bipartisan Pennsylvania Senators Say They Have The Votes To Legalize Marijuana, But Governor Needs To Step Up Engagement Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak. The post Proposed Changes To Hemp Rules Could ‘Create Confusion’ In The Industry, Congressional Researchers Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Senate Job Corps & marijuana bill; AZ psilocybin veto; NH legalization; DE cannabis licenses; ND ballot sigs; Study on Reddit & cannabis Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there. Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI) filed a bill to protect Job Corps participants from being automatically expelled for marijuana use, building on separate cannabis drug testing reforms the program already instituted earlier this year. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed a bill to legalize psilocybin service centers where people could have received the psychedelic in a medically supervised setting, saying people with depression and PTSD shouldn’t be the “subject of experiments for unproven therapies.” The North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee added an amendment to legalize medical cannabis to a House-passed bill that’s focused on restricting intoxicating hemp-derived products and kratom. Bipartisan Pennsylvania senators said they think there are enough votes to pass a marijuana legalization bill—as soon as this session—but that Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) needs to get more involved in crafting the details of a deal. New Hampshire lawmakers and marijuana activists are blaming one another for the failure of a legalization bill last week, with some accusing Democrats of defeating the reform so it can continue to be a campaign issue leading up to November’s elections. The Delaware House of Representatives amended and passed a bill to let medical cannabis businesses convert to dual licensees that could also sell recreational marijuana—but only if they have a labor peace agreement and a plan to support social equity. North Dakota marijuana activists say they are just a few hundred more signatures away from being able to qualify a legalization initiative for the November ballot. A new study found that “young people viewed Reddit as a viable outlet for conversations about cannabis” and that they “formed a sense of camaraderie by providing support in the comments”—but that there is often a “lack of verifiable information being exchanged.” Chelsea Higgs Wise of Marijuana Justice argues in a new Juneteenth op-ed for Marijuana Moment that President Joe Biden should build on his modest cannabis reforms by endorsing reparations for people harmed by the war on drugs. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is facing a federal lawsuit from two companies who say new rules restricting hemp-derived THC-infused drinks will unduly harm their businesses. / FEDERAL The Congressional Progressive Caucus celebrated Maryland’s mass marijuana pardon, tweeting, “Congress needs to pass @RepJerryNadler’s MORE Act to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge marijuana convictions, and reinvest in our communities.” Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) tweeted, “Thank you @GovWesMoore for your leadership and for taking this bold step to remove barriers for Black and Brown people who are disproportionately affected by cannabis convictions. 317,793 Americans are arrested annually for possession of marijuana.” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) tweeted, “By the ACLU’s estimates, Black Americans are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than their white counterparts. This [mass cannabis pardon] decision by @GovWesMoore is a victory for justice and equality not just in Maryland, but for the entire country.” Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) tweeted, “Its time we be honest—while we celebrate the abolition of slavery, we also recognize that the systems created by it still persist. The legacy of Jim Crow, the war on drugs, and the prison-industrial complex have still embedded anti-Blackness into our laws and society.” / STATES Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill to give Black farmers more time to fix errors on medical cannabis business license applications. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill to require criminal background checks for owners and employees of medical cannabis businesses. The Montana legislature’s Economic Affairs Interim Committee is considering a proposal to enact a moratorium on marijuana dispensary licenses. A Nebraska senator suggested he will push for marijuana legalization legislation during an upcoming special session. Two additional top New York marijuana regulators have been removed from their jobs. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights said it “fully supports” Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) mass marijuana pardon. Minnesota regulators published a cannabis equity business license preapproval verification guide. Separately, the Cannabis Advisory Council will meet on Thursday. Michigan regulators will discuss the results of a survey on the state’s marijuana tracking program on Thursday. — 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. — / LOCAL Chicago, Illinois’s mayor signed an executive order establishing a Reparations Task Force that notes that “Black people make up only 14% of Illinois’ population, but 55% of the prison population, and are convicted at nearly twice the rate of White people for low-level possession offenses despite similar rates of drug use.” / INTERNATIONAL Jersey ministers told lawmakers they need more time to draft marijuana decriminalization legislation. Canadian marijuana businesses owe C$269.8 million in unpaid taxes. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A review concluded that “preliminary studies demonstrate a significant fraction of airborne particles in cannabis facilities are comprised of fungal spores, bacteria, and plant material, which may also contain hazardous microbial metabolites and allergens” and that “these bioaerosols may pose pathogenic, allergenic, toxigenic, and pro-inflammatory risks to workers.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The chair of the Florida Democratic Party criticized regulators for sending medical cannabis patients an email blast praising Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for signing the state budget into law. / CULTURE The Portland Pickles announced that they are the first sports team to sell hemp-derived THC products at a live sporting event. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Pennsylvania cannabis legalization has enough votes to pass, senators say (Newsletter: June 20, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Bipartisan Pennsylvania lawmakers say the votes are there to pass a marijuana legalization bill as soon as this year, though they stressed that the governor needs to work across the aisle to get the job done—and argued that it would be helpful if the federal government implemented its proposed cannabis rescheduling rule sooner rather than later. During an X Spaces event on Wednesday, Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D), as well as Rep. Amen Brown (D), discussed the prospects of enacting cannabis reform in the current session, expressing tentative optimism even though there are still outstanding issues to resolve. There also appeared to be agreement that the 20 percent tax rate for marijuana that was included in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) latest budget was too high. And while there may be debate among members about Democrats’ push for equity-focused provisions in whatever deal emerges, Laughlin indicated that GOP leadership is more amenable to some version of the reform than might meet the eye. “I’ve been advocating for this for almost three years now, and I will say that, in that time, the attitudes amongst the Senate Republicans has certainly softened,” Laughlin said during the social media event hosted by Pablo Zuanic, managing partner at Zuanic & Associates. “I have what I would refer to as quiet support, where, if we put it up for a floor vote, I think our side could provide enough votes to get to 26” to pass, he said. However, he added that there are still members “concerned about putting their name on it right now,” particularly those in “more rural districts.” https://t.co/pE5zvb0HDS — Pablo Zuanic (@420Odysseus) June 19, 2024 Street, who is sponsoring legalization legislation with Laughlin this session, offered a somewhat more optimistic perspective, saying that he thinks, “pretty ambitiously,” that lawmakers will get a cannabis bill to the governor “by the end of the session.” “I know it’s going to take some work, but I think we can get it done,” he said. “I think that, in terms of the timing, I think there’ll be sales…by the beginning of the by July 2025.” Laughlin left open the possibility that the reform is delayed until next year, even if he hopes to see bipartisan consensus sooner. “I think there’s still a lot of issues to be addressed before we get this done,” he said, adding that legislators don’t necessarily need to pass legalization by the end of the current fiscal year and have until the end of the session in November to finish the job. Street for his part, said he agrees that there’s “still some discussion that’s going to take place before we have a vote” and that there are “probably 26 votes for it if we had a vote.” However, he said “there won’t be a vote until leadership is comfortable that they’re ready to have a vote.” To that end, there have been questions about the willingness of Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R) to move a marijuana bill, despite increased bipartisan support for the reform. She’s previously suggested that she doesn’t see that happening until the federal government moves to end prohibition. Laughlin said he’s “talked to her about the descheduling on the federal level,” and “she feels that that would make that a much easier process for her to be comfortable” to act on state-level cannabis reform. But the Biden administration’s current proposal that’s moving through the process wouldn’t federally deschedule cannabis. It would simply move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), so it’s unclear whether that would move the needle for Ward in the same way as full federal legalization might. Last month, the governor’s office also said that the Biden administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana “adds support” for an effort to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania. In the interim, Laughlin said he’s continuing to have conversation with GOP colleagues who are still on the fence, making the case that marijuana legalization is a civil liberties issue that they should get behind, and that the current unregulated market represents a public health and safety concern. Meanwhile, the existing medical cannabis program is “like joining Sam’s Club,” he said. The senator, who is running for reelection, also pointed out that when he’s talking to colleagues, he’s noted that his advocacy for cannabis legalization and sponsorship of reform bills has only been “politically expedient” for him. He said might have “irritated” some people who are strongly opposed to cannabis, but by and large he’s seen a benefit to embracing the increasingly bipartisan issue. “This is 2024, and there is rapidly growing support for this,” he said. “I think people are starting to take notice, so I’m hopeful that we will, at a minimum, get close this year.” SPACES: Pennsylvania AU Legalization Join our panel discussion on Wed June 19th at 4:15pm ET with the sponsors of the legalization bills in the state Senate and House. With OH set to begin AU sales soon, we expect PA to follow. PA is a key market for several MSOs, including… pic.twitter.com/Ma0X1oSunD — Pablo Zuanic (@420Odysseus) June 12, 2024 “The public is ready. I think more and more members are coming on board. And I think we’re getting closer and closer every day,” he said. With bordering states like New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Ohio all either having or implementing adult-use legalization, the lawmakers who participated in Wednesday’s virtual event said that adds urgency to follow suit, so that residents aren’t going out of state to obtain cannabis and so that Pennsylvania can stop losing out on tax revenue and other economic opportunities to its neighbors. But part of getting a legalization across the finish line means this session means having a governor who’s willing to hold those bipartisan and bicameral conversations so they can reach a workable compromise, Laughlin said. “The governor certainly carries a lot of weight in Pennsylvania, and if we could get him to be a little bit more active in the negotiation process, that would be helpful,” he said. “But I also think that if we don’t get this done this year, I feel pretty strongly that, next session, we will get there. The public opinion on cannabis has changed drastically just in the last eight years that I’ve been in the Senate.” Street gave the governor more leeway when it comes to his work on the issue so far, saying “at some point, somebody’s gonna get folks to roll up their sleeves, figure this out and hash out of deal.” “The governor is a smart guy. He’s a talented guy,” he said,” and Shapiro’s leadership on the issue “makes it that much more likely to get done.” The conversation with the Pennsylvania legislators comes just days after bipartisan state lawmakers announced their intent to file a new bill to legalize recreational marijuana, soliciting support from colleagues. Street was also among advocates and lawmakers who participated in a cannabis rally at the Pennsylvania State Capitol this month, where there was a significant emphasis on the need to incorporate social equity provisions as they move to advance legalization. Laughlin, for his part, also said an event last month that the state is “getting close” to legalizing marijuana, but the job will only get done if House and Senate leaders sit down with the governor and “work it out.” Warren County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Robert Greene, a registered medical cannabis patient in the state, also spoke at that rally. In January, Greene filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn a ban preventing medical marijuana patients from buying and possessing firearms. Two Pennsylvania House panels held a joint hearing to discuss marijuana legalization in April, with multiple lawmakers asking the state’s top liquor regulator about the prospect of having that agency run cannabis shops. — 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. — Also in April, members of the House Health Committee had a conversation centered on social justice and equity considerations for reform. That took place days after Brown (D) filed a marijuana legalization bill that he described as “grounded in safety and social equity.” “I’m here to get this done,” Brown said at a recent rally, noting that he and other people he knows have a “personal experience” with current marijuana policy. At a prior meeting in March, members focused on criminal justice implications of prohibition and the potential benefits of reform. At another hearing in February, members looked at the industry perspective, with multiple stakeholders from cannabis growing, dispensing and testing businesses, as well as clinical registrants, testifying. At the subcommittee’s previous cannabis meeting in December, members heard testimony and asked questions about various elements of marijuana oversight, including promoting social equity and business opportunities, laboratory testing and public versus private operation of a state-legal cannabis industry. And during the panel’s first meeting late last year, Frankel said that state-run stores are “certainly an option” he’s considering for Pennsylvania, similar to what New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) recommended for that state last year, though a state commission later shied away from that plan. The cannabis proposal the Brown filed in the House in April is an identical companion to a bipartisan Senate cannabis legalization measure that was introduced last year. North Carolina Senators Attach Medical Marijuana Legalization Amendment To Hemp Bill The post Bipartisan Pennsylvania Senators Say They Have The Votes To Legalize Marijuana, But Governor Needs To Step Up Engagement appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Republican North Carolina senators are taking a new approach to advancing medical marijuana legalization in the state—successfully fighting to attach an amendment enact the reform to a hemp- and kratom-focused bill that cleared a Senate committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved the legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp cannabinoid products such as delta-8 THC. But prior to its passage, members adopted an amendment from Sen. Michael Lazzara (R) containing language that would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients with certain qualifying conditions. The text is similar to that of a standalone bill from Sen. Bill Rabon (R), a cancer survivor who has sponsored multiple medical cannabis proposals. Rabon, who has become known for leveraging different legislative tactics to force the issue, previously described his interest in using the hemp legislation as a potential vehicle after his latest standalone stalled in the House. The senator told the committee on Wednesday that it makes sense to use the intoxicating hemp bill as a vehicle to legalize and regulate medical cannabis given that the crops are the same species and have the same components, albeit legally defined differently. “That’s not too hard for folks in this room to figure out,” he said. “It’s just a matter of one coming from the quote-unquote the hemp plant, the other coming from quote-unquote the bad M-word, the marijuana plant, both of which have the same genus and the same species being cannabis sativa. So it doesn’t take really smart people to see that they are the same thing.” Under the approved amendment, patients would be allowed to access cannabis if they have a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. Smoking and vaping would also be allowed. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said in April that he’s had bicameral discussions about the prospect of moving the medical marijuana proposal from Rabon forward as part of the hemp measure. Rabon’s standalone legislation moved through the Senate, as well as a House committee, last year, but it has not advanced further. Certain Democratic senators, such as Sen. Graig Meyer (D), have said that any future proposal would need to include “some type of decriminalization language,” in addition to the limited medical cannabis program. So it’s unclear whether the Democratic caucus would back the amended hemp bill as it’s currently drafted, as it calls for a relatively conservative medical cannabis authorization. House Majority Leader John Bell (R) said last year that while there were “still discussions going on” about the medical marijuana bill, he was “very sure you won’t see that bill move” due to insufficient support among Republicans. He said that was “unfortunately” the case. A previous version of the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act from Rabon passed the Senate but did not get a vote in the House of Representatives in 2022. The Senate president previously acknowledged that opinions are shifting when it comes to marijuana in the state, and he said that Rabon specifically “for a long time has looked at the issue.” House Speaker Tim Moore (R) is among key lawmakers who have downplayed the idea of enacting medical cannabis legislation, saying at one point that “there are a lot of concerns” with Rabon’s bill that moved through the Senate. Rabon also took another step, including medical marijuana regulatory appointments for the yet-to-be-enacted program in a separate measure that passed the Senate in March. — 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. — An Indian tribe in North Carolina launched the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary in April—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) have also asked federal, state and local officials what steps they were taking to enforce marijuana prohibition ahead of the tribe’s April 20 launch. Meanwhile in North Carolina, a state judge declared in February that anyone who “has the odor of marijuana” will be barred from entering the North Carolina Superior Courts of Robeson County. The order, from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Gregory Bell, said that smelling like cannabis is grounds for removal from the courthouse, and the sheriff will be directed to “ask you to leave and come back without the odor owns [sic] your persons.” North Dakota Activists Say Marijuana Legalization Initiative Needs Just A Few Hundred More Signatures For November Ballot The post North Carolina Senators Attach Medical Marijuana Legalization Amendment To Hemp Bill appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A new study examining a Reddit community aimed at providing young people with information about cannabis finds that although responses to posts “were generally thorough and responsive,” nearly all came from “opinions and personal experiences” rather than reliable sources. While youth seem increasingly to be turning to online platforms like Reddit to answer questions about marijuana, researchers said, there’s a “lack of verifiable information being exchanged,” which could allow misinformation to spread “and inadvertently worsen the efforts to reduce cannabis harm.” But the shortcoming may reveal an opportunity, authors of the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE this month, said. Interventions—including, potentially, on Reddit itself—that “provide understandable and accurate information in accessible formats may increase young people’s ability to access and practice harm reduction.” Reddit’s most ubiquitous cannabis community, r/trees, is intended for adults 18 and older; its third rule is “No Minors.” For years, some members of the community have instead directed younger redditors to r/saplings, a subreddit that describes itself as “a place to learn about cannabis use and culture.” “Young people viewed Reddit as a viable outlet for conversations about cannabis.” The moderator’s pinned post from eight months ago emphasizes that the community “IS MEANT FOR ALL AGES” and emphasizes that “NO THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE SUPPORT UNDERAGE SMOKERS.” Instead, it says, the subreddit exists “FOR PEOPLE TO GET HELPFUL AND ACCURATE ADVICE, REGARDLESS OF AGE.” Researchers from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Purdue University’s Department of Public Health and the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, however, found that comments on the r/saplings often weren’t grounded in clear, concrete information. “Our findings suggest that young people view Reddit as a viable outlet for conversations about cannabis,” they wrote, noting that during their yearlong study period, which began before the COVID-19 pandemic and went through October 2020, both posts and comments increased. That increase, the study says, suggests Reddit “may play an increasingly important role in youth socialization related to cannabis.” It notes that when the study began, in October 2019, r/saplings had 53,000 members, which grew to 62,000 members by October 2020. Today the group’s membership stands at 96,000. The researchers looked at 213 randomly selected posts and 2,546 comments across four time periods: before the pandemic, when lockdown was in place for many countries, as lockdown guidelines lifted and as students returned to school the next fall. They observed that over the course of the early months of the pandemic, the type of information sought on r/saplings changed. Areas such as “places to acquire” and “future use” were most common early on, with posts around strain selection, how users obtained cannabis and how to grow the plant. Later on during the study period, the study says, “the theme of ‘consequences’ and the topic of ‘tolerance’ became more prominent,” with more questions like, “Is using a plastic water bottle bong unsafe?” and “Any reason I’m getting way higher than normal with the usual weed/amount?” “Users were responsive to posts,” authors noted. On average, posts received 12 comments, with one garnering 200 and only 11.7 percent (25) receiving no responses. Moreover, the community seemed to have good intentions. “Generally, comments were thorough and responsive to the materials shared in the post,” the report says. But few pointed posters to verifiable sources of information: “Most often, the comments were based on opinions or personal experiences. Although rare, some referenced or directed individuals to other sources (e.g., YouTube, websites); of these, only two comments referenced a credible source (e.g., public health department).” But many comments, as in other communities on Reddit, were based on personal anecdotes or opinions. Others referenced second hand experiences, such as by “some people I know,” while others expressed only brief support or opposition to an earlier comment. Still, researchers noted that “commenters ultimately formed a sense of camaraderie by providing support in the comments.” And they acknowledged that sense of community could potentially be valuable for young people learning how to navigate a sensitive and sometimes dangerous world. “Other prior work has similarly demonstrated that young people use social media as an important source of information and support about sensitive topics,” the study says. “Given the increase in subreddit activity and engagement, Reddit may play an increasingly important role in socialization related to cannabis.” The appetite among young people for reliable information about cannabis, the authors said, could also provide opportunities to encourage safer behavior. “Interventions that provide understandable and accurate information in accessible formats may increase young people’s ability to access and consequently practice harm reduction strategies,” they wrote, adding that Reddit “may be one possible tool in such interventions.” “Young people want to reduce harms associated with cannabis use and may be open to harm reduction information if shared on platforms with like-minded individuals in an easily accessible format.” “Other studies have similarly demonstrated that social media is not only a valuable source of information but also provides support for harm reduction and recovery,” the research adds. “Nevertheless, r/saplings may not always be an adequate source of confirmable information on cannabis.” Young people aren’t alone in their efforts to seek out more information about cannabis use and safety, of course—some adult users, medical marijuana patients and even doctors acknowledge feeling they lack a sufficient understanding of the drug. As for legalization’s impact on youth use of marijuana, multiple studies have debunked the idea that the reform broadly increases youth use, with most finding that consumption trends are either stable or decrease after the reform is implemented. Use by heavy users may increase, however. For example, a research letter published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in April said there’s no evidence that states’ adoption of laws to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults have led to an increase in youth use of cannabis. Another JAMA-published study earlier that month that similarly found that neither legalization nor the opening of retail stores led to increases in youth cannabis use. Data from a recent Washington State survey of adolescent and teenage students found overall declines in both lifetime and past-30-day marijuana use since legalizations, with striking drops in recent years that held steady through 2023. The results also indicate that perceived ease of access to cannabis among underage students has generally fallen since the state enacted legalization for adults in 2012. Rates of youth marijuana use in Colorado, meanwhile, declined slightly in 2023—remaining significantly lower than before legalization. That’s according to results of the biannual Healthy Kids Colorado Survey released this month that found that past-30-day use of cannabis among high schoolers was at 12.8 percent in 2023, a dip from the 13.3 percent reported in 2021. A separate study late last year also found that Canadian high-school students reported it was more difficult to access marijuana since the government legalized the drug nationwide in 2019. The prevalence of current cannabis use also fell during the study period, from 12.7 percent in 2018–19 to 7.5 percent in 2020–21, even as retail sales of marijuana expanded across the country. In December, meanwhile, a U.S. health official said that teen marijuana use has not increased “even as state legalization has proliferated across the country.” “There have been no substantial increases at all,” said Marsha Lopez, chief of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) epidemiological research branch. “In fact, they have not reported an increase in perceived availability either, which is kind of interesting.” Another earlier analysis from CDC found that rates of current and lifetime cannabis use among high school students have continued to drop amid the legalization movement. A study of high school students in Massachusetts that was published last November found that youth in that state were no more likely to use marijuana after legalization, though more students perceived their parents as cannabis consumers after the policy change. A separate NIDA-funded study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2022 also found that state-level cannabis legalization was not associated with increased youth use. The study demonstrated that “youth who spent more of their adolescence under legalization were no more or less likely to have used cannabis at age 15 years than adolescents who spent little or no time under legalization.” Yet another 2022 study from Michigan State University researchers, published in the journal PLOS One, found that “cannabis retail sales might be followed by the increased occurrence of cannabis onsets for older adults” in legal states, “but not for underage persons who cannot buy cannabis products in a retail outlet.” The trends were observed despite adult use of marijuana and certain psychedelics reaching “historic highs” in 2022, according to separate data released last year. Senate Bill Would Protect Job Corps Students From Being Automatically Expelled Over Marijuana Use The post Youth See Reddit As ‘Viable Outlet’ For Marijuana Info, But Posts Often Have ‘Lack Of Verifiable’ Facts, Study Finds appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

North Dakota activists say they’re only a few hundred signatures away from reaching the threshold to qualify a marijuana legalization initiative for the November ballot. Just two months after filing the cannabis measure and launching the campaign, New Economic Frontier announced on Wednesday that they’ve collected 15,179 of the 15,582 required signatures for ballot placement. And they’re promoting petitioning events across the state—including drive-through collections in Fargo and Bismarck this upcoming weekend—to close that gap. The campaign has been internally verifying the signatures throughout the process, with activists reaching the halfway point earlier this month. In order to make the ballot this November, they will need to submit the petitions by July 8. “We’re blown away by the support from our community,” Steve Bakken, chairman of New Economic Frontier, said in a press release. “The success of our signature drive so far shows just how passionate North Dakotans are about economic progress.” “We’ve thoughtfully developed this initiative right here at home, making sure it aligns with our local values and needs. With the upcoming drive-through events, I’m confident we’ll hit our goal,” he said. Under the legalization measure, adults 21 and older would be able to possess up to one ounce of marijuana flower, four grams of concentrate and 300 milligrams of edibles that they could buy from a limited number of licensed dispensaries. Adults could also grow up to three plants for personal use, with a six-plant cap per household. The state Department of Health and Human Services or another agency designated by the legislature would be responsible for regulating the program. Regulators would need to establish rules to implement the law by October 1, 2025. North Dakota voters rejected an earlier cannabis legalization proposal at the ballot box two years ago. The new proposal would limit regulators to approving licenses for up to seven cannabis manufacturers and 18 retailers. There are also provisions meant to avoid creating intrastate monopolies, such as limiting licensees to no more than four dispensaries. Currently, there are eight medical cannabis dispensaries operating in North Dakota. The initiative requires regulators to develop separate application processes for those businesses to become dual licensees and non-existing companies that wish to become recreational operators. Some of the those dispensaries are among the nearly two dozen locations that the campaign says have petitions available on site for supporters to sign. Others include smoke and vape shops, hemp product retailers and record store. Unlike other legal states, the proposal in North Dakota doesn’t appear to contain criminal justice reform components favored by equity advocates such as expungements or licensing prioritization for people harmed by the drug war. It also doesn’t seem to contain any references to a proposed tax scheme for legal sales. — 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. — In 2021, North Dakota’s House approved a marijuana legalization bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Dockter (R), but it was ultimately defeated in the Senate after advancing through committee. Following that defeat, some senators devised a new plan to advance the issue by referring it to voters on the 2022 ballot. The resolution moved through a key committee in 2021, but the Senate also blocked it. There have been repeated attempts by activists to enact legalization in the Peace Garden state over the years. Advocates with the separate group North Dakota Cannabis Caucus started collecting signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment legalizing cannabis for the 2022 ballot, but they did not gather enough by deadline. New Approach ND previously led an effort to place a legalization measure on the 2018 ballot that was defeated by voters. They filed another initiative for 2020, but signature gathering complications largely caused by the coronavirus pandemic got in the way. North Dakota voters approved a medical cannabis ballot measure in 2016. Last year, North Dakota’s governor signed a bill allowing patients admitted to hospice care to self-certify as medical marijuana patients. The North Dakota House of Representatives also approved a resolution last year that encourages residents to buy U.S. flags that are made out of hemp and manufactured in the state. Delaware House Passes Bill To Launch Recreational Marijuana Sales Early Through Existing Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post North Dakota Activists Say Marijuana Legalization Initiative Needs Just A Few Hundred More Signatures For November Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“If President Biden wants to truly celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth, he needs to take bolder action instead of well-intended half-measures that don’t come close to solving the problem.” By Chelsea Higgs Wise, Marijuana Justice Juneteenth is a day of joy when we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States, but for too many Black Americans, the harms of slavery never fully went away. Instead, they morphed into newer forms of discrimination and oppression. Shortly after the end of slavery, Jim Crow laws emerged that kept newly freed Black Americans from having the same rights as their white counterparts. While the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century ultimately ended the Jim Crow era, like slavery, it too was replaced with a newer form of oppression that targeted people of color—the war on drugs. While drug laws had been targeting Blacks and immigrants since the early 20th century, it wasn’t until President Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1971 that it became an all-out assault, resulting in mass incarceration. This modern-day slavery has caused untold emotional and economic damage to the individuals and communities that were brutally targeted by law enforcement. More than a half-century later, these damages have been compounded and felt by multiple generations of Black and Brown people in this country. The ongoing criminalization of marijuana has been one of the main drivers of racially discriminatory arrests and convictions. While about half of the states have legalized marijuana over the last dozen years, it still remains federally illegal throughout the country. Additionally, President Biden pledged to decriminalize marijuana during his 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, he has yet to follow through on this promise. Yes, President Biden deserves some credit for issuing pardons for simple marijuana possession. But let’s be clear—pardons don’t restore rights and benefits nor do they end future marijuana arrests. Not a single person was released from prison, and little has been done to address the economic harms that have been caused by the hundreds of thousands of marijuana arrests that continue to take place every year. While President Biden has yet to fulfill his promise to end marijuana criminalization, he still can take bigger steps in that direction. Right now, Biden’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA. While this move would technically put marijuana in a less restrictive category, the reality is that Schedule III maintains virtually all of the same criminal penalties as Schedule I. However, for a limited time, the public has the opportunity to officially tell the DEA and President Biden it’s time to decriminalize marijuana by removing it—or descheduling it—from the CSA. To assist with this, United for Marijuana Decriminalization, a coalition of organizations dedicated to ending the war on marijuana, created a tool that makes it quick and easy to comment. But descheduling marijuana alone will only end future harms. If we are ever going to come anywhere close to repairing the damage caused by decades of racist drug law enforcement, the economic harms suffered by those arrested must be atoned for. Government-funded programs offering services to those disproportionately targeted by racist drug war enforcement exemplify how reparations can be implemented. Direct payments to individuals who experienced arrest and incarceration for drug offenses are also crucial for reparations. This concept is supported by existing research and data on the economic harms inflicted on those directly impacted by the drug war. A 2023 report from the California Reparations Task Force revealed that nearly 2 million Black Californians should receive $115,260 (in 2020 dollars), or $2,352 for each year of residency in the state, from 1971 to 2020. These figures highlight the necessity of addressing the physical, emotional and economic damage caused by racist drug war policing, yet this public compensation remains unpaid. If President Biden wants to truly celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth, he needs to take bolder action instead of well-intended half-measures that don’t come close to solving the problem. Emphatically and unequivocally calling for marijuana decriminalization by descheduling it from the CSA would be a strong step in that direction. Even better, President Biden could take the step that those who ended slavery and Jim Crow failed to take when those harmful institutions were repealed—he could call for economic reparations for those who have had their lives devastated by drug arrests. Chelsea Higgs Wise is a social worker who has worked with individuals harmed by previous marijuana arrests and currently serves as executive director of Marijuana Justice, an organization dedicated to ensuring those most harmed by criminalization are prioritized by marijuana reform legislation. This piece was first published by Marijuana Justice. Maryland Governor Pledges To Work With Lawmakers On Marijuana Expungements To Build On His Mass Pardon Move The post On Juneteenth, Biden Needs To Build On His Modest Marijuana Reforms With A Call For Drug War Reparations (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The Delaware House of Representatives has approved a bill to launch recreational marijuana sales early through existing medical cannabis dispensaries, while adopting amendments that appear partially responsive to equity-related concerns from advocates. About a month after the legislation from Rep. Ed Osienski (D) moved through committee, the full chamber passed the amended measure in a 29-11 vote on Tuesday, sending it to the Senate. The bill would let current medical providers convert to dual licensees that could serve both patients and adult-use consumers months earlier than the current sales timeline. HB 408 would create a “conversion license” category, laying out requirements for medical cannabis businesses to apply and also stipulating that the applicants who are denied due to local bans can apply for general licenses for a new location, which must be approved as long as they meet the requirements. Prospective conversion licensees would have to demonstrate that they can continue to meet demand among medical patients, show plans to support the state’s social equity program and enter into a labor peace agreement with a “legitimate” union, for example. As the bill advanced, some advocates raised concerns about the prospects of giving the state’s few existing medical cannabis dispensaries such an advantage over other prospective licensees, particularly equity applicants. To that end, the House adopted an amendment to the legislation on Tuesday codifying that all funds derived from conversion licensing fees that the existing businesses would have to pay in order to serve the recreational market “shall only be used as sources of financial assistance for social equity applicants issued a conditional license.” Osienski said during Tuesday’s floor discussion that the bill “will allow those that are coming in that were disproportionately affected by the prohibition on marijuana to have financial assistance, just like many of our companies and corporations throughout Delaware when they apply to expand here or move here. So this will provide that resource for them and also allow them to get up.” The chamber also approved an amendment from the bill sponsor that makes a series of changes, including increasing the conversion licensing fee from $100,000 to $200,000, making it so the licenses expire after 24 months instead of 48 months, requiring applicants to “provide an attestation” that they will continue to serve medical cannabis patients and other revisions. With the current lack of regulated adult-use access, there have been examples of unlicensed businesses selling cannabis, underscoring the “urgency” of enacting the bill, Osienski said, adding that he agrees with colleagues that “we need to bolster the compassion centers also and make sure that they are not harmed.” Under the legislation, the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) would need to open applications for conversion licenses by August 1 of this year. The application window would close on November 1. Conversion licensees could start selling cannabis upon approval. Prior to the license expiring, businesses could apply for general licenses. Meanwhile, last month Delaware’s governor signed into law separate legislation to significantly expand the state’s medical cannabis program as regulators take steps to launch the recreational marijuana market. — 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. — The new law approved by Gov. John Carney (D) removes limitations for patient eligibility based on a specific set of qualifying health conditions. Instead, doctors will be able to issue marijuana recommendations for any condition they see fit. The measure will also allow patients over the age of 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis access without the need for a doctor’s recommendation. Also, a Delaware Senate committee separately passed a House-approved bill in April that would enact state-level protections for banks that provide services to licensed marijuana businesses. All of this comes as regulators are rolling out a series of proposed regulations to stand up the forthcoming adult-use cannabis market. The current timeline puts the launch of the market at March 2025, according to Delaware Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe. Arizona’s Democratic Governor Vetoes Bill To Legalize Psilocybin Service Centers The post Delaware House Passes Bill To Launch Recreational Marijuana Sales Early Through Existing Medical Cannabis Dispensaries appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Democratic governor of Arizona has vetoed a bill to legalize psilocybin service centers where people could receive the psychedelic in a medically supervised setting. Less than a week after lawmakers gave final approval to the legislation, Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) rejected it on Tuesday, arguing that while the psychedelic may hold therapeutic potential, “we do not yet have the evidence needed to support widespread clinical expansion.” “Arizonans with depression and PTSD deserve access to treatments that may be seen as outside the mainstream, but they should not be the subject of experiments for unproven therapies with a lack of appropriate guardrails,” the governor said in a veto message. She also said that the bill’s estimated cost is $400,000 per year, which wasn’t accounted for in the budget. Under the now-vetoed legislation, the Department of Human Services (DHS) would have been authorized to license psilocybin-assisted therapy centers in the state, where trained facilitators could have administered the psychedelic. The measure would have significantly expanded on Arizona’s existing research-focused psychedelics law that provides $5 million in annual funding to support studies into psilocybin therapy. Hobbs cited that research funding in her statement, saying the goal is to “ensure that those who seek psilocybin treatment are doing so confidently and safely under proper supervision of qualified professionals with documented and verified research to support the treatment.” She said that money “will be allowed to continue with this year’s budget,” with a separate funding bill she signed into law on Tuesday protecting those dollars, which are exempt from lapsing appropriations provisions. The vetoed proposal, meanwhile, would have established an Arizona Psilocybin Advisory Board, comprised of members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. Representatives of the attorney general’s office and DHS, as well as military veterans, first responders, scientists with experience with psilocybin and physicians would have been among the members. The board would have been responsible for establishing training criteria for psilocybin service center staff, making recommendations on the implementation of the law, and studying the science and policy developments related to psychedelics. Sen. T. J. Shope (R), the bill’s sponsor, told The Center Square that the veto is a “disappointing result after months of hard work and the overwhelming bipartisan support this received in both houses of the Legislature this year.” The senator added that if lawmakers were still in session, he’d be pushing for a vote to override the veto, but he’ll have to “settle for trying again next year.” .@TJShope, the bill’s sponsor, texted me this in response to the veto. pic.twitter.com/1ArqtCc8vy — Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) June 19, 2024 “I won’t stop fighting for our veterans and first responders to get the mental health care they deserve in these clinical settings,” he said. “Sadly, Arizonans will now have to continue leaving their own state and country to receive this type of treatment. It’s truly a sad day for those who have put everything on the line for us.” The governor’s veto is reminiscent of a similar setback for advocates in California last year, with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoing a bill to legalize certain psychedelics. — 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. — In any case, there are multiple states where lawmakers have been working to promote research into psychedelics amid growing public interest in expanding therapeutic access and ending criminalization. California lawmakers have separately revised a psilocybin pilot program bill to narrow eligibility criteria for participants and facilitators who could administer the psychedelic under the proposal. A New Jersey Assembly committee also recently adopted an amendment to a psilocybin bill that aligns its provisions with a Senate companion version, removing language to more broadly legalize the psychedelic and instead focusing on therapeutic use. Last week the Massachusetts Senate approved a bill focused focused on military veterans that includes provisions to create a psychedelics working group to study and make recommendations about the potential therapeutic benefits of substances like psilocybin and MDMA. Last month, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed a bill into law to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group that will make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances such as psilocybin and MDMA. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation last month to create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying possible regulatory frameworks for therapeutic access to substances such as psilocybin, mescaline and DMT. It would be charged specifically with ensuring “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state. Last month in Alaska lawmakers sent the governor a bill to create a state task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy in the event of federal approval of substances such as MDMA and psilocybin. Indiana’s governor recently signed a bill that includes provisions to fund clinical research trials into psilocybin. Utah’s governor, meanwhile, allowed a bill to authorize a pilot program for hospitals to administer psilocybin and MDMA as an alternative treatment option to become law without his signature. Maine lawmakers sent the governor legislation to establish a commission tasked with studying and making recommendations on regulating access to psychedelic services. A Connecticut joint legislative panel approved a bill to decriminalize possession of psilocybin. The governor of New Mexico has endorsed a newly enacted resolution requesting that state officials research the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and explore the creation of a regulatory framework to provide access to the psychedelic. An Illinois committee also recently held a hearing to discuss a bill to legalize psilocybin and allow regulated access at service centers in the state where adults could use the psychedelic in a supervised setting—with plans to expand the program to include mescaline, ibogaine and DMT. Lawmakers in Hawaii also considered a bill that would provide some legal protections to patients engaging in psilocybin-assisted therapy with a medical professional’s approval. New York lawmakers said that a bill to legalize psilocybin-assisted therapy in that state has a “real chance” of passing this year. A Nevada joint legislative committee held a hearing with expert and public testimony on the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin in January. Law enforcement representatives also shared their concerns around legalization—but there was notable acknowledgement that some reforms should be enacted, including possible rescheduling. New Hampshire Lawmakers And Advocates Blame Each Other Over Marijuana Legalization Bill’s Defeat Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer. The post Arizona’s Democratic Governor Vetoes Bill To Legalize Psilocybin Service Centers appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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New Hampshire lawmakers and marijuana reform advocates are pointing fingers at one another following the failure of a cannabis legalization bill last week. Some now accuse House Democrats of scuttling the measure in an effort to gain votes in November’s election by campaigning on the unresolved—and popular—issue. The Democrat who led last week’s House vote to kill the proposal, however, maintains that the bill was simply bad legislation that resulted from a broken process. He believes opponents were right to vote it down and set their sights on something better in a future session. “I’m totally pro-legalization of cannabis,” Rep. Jared Sullivan (D) told Marijuana Moment in an interview. But he asserted that Senate overplayed its hand when it made fundamental changes to the underlying bill that he previously passed the House and expected representatives to sign off on the revisions. “They just were operating under the assumption that they could do whatever they want and pass a bill that’s so restrictive,” Sullivan said. “They were interested in dictating, ‘This is the way it will be, or nothing else,’ and I think they thought that the representatives were just going to go along with it. And, you know, we have a different view. And they were unwilling to consider our separate view.” Last week’s vote in the House was widely seen as the last big hurdle for the legalization bill, HB 1633, on its path to becoming law. After House and Senate lawmakers passed separate versions of the measure, a bicameral conference committee hammered out a compromise, using the Senate-passed bill as a blueprint. The Senate OK’d the resulting bill last Thursday, but later in the day, rather than sign off on the bill—which Gov. Chris Sununu (R) had indicated he’d likely sign—the House voted to table it. Ahead of that vote, Sullivan described the bill, which would have legalized cannabis sales through a government-run system of independently owned of franchise stores, as “the most intrusive, big-government marijuana program proposed anywhere in the country.” “I, like many in this room, seriously want to legalize cannabis sales in New Hampshire,” he said on the floor. “But the fact is, despite the recent tweaks, this remains a terrible bill.” The compromise bill would allow 15 stores to open statewide beginning in 2026 through a novel state-run franchise system—provisions Sununu demanded be included in any legalization legislation. Though stores would be privately run, the government would oversee operations, including setting final prices on products. Purchases would incur a 15 percent “franchise fee”—effectively a tax, and home cultivation would remain illegal. Marijuana possession wouldn’t become legal until 2026, once the state’s licensed market is up and running. At that point, adults could legally possess up to two ounces of marijuana. In the meantime, possession of up to one ounce of cannabis would carry a $100 maximum civil fine—an increase from the state’s current law that decriminalizes up to three-quarters of an ounce—effective immediately on enactment. The proposal would limit each municipality to only a single cannabis retail establishment unless it’s home to more than 50,000 people, though only two cities in the state, Manchester and Nashua, meet that threshold. Local voters would also need to pre-approve the industry in order for businesses to open in that jurisdiction. The motion to table passed 178–173, with members of both parties voting in favor. A subsequent vote to take the measure off the table failed. In the aftermath, Sullivan is now facing attacks from Republicans who supported the negotiated bill as well as legalization advocates. Both have criticized him and other Democrats who voted against the bill, saying they believe it’s an ill-conceived effort to win votes in the November election and potentially sets back the effort to end prohibition in the “Live Free or Die” state by at least several years. “The House Democrats that campaign on supporting recreational cannabis voted against recreational cannabis so they can continue campaigning on this issue,” Sen. Daryl Abbas (R), who led a state commission on legalization last year that failed to accomplish its task of crafting a legalization bill, in an email to Marijuana Moment. “Clearly they are not interested in delivering results or being honest with their base.” “Particularly Rep. Sullivan, who has already vowed to file legislation supporting recreational cannabis next term,” Abbas added, noting that Sullivan “championed the efforts to kill the legislation” and claiming that he “failed to participate on the commission he was appointed to draft legislation on this very subject.” The advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) echoed Abbas’s sentiments in an email blast to supporters. “Last year, he was a member of the interim cannabis legalization study committee, which crafted what became the backbone of the Senate’s version of the bill,” MPP said of the Sullivan, going on to assert that he “failed to show up for the vast majority of the meetings, or ask to be replaced, squandering an opportunity to make a better Senate bill.” “It would have been far easier to convince a prohibitionist governor to shift to a less risky model,” MPP’s email said, “than to convince them to pass a bill from scratch.” With Sununu not seeking re-election and two leading Republican candidates to replace him as governor already on the record as opposing legalization, many warn that the vote to table HB 1633, however imperfect, could delay legalization in the Granite State for years to come. Sullivan, for his part, takes umbrage at MPP’s argument that he could have influenced the bill earlier on, arguing that the state commission on which he served consisted largely of prohibitionists who had no interest in legalizing marijuana. “That’s totally the reason we ended up here. They never really were negotiating in good faith,” he said, saying the commission was “set up to fail from the beginning.” “It was never set up to be successful,” he contended. “They had two Democratic senators on there. One of them was the only Democratic senator who voted against legalization.” As for claim that he failed to show up to commission meetings, he told Marijuana Moment that he works seasonally for UPS during the holiday season, in part because legislators in New Hampshire are not paid a salary. He says he told colleagues that they were free to replace him on the panel if necessary. “That’s completely false,” he said of MPP’s claim he didn’t ask to be replaced. “I did say, ‘I can be replaced if people want me to be replaced,’ and they decided it wasn’t necessary, because the only weeks I couldn’t show up were, like, the last two or three weeks of it.” Karen O’Keefe, MPP’s director of state policies, said she’s skeptical. “Did he ask the speaker to replace him, and—if he says he did—does he have proof? It’s the speaker who makes the appointments,” she said, adding that Sullivan “obviously did not bother” to secure his own replacement. “He wasn’t there, so it’s hard to say what he could’ve changed if he’d shown up and fought for a stronger bill,” O’Keefe continued. “Or had he not taken up a seat at the table and let someone who would show up and be a fighter.” Asked about the criticisms, Sullivan replied: “Reasonable people can come to different outcomes, and it doesn’t say anything about their character or intentions. It’s just sort of a different weighing of values.” O’Keefe, however, maintains that Sullivan’s opposition to the final bill that failed last week was ill-founded, based more on a lack of information than reasonable disagreement. “When I asked Rep. Sullivan what exactly he didn’t like about the franchise bill, he said he didn’t like the Liquor Commission controlling the look-and-feel of businesses and their names,” she said. “However, those were in the House bill he voted ‘yes’ on, not the franchise bill.” “I spent vast amounts of time working to make HB 1633 as strong as is viable and helped secure several improvements, in addition to being the lead drafter of the original bill,” O’Keefe continued. “It’s maddening to see Rep. Sullivan kill it over its details, when he left his literal seat at the table empty.” Sullivan stressed in the interview in Marijuana Moment that it’s wrong to frame the bill as one that House lawmakers generally agreed with, noting that during earlier House committee and floor votes, the body repeatedly passed on opportunities to make Senate-requested changes. House lawmakers of both parties said they disagreed with the Senate’s approach. “Instead of rushing to pass a bill that we all know is flawed, let’s reject this amendment and insist on making better policies for our constituents,” Rep. Heath Howard (D) said last month of Senate-made changes to the bill. “We will only get one chance to create a well regulated market for adult-use cannabis, and it’s important we get it right.” “I know the vast majority of my constituents want legalized cannabis,” Rep. Kevin Verville (R) added at the time. “They want it in New Hampshire and they want it sooner than later. But this is not the right approach for us.” Even the bill’s Republican sponsor, Rep. Erica Layon (R), initially opposed the Senate changes, though she ultimately urged colleagues to send the compromise bill to the governor. “I fought against the franchise model because I think a freer market solution is better for New Hampshire, however I ultimately supported the compromise for one very important reason,” Layon told Marijuana Moment in a statement. “I believe that while the franchise model is necessary for the bill to pass this year, the state will ultimately pivot away.” Sullivan has nevertheless become a lightning rod for criticism in the wake of last week’s House vote to table the bill. Sen. Tim Lang (R), who sat both on the state commission last year and on this month’s conference committee that negotiated the final bill, also suggested that House Democrats blocked the proposal to benefit themselves in the upcoming election. “Since over half of the House Democrats voted against it, and legalization is literally in their platform, I think they saw a political path for November election campaigning that benefitted them,” Lang told Marijuana Moment in an email, “and chose politics over actually legalization.” “This bill gave those who wanted legalization what they wanted,” he asserted. Pressed on why he would blame Democrats in particular when the bill was sponsored, amended and championed by Republicans—based on policy input from the state’s Republican governor—Lang responded that GOP lawmakers “don’t have legalization in their party platform, like the NH Dems do.” “Again, I think the Dems wanted to use this as a wedge issue in the coming election,” he repeated. “By passing legalization now, it takes the topic off the table.” Sullivan acknowledged that he sees legalization as a likely issue in the November election, though he emphasized that his vote to table HB 1633 was a response to the bill’s substance and not a political gambit. He downplayed warnings from critics that former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) is leading in the polls. Ayotte has already said she’d oppose legalization if elected. “There’s so little polling, it’s hard to know. It’s just kind of a vibe,” Sullivan said. “But my vibe is that it’s going to be Joyce Craig versus Kelly Ayotte.” Craig, a Democrat and three-term mayor of Manchester whose last term ended in January, recently sent out a press release in favor of legalization. “This is an issue that is going to help people,” Sullivan said, presumably referring to Democrats, pointing to past polling showing 70 percent support for legalization among New Hampshire residents. “I don’t know what percent, but some people, it’s their top issue. I don’t know what percent, but some people, it’s they’re top issue.” “I think that could be the difference between a couple points,” he added. “People might be right,” he acknowledged. “We might have Kelly Ayotte, and maybe Democrats lose seats coming up, but I think that’s unlikely.” Lang, the Republican senator, described marijuana legalization as “a 3%ish issue”—meaning “it could tilt an election by not more than 3% in either direction.” Fueling the belief among some that House Democrats voted down the bill in order to benefit themselves politically, candidate Cinde Warmington tweeted last week that “When I’m governor, we’ll stop this nonsense and finally legalize cannabis.” Others who voted for the tabling motion, such as Rep. Alissandra Murray (D), listed numerous concerns with the bill, including its increased criminal penalties for some cannabis conduct, the restrictive natures of the franchise approach and its lack of automatic expungements and home grow protections. 2) This was not a legalization bill. It increased penalties for possession and public consumption. While it did decriminalize possession of an ounce, 3/4oz is already decriminalized and no one is getting arrested for 1oz. That increase is insulting. — Alissandra Murray (@alissandra4mht) June 13, 2024 “To allow the state to tax and control the sale of a plant they have used to vilify and imprison the most marginalized for DECADES is utterly abhorrent,” Murray wrote, adding: “Next year, we will pass cannabis legalization that lets the free market thrive, promotes justice, and prioritizes access for our medical patients. And we will pass that legislation with a Democratic Governor and Democrat majorities in the House and Senate.” While Sullivan has been the focus of criticism by Republicans and advocates such as O’Keefe at MPP, other legalization advocates were glad to see the negotiated legalization proposal scrapped. Daryl Eames, founder of the New Hampshire Cannabis Association (NHCANN), had been pushing for lawmakers to reject the conference committee compromise, which he previously called a “Soviet Weed” bill that’s “wrong for New Hampshire,” claiming senators had “warped it beyond recognition.” Eames told Marijuana Moment that he thinks advocacy organizations such as Marijuana Policy Project and ACLU, which supported passage of the negotiated bill, “in some ways were selling out the state.” “They wanted to check off this state” as another legalization victory, Eames said, “and it didn’t seem to matter to them if there was 100 years of wreckage left behind.” ACLU of New Hampshire, for its part, said in a press release that “legalization is not just a political squabble about economic benefits—the war on marijuana has real-life impacts.” “Pushing legalization off yet another year makes clear that lawmakers are willing to ignore the will of their own constituents and are okay with continuing to needlessly ensnare around a thousand people—disproportionately Black people—in New Hampshire’s criminal justice system every year,” Devon Chaffee, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “While politicians argue, the impacts of these arrests will continue to ruin lives.” Eames’s own core objection to the proposal was the Liquor Commission’s close involvement in the industry through the bill’s franchise model, he said: “As soon as the Liquor Commission starts to come into the business, with its hands on plant-touching activities, that’s a line that they should not be crossing.” Asked what path forward he sees for legalization in light of the uncertain coming election, Eames said he thinks 16 senators should band together and come up with a workable legalization plan of their own. That would mean enough votes to overcome a governor’s veto, and Eames thinks House lawmakers would likely sign off on such a proposal given their historical support of legalization—the most recent vote notwithstanding. “We have 400 state reps, but we only have 24 senators. It’s always been everything dying in the Senate, or now something so vile coming out of the Senate,” he said. “It’s time for 16 senators to stand with the people and to stop standing with the governor, with the party power structures.” Is that what he’ll push for next session? “Absolutely,” Eames said. “It’s what we should have been requesting all along.” That level of agreement in the Senate would be unprecedented—this session, for instance, marked the first time that a majority of senators voted in favor the reform at all—but Eames said if 16 senators did get on board with a reform plan it would allow “legalization in the best way possible for the state of New Hampshire.” Layon, for her part, told Marijuana Moment she’s open to other lawmakers taking the lead on cannabis reform next session if they’re willing to commit to digging into the details, as she did this year. “Anything that we do we needs close attention and a focus on the policy details” she said. “If there’s somebody who can lead that charge and put in as much focus as I did, they will have my support.” But the lawmaker noted it wouldn’t be worth spending time and political capital on a legalization push “if it’s just a futile effort.” “If we look and we can’t count to 16 in the Senate—which I don’t think we will—and if we have a governor who’s clearly against it, I don’t think it’s worth the effort,” she said. “Groundhog Day is a great movie, but we don’t need to relive the same cannabis story each year.” Layon, who is up for reelection in November, also said she’s ready to dive back into the issue when it’s warranted. “I’ll hold onto the playbook,” she said, “and we’ll move forward when we have a good chance at success.” Lawmakers in the state worked extensively on marijuana reform issues last session and attempted to reach a compromise to enact legalization through a multi-tiered system that would include state-controlled shops, dual licensing for existing medical cannabis dispensaries and businesses privately licensed to individuals by state agencies. The legislature ultimately hit an impasse on the complex legislation. Bicameral lawmakers convened a state commission tasked with studying legalization and proposing a path forward last year, though the group ultimately failed to arrive at a consensus or propose final legislation. The Senate defeated a more conventional House-passed legalization bill last year, HB 639, despite its bipartisan support. Last May, the House defeated marijuana legalization language that was included in a Medicaid expansion bill. The Senate also moved to table another piece of legislation that month that would have allowed patients and designated caregivers to cultivate up to three mature plants, three immature plants and 12 seedlings for personal therapeutic use. After the Senate rejected the reform bills in 2022, the House included legalization language as an amendment to separate criminal justice-related legislation—but that was also struck down in the opposite chamber. New York Governor Links Illicit Marijuana Shop Crackdown To ‘Dramatically’ Increased Legal Sales, As Equity-Focused Activists Protest Administration The post New Hampshire Lawmakers And Advocates Blame Each Other Over Marijuana Legalization Bill’s Defeat appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Products that account for approximately 85% of plaintiffs’ revenue will become illegal because of the department’s interpretation.” By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch Two Iowa companies are suing the state over its interpretation of a new law that restricts THC levels in adult beverages. Climbing Kites, a Polk County beverage manufacturer, and Field Day Brewing Co., the Johnson County producer of the Day Dreamer line of cannabis sparkling water, are suing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in U.S. District Court. The lawsuit has its roots in the state Legislature’s passage of the Iowa Hemp Act of 2019. That law, along with the 2018 Farm Bill passed by Congress, excluded hemp from state and federal definitions of “marijuana,” effectively legalizing hemp production across the nation and in Iowa. The state law not only cleared the way for the production of hemp within Iowa, but also contemplated the production and sale of hemp-based consumables within the state. In 2020, a second hemp bill was approved by state lawmakers, establishing a consumable hemp program and approving the production of consumables with a maximum THC concentration of 0.3 percent or less, the same threshold established in federal law. In 2023, two separate groups of investors launched Climbing Kites in Des Moines and Field Day in North Liberty, and the two companies soon began producing canned beverages that contained carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavors and hemp-derived cannabis oil. The law limiting the level of THC, which is the primary psychoactive element of cannabis, in such products wasn’t an issue for either company, whose products contained THC in the range of 0.001 percent to 0.003 percent—far less than the legal maximum of 0.3 percent. In 2024, state lawmakers began considering legislation to further restrict the potency of hemp consumables. Despite opposition from the Consumable Hemp Advocates, the Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa and others, House File 2605 ultimately passed both chambers and was signed into law by the governor on May 17. The new law stipulates that the THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, concentration in a consumable must be less than, or equal to, three-tenths of 1 percent on a dry-weight basis, or equal to or less than 4 milligrams per serving. With the new law scheduled to take effect on July 1, DHHS recently issued written guidance for current manufacturers and retail sellers to follow. According to that guidance, DHHS intends to implement potency limits by altering the definition of a “serving” to one 12-ounce can—which, when combined with the new statute’s limitations, means a can of Climbing Kites or Day Dreamer cannot include more than 4 milligrams of THC. According to the lawsuit, that limit conflicts with the statute that says a consumable may contain up to 10 milligrams of THC per container. The result, the two companies claim, is that “the department will criminalize all (of their) beverage containers smaller than 12 fluid ounces” once the new law takes effect on July 1. They argue that approximately 80 percent of their current inventory will become illegal because of DHHS’s interpretation of the potency limits. “Products that account for approximately 85% of plaintiffs’ revenue will become illegal because of the department’s interpretation,” the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit alleges the state is violating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, noting that the federal Food and Drug Administration has the power to oversee food safety. The companies are seeking an immediate injunction preventing DHHS from enforcing the new limits, as well as an order declaring that a state-imposed potency limit of 4 milligrams per serving violates the Constitution, and that DHHS has no authority to interpret the provisions of House File 2605 in any manner beyond the plain language of the statute. The state, which says it does not comment on pending litigation, has yet to file a response. This story was first published by Iowa Capital Dispatch. Prohibitionist Group Represented By Former Trump Attorney General Urges DEA To Delay Marijuana Rescheduling Process Photo courtesy of Pixabay. The post Iowa Makers Of Cannabinoid-Infused Beverages Sue State Over New THC Limit appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Newly introduced Senate legislation would amend rules around marijuana use by students in Job Corps, a federal job training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), building on separate reforms already instituted administratively earlier this year. The changes are intended to protect participants from being automatically expelled for cannabis use as more states legalize, while allowing administrators greater leniency in how to address positive drug tests. A provision of the Job Corps for the Next Generation Act, sponsored by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI), would modify drug testing rules “to account for marijuana legalization in some states,” according to a one-page summary of the measure, which was introduced last week. Among other changes, it would end a statutory requirement that students are expelled after a second positive drug test. Though Job Corps is drug-free and alcohol-free program, participants are not automatically deemed ineligible as the result of a single positive test. Currently, all new and readmitted students are required to be tested for drug use upon arrival to a Job Corps center. If they test positive, they’re enrolled in prevention and education services and then screened a second time about 40 days later. A second positive is disqualifying. The changes to the drug screening protocol announced by Job Corps in February adjusted what qualified as a “negative” second marijuana screening result. Previously, any positive on the second test was grounds for dismissal for the program. Under the new guidance, someone who tests positive for marijuana on the second test would not be penalized so long as “there is at least a 50% reduction in THC levels.” Results below that threshold “will be considered a negative test” and attributed “to drug use prior to enrollment,” Job Corps said in documents about the change. “The student will stay in the program and receive relapse prevention services.” By further eliminating entirely the statutory requirement that the program expel students who return a second positive test, the senators’ bill “would potentially enable Job Corps to employ additional drug-testing, for example after a student returns from a break or before a student enters a trade involving the use of heavy equipment,” Murphy’s office explained in an email to Marijuana Moment, “without the fear that students that test positive will be automatically expelled.” In talking points from Job Corps, which were shared by Murphy’s office in an email about why the program supports the legislation, officials said the proposed changes recognize that cannabis products, “particularly in states where it has been legalized, have grown in strength (THC levels) significantly” and that the “higher concentration of THC takes longer to leave the body meaning more time is needed for that individual to test negative on a drug test after they are no longer using.” “For many of the disadvantaged youth Job Corps is aiming to bring into the workforce, marijuana products are legal, commonplace, and, in the absence of alternative means of behavioral and mental health care, a publicly accepted means to address health issues ranging from sleep challenges to depression,” the program said, according to Murphy’s office. “The Job Corps for the Next Generation Act will allow marijuana use to be approached as a behavioral health and employability issue to be addressed and treated, so more young Americans can be reintegrated into the workforce to help address critical workforce shortages,” the comments continued. Murphy, in a release about the Job Corps for the Next Generation Act, called Job Corps “an amazing program that helps train and connect young people across the country to good-paying jobs in fields like manufacturing and healthcare,” but added that “it’s in need of some serious updates.” His bill will “modernize Job Corps and ensure that helping students secure full-time employment is the top priority,” the senator said. The earlier rule change applied to students arriving into the program as of February 13. It did not affect how positive results around other drugs are treated. “This change has long been requested by students, staff, and parents,” officials said at the time. “We believe these changes will allow us to better serve as many students as we can, and it means our policy will now screen students into the program rather than out of it.” Separate legislation passed by the House in April, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, would make other changes to Job Corps drug testing rules, for example extending the timeline for a second drug test to 50 days. Cannabis-related employment policies have been a major topic across the country amid the marijuana legalization movement. As marijuana legalization began to take effect in Ohio last year, for example, Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb (D) announced that the city had “modernized” its drug testing policies for applicants for city jobs, eliminating “antiquated language around pre-employment marijuana testing that has previously hindered hiring efforts.” And Washington, D.C. law went into effect last July that bans most private workplaces from firing or otherwise punishing employees for marijuana use during non-work hours. Michigan officials approved changes to the state’s employment policy last summer, making it so applicants for most government jobs will no longer be subject to pre-employment drug testing for marijuana. New York also provides broader employment protections for adults who legally use cannabis during off-hours and away from work. In California, meanwhile, two pieces of legislation signed into law in 2022 and 2023 took effect recently that prohibit employers from asking job applicants about past cannabis use and bar employers from penalizing workers over lawful marijuana use while off the job. The Job Corps policy reflects an approach also seen in a new Washington State law that bars pre-employment drug testing for marijuana but nevertheless allows employers to fire workers for testing positive after they’re hired. Prohibitionist Group Represented By Former Trump Attorney General Urges DEA To Delay Marijuana Rescheduling Process The post Senate Bill Would Protect Job Corps Students From Being Automatically Expelled Over Marijuana Use appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Marijuana opponents: Delay rescheduling; MD gov: expungements needed; NY gov: illegal cannabis crackdown boosts legal sales; CA psilocybin; TX decrim Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible… BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today. https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The California State Fair will allow marijuana sales and on-site consumption for the first time this year, with next month’s event also continuing the cannabis awards competition that it has hosted for the last several years. The House Rules Committee will consider amendments to block federal officials from seizing marijuana products from state-licensed businesses, as has occurred recently in New Mexico, and to prevent agencies from testing job applicants for cannabis in legalized jurisdictions. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is pledging to build on his mass marijuana pardons by working with lawmakers to create a process to automatically expunge cannabis records as well. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said the state’s enforcement actions against unlicensed marijuana businesses are resulting in increased sales at legal dispensaries. Some advocates, however, say the governor and corporate interests are undermining legalization’s equity goals. Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana is asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to delay its final cannabis rescheduling decision by allowing more time for public comment. The request was submitted by a law firm founded by former Trump administration Attorney General William Barr. California lawmakers amended a bill to authorize a pilot program on psilocybin treatment for military veterans and first responders by narrowing eligibility criteria for participants and facilitators who could administer the psychedelic. A Texas House candidate is leading a petitioning effort to put a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the local ballot in Bastrop, the latest in a city-by-city effort to reform cannabis policies across the state. A Missouri marijuana dispensary on the border of Arkansas stays busy “from the time we’re open till the time we’re closed,” a manager says, with local officials estimating that 90 percent of license plates in the parking lot are from Arkansas. / FEDERAL The House Ethics Committee is reviewing allegations that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) engaged in illicit drug use and other misconduct. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) tweeted about Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) mass marijuana pardon, saying, “I support @GovWesMoore’s efforts to make our criminal justice system fairer and address disparities + systemic challenges in our drug policy.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) tweeted, “For decades, the criminalization of recreational marijuana use has harmed communities, wasted taxpayer dollars, hurt our economy & contributed to the scandal of mass incarceration for nonviolent offenses. This [mass cannabis pardon] move from @GovWesMoore is a major step forward to right these wrongs.” Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) complained about illegal Chinese-backed marijuana cultivation operations in his state in a letter he sent Attorney General Merrick Garland pushing back against the Department of Justice’s lawsuit over an Oklahoma immigration law. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) tweeted, “Thank you @GovWesMoore for pardoning tens of thousands of our people saddled with marijuana convictions before Juneteenth. At all levels of government, let’s uplift civil liberties, civil rights and public health by ending the war on marijuana, a war on our own people.” / STATES Colorado’s attorney general is suing a business for allegedly illegally selling marijuana products marketed as federally legal industrial hemp. Massachusetts’s inspector general is urging lawmakers to appoint a receiver to manage the Cannabis Control Commission, calling it “a rudderless agency without a clear indication of who is responsible for running its day-to-day operations.” A Florida representative authored an op-ed urging voters to approve the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot. Washington State adopted rules concerning medical cannabis endorsement holders. California regulators rejected a petition to harmonize rules on manufacture of cannabis edibles and other cannabis–infused products. Delaware regulators launched a cannabis social equity validation application and disproportionately impacted areas map. New Jersey regulators approved additional marijuana business licenses and discussed medical cannabis issues. Missouri regulators posted the results of the second round of a marijuana microbusiness license lottery drawing. Maryland regulators announced additional marijuana business license lottery winners to be awarded at the end of this month. Minnesota regulators will open the cannabis social equity verification process on Monday. Vermont regulators will begin issuing licenses for marijuana propagation cultivators next month. Nevada regulators will consider changes to marijuana rules on Thursday. Oregon regulators will consider marijuana business stipulated settlement agreements on Thursday. — 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. — / LOCAL New York City officials selected Tuatara Capital as investment manager of Cannabis NYC Loan Fund. The Canton, Ohio City Council approved marijuana business rules. / INTERNATIONAL A Western Australia lawmaker said he will continue pushing to legalize cannabis. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A review suggested “the applicability of cannabis-based medicines for vasospastic and vaso-occlusive disorders affecting the hand (eg, Raynaud disease, Buerger disease).” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The Baltimore Sun editorial board said Maryland Gov Wes Moore’s (D) mass marijuana pardon is only a first step toward repairing the harms of the drug war. / BUSINESS Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. has a new chief financial officer. Healing Realty Trust closed the first tranche of its $25 million Series A funding round. Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox. Get our daily newsletter. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: The post Calif. State Fair to allow cannabis use & sales on site (Newsletter: June 19, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net