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“We know from other states that when legal marijuana is taxed unnecessarily high, it only helps the illicit market.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A judge in St. Louis ruled Thursday that local municipalities can stack sales taxes on marijuana dispensaries, the first court ruling on a much-debated issue playing out around the state. The lawsuit was filed by Robust Missouri 3 LLC. The company saw its Florissant dispensary’s tax rate on cannabis products rise to 14.988 percent after both the city and St. Louis County approved 3 percent sales taxes on adult-use marijuana in April 2023. The constitutional amendment that legalized recreational cannabis sales included a 6 percent statewide excise tax—but it also authorized “any local government” to charge a sales tax of up to 3 percent. At the heart of Robust’s lawsuit is whether the law intended for local governments to be able to impose a maximum of 3 percent sales combined, or if they can each impose a 3 percent sales tax. St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May ruled that both governments’ taxes are valid. In his Thursday order, May stated there is no court precedent on this issue, so he interpreted the intent of the law “as a whole and not in isolated parts.” While the law allows for recreational marijuana to be legal, he stated it also intended for local governments to be able to “protect public health.” “If [Robust’s] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue,” May wrote in the ruling. May pointed to the provision that allows the city to approve placing a dispensary within less than 1,000 feet of any then-existing school. “…and the county, and other cities in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, would have no say in that decision,” May wrote. “This absurd outcome would directly contradict the stated purpose of the [amendment].” The ruling is a win for the Missouri Association of Counties, said Steve Hobbs, the association’s executive director. The association has strongly advocated that counties have the ability to do this, he said. “The bulk of the counties around the state had gone to the voters and asked them to implement this tax,” Hobbs told The Independent on Friday. “And I think every one of them approved of it. I think [the ruling] removes some uncertainty from those counties.” On the other side, leaders of the marijuana industry have called the effort to collect both taxes an “unconstitutional money grab” that violates the terms of the amendment. “We know from other states that when legal marijuana is taxed unnecessarily high, it only helps the illicit market,” said Andrew Mullins, executive director Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, in a statement to The Independent Friday, “which deprives Missouri veterans and substance abuse programs of needed revenue.” Robust Missouri has submitted an appeal on the circuit court’s decision. Another similar case is pending in Buchanan County. St. Joseph dispensary Vertical Enterprises sued Buchanan County Collector Peggy Campbell, arguing that it, too, would be “irreparably harmed” if both taxes were imposed. A hearing is scheduled in that case for May 16 in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County. This story was first published by Missouri Independent. Marijuana Legalization Opponents Raise Money For Potential Lawsuit Against Federal Rescheduling Move The post Missouri Counties And Cities Can Stack Marijuana Taxes On Top Of One Another, Judge Rules appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Biden administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana “adds support” for an effort to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania, the governor’s office says. While moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would not legalize it, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) says the move could bolster state-level reform efforts. “Governor Shapiro has made clear that we need to catch up—practically every one of our neighbors has legalized marijuana and is benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue—and this important step by the federal government only adds support to the Governor’s proposal,” Shapiro’s spokesperson Manuel Bonder told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday. Shapiro once again proposed legalization as part of his budget request in February, seeking to establish a system that would be implemented starting this summer. Lawmakers have also been holding a series of hearings to discuss various policy considerations as they work to draft a legalization bill. Rescheduling marijuana under the CSA wouldn’t federally legalize it, but advocates and stakeholders hope that the modest reform will act as a catalyst both for congressional and state-level legislation. “The Shapiro Administration stands ready to work with the General Assembly to take advantage of this opportunity to legalize marijuana and make our Commonwealth more competitive and more just,” Bonder said. Two Pennsylvania legislative panels held a joint hearing to discuss marijuana legalization last week, with multiple lawmakers asking the state’s top liquor regulator about the prospect of having that agency run cannabis shops. Last month, members of that panel 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.” 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 last month is an identical companion to a bipartisan Senate cannabis legalization measure that was introduced last year. Meanwhile, a former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson recently said the agency’s marijuana rescheduling proposal is “understandable” because it “reflects the reality” of public opinion toward the medical value of cannabis—even if he personally has concerns about the broader move toward reform. A Democratic congressman also told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday that, in light of DEA’s rescheduling determination, he expects the Justice Department will “reissue and expand” the Obama-era guidance that generally formalized a policy of non-intervention with respect to state marijuana laws. — Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,400 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. — Back in Pennsylvania, the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a report in March that found the state stands to generate $271 million in annual revenue if marijuana is legalized and taxed according to the governor’s proposal—but it would have been more if the commonwealth hadn’t been lapped by other neighboring states that have already enacted the reform. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris (D) said in a recent interview that it’s “high time” to legalize marijuana and lay the groundwork for businesses in the state to export cannabis to other markets if federal law changes—and he sees a “real opportunity” to do so. However, the committee’s minority chairman, Rep. Seth Grove (R), said he’s doubtful that the Democratic-controlled House will be able to craft and deliver legalization legislation that could advance through the GOP majority Senate. Pennsylvania lawmakers also recently advanced a pair of bills meant to prevent police from charging medical cannabis patients with impaired driving without proof of intoxication. A Republican senator in Pennsylvania introduced a bill last month meant to remove state barriers to medical marijuana patients carrying firearms after previewing the legislation and soliciting co-sponsors earlier this year. In December, the governor signed a bill to allow all licensed medical marijuana grower-processors in the state to serve as retailers and sell their cannabis products directly to patients. Independent dispensaries could also start cultivating their own marijuana. A poll released in February found that about two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters in the state support enacting marijuana legalization. Former DEA Head Says Marijuana Rescheduling ‘Reflects The Reality’ Of Public Support For Reform The post Biden’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move ‘Adds Support’ For Pennsylvania Legalization Effort, Governor’s Office Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The Oregon cannabis industry meeting with special guest Tressa Yonekawa Bundren will present issues that need wordle to be discussed together to reach a final agreement.

Germany’s government is moving forward with the second phase of marijuana legalization to create a pilot program for commercial sales—through an administrative process, rather than having lawmakers pass a separate bill to enact the reform as was initially expected, according to a new press report. While it’s long been assumed that legislators would need to introduce and pass complementary sales legislation to fulfill the second “pillar” of legalization, the federal government is apparently taking a rulemaking approach that may speed up implementation. Marijuana legalization was implemented under a bill that the Federal Ministry of Health spearheaded and went into effect at the beginning of last month. So adults are now able to possess and cultivate cannabis, in addition to joining cooperatives that are expected to launch in July where they could access the plant. But there’s currently no commercial framework for sales. According to Tagesspiegel Background, however, the law that’s already in effect also provides regulatory discretion to build upon the initial reform. That is, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is empowered to establish rules to create a commercial pilot program so adults can buy cannabis in certain jurisdictions without any additional legislative action. Of course, that could also mean that any reform that’s implemented could be more easily reversed by a future administration. But in the short-term, the process for sales could be expedited. Agriculture officials have reportedly circulated a letter soliciting input on possible regulations to allow for retail sales under a pilot program, with comments due by May 10. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who has led the government’s cannabis legalization efforts, told members of the Bundestag in December that “we are currently examining” the commercial sales plan. But with legalization in effect, there’s been increased pressure to expedite that process. Meanwhile, the Bundesrat representing individual states previously tried to block the now-enacted legalization proposal last September but ultimately failed. Despite that, members of the Bundesrat ultimately reached a deal with Lauterbach and other government ministers and declined to refer the cannabis legislation to a mediation committee that would have delayed implementation by six months. — Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,400 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. — While Germany’s Federal Cabinet approved the initial framework for a legalization measure in late 2022, the government also said it wanted to get signoff from the EU to ensure that enacting the reform wouldn’t put them in violation of their international obligations. Officials took a first step toward legalization in 2022, kicking off a series of hearings meant to help inform legislation to end prohibition in the country. Government officials from multiple countries, including the U.S., also met in Germany last November to discuss international marijuana policy issues as the host nation works to enact legalization. A group of German lawmakers, as well as Narcotics Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert, separately visited the U.S. and toured California cannabis businesses in 2022 to inform their country’s approach to legalization. The visit came after top officials from Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands held a first-of-its-kind meeting to discuss plans and challenges associated with recreational marijuana legalization. Leaders of the coalition government said in 2021 that they had reached an agreement to end cannabis prohibition and enact regulations for a legal industry, and they first previewed certain details of that plan last year. A novel international survey that was released in 2022 found majority support for legalization in several key European countries, including Germany. Meanwhile, the United Nations’s (UN) drug control body recently reiterated that it considers legalizing marijuana for non-medical or scientific purposes a violation of international treaties, though it also said it appreciates that Germany’s government scaled back its cannabis plan ahead of the recent vote. Former DEA Head Says Marijuana Rescheduling ‘Reflects The Reality’ Of Public Support For Reform Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Germany’s Government Seeks To Launch Marijuana Sales Pilot Program Through Regulations Instead Of Another Bill, Report Says appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) head says the agency’s marijuana rescheduling proposal is “understandable” because it “reflects the reality” of public opinion toward the medical value of cannabis—even if he personally has concerns about the broader move toward reform. In an interview with Fox News this week, former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson also said it “absolutely looks like” the agency will follow through with moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). “Whenever we see over a dozen states now have medical marijuana, clearly there’s a movement for reclassification,” he said. “And so it’s not a surprise to me.” “I think it reflects the reality of today’s both culture but also the public sentiment. That’s most significant,” Hutchinson, a Republican who also served as governor of Arkansas, said. “And while the medical community still has not arrived at the conclusion that marijuana is beneficial for medical purposes, the public has arrived at the conclusion that it is and so the reclassification is understandable.” He stressed that while rescheduling would represent a “dramatic change,” it’s important for people to understand that a Schedule III reclassification would not legalize it. It might lower certain penalties for cannabis-related activity, but “it will remain illegal.” Notably, while Hutchinson was known for taking an aggressive enforcement approach to marijuana while running DEA, he acknowledged in the new interview that its Schedule I status inhibited research, and so rescheduling means “there’s gonna be a lot more studies.” “It will be easier to study, and hopefully that will be beneficial over the long term,” he said.  For context, during his time as DEA administrator from 2001 to 2003, Hutchinson earned the ire of advocates for authorizing federal raids against state-legal medical cannabis providers in several California jurisdictions, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Humboldt County, El Dorado County and Ventura County. The former administrator, who also mounted an unsuccessful bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was additionally asked about congressional marijuana reform proposals, including a cannabis banking bill and newly reintroduced legalization proposal. “Well the question is: Does society want another harmful product that has increased usage among the public and particularly young people?” Hutchinson said. “It’s conceded statistically that whenever you move toward legalization or regulatory environment, you take away the legal penalties, the usage is gonna go up.” To that end, he said he hopes any plans to fully deschedule marijuana are “put way off into the future.” “This gives us an opportunity, as a Schedule III, to actually study it and see more of the long-term health issues that are involved here and then make a wise decision down the road,” he said. “In my view, there’s ample evidence that this continues to be harmful, addictive and and that we should not legalize it, and that’s what happens if you take it off of a regulated substance.” Meanwhile, the top Democrat in the U.S. House said on Wednesday that the Biden administration’s move to reschedule marijuana is a “step in the right direction,” but it should be followed up with congressional action such as passing the legalization bill Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a Republican senator said this week that marijuana is a “gateway drug,” and Democrats’ moves to legalize it reflect “pro-criminal, anti-American policies” that will “stimulate more crime on American streets.” He also argued that cannabis banking legislation “facilitates an entire infrastructure and an ecosystem for more drug usage in America.” Former Biden Cabinet Member Is ‘Concerned’ About Marijuana Legalization Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen. The post Former DEA Head Says Marijuana Rescheduling ‘Reflects The Reality’ Of Public Support For Reform appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A Republican senator says marijuana is a “gateway drug,” and Democrats’ moves to legalize it reflect “pro-criminal, anti-American policies” that will “stimulate more crime on American streets.” He also argued that cannabis banking legislation “facilitates an entire infrastructure and an ecosystem for more drug usage in America.” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said during an interview on Thursday that he’s opposed to both comprehensive legalization legislation such as the bill Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 17 other Democrats reintroduced this week, as well as modest reform like the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. “What the Joe Biden administration—what Leader Schumer—is trying to do is basically stimulate more crime on American streets,” Hagerty said. “Here we have Chuck Schumer basically lowering the barriers for gateway drugs like marijuana, and it’s going to damage society, and this is exactly what Democrats have been pushing. This is not good for America.” He added that the push for cannabis legalization is an attempt to “incentivize more drug usage in America.” Asked for his thoughts on the SAFER Banking Act to simply protect financial institutions that work with state-licensed marijuana businesses, the senator said it “facilitates an entire infrastructure, an ecosystem, for more drug usage in America.” “We need to be constraining drug usage, not encouraging it,” he said. Hagerty said that Democrats’ marijuana reform efforts are “completely political,” designed to shore up support from a “small fragment” of voters who care about cannabis policy ahead of the November election. “What they’re trying to do is cobble together a very disparate group of people to vote for Joe Biden,” he said. “Nobody likes his overall policies. If you look at American sentiment, everyone says that America is moving in the wrong direction. But what they’re trying to do is pick off minor issues like this—encouraging drug abuse, frankly. It’s obscene that this would be happening.” This is Exhibit A why I thought the @DEAHQ should announce #Schedule3 (fwiw, S3 was leaked not announced) on a Friday prior to a recess. Unless they wanted the GOP to embarrass themselves…#SAFEBanking Thanks to @TylerOlson1791 at @FoxNews for the questions. @AmericanCCo (Also… pic.twitter.com/9JQj8LaQFm — Don Murphy (@donmurphy12a) May 2, 2024 “But this is Chuck Schumer’s perspective on basically putting another sliver of the Biden fragmented population together to vote for him. It’s a shame,” he continued. “Democrats are willing to do anything to maintain power here in Washington.” Fox News reporter Tyler Olson pointed out that even certain red states such as Montana have moved forward with marijuana legalization regardless of federal prohibition and asked the senator if he thought it would make sense to have some kind of regulatory framework to account for that. “I don’t think we should be doing anything to facilitate an ecosystem of drug abuse,” he said. “That’s precisely what’s going on.” Despite his firm opposition, Hagerty and other GOP senators inadvertently made the case for marijuana legalization last year while warning that a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes could empower international criminal organizations to take advantage of an illicit market that would emerge. The prospect of passing a legalization bill such as the measure Schumer filed this week are slim in the divided Congress. But some lawmakers do believe that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision to move forward with marijuana rescheduling could bolster the chances of advancing other cannabis reforms such as the SAFER Banking Act this Congress. Schumer signaled this week that he’s not giving up hope on attaching the marijuana banking bill to must-pass aviation legislation. But Republican leaders in both chambers continue to represent roadblocks for the reform. Former Biden Cabinet Member Is ‘Concerned’ About Marijuana Legalization Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post GOP Senator Says Marijuana Is A ‘Gateway Drug,’ And Legalization Is A ‘Pro-Criminal, Anti-American’ Policy appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A former U.S. labor secretary who previously served as mayor of Boston as Massachusetts’s marijuana legalization law came into effect, spoke out against what he described as a “slippery slope” of cannabis reform during a C-SPAN interview this week. Marty Walsh, who also discussed his own substance use disorder and recovery in the interview, said he’s “worried” about legalization efforts and gets “concerned about where we’re headed there.” Asked how he felt about his state’s move to legalize, the former Biden cabinet member replied: “I didn’t love it. When I was mayor of Boston, I fought it. I get concerned. I think it’s a slippery slope.” Walsh, who opposed the 2016 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in his state and later voted against a proposed Democratic National Committee party plank to endorse cannabis legalization in 2020, noted that advocates at first seemed to want to decriminalize marijuana, then later pushed legalize it for medical uses. “And now you have marijuana” legal for adults, he added. “And I’m just worried, you know. You have have some places in the country trying to legalize it and opioids. I get concerned about that. I just get concerned about where we’re headed there.” Later in the interview, he claimed that “alcohol deaths are higher than, actually, opioid deaths at this point in our country,” and argued that manufacturers of dangerous or impairing substances should be liable for costs of therapy and recovery. Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, he said, “enraged me and lots of people with what they got away with.” “When you think about advertising for alcohol, or marijuana now, when you put an advertisement on a train…you’re targeting young people,” Walsh said. “You already have the 25 year old. You don’t have to put a fancy thing there for an ad for alcohol for a 25 year old. But you’re targeting younger people. We have to be sensitive to all that, and I think that in some of these cases, these companies who are responsible for the devastation they’re causing should be paying some money into fix that devastation.” Despite opposing legalization of marijuana generally, Walsh nevertheless was supportive of President Joe Biden’s pardons of people with low-level federal marijuana offenses on their records. In 2022, he pledged to work diligently to make sure people who were pardoned saw relief. “I commend the president for his actions,” he said at the time. “We’re going to work with [those who were pardoned] to make sure that they can get into good employment—that this is not an impediment to their ability to get into the middle class and get a good-paying job.” Though Walsh continues to oppose legalization nearly eight years after Massachusetts adopted the reform, a recent poll found that 65 percent of Bay State residents think the decision to legalize cannabis was the right move. Majority Of Americans Say Marijuana Banking Bill Would Promote Public Safety And Help Underserved Communities, Financial Association Poll Finds Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Former Biden Cabinet Member Is ‘Concerned’ About Marijuana Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“The revocation is the result of ongoing violations, most recently for selling more than 1,800 expired products.” By Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate Arkansas’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division revoked a Hot Springs medical marijuana dispensary’s license Thursday, the first revocation of its kind in the five years medical cannabis sales have been legal in the state. Dragan Vicentic, owner of Green Springs Medical Marijuana Dispensary, said in an interview that he will appeal ABC’s decision to its board. The appeal will allow the business to remain operational until the issue is resolved, according to a Department of Finance and Administration news release. “The revocation is the result of ongoing violations, most recently for selling more than 1,800 expired products,” the news release states. “ABC enforcement agents conducted an undercover purchase of expired products in October 2023 following a verbal warning regarding these products.” ABC issued the dispensary a fine after two inspections last year, Vicentic said, and he made a case for reducing the fine. He said the issues at hand were “fully explainable” and he was surprised at ABC’s response. “I thought the fine amount would be reduced because of my satisfactory explanation, and the next thing I knew, the director asked for a revocation of the license, which I thought was very extreme,” Vicentic said. Trent Minner, leader of the finance department’s regulatory division, said in the news release that Green Springs has had “over 50 violations and warnings over the last four years.” “A license to operate in the medical marijuana industry in Arkansas is a privilege not to be taken lightly,” Minner said. “When state law is consistently disregarded, ABC has a duty to revoke the license.” Green Springs’s previous violations of medical marijuana regulations include: Failure to maintain sanitary processing areas Failure to meet required standards for inventory information Failure to maintain accurate personnel records Failure to maintain video surveillance on the property Lack of commercial grade locks at the facilities Improper signage ABC Director Christy Bjornson said in the news release that the division anticipates Vicentic’s appeal. The ABC board will hear both Vicentic’s and the division’s case and decide whether to revoke or maintain the license. Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016 to legalize marijuana for medicinal use. The state has 37 dispensaries besides Green Springs, which was the second to open in 2019 upon being licensed. Purchases at the state’s dispensaries total $1.1 billion so far in five years, according to the finance department. This story was first published by Arkansas Advocate. Marijuana Rescheduling Would Not Bring State Markets ‘Into Compliance’ With Federal Law, Congressional Researchers Say The post Arkansas Medical Marijuana Dispensary Gets License Revoked Over Alleged Violations appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Alaska’s House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved amended legislation that would 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. After adopting a handful of changes to the bill a day earlier, the body passed the measure on a 36–4 vote following sometimes charged testimony from lawmakers. If it becomes law, HB 228 would not change the legal status of any drugs in Alaska. Rather, it would create a legislative task force that would spend the rest of the year studying how to license and regulate psychedelic therapy in the state. A report from the group with recommendations would be due on or before January 31, 2025. A Senate companion, SB 166, has already passed out of one committee in that chamber and had another committee hearing in February. Both MDMA and psilocybin have been granted breakthrough therapy status by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and recent clinical trials have MDMA on pace for possible FDA approval later this year. “This August, it is widely anticipated that FDA will approve the most significant medicine for the treatment of mental health in decades,” sponsor Rep. Jenny Armstrong (D) told colleagues ahead of Thursday’s House vote, adding that approval of psilocybin could happen in the “next one or two years.” “House Bill 228 before us today would create a task force that would put forth recommendations for the next legislature to consider as it relates to this treatment,” she said. “Whether you are excited about the idea of psychedelics getting approved, you’re neutral or you’re flat-out against it, I think we can all agree that if it is coming. We should be prepared and be thoughtful in how we approach it.” The bill’s few opponents attacked the proposal as premature and irresponsible. Rep. Dan Saddler, the Republican majority leader in the House, said he worried the bill “reflects an uncritical acceptance of the idea that use of psychedelic drugs are beneficial.” “I rise against this bill because I don’t believe we should be going off in a direction in what I believe to be a premature fashion,” he said, claiming that the task force also “to some degree encroaches on the purview of the legislature.” Rep. Jamie Allard (R) said she found it offensive that veterans and their mental health needs were being used “as a platform” to further the cause of psychedelic medicine. “Using our military veterans as experiments? We aren’t experiments,” she said. “We are human beings who deserve to have things done in the proper manner, and slowly and concisely.” The most dire warnings came from Rep. David Eastman (R), who said that “what you can use for good can also be used for ill.” “I look at the history of medicine in this country, and it was not that long ago that we were told—and our entire government, you know, echoed—that lobotomies were a good thing, and they were carried out in our country,” Eastman said. “I hope that we will not look back some number of years now and see that hallucinogens were also a mistake.” But most members who spoke Thursday said they were open to the task force as a meaningful step toward addressing the state’s mental health crisis. As Armstrong noted, Alaska has “the highest number of veterans per capita and, unfortunately, some of the highest rates of violence in our country.” “I’m in support of this bill because I’ve been affected by it directly,” said Rep. Laddie Shaw (R). “As the former director for state Veterans Affairs, I’ve had veterans come to me regarding this bill, and they have said, ‘We’ve done nothing for the past 50 years. Let’s do something.'” “This task force gives us an opportunity to move forward with some productivity on behalf of our veterans,” Shaw added. “We haven’t done anything for the last 50 years. Let’s move forward with something.” Rep. Sarah Vance (R) said the matter was “a challenging and uncomfortable topic.” “Even though psychedelic drugs make me very, very uncomfortable—I’m very, very reticent to say yes to the use of these medicines—I want to know what the impact is,” she said. “And that’s why I’m standing in support of this task force, to ask the appropriate questions.” During a House floor session a day earlier, the body adopted a number of amendments to the bill. Among them, a change from Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R)—who voted in support of the bill on Thursday—added a member to the task force selected by the board of directors of the Alaska Pharmacy Association. An amendment to that amendment, from Eastman, removed a University of Alaska faculty member from the task force in order to “maintain the same size of the task force,” he said. A more substantial amendment from Eastman made a number of adjustments, for example extending the due date for the task force’s report to the legislature until January 31, 2025 instead of December 31 of this year, as the bill previously specified. It also sunsets the task force at the end—rather than at the beginning—of the next legislative session. Other changes allow legislators on the task force to send designees if they cannot attend a meeting, and it clarifies that task force meetings could be held virtually. “These are all items that we were looking to clean up with the other body if they weren’t tackled today,” Armstrong said after Eastman explained the new provisions,” and so I fully support them. Another amendment, from Rep. Andrew Gray (D), requires that some groups choosing task force members, such as the Alaska State Medical Association, specifically select physicians as representatives. Now that it has cleared the House, the bill has been scheduled for a Monday hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House State Affairs Committee approved the legislation in early April after adopting an amendment that changed the proposed name of the task force and clarified its objective. The amendment “simply changes the name of the task force to make it clear what the task force will be taking part in,” Rep. Ashley Carrick (D), who proposed the change, explained at the time, “and that they will not be taking a position on legalization, decriminalization or medicalization of psychedelic drugs.” The name of the body would be the Alaska Task Force for the Regulation of Psychedelic Medicines Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Initially it would have been called the Alaska Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. Lawmakers rejected another proposed title change this week from from Eastman that would have added “the advisability of” to the task force’s name, thus making it the Alaska Task Force for the Advisability of the Regulation of Psychedelic Medicines Approved by the FDA. Eastman said was intended to acknowledge that not all members of the group would support the state’s eventual FDA-approved psychedelics. That amendment failed 3–36 on the House floor. Another change from Eastman that colleagues denied would have put the governor in charge of appointing some task force members, rather than the legislature. Armstrong noted that the proposal initially would have created an executive task force, but it became a legislative one as the result of state legal guidance. The amendment was rejected on a 1–39 vote. Armstrong again emphasized to colleagues that the task force “is not going to be immediately implementing anything” and would instead “simply be making policy recommendations that then come to the legislature, for the legislature to consider—and then you introduce bills and go through that whole process.” “I kind of say this a lot,” she continued. “The task force is not taking a position on whether this is good or bad… There might be people in the task force who think the FDA doing this is terrible, and those in the task force who think the FDA doing this is great. We’ve really narrowly limited this to insurance, licensing and other legal and other regulatory changes.” Armstrong has made similar assurances at committee meetings this session. “At the end of the day, our goal is to safely maximize the benefit of these medicines for Alaska,” she said at last month’s State Affairs Committee hearing. “This is not something where we are here to defend or promote or take a position on psychedelics. Rather, this is something that is coming. The clinical trials on this began 20 years ago. And so I think, perhaps, even if you are a little nervous or you are unsure, that is the reason why we want to have a task force.” She reminded members at the time that psychedelics are far from the only controversial class of medically beneficial drug. “There are many prescriptions that are controversial,” Armstrong said. “Everything from birth control to painkillers and even ibuprofen can be controversial sometimes.” Armstrong has also noted in past hearings that Alaska has “the highest share of veterans per capita and one of the highest suicide rates in the nation,” arguing the state could benefit more than others from preparing for federal changes. “Coupled with also being a state where 43.3 percent of women and 30.2 percent of men in Alaska experience domestic violence and related crimes in their lifetimes and where 84 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native women experience violence,” she said in March, “there is a potential for these medicines to have a profoundly positive impact on the mental health crises we see statewide.” A fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development says the state would incur no cost from the change. Members of a separate House panel previously adopted amendments to bring the bill into alignment with its Senate companion, SB 166, which has already passed out of one committee in that chamber and had another committee hearing in February. Among the changes, the amendments made the task force a legislative group rather than an executive one—designed to reduce the proposal’s fiscal note to zero—and added a member to the task force representing psychiatric nurse practitioners. Also, rather than have the task force elect a chair itself, the latest version of the bill says that the members appointed by the president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives would by default serve as the group’s co-chairs. Sponsors filed the legislation in both chambers in January. Alaskans generally support reforms to policies around psychedelics, especially with regard to mental health. Just under half (49.4 percent) of those surveyed in a recent poll said they favor broadly removing criminal penalties around substances such as psilocybin mushrooms. When respondents were told that Alaska has particularly high rates of mental illnesses that could potentially be treated with psychedelics, however, support for the reform rose to 65 percent. “It’s inspiring to see such a positive shift in how people view the use of these plant medicines,” said the Alaska Entheogenic Awareness Council (AKEAC), an advocacy group that published the new poll. “More people are recognizing the value of these substances in addressing certain mental health conditions.” Congressional Committee Approves GOP-Led Psychedelics Bill Focused On Military Veterans’ Therapeutic Access Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Workman. The post Alaska House Passes Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force In Anticipation Of Federal Legalization appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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If the federal government reschedules marijuana as proposed by the Justice Department, that would not legalize cannabis or bring state-regulated markets “into compliance” with federal law, congressional researchers said in a new analysis. However, moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would allow state-licensed cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions and remove certain barriers to marijuana research, the Congressional Research Service’s (CRS) “Legal Sidebar” report says. Days after it was confirmed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agreed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that cannabis should be reclassified, CRS published an overview of legal implications on Thursday. Perhaps most importantly, the non-partisan office reiterated that rescheduling marijuana, “without other legal changes, would not bring the state-legal medical or recreational marijuana industry into compliance with federal controlled substances law.” “With respect to the manufacture, distribution, and possession of recreational marijuana, if marijuana were moved to Schedule III, such activities would remain illegal under federal law and potentially subject to federal prosecution regardless of their status under state law,” it said. “Some criminal penalties for CSA violations depend on the schedule in which a substance is classified. If marijuana were moved to Schedule III, applicable penalties for some offenses would be reduced. However, CSA penalties that apply to activities involving marijuana specifically, such as the quantity-based mandatory minimum sentences discussed above, would not change as a result of rescheduling. DEA is not required to set annual production quotas for Schedule III controlled substances.” However, the potential reclassification would not affect a longstanding congressional appropriations rider preventing the Justice Department from using its funds to interfere in state medical cannabis programs. The report echoes points CRS made in a separate marijuana analysis published in January. Unlike Schedule I drugs, substances in Schedule III are defined as having “an accepted medical use and may lawfully be dispensed by prescription,” but only if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a specific product, CRS said. FDA has approved certain cannabis-based medications, but botanical marijuana that’s available in state markets is unlikely to meet the agency’s standards for widespread approval. One of the key legal effects of moving marijuana to Schedule III concerns an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E, which blocks individuals from taking federal business deductions for expenses related to commerce involving Schedule I and Schedule II substances. “Other collateral legal consequences would continue to attach to unauthorized marijuana-related activities,” CRS said. Such “collateral consequences arising from the federal prohibition of marijuana,” the report says, include implications for bankruptcy proceedings, immigration status and gun ownership. The report also explains that scheduling changes can be implemented both through the administrative process that led to the new reclassification decision and through acts of Congress. “If Congress wishes to change the legal status of marijuana, it has broad authority to do so before or after DEA makes any final scheduling decision,” CRS said. “Several proposals from the 118th Congress would remove marijuana from control under the CSA or move the substance to a less restrictive schedule.” “Rescheduling or descheduling marijuana under the CSA could raise additional legal questions,” it said, noting the potential role of FDA in regulating cannabis products and the possibility of Congress establishing a regulatory framework for marijuana. To that end, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and colleagues reintroduced legislation this week to federally legalize cannabis and impose certain regulations. The bill’s prospects are dubious in the current divided Congress, however. Meanwhile, the top Democrat in the U.S. House said on Wednesday that the Biden administration’s move to reschedule marijuana is a “step in the right direction,” but it should be followed up with congressional action such as passing the legalization bill Schumer filed. “While most recent proposals would relax federal regulation of marijuana, Congress could also seek to impose more stringent controls,” the CRS report says. “One proposal from the 118th Congress would withhold certain federal funds from states in which the purchase or public possession of marijuana for recreational purposes is lawful.” Top House Democrat Says Marijuana Rescheduling Is A ‘Step In The Right Direction,’ While GOP Leader Opposes Reform The post Marijuana Rescheduling Would Not Bring State Markets ‘Into Compliance’ With Federal Law, Congressional Researchers Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

House Dems vs GOP on marijuana; Farm Bill hemp reforms; Cannabis rescheduling lawsuit; VT safe consumption; SAFE Banking poll; CO psychedelics speech 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 Former Deputy Attorney General James Cole and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about the possibility that new federal marijuana enforcement guidance could accompany the rescheduling move—and whether it could address interstate commerce. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said the federal move to reschedule marijuana is “a step in the right direction” that lawmakers should build on—but Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said the cannabis reform will be “making matters worse.” The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee’s new Farm Bill summary says it “lowers regulatory barriers for farmers who are growing industrial hemp for grain and fiber” and removes the ban on people with felony drug convictions from participating in the industry. Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana is raising money for a “Rescheduling Legal Defense Fund” that it will use to challenge the federal decision to move cannabis to Schedule III—including through potential litigation. The Vermont Senate approved a bill to legalize and fund a safe consumption site for illegal drugs, sending it back to the House for consideration of recent amendments. The sponsor of a Colorado bill that could have forced social media platforms to ban users who post positively about psychedelics and other drugs that are legal under state law withdrew the proposal for the session in response to advocates’ criticism. A new poll commissioned by Independent Community Bankers of America found that 64 percent of Americans think passing a marijuana banking bill would improve public safety and that 54 percent say it would help underserved communities. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is touting “significant growth” in marijuana sales, with first quarter 2024 purchases up 38 percent since last year and new “historical highs” in purchases over the 4/20 weekend. A New Jersey appeals court ruled that the state’s marijuana legalization program does not violate federal law, rejecting a challenge that sought to block cannabis businesses from opening in Highland Park. / FEDERAL Former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius applauded the federal marijuana rescheduling decision. The U.S. attorney for North Dakota said federal marijuana rescheduling won’t have much impact on his prosecution strategy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) inserted comments into the Congressional Record about his new marijuana legalization bill. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) said Republican opposition to including marijuana banking provisions in an aviation bill is “very strong.” Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) said marijuana reform is “inevitable.” Rep. Earl Blumenbauer (D-OR) said the slow implementation of a marijuana research law he sponsored is “embarrassing.” The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 116. / STATES Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill concerning the definition of hemp. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) swore in the Senate-confirmed director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) spoke about the issue of expediting recreational marijuana cultivation. A Texas representative posted a video opposing the marijuana decriminalization initiative on the Lubbock ballot. Arkansas activists say they are on pace to collect the needed number of signatures to place a medical cannabis expansion initiative on the November ballot. New York regulators are being sued again over their marijuana business licensing process. Separately, the Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday. Delaware regulators filed proposed marijuana rules. Utah regulators filed hemp transportation rules. Maine’s top marijuana regulator spoke about a new law aimed at reconciling conflicting cannabis policies. — Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,400 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 Atlantic City, New Jersey voters will decide on a November ballot question on expanding where marijuana businesses can be located. A New York City Council member posted a video about efforts to combat unlicensed marijuana businesses. Denver, Colorado officials posted a summary of the latest Natural Medicine Work Group meeting. / INTERNATIONAL Swiss activists launched a marijuana legalization ballot initiative campaign. Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s medical officer of health defended the city’s plan to decriminalize drugs from criticism. Separately, Saskatchewan officials said the province has no desire to decriminalize. South Australia’s attorney general is touting new police powers to crack down on illegal marijuana growers. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A review concluded that “CBD can exert its antitumor effect by regulating the cell cycle, inducing tumor cell apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibiting tumor cell invasion, migration, and angiogenesis.” A study suggests that “CBD and [beta-caryophyllene] work in concert to produce a major anti-inflammatory effect with good safety profiles.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The National Conference of State Legislatures sent a letter urging the Department of Justice to “prioritize the removal of cannabis from Schedule I.” Representatives of NORML and Smart Approaches to Marijuana debated on C-SPAN. / BUSINESS SNDL Inc. announced that the SunStream USA group of companies intends to proceed with the acquisition of equity positions in U.S. cannabis assets. Sunnyside workers in Chicago, Illinois voted to join Teamsters Local 777. / CULTURE Stephen Colbert joked about the federal marijuana rescheduling decision. 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 New fed cannabis enforcement memo coming? (Newsletter: May 3, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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The sponsor of a Colorado bill that would have forced social media platforms to ban users for talking positively online about certain controlled substances—including as state-legal psychedelics, certain hemp products and even some over-the-counter cough syrups—abruptly shelved the bill this week. Advocates say their pushback to the proposal “caught the attention of the legislature” and convinced lawmakers to reverse course. The legislation, SB24-158—a broad proposal concerning internet age verification and content policies—would have required social media platforms to immediately remove any user “who promotes, sells, or advertises an illicit substance.” Though an earlier amendment from the bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Chris Hansen (D), made a carveout around statements advertising state-legal marijuana to adults over 21, the amended bill would have still applied to numerous other legal and illegal substances. On Wednesday, the bill‘s sponsor in the House, Rep. Meghan Lukens (D) shelved the measure in the Education Committee, a move that will “postpone indefinitely” its consideration, according to the legislature’s website. “The reality is, this bill simply needs more time,” Lukens said during the committee hearing, according to a Westword report. “I am optimistic, after work during the interim, that I can come back with a strong, effective version of this bill. A version that protects all young people from bad actors on social media.” Kevin Matthews, director of the campaign in Denver that made the city the first in the U.S. to decriminalize psilocybin, called the development “a stunning reversal of events” In an email to supporters, Matthews relayed that a “small yet mighty plant medicine coalition descended upon the Capitol grounds during lunchtime chanting ‘Our Freedom of Speech is Under Attack, Protect the Plants Protect the People,'” adding that the coalition’s actions—which also included a sign-on letter to House lawmakers—”caught the attention of the legislature and convinced lawmakers that SB24-158 was flawed policy.” Matthews said it was a “bittersweet victory,” however: “The decision to lay over was announced at the beginning of committee, and the committee chair decided to allow heart-wrenching testimony only from proponents of the bill—teenagers who struggled with doom-scrolling addiction and lack of connection to the outside world, grieving parents who lost children due to the availability of dangerous illicit substances on social media,” and others, he said, who together highlighted “some of the deeply personal, real-world issues and challenges we face with access to harmful content on social media platforms.” R Street Institute Fellow Shoshana Weismann, who first called out the potential problems in the bill’s drug-related language and last month described the amended version as “asinine” for forbidding statements around even some over-the-counter medications, said she was pleased to see the concerns addressed. “I’m sincerely grateful to the sponsors for taking criticism of their efforts so seriously,” Weismann told Marijuana Moment. “That takes a great deal of humility and it’s pretty rare to see. If they are still interested in pursuing their ideas in the future, I hope they reach out to critics to workshop their ideas.” As the legislation made its way through House committees, its Senate sponsor, Hansen, did not respond to questions from Marijuana Moment about whether the legislation intended to ban, for example, a 19-year old medical marijuana patient who posts about medical marijuana to their Instagram story, a user posting to Facebook that the use of a Schedule V over-the-counter cough syrup helped them feel better or promotion by Gov. Jared Polis (D) of the state’s legal psychedelics industry—as a plain reading of the bill might suggest. Hansen said in March that he was “working on answers” to those questions. Under the proposal, social media companies would have been required to update policies and post them publicly on or before July 1, 2025. Updates to social media policies would also need to be posted online within 14 days of implementation. Companies would also be mandated to submit reports annually to the state attorney general a statement “of whether the current version of the published policies contain definitions and provisions relating to illicit substances,” according to a legislative summary of the bill provided to a Senate committee. Lawmakers said that in light of the bill’s other provisions intended to protect young people on social media from firearms and sexual victimization, they hope to revisit it when the legislature reconvenes next year. “It might be slow, but I hope we get there soon,” committee chair Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D) said, according to Westword. Separately, Colorado marijuana regulators earlier this year touted industry successes in 2023 and promoted their new hospitality rules for the industry, including increased sales limits for cannabis hospitality businesses that allow on-site use. One of the things they noted is a rule about online sales that took effect last August. Customers must still physically pick up the marijuana products from retailers, but now they can browse and electronically purchase cannabis online ahead of visiting the store. Polis has praised the state’s reputation on marijuana and even said in January that Colorado is “leading the nation” on psychedelics, just as it did with cannabis. “Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational use of cannabis, setting a standard for innovation and safety and economic mobility that’s been replicated by states across the nation and countries across the world, who come here to learn what Colorado did right,” Polis said in his latest State of the State address. “Now, thanks to our voters, we’re once again leading the nation on natural medicine, unfreezing 50-plus years of stifled research to learn about the potential benefits for the people of our state and beyond.” Colorado has seen more than $15 billion in legal marijuana sales since opening day a decade ago. The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff (LCS) released a report last August showing that Colorado generated more tax revenue from cannabis than alcohol or cigarettes during the last fiscal year. The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), meanwhile, recently touted an ID verification compliance rate of 99 percent at the state’s cannabis businesses. Two recent polls, meanwhile, indicate that more than a decade after Colorado voters approved the ballot measure making their state the first in the U.S. to launch legal adult-use marijuana sales, a strong majority of those in the state feel the change has been a positive one. Top House Democrat Says Marijuana Rescheduling Is A ‘Step In The Right Direction,’ While GOP Leader Opposes Reform The post Colorado Bill That Would Have Muzzled Social Media Speech On State-Legal Psychedelics And Other Drugs Is Dead For The Year appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Vermont’s Senate has passed a bill to legalize and fund a facility in Burlington where people could use currently prohibited substances in a medically supervised environment—part of a pilot program aimed at quelling the ongoing epidemic of drug-related deaths. Senate lawmakers approved the bill, H.72, on a voice vote on Thursday, with no discussion of the proposal. A day earlier on the Senate floor, however, Sen. Ginny Lyons (D) described the measure as an evidence-based approach to reducing opioid-related deaths in the state. “As long as there’s demand for addictive substances, these problems will persist,” she told colleagues. “H.72 will allow for the establishment of a safe haven for those with addiction at overdose protection centers.” “I know that many of you in this body think of this as a controversial topic, and I had been with you for a long time,” Lyons continued. “I had my reservations as this issue was discussed over the past seven years. And now we have a robust body of research having multiple positive effects of overdose prevention centers and no negative ones. It’s time for us to move forward.” The House of Representatives approved an earlier version of the measure in January, but it’s since seen significant revisions in the Senate. The amended bill now returns to the House for lawmakers there either to sign off on the changes or send the legislation to a bicameral conference committee. As passed by the House, the legislation would have created two overdose prevention centers (OPCs) in undeclared parts of the state, with $2 million set aside in funding for the facilities, plus another $300,000 to study the study the impact of the pilot project. A broad amendment adopted in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee last month, however, narrowed the pilot program to a single site in the city of Burlington, where officials have expressed interest in hosting a facility. The change also cut funding for the program to $1.1 million for the single-site program, though it retained the full $300,000 that was in the House-passed bill to study the impact of the pilot project. Another change made in the Senate Appropriations Committee last week amended the bill to remove a separate section that would have put $1.45 million toward syringe service programs in the state for harm reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention. The Senate version of the bill also now includes a requirement that the facility provide drug-checking services, and it adds language on criminal immunity for OPC staff, property holders and others, to ensure they aren’t subject to arrest or prosecution as the result of good-faith overdose prevention efforts. It would require the OPC to staff the Burlington facility with on-site professionals with training in CPR, overdose interventions, first aid and wound care, as well as medical assessments to determine the need for further emergency care. Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Small (P/D) and 28 House colleagues, the bill is another attempt by lawmakers to allow overdose prevention centers following Gov. Phil Scott’s (R) veto of a 2022 measure that would have established a task force to create a plan to open the sites. If it becomes law, Vermont would join Rhode Island and Minnesota in authorizing the facilities, where people can use illicit drugs with medical professionals present and be connected to various support services, including treatment. Even if the overdose prevention center legislation passes the Senate this session, it still faces a possible veto from the governor. “I just don’t think that a government entity should be in the business of enabling those who are addicted to these drugs that are illegal,” the governor said of the current measure at the time it passed the House earlier this year. Scott wrote in his 2022 veto message on the earlier legislation that “it seems counterintuitive to divert resources from proven harm reduction strategies to plan injection sites without clear data on the effectiveness of this approach.” In addition to endorsements from the current and former mayors of Burlington itself, the proposal has support from advocacy groups including the Drug Policy Alliance, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, National Harm Reduction Coalition, the American Diabetes Association, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Johnson Health Center, Broken No More, Recovery Vermont and the Vermont Association for Mental Health Addiction and Recovery. Separately last month, Vermont’s Senate passed a measure that would establish a working group to study whether and how to allow therapeutic access to psychedelics in the state. If the bill is enacted, a report from the working group would be due to the legislature in November with recommendations on how to regulate the substances. As originally introduced, that bill would have also legalized use and possession of psilocybin, but lawmakers on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee nixed that section last week to focus instead on the working group. Though Rhode Island and Minnesota have state laws on the books allowing safe drug consumption sites, New York City became the first U.S. jurisdiction to open locally sanctioned harm reduction centers in November 2021, and officials have reported positive results saving lives. An early study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that the facilities had decreased the risk of overdose, steered people away from using drugs in public and provided other ancillary health services to people who use illicit substances. And separate research published by AMA late last year found that the centers have not led to increased crime despite a significant decrease in arrests. Meanwhile the federal government has fought an effort to open an overdose prevention center in Philadelphia, with the Biden administration arguing that the facilities violate federal law. Last month, the court in that case granted the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss a challenge from organizers. The Supreme Court rejected a request to that hear that case in October 2021. DOJ first blocked the Philadelphia nonprofit from opening the overdose prevention center under the Trump administration. Supporters hoped the department would cede the issue under President Joe Biden, who has promoted harm reduction policies as an alternative to criminalization, but the parties could not reach an agreement to allow the facility to open despite months of “good faith” negotiations. Congressional researchers have highlighted the “uncertainty” of the federal government’s position on such facilities, pointing out last November that lawmakers could temporarily resolve the issue by advancing an amendment modeled after the one that has allowed medical marijuana laws to be implemented without Justice Department interference. Meanwhile, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow has tacitly endorsed the idea of authorizing safe consumption sites, arguing that evidence has effectively demonstrated that the facilities can prevent overdose deaths. Volkow declined to say specifically what she believes should happen with the ongoing lawsuit, but she said safe consumption sites that have been the subject of research “have shown that it has saved a significant [percentage of] patients from overdosing.” Rahul Gupta, the White House drug czar, has said the Biden administration is reviewing broader drug policy harm reduction proposals, including the authorization of supervised consumption sites, and he went so far as to suggest possible decriminalization. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) put out a pair of requests for applications in December 2021 to investigate how safe consumption sites and other harm reduction policies could help address the drug crisis. Gupta, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), has said it’s critical to explore “any and every option” to reduce overdose deaths, which could include allowing safe consumption sites for illegal substances if the evidence supports their efficacy. Majority Of Americans Say Marijuana Banking Bill Would Promote Public Safety And Help Underserved Communities, Financial Association Poll Finds The post Vermont Senate Approves Bill To Open Safe Drug Consumption Site In Burlington, Sending Amended Proposal Back To House appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net