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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and a coalition of other Democratic senators are officially reintroducing a bill to federally legalize marijuana. One day after the Justice Department announced that it is moving to reschedule cannabis in a historic policy shift, the senators held a press conference on Wednesday to unveil the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA). The bill is largely identical to an earlier version the senators previously introduced in 2022, except that language around fair hiring in banking was removed because that issue has already been addressed in the most recent National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The senators’ move to file the broad legalization measure also comes as industry advocates continue to push to enact narrower legislation focused on cannabis business’s access to banking services. “It’s past time for the federal government to catch up to the attitudes of the American people when it comes to cannabis,” Schumer said in a press release on Wednesday. “That’s why we’re reintroducing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, legislation that would finally end the federal prohibition on cannabis while prioritizing safety, research, workers’ rights and restorative justice.” “We have more work to do to address decades of over-criminalization, particularly in communities of color, but today’s reintroduction shows the movement is growing, and I will keep working until we achieve meaningful change,” he said. Watch the senators discuss the federal marijuana legalization bill in the video below: Wyden stressed that the CAOA “doesn’t tell states what to do—but it provides them with the tools to effectively implement the laws their voters and legislators choose.” “Public health, public safety, opportunity and social justice must be at the core of any cannabis reform proposal, and it’s crucial stakeholders continue to have a seat at the table,” he said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocates across the country to make these priorities a reality.” Booker, meanwhile, said it’s “long past time to confront the failure of the War on Drugs, particularly its disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income individuals. We must take proactive and significant steps to rectify these ongoing injustices.” “Thousands of people have suffered at the hands of our broken cannabis laws, and the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would finally dismantle the outdated federal marijuana prohibition, expunge past convictions for people with low-level cannabis offenses, and ensure restorative justice for communities impacted by the War on Drugs,” he said. “These common-sense policies will ensure a more equitable criminal justice system and promote public safety.” The legislation is being introduced with a total of 18 original cosponsors. In addition to the trio leading the bill, the other members signed on are Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Fetterman (D-PA) Laphonza Butler (D-CA). Here are the key versions of the CAOA as reintroduced: Require the attorney general to finalize a rule removing marijuana from the CSA within 180 days of enactment. Impose a 5 percent federal excise tax on small- to mid-sized cannabis producers, which would gradually increase to 12.5 percent after five years. For large businesses, the tax would start at 10 percent and increase to a maximum of 25 percent. Only those 21 and older would be allowed to purchase recreational marijuana products, as is already the policy in states that have legalized for adult use. Expunge the records of people with low-level, federal cannabis convictions within one year of enactment, while allowing those currently incarcerated over marijuana to petition the courts for relief. Create a federal regulatory framework for the marijuana industry, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) all playing key roles. Within FDA, there would be a Center for Cannabis Products responsible for regulating “the production, labeling, distribution, sales and other manufacturing and retail elements of the cannabis industry,” according to a summary. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) would need to update or issue new guidance clarifying to banks and credit unions that the policy change means that they can lawfully service legitimate cannabis businesses. States could choose to continue prohibiting marijuana production and sales, but they could not prevent transportation of cannabis products between legal states through their jurisdictions. Federal laws would still prohibit trafficking in states that ban marijuana and in legal states that impose laws for trafficking. Establish a grant program to fund non-profit organizations that provide job training, reentry services and legal aid. The program would be managed by a new Cannabis Justice Office under the Justice Department. DOJ grants would also go toward law enforcement hiring and community outreach to combat the illicit market. Separate Equitable Licensing Grant and Equitable Licensing Grant Programs would provide funding for states and localities to promote participation in the industry by minority and low-income people. Further, there would be a 10-year pilot program through the federal Small Business Administration “for intermediary lending” to provide “direct loans to eligible intermediaries that in turn make small business loans to startups, businesses owned by individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses.” People could not be denied federal benefits due to the use or possession of marijuana or for a conviction for a cannabis offense. That includes preventing the revocation of security clearances for federal employees. Federal employment drug testing for marijuana would also be prohibited, with certain exceptions for sensitive positions such as law enforcement and those involving national security. Physicians with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would be authorized to issue recommendations for medical cannabis to veterans. There would be measures taken to prevent diversion, including the establishment of a track-and-trace regime. Further, retail cannabis sales would be limited to 10 ounces in a single retail transaction. Federal law would be amended to explicitly state that SBA programs and services available to marijuana businesses and companies that work with them. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to facilitate a number of studies into marijuana policy—for example evaluations of the societal impact of legalization in states with recreational marijuana laws on the books, including information on impaired driving, violent crime and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) would need to compile demographic data on business owners and employees in the cannabis industry. Employers with federal cannabis permits required under the legislation that violate certain federal labor laws could see their permits rescinded—a bold policy proposal that would make the marijuana industry uniquely labor friendly. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be required to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on ways to promote research into cannabis impacts. There would be a specific requirement to study the diversity of marijuana products available for research purposes. The bill calls for an increase in the quantity of cannabis that’s available for study purposes. There would be targeted public education campaigns meant to deter youth consumption. States would also receive funding for initiatives to prevent youth use and impaired driving, which would include money for education and enforcement. The Department of Transportation would be responsible for developing a standard for THC-impaired driving within three years of the bill’s enactment that states would be required to adopt, unless the secretary finds the department is unable to set such a scientific standard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would be tasked with collecting data on impaired driving, producing educational materials on the issue for states to distribute and carry out education campaigns. Vaping delivery system products that contain added natural or artificial flavors would be banned under the proposal. Schumer said in a floor speech earlier on Wednesday that the CAOA is a “comprehensive and necessary update to the federal government’s approach to cannabis.” “I am proud to be the first majority leader ever to call for an end to the marijuana prohibition because I’ve seen both the consequences of outdated drug laws and the benefits of common sense cannabis regulation at the state level,” he said. “It’s time for Congress to follow suit.” While advocates support ending federal prohibition, some are withholding their endorsement from the bill unless it is revised to more effectively prevent corporate consolidation in the marijuana market. “CAOA represents a historic step towards comprehensive federal marijuana legalization and restorative justice. However, in its current form, we cannot endorse the bill,” Shaleen Title, founder and director of the Parabola Center, told Marijuana Moment. “It fails to adequately address the high risk of market consolidation that could harm small and POC-owned businesses, leaving a need for additional legislative and regulatory work going forward,” she said. “Without stronger guardrails, the bill would lead to monopolization by industries that have historically profited from addiction and opposed legalization. We appreciate the sponsors’ commitment to supporting workers and small businesses and remain ready to collaborate on equity-centered solutions as cannabis legalization moves forward.” The bill’s prospects of passage this year are slim. Democrats only hold a narrow majority in the Senate and would need GOP buy-in to advance it through the chamber. And it’s highly unlikely that the GOP-controlled House would take it up, especially under the leadership of anti-cannabis Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Instead, most advocates and stakeholders are awaiting action on a bipartisan marijuana banking bill that cleared a Senate committee last September and is now awaiting floor action before potentially moving to the House. — 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. — Schumer and other Democratic senators are “trying to recruit Republicans” to join them in the push for federal marijuana legalization, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) said at an event ahead of 4/20 last month. Schumer said in a separate Dear Colleague letter last month that he intends to pass the legislation to “safeguard cannabis banking” as part of a “busy agenda” that he hopes to achieve in the “weeks and months ahead,” though he again stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation. He also recently asked people to show their support for the SAFER Banking Act by signing a petition as he steps up his push for the legislation. A poll released in March by the American Bankers Association (ABA) shows that roughly three out of five Americans support allowing marijuana industry access to the banking system. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who also sits on that committee, said last month that that “if Republicans want to keep the House,” they should pass the marijuana banking bill, arguing that “there are votes” to approve it. Schumer told Marijuana Moment in March that the bill remains a “very high priority” for the Senate, and members are having “very productive” bicameral talks to reach a final agreement. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced a bill last month to create federal incentives for states, localities and Indian tribes that expunge low-level marijuana records—an equity-focused reform proposal Schumer has repeatedly discussed attaching to the SAFER Banking Act. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) also said recently that passing the SAFER Banking Act off the floor is a “high priority.” However, he also recently said in a separate interview that advancing the legislation is complicated by current House dynamics. Meanwhile, a top Democratic House member also reintroduced legislation last year to federally legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, with provisions to expunge prior cannabis convictions. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) recently unveiled a legislative agenda that includes marijuana legalization and expungements among a list of priorities that members say Democrats “can pass with congressional majorities” if they keep the Senate and retake the House in the November elections. Read the full text of the federal cannabis legalization bill below: DeSantis Will Be ‘Getting Involved’ In Effort To Defeat Marijuana Measure On Florida Ballot The post Watch Live: Schumer And Other Democratic Senators File Bill To Federally Legalize Marijuana appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

“Schedule III will not lift all barriers to research, but it may contribute to the advancement of urgently needed research, which should be prioritized and vigorously pursued.” By Shawn Hauser, Vicente LLP The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision to reschedule cannabis represents a historic and critically important shift in U.S. drug policy. By moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act, the U.S. government is finally (and officially) recognizing the efficacy and safety of cannabis for medical use. There are valid and important reasons why Schedule III is not the most appropriate classification for cannabis. It does not achieve imminently needed criminal justice reforms; state-regulated cannabis activities remain federally illegal; and some barriers to research and effective regulation remain. A strong case can be made that cannabis, like alcohol, should not be included in the drug schedules. There are also reasons to believe that “descheduling” was not in the realm of possibility in this administrative process and that rescheduling will hasten the route to that goal. Rather than debating what the federal government could have or should have done, let’s take a closer look at what it is doing and why it matters. Specifically, let’s look at its implications for medical patients and the enduring impacts that will come from the federal government officially acknowledging cannabis’s medical value. Legitimacy in the Medical Community Despite evidence of medical cannabis use dating back thousands of years, a growing body of promising research and doctors recommending medical cannabis in 38 states where it is legal under state law, cannabis has spent the last 50 years on Schedule I—which is reserved for substances with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Recognition of cannabis’s medical benefits has grown considerably in recent years, but it remains less accepted and less understood than many other medications and treatments. The endocannabinoid system is not typically included in American medical school curriculums, despite being the largest neurotransmitter system in the body, with critical importance to its function. A lot of physicians will not recommend medical cannabis because they fear legal or professional repercussions, including many in states with medical cannabis programs. Even when doctors do recognize cannabis as a potentially valuable treatment, most are not equipped to fully utilize it. In Schedule III, cannabis is deemed to have an accepted medical use in treatment and relatively low potential for abuse. This legitimization could be transformative for the medical community and its role in advancing medical cannabis, inviting engagement and shifts in public opinion by doctors, universities and medical institutions. Paired with some loosened requirements for research and the potential for additional capital (which are discussed further below), this should result in more studies on product formulations, dosage and modes of administration. It may also reduce stigma and alleviate physicians’ concerns about recommending it or learning about its benefits. To be clear, Schedule III does not allow cannabis to be dispensed at neighborhood pharmacies and sold through interstate commerce, as these avenues are limited to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. To date, FDA has approved only one cannabis-derived drug (Epidiolex), along with three synthetic cannabinoid-based drugs for specific conditions. Cannabis sold in state-legal dispensaries will remain in clear violation of federal law. For over a decade, however, DEA and FDA have not interfered with state cannabis programs, which is a testament to the relative safety of marijuana when it is regulated responsibly. Opportunities for Research and a New Standard for Medical Use in Treatment Marijuana’s Schedule I status and unreasonable DEA policies that stemmed from it made it nearly impossible (by design) to conduct the standard of research that proves the medical efficacy and safety of cannabis. For decades, DEA has denied petitions and ignored mountains of compelling evidence, often citing the lack of scientific evidence that it was overtly blocking. President Biden’s strong directive to expeditiously review the scheduling of cannabis provided the force necessary to spark a review by HHS and DEA that applied more reasonable standards when considering whether cannabis has accepted medical use. Remarkably, they considered state data in determining whether cannabis has accepted medical use. This evolved standard also holds promise for the development of cannabis-based medicines. Rates of innovation and consumer demand in both pharmaceutical and more raw forms of cannabis indicate a place and need for both. A “regulate cannabis like alcohol model,” preserving the FDA drug pathway while providing a framework for adult-use products (as proposed in the STATES 2.0 Act), would support this. Existing research indicates cannabis holds tremendous promise for a wide range of medical and therapeutic uses, including pain and opiate use disorders, which have reached epidemic levels in recent years. Yet clinical trials are limited in comparison to other treatments. Schedule III will not lift all barriers to research, but it may contribute to the advancement of urgently needed research, which should be prioritized and vigorously pursued. Momentum Toward Ending Prohibition Given marijuana’s relatively low potential for abuse, Schedule III is likely the best outcome that could have resulted from this historic administrative reclassification process. Rather than thinking of it as not going far enough, it should be viewed as a significant shift for medicine and a key stepping stone to the ultimate solution of descheduling, which is required to achieve criminal justice reform, social equity and a regulatory model appropriate for cannabis. The removal of cannabis from the purview of 280E and likelihood to attract investors will free up industry capital that is needed to fund research and further reform efforts to achieve this. By establishing the legitimacy of cannabis as medicine and more materially engaging the industry and medical community, we can more effectively persuade and influence legislators and leaders across the political spectrum. Rescheduling to Schedule III is neither the perfect nor final solution. It does, however, finally and officially recognize the medical efficacy of cannabis, which has dramatic and long-term societal impacts for medicine, patients and the industry. Shawn Hauser is a partner at Vicente LLP, where she co-chairs the firm’s Hemp and Cannabinoids Department and serves as a leading member of the firm’s psychedelics and emerging therapies practice. Senator Attacks Marijuana Banking Bill At Hearing On Chinese Money Laundering Photo courtesy of Carlos Gracia. The post Rescheduling Cannabis Shifts The Paradigm By Finally Recognizing Its Medical Value (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“The lack of knowledge, control, agency or decision-making demonstrated by the individual used to meet eligibility does not meet even the most liberal understanding of owning and operating a business.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Two Missouri social-equity licensees connected to a Michigan company that used Craigslist to recruit applicants have appealed the state’s decision to revoke their dispensary licenses. The Michigan company, Canna Zoned, was behind two of the 16 microbusiness dispensary licenses issued by lottery in October—Frankenstein Enemy LLC in Columbia and Seashore Rhythm LLC in Arnold. Both licenses were revoked on March 27. Their appeals will be argued before the Administrative Hearing Commission on September 26. Missouri’s microbusiness license program is meant to boost opportunities in the industry for businesses in disadvantaged communities, and it was part of the constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana that voters passed in 2022. The program is designed to provide a path to larger facility ownership for individuals who might not otherwise easily access that opportunity, such as having a net worth of less than $250,000 or veterans with a service-connected disability. The microbusiness license must always be majority owned and operated by individuals who meet these eligibility criteria. According to the revocation notices for the Canna Zoned-backed licensees, cannabis regulators were unable to verify the licenses would be owned and operated by eligible individuals. Canna Zoned’s owner, Jeffrey Yatooma, was listed as the “designated contact” for the two licenses, and the purported owners of the licenses told the state they did not know who Yatooma was, according to the notices. “While owning and operating a license may include contracting for management services or consulting services, the lack of knowledge, control, agency or decision-making demonstrated by the individual used to meet eligibility does not meet even the most liberal understanding of owning and operating a business,” the letter from Missouri regulators states. Illinois resident Aric Rybacki is listed as the owner of Seashore Rhythm, and he told The Independent he had no comment in a phone conversation Monday. Curtis Floyd, owner of Frankenstein Enemy, did not respond to a request for comment. State records show Yatooma was listed as the designated contact on 104 out of the 1,048 applications that were entered into a lottery selection for the dispensary licenses. An investigation by The Independent in October found applicants said that they thought they were partnering with the Michigan investor but had signed agreements requiring them to relinquish all control and profits of the business. The Independent obtained an agreement between a Missouri social-equity applicant who did not win a license and Canna Zoned. It stated that he must appear to have 100 percent ownership interest on the application but wouldn’t get revenue or profits from the business. After the business passed through all the state and municipal approvals, the contract stated the applicant would be required to sell his share of the business for $1 to the group or be held in breach of contract. Frankenstein Enemy’s attorney, Nadeem Harfouch, did not deny that the agreement described in The Independent article existed, in a January 12 letter sent to the Division of Cannabis Regulation that was included as part of the appeal documents. And Harfouch acknowledged that such an agreement wouldn’t be legally enforceable. “Even if the ‘agreement’ described in the news articles exists between licensee and the eligible owners, such an ‘agreement’ would not meet the requirements for transfer of ownership stated in the regulations and would be of no effect,” the January letter states. Harfouch states that The Independent’s October 26 article quoted people who weren’t the license winners and their comments “have no bearing on the application that was submitted.” The letter also accused state regulators of “cowering” to the press. “The department is bowing to public pressure to revoke licensee’s license for arbitrary reasons completely disconnected from the statutory requirements,” it states. Another company that used the strategy of flooding Missouri’s lottery with applications was an Arizona-based consulting firm called Cannabis Business Advisors. It was connected to more than 400 dispensary applicants, including six winners. All six of the group’s licenses were revoked. According to the Division of Cannabis Regulation, the “purported majority owners” of the eight revoked licenses lacked knowledge of agreements or operations of the license—and in some cases did not know the person who applied for the license on their behalf. The Arizona group has submitted appeals for all six licenses, said Sara Gullickson, founder and CEO of the consulting firm. The cases are not yet available on the Administrative Hearing Commission portal. Gullickson told The Independent last month that the state decision was “severely unjust.” The revocations, she said, “irreparably penalized the qualified social equity applicants who were awarded the life-changing opportunity to become successful cannabis entrepreneurs and provide generational wealth for their families.” This story was first published by Missouri Independent. DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer. The post Companies Appeal Missouri’s Revocation Of Social Equity Marijuana Licenses Tied To Out-Of-State Firms appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

During a congressional hearing on Chinese money laundering and “cleaning cartel cash” on Tuesday—a meeting that focused mostly on the topic of fentanyl—Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) spoke out against a congressional bill that would ease access to banking services for state-legal marijuana businesses, pointing to a deadly 2022 shooting at a cannabis facility that involved people who “were all from China,” the senator said. Grassley showed members of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control a video of law enforcement responding to the incident, which occurred at what he described as a “fraudulently registered medical marijuana farm in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.” The shooter, Chen Wu, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in February. “Inside, four workers were packaging marijuana, supervised by their boss who, like Wu, they were all from China,” Grassley said. “Wu waved a nine-millimeter pistol as he entered the garage and demanded back pay. He fired a warning shot into his boss’s knee and told the group they had a half an hour to pay him. If they didn’t, he’d kill then all. And that’s exactly what Wu did.” Grassley pointed to the event as “a troubling example that should caution Congress to consider carefully legislative proposals easing money laundering laws.” He also said it “wasn’t an isolated occurrence,” noting that police have shut down “more than 800 marijuana farms in the last two years for operating illegally.” “According to Oklahoma law enforcement, 2,000 of the 3,000 licensed marijuana farms flagged for suspicious activity over the last year had a Chinese connection,” he continued, “providing funding, labor or both.” Grassley’s argument at the hearing was that marijuana banking reform, most notably the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act, could enable Chinese money laundering by fraudulent businesses operating under he auspices of state legalization. “There’s been a lot of debate about whether state-sanctioned marijuana businesses should be able to access the U.S. banking system,” he said. “The proposal on the table assumes that state [and] local regulations will hold back organized crime. The Kingfisher County murders show us that that assumption is just plain wrong.” “If this legislation passes, Chinese money laundering organizations will have an additional avenue for cleaning dirty money,” the senator told colleagues. “They can simply hand it off to Chinese criminal organizations fraudulently running state sanctioned marijuana farms, for introduction into the U.S. banking system.” Later in the hearing, Grassley asked William Kimbell, chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about the sufficiency of state cannabis regulations. “Given history like I just stated,” he said, “does this fact that a state—any state—licensed a marijuana farm mean that the farm isn’t generating illegal proceeds?” Kimbell responded that DEA has identified 23 states where “Chinese organizations have taken over the cultivation of marijuana. Some of those are legitimate, some of those are illegitimate.” “The vast majority that we find and working with our state and local counterparts are illegitimate,” he continued. “The people working in those facilities and cultivating for those facilities are controlled and work at the behest of Chinese money laundering organizations or growers’ organizations.” “We found this is a significant problem,” he added, “and it goes from California all the way across the country and to the Northeast, and it’s becoming a serious challenge.” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said after Grassley’s comments that “according to news reports in 2021, 80 percent of the marijuana sold in California originated in illegal grows.” “Can anybody explain to me why, when states have presumably legalized some aspect of the marijuana trade, some medical marijuana and others recreational, why 80 percent of the marijuana sold in California…originated in illegal grows?” he asked. “I think with any business, there’s the ability to break the law with that business,” answered Kimbell, DEA’s operations chief. “By selling marijuana illegally through the black market, they’re able to skirt tax laws and they’re able to do a multitude of different things by not following regulations.” “So by presumably legalizing, at least at the state level, if not at the federal level, of marijuana trade, it hasn’t eliminated the illegal activities of growers, distributors and users, right?” Cornyn questioned. “Correct,” Kimbell replied. Grassley’s and Cornyn’s criticisms of state-legal marijuana markets and the pending banking legislation come on the heels of similar pushback from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), whose office recently told Marijuana Moment that the lawmaker “continues to oppose marijuana banking.” Across the aisle, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Tuesday, in the aftermath of a DEA marijuana rescheduling decision he called “historic,” that he remains “strongly committed” to passing marijuana banking and legalization bills. “It is great news that DEA is finally recognizing that restrictive and draconian cannabis laws need to change to catch up to what science and the majority of Americans have said loud and clear,” the majority leader said. “While this rescheduling announcement is a historic step forward, I remain strongly committed to continuing to work on legislation like the SAFER Banking Act as well as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which federally deschedules cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act.” The SAFER Banking Act already already moved through the Senate Banking Committee last September. The legalization bill, meanwhile, is expected to be reintroduced on Wednesday, after Schumer and other prime sponsors solicited support from colleagues, with a sign-on deadline passing last week. How news of DEA’s rescheduling decision affects the prospects of advancing other cannabis legislation is yet to be seen. The SAFER Banking Act already enjoys bipartisan support, though sources have said Republican leadership—principally McConnell—has posed an obstacles to pushing it forward as part of an unrelated aviation bill alongside cryptocurrency regulations legislation. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said during an interview with The Dales Report on Tuesday that DEA’s possible reclassification of cannabis is something she’s “going to be looking at” in terms of how it affects the SAFER Banking Act, as well as her own separate legalization bill. “How does this affect things moving forward?” she asked. “What’s the next goalpost?” Schumer Says DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Decision Is ‘Historic,’ But He Remains ‘Strongly Committed’ To Passing Banking And Legalization Bills Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images. The post Senator Attacks Marijuana Banking Bill At Hearing On Chinese Money Laundering appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Top Ohio Republican lawmakers say plans are still in the works to amend the state’s marijuana legalization law, with the Senate president setting a June target as regulators work to develop rules and launch an adult-use market. It remains unclear what that future cannabis legislation will look like, but leadership has discussed addressing issues such as tax revenue distribution, scaling back home cultivation rules and restricting public smoking. “I am—I would not say optimistic—but I am reasonably hopeful, if you need words, that we can get something done by June,” Senate President Matt Huffman (R), whose chamber has already passed legislation to amend the voter-approved legalization policy, told WCMH-TV. “With greater access to marijuana, there will be more visits to poison control centers,” he said, adding that it’s “really important” that lawmakers allocate tax dollars to those centers as part of any amendment package. The senator additionally said he thinks “what’s most pressing is people smoking marijuana when they’re walking down the street.” Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has previously pressed the legislature to enact changes to expedite recreational marijuana sales, despite his personal opposition to the ballot initiative that voters passed in November. But he’s indicated that his more immediate concern is regulating the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC. “This is time for the legislature to move,” the governor, who also raised the issue during his State of the State address earlier this month, said. “We can’t do it ourselves.” He also said he’s “not going to get into that” when asked about disagreements within Republican leadership with respect to revising the state’s marijuana law. House Speaker Jason Stephens (R), who has been reluctant to join the Senate’s push to change the cannabis law that voters approved, said the prospect of passing such legislation “depends on what it looks like.” “A lot of members have certain things that they think are important, others don’t think they are as important,” he said. “It’s about building a consensus.” The speaker added that while he believes it’s critical for the legislature to determine how to most effectively distribute marijuana tax revenue, they need to first get a clearer sense of how much the state stands to generate when the legal market opens. “There’s estimates,” he said. “But we’ve seen estimates before whether it’s gambling or other revenue services that were going to be X and turned out they would be Y.” “What is the exact amount of taxes? What does that add up to? How does that compare? How much flexibility do local communities have,” Stephens said. “As we go into the future there will continually be changes and tweaks to recreational marijuana in Ohio.” Huffman, the Senate president, said that “most reasonable people, including people in the industry, believe that it would be better to have it clarified in law.” — 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. — The Senate did pass an amendment package just prior to legalization taking effect in December, but the House has not taken it up, nor has it moved to advance a different proposal that originate in the House. While regulators have until September to start issuing cannabis business licenses, a GOP lawmaker who chairs a rulemaking committee said this month that sales could launch as soon as June under a regulatory plan that his panel set to approve. Regulators already implemented a change last month that allows medical marijuana patients and caregivers to obtain or renew their registrations for only one penny. The fee elimination is part of an initial package of rules that DCC released in February to implement adult-use legalization. Following voter approval of legalization at the ballot, the Department of Commerce was quick to publish an FAQ guide for residents to learn about the new law and timeline for implementation. DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting The post Top Ohio GOP Lawmakers Struggle To Reach Consensus On Bill To Amend Marijuana Legalization Law appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Schumer on SAFER Banking; DEA & FDA at marijuana meeting; FL gov trashes ballot measure; NC medical cannabis deal; NH legalization 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… Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on. Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The Drug Enforcement Administration has agreed to move marijuana to Schedule III—a historic reform in line with a recommendation from health officials who determined that cannabis has medical value. The federal decision to reschedule marijuana is receiving diverse reactions from across the spectrum—from praise for finally recognizing cannabis’s medical benefits to condemnation that it will not fulfill President Joe Biden’s campaign pledge to decriminalize. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that while the federal marijuana rescheduling decision is a “historic step forward,” he remains “strongly committed” to advancing cannabis banking and broader legalization legislation this session. Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies will participate in a June meeting focused on the potential of cannabinoids and terpenes in marijuana to treat pain. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he will be “getting involved” in the effort to defeat the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot, arguing that people won’t “be able to take your family out to dinner” without smelling cannabis. North Carolina’s Senate president pro tempore is floating a proposal to pass a medical cannabis legalization bill by combining it with a measure to regulate intoxicating hemp products. But a Democratic senator also wants broader marijuana decriminalization provisions attached. New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte said she would not support legalizing marijuana if elected. “I don’t think this helps advance…our quality of life,” the former U.S. senator and state attorney general said. Virginia lawmakers and marijuana reform activists say Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) veto of a bill to legalize recreational sales will fuel the state’s existing unregulated market for cannabis products. / FEDERAL Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) tweeted, “The power of clemency is immeasurable. TY @POTUS & @VP for taking this action to address the harmful legacy of the War on Drugs. We must use clemency every chance we get to end mass incarceration & set our communities on a path to healing.” The House bill to seal marijuana conviction records got two new cosponsors for a total of 11. The House bill to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got one new cosponsor for a total of nine. / STATES Michigan regulators posted a guide about how to file a complaint against a marijuana business. Washington State regulators posted a streamlined version of a proposed marijuana social equity business scoring rubric. California regulators announced a martijuana product recall due to inaccurate labeling. Washington, D.C. regulators reported continued growth in the city’s medical cannabis patient registry even as sales decline. Ohio regulators posted updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday. The Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board will meet on Friday. Nevada regulators plan to consider changes to marijuana packaging and advertising, possession and purchase limits, annual agent card costs and wholesale distribution rules on May 17. — 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 A Wilmington, Delaware mayoral candidate is criticizing Gov. John Carney (D), who is also running for the position, for his reluctance to embrace marijuana legalization. / INTERNATIONAL A shakeup of Thailand’s cabinet could have implications for cannabis reform. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study concluded that “cannabis use may benefit some adults who are reducing their opioid or stimulant use, especially during early recovery.” A review concluded that “early evidence suggests that psilocybin therapy is well-tolerated in individuals with” anorexia nervosa. / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS The National Consumers League published a report on the market size, popularity and growth trajectories of high THC potency products. / BUSINESS Acreage Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly consolidated revenue of $52.8 million and a net loss of $35.7 million. RIV Capital Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $2.1 million and a net loss of $47.3 million. KPMG is ending services to cannabis businesses, citing “elevated risk.” 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 DEA agrees to reschedule cannabis (Newsletter: May 1, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that while the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) reported decision to propose marijuana rescheduling is a “historic step forward,” he remains “strongly committed” to advancing cannabis banking and legalization legislation this session. As DEA prepares to formally initiate rulemaking to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Schumer said in a statement on Tuesday that this isn’t the end of marijuana policy reform this Congress. “It is great news that DEA is finally recognizing that restrictive and draconian cannabis laws need to change to catch up to what science and the majority of Americans have said loud and clear,” the majority leader said. “While this rescheduling announcement is a historic step forward, I remain strongly committed to continuing to work on legislation like the SAFER Banking Act as well as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act [CAOA], which federally deschedules cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act,” he said. “Congress must do everything we can to end the federal prohibition on cannabis and address longstanding harms caused by the War on Drugs.” It is great news that DEA is finally recognizing that restrictive and draconian cannabis laws need to change to catch up to what science and the majority of Americans have said loud and clear. My statement: pic.twitter.com/kjKopOPShG — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 30, 2024 The SAFER Banking Act that Schumer referenced already moved through the Senate Banking Committee last September. The legalization bill, meanwhile, is expected to be reintroduced imminently, after Schumer and other prime sponsors solicited support from colleagues, with a deadline to sign on passing last week. How news of DEA’s rescheduling decision affects the prospects of advancing other cannabis legislation is yet to be seen. The SAFER Banking Act already enjoys bipartisan support, though sources have said Republican leadership—principally Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—has posed an obstacles to pushing it forward as part of an unrelated aviation bill alongside cryptocurrency regulations legislation. As advocates have been quick to remind observers, a Schedule III reclassification would not federally legalize marijuana. It would, however, remove research barriers and allow state-licensed cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions, among other modest effects. The SAFER Banking Act, meanwhile, is another key objective for stakeholders this session that would provide protections for financial institutions that work with state-legal marijuana firms. I remain strongly committed to continuing to work on legislation. Congress must do everything we can to end the federal prohibition on cannabis and address longstanding harms caused by the War on Drugs. pic.twitter.com/85IbluJoBm — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 30, 2024 Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said during an interview with The Dales Report on Tuesday that DEA’s possible reclassification of cannabis is something she’s “going to be looking at” in terms of how it affects the SAFER Banking Act, as well as her own separate legalization bill. “How does this affect things moving forward? What’s the next goalpost?” she said. Schumer’s mention of CAOA comes before the bill has been officially reintroduced this session, though he previously said he planned to file it this month, which ends on Tuesday. Regardless of the potential reclassification of marijuana under the CSA, that measure’s prospects remain dubious, as it’s unlikely to generate enough bipartisan support to clear the Senate’s steep 60-vote threshold or be taken up in the GOP-controlled House under the leadership of anti-cannabis Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). In any case, the cannabis activists have largely responded positively to the DEA news. After all, this marks the first time that DEA has recognized the medical value and relatively low abuse potential of cannabis since prohibition was codified more than 50 years ago. The scheduling review, directed by President Joe Biden, could mean that a historic shift in federal marijuana policy is imminent. Lawmakers, Advocates And Stakeholders React To DEA’s Historic Marijuana Rescheduling Decision, With Many Calling For Bolder Reform The post Schumer Says DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Decision Is ‘Historic,’ But He Remains ‘Strongly Committed’ To Passing Banking And Legalization Bills appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision to reschedule marijuana is being met with relief, elation, commendations—and criticism from advocates who have been quick to point out that the modest reform does not mean cannabis will be federally legalized or that President Joe Biden’s campaign pledge to at least decriminalize will be fulfilled. Lawmakers, advocates, stakeholders and opponents have seized upon reports that DEA agreed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommendation to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). By and large, the reactions are positive. After all, this marks the first time that DEA has recognized the medical value and relatively low abuse potential of cannabis since prohibition was codified more than 50 years ago. The scheduling review, directed by Biden, resulted in a determination that stands to free up research barriers, let state-licensed marijuana businesses take federal tax deductions and more. Moving cannabis to another schedule will not legalize it, however. Participants in state cannabis markets would continue to run afoul of federal law, and existing criminal penalties for certain marijuana-related activity would remain in force. And that’s a point that justice- and equity-centered advocates have continued to emphasize. Here’s how people are reacting to DEA’s reported rescheduling decision: Lawmakers and Elected Officials Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “It is great news that DEA is finally recognizing that restrictive and draconian cannabis laws need to change to catch up to what science and the majority of Americans have said loud and clear,” the majority leader said. “While this rescheduling announcement is a historic step forward, I remain strongly committed to continuing to work on legislation like the SAFER Banking Act as well as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which federally deschedules cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act,” he said. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) “After decades of the federal government being dug in on prohibition, moving cannabis to Schedule III would be a huge shift in policy and signal to the American people that the days of reefer madness are coming to an end,” Wyden said. “Medical research will open up and legal small businesses will no longer be treated unjustly like criminals under the inequitable 280E tax provision—a provision I’ve been working for years to repeal “I’m not going to let today’s news slow this movement down, because there’s more to be done to rectify the harms of the failed War on Drugs,” the senator said. Cannabis should ultimately be descheduled with strong federal regulations put in place to protect public health and safety. Leader Schumer, Senator Booker and I have just the bill to do it.” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) “If today’s reporting proves true, we will be one step closer to ending the failed war on drugs,” Blumenauer, founding co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said. “Marijuana was scheduled more than 50 years ago based on stigma, not science. The American people have made clear in state after state that cannabis legalization is inevitable. The Biden-Harris Administration is listening.” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) This is a step in the right direction. But to be clear: cannabis must be fully descheduled in order to end the War on Drugs and repair harm to communities of color. This move is progress for businesses, but we can’t let it undermine comprehensive reform. https://t.co/nZTiqUbIx8 — Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) April 30, 2024 Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Brian Mast (R-FL) “Today’s decision breaks a nearly 80-year stalemate in regards to cannabis, opening the door for it to be used for medicinal and research purposes. Rescheduling means cannabis will be an option for veterans and adults living with chronic diseases, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and opioid use disorder,” the GOP co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus said. “This is an important step, but more needs to be done.” “Millions of Americans have had opportunities for stable housing and employment foreclosed due to petty and non-violent cannabis-related offenses, including in jurisdictions that have since legalized the substance. Further, access to regulated and affordable medicinal cannabis remains out of reach for millions of patients, including veterans,” they said. “We must develop a regulatory framework that protects children but ensures the safe growth, manufacturing, prescription, sale, and consumption of cannabis by adults. We look forward to working with the agencies on this issue in the coming months.” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) BREAKING: Marijuana Rescheduled! Thanks to pressure campaigns like the States Reform Act, the DEA has moved cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Major news for businesses, tax deductions, & research barriers…https://t.co/RA1gGCqzGs — Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) April 30, 2024 In an interview with The Dales Report hours after the news broke, Mace said “it’s giving an element of hope to people who’ve been in this space for a really long time [and] who’ve invested all of their talent and treasure because they believe in the plant.” “I think it’s a real grain of hope because, up until this point, it’s been BS,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction.” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) “I am thrilled by the Biden Administration’s decision to begin the process of finally rescheduling cannabis, following the lead of Colorado and 37 other states that have already legalized it for medical or adult use, correcting decades of outdated federal policy,” Polis said. “This action is good for Colorado businesses and our economy, it will improve public safety, and will support a more just and equitable system for all.” “We look forward to when Colorado businesses will continue to safely fulfill the consumer demand without facing additional safety challenges and unnecessary financial burden that 280E tax provisions created,” he said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) For the first time under @POTUS Biden, the government will no longer treat marijuana the same as heroin. It’s a big deal. I fought hard for this common sense and historic step. We need to fully legalize marijuana and begin to repair the harms of an unjust war on drugs. https://t.co/bsvFTHZM4G — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 30, 2024 Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) 5 years ago as LG, I was on a 67 county conversation of legal weed. Less than 2 years ago, I asked the President to consider a big move on weed. Here we are now. Joe Biden delivers. Next stop: FULL legalization. https://t.co/xFRaboYECX — Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) April 30, 2024 Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Rescheduling marijuana is a step in the right direction. But – just a step. Marijuana should be DEscheduled altogether. https://t.co/Vylf1vFh39 — Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) April 30, 2024 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) I'm grateful that the DEA is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a move I've been pushing for years. But our work doesn't stop here. Marijuana must be completely descheduled and legalized. https://t.co/vqlkws8eyY — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (@gillibrandny) April 30, 2024 Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Great news! Nevada has been successfully regulating cannabis since 2017, and it's time federal regulations catch up with the times. There's more work to do in Congress and I'll keep fighting to pass commonsense national cannabis reform.https://t.co/EUCSbdhX1g — Senator Jacky Rosen (@SenJackyRosen) April 30, 2024 Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) Marijuana is not as dangerous as heroin. There is no reason for them to be in the same class of controlled substances. We should celebrate the fact we’re finally changing course from the failed, racist legacy of the War on Drugs. https://t.co/Jm0ctVoYTU — Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) April 30, 2024 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) This is a long awaited, essential step in the right direction. But in order to correct for the harms that the War on Drugs brought, we need to go further. We need to deschedule it, expunge the records, and stop criminalizing cannabis. https://t.co/3CNLH7JWIw — Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) April 30, 2024 Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) The Biden Admin’s efforts to remove marijuana as a Schedule I drug is irresponsible and will directly lead to more drug use in the United States. This will not make Oklahoma families stronger, streets safer, or workplaces more productive. — Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) April 30, 2024 Rep., Troy Carter (D-LA) ALERT: The @DEAHQ will be moving to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. This is a major milestone in our nation’s #DrugPolicy and a step in the right direction to bring justice to those who have been disproportionately convicted for marijuana usage and… pic.twitter.com/4WAcBQNvKV — Congressman Troy A. Carter (@RepTroyCarter) April 30, 2024 Rep. David Trone (D-MD) This policy change marks an important step in the right direction toward enacting true criminal justice reform. Marijuana criminalization has disproportionately impacted our most marginalized communities for decades, and reclassification was long overdue.https://t.co/IU99nYV15f — Rep. David Trone (@RepDavidTrone) April 30, 2024 Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) Removing restrictions on an addictive gateway drug like Marijuana is a dangerous mistake. Numerous studies, including a recent and reputable study published by JAMA, points to the negative impact recreational marijuana has on the body and brain. If the Biden Administration… https://t.co/lcPkO5MaA1 — Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) April 30, 2024 Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) How it started vs. how it’s going!! We’ve been calling for marijuana to be declassified as a level one drug since day 1. Now it’s time for @POTUS to finally make it happen!https://t.co/Jdo7QqlXv0 https://t.co/aLi9ZwgGoe — Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) April 30, 2024 Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) As a longtime supporter of legalizing #cannabis, I’ve also supported this more limited first step – and I continue to urge the Biden administration to make this change! @SecBecerra @TheJusticeDept @DEAHQ https://t.co/AvqKR92K6i — Congressman Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) April 30, 2024 Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) This is very welcome news — and good policy. Michigan legalized cannabis in 2018, and I'm excited to see this important step taken towards nationwide legalization. https://t.co/Fx2gUZP1Dm — Senator Gary Peters (@SenGaryPeters) April 30, 2024 Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) Let's keep this momentum going. We must decriminalize marijuana once and for all and fix the harm caused by 50 years of failed drug policies. I'm grateful that @POTUS is working to ensure we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. — Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) April 30, 2024 Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) Good news. There's no reason for marijuana to be treated the same as heroin. This is a step in the right direction toward resolving over 50 years of failed, racially discriminatory marijuana policy. https://t.co/PdOBPjOOqT — Rep. Becca Balint (@RepBeccaB) April 30, 2024 Rep. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) The federal government shouldn't be restricting the freedoms of responsible adults. I'm glad to see the @DEAHQ taking a step into the 21st century and classifying marijuana more appropriately. Let's finish the job and legalize it under federal law.https://t.co/g3Y0KcmLgm — Rep. Nikki Budzinski (@RepNikkiB) April 30, 2024 Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) About time: treating marijuana the same as heroin never made any sort of sense.https://t.co/5WrcHwNtBr — Congressman Chris Deluzio (@RepDeluzio) April 30, 2024 Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) .@POTUS taking a big step forward to reclassify marijuana, which will have a huge impact on people across the US and on Colorado businesses. Most importantly, reclassification will help us reduce the continued criminalization of people using marijuana. https://t.co/BBK8yXfCvk — U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (@RepPettersen) April 30, 2024 Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party It’s never made sense to treat cannabis like cocaine. DFL leaders at the #mnleg already legalized cannabis in MN, and this is a huge step in the right direction at the national level. https://t.co/5qhzrzH6u4 — Minnesota DFL Party (@MinnesotaDFL) April 30, 2024 Advocates and associations NORML “It is significant for these federal agencies, and the DEA and FDA in particular, to acknowledge publicly for the first time what many patients and advocates have known for decades: that cannabis is a safe and effective therapeutic agent for tens of millions of Americans,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “The goal of any federal cannabis policy reform ought to be to address the existing, untenable divide between federal marijuana policy and the cannabis laws of the majority of US states,” he said. “Rescheduling the cannabis plant to Schedule III fails to adequately address this conflict, as existing state legalization laws—both adult use and medical—will continue to be in conflict with federal regulations, thereby perpetuating the existing divide between state and federal marijuana policies.” Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) “This is a positive step forward for federal cannabis policy, however it is a rather modest step given the strong support among American voters for comprehensive cannabis reform,” Matthew Schweich, executive director of MPP, said. “It is important to acknowledge that this rescheduling would not affect the criminalization of medical cannabis patients and cannabis consumers under state laws – so we must continue the work of enacting sensible and fair cannabis legalization and medical cannabis laws through state legislatures and ballot initiatives.” Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) “Supporting federal marijuana decriminalization means supporting the removal of marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, not changing its scheduling,” Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at DPA, said. “We all deserve a federal framework for marijuana that upholds the health, wellbeing, and safety of our communities–particularly Black communities who have borne the brunt of our country’s racist enforcement of marijuana laws,” she said. “Rescheduling marijuana is not a policy solution for federal marijuana criminalization or its harms, and it won’t address the disproportionate impact that it has had on Black and Brown communities.” “The individuals, families and communities adversely impacted by federal marijuana criminalization deserve more. Workers in the marijuana industry, people who use marijuana, all of us deserve more. Congress and the Biden Administration have a responsibility to take actions now to bring about marijuana reform that meaningfully improves the lives of people who have been harmed by decades of criminalization. Descheduling and legalizing marijuana the right way isn’t just good policy, it’s popular with voters, too.” National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) “Moving marijuana out of its absurd classification as a Schedule I drug is long overdue and we applaud the administration for finally acknowledging the therapeutic value that has been widely accepted by the medical community and millions of medical cannabis patients for decades,” NCIA CEO Aaron Smith said. “While this is undoubtedly a very positive first step, rescheduling will not end federal marijuana prohibition and doesn’t harmonize federal law with the laws allowing some form of legal cannabis in the vast majority of the states,” he said. “In order for this move to be meaningful on the ground, we need clear enforcement guidelines issued to the DEA and FDA that would ensure the tens of thousands of state-licensed businesses responsibly serving cannabis to adults are not subject to sanctions or criminal prosecution under federal laws.” U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC) “The US Cannabis Council strongly supports the move by the DEA to reclassify cannabis at a lower level under the Controlled Substances Act. President Biden and his Administration should be commended for recognizing that cannabis was wrongly classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and pursuing an administrative review to reclassify it,” USCC Executive Director Edward Conklin said. “The proposed DEA rule implements the recommendations of the Department of Health and Human Services, which were based on an extensive scientific review by the Food and Drug Administration,” he said. “Once finalized, the reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III will mark the most significant federal cannabis reform in modern history and place the nation on a clear path toward our ultimate goal of federal legalization.” Last Prisoner Project (LPP) “Last Prisoner Project believes that complete descheduling and full legalization of cannabis is a necessary step towards correcting past injustices and creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system,” LPP Executive Director and General Counsel Sarah Gersten said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that individuals burdened with past cannabis convictions have their records expunged and that all cannabis prisoners are released, regardless of the federal scheduling decision,” she said. “Despite not achieving full legalization, we must use this historic moment to push the fight for cannabis justice forward and we intend to do so by leveraging this reclassification for broader criminal legal reforms.” Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR) “The federal prohibition of cannabis is centered first and foremost on its unique danger to society. The DEA has just recognized that those dangers were comparatively and empirically overblown,” Andrew Freedman, executive director of CPEAR, said. “It is time that the federal government got more nuanced about its approach to cannabis, especially as states legalize and Americans openly admit to using the product.” National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) “While NCR continues to call for federal action to address criminal justice reform and empower existing state programs, rescheduling marks a monumental shift in federal cannabis policy as our fight to end prohibition continues,” NCR Executive Director Saphira Galoob said. “We applaud President Biden for his courage and leadership in setting this process in motion, and we thank the due diligence of the DOJ and HHS in carrying out this process and coming to a decision based soundly in science that we hope to see swiftly finalized, opening up the doors for further important medical research and alleviating the insurmountable tax burden imposed under 280E,” she said. “This is critical for state legal cannabis businesses to be treated with fairness and to have the resources needed to reinvest in their workforce and community – and to survive the threat the illicit market poses to the regulated market and public safety. But we know our work does not stop here, particularly when it comes to righting the wrongs of the War on Drugs. While we celebrate progress today with this historic news, we remain committed to continuing the conversations with our federal partners to enact additional cannabis reforms that are long overdue–starting with getting SAFE Banking passed this year and ultimately ending the harmful and misguided policy of federal prohibition.” American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) “In proposing to move cannabis down from Schedule I to Schedule III–a federal ranking signifying the abuse potential of a drug–the DEA will reverse decades of failed drug policies which have devastated countless lives,” ATACH President Michael Bronstein said. “Cannabis is not the same as heroin, fentanyl or opium, which are Schedule I drugs,” he said. “Today the federal government recognizes the medical use of cannabis, its low potential for abuse, and takes a science-based approach to public health.” Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America #Breaking: IAVA Applauds DEA’s Recommendation on Cannabis, Urges Swift Action by Admin. on Rescheduling CEO @jaslow called it “the type of leadership that post-9/11 generation veterans have been thirsting for for years.” #IAVALeads Full release here: https://t.co/4EywCawMPR — IAVA (@iava) April 30, 2024 Industry Stakeholders Curaleaf “Today’s decision by the DEA to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III is one of the most monumental developments that cannabis has seen in years and is a crucial step in undoing the harms caused by the failed and discriminatory War on Drugs,” Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin said. “We are thankful to President Biden and his Administration for helping to push this process forward. This ruling reflects evolving attitudes towards the plant, recognizing its well-documented therapeutic value and medicinal applications. “It’s very clear that the country is ready for this step, given that 92 percent of Americans are now in support of legalization in some form,” he said. “As the cannabis industry undergoes regulatory transformations, Curaleaf remains committed to collaborating with regulatory authorities, industry members, and the broader community to ensure the responsible and sustainable growth of the cannabis sector. The future for the cannabis industry is real and we look forward to seeing what 2024 has in store.” Acreage Holdings “Acreage strongly applauds the DEA’s decision to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act,” Dennis Curran, CEO of Acreage Holdings, said. “For far too long, restrictive policies have stifled the scientific examination of the plant’s many healing capabilities.” “With this massive hurdle removed, more research can be done to learn about the medical efficacy of cannabis and the positive impact that it can have on the health and wellness of millions of people across the country,” he said. “With this monumental move also comes the elimination of 280E, which has burdened cannabis businesses and kept the industry from reaching its full potential. Finally, cannabis operators will be able to compete and operate on a more level playing field with other businesses in the country.” TerrAscend “Today’s news is a critical first step towards aligning US cannabis laws with scientific evidence,” Jason Wild, executive chairman at TerrAscend, said. He added that the company “looks forward to the positive impact that today’s news will have on patients, consumers, and the industry.” Vicente LLP “This is a remarkable about-face by the DEA, which spent decades denying the true medical value of the cannabis plant,” Brian Vicente, founding partner of Vicente LLP, said. “Vicente LLP has been at the forefront of cannabis policy reform for more than a decade and actively engaged in the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform, which strongly advocated for removing cannabis from Schedule I.” “While a strong case can be made for removing cannabis from the federal drug schedules entirely, rescheduling marks a huge step forward for commonsense cannabis policy in our country,” he said. “This action will have massive impacts, both practically for the cannabis industry and symbolically for the reform movement. We have entered a new era of dialogue and policy around this historically maligned plant.” Sunburn Cannabis “This is one of the most historic moments in the decades-long fight to end the US government’s failed war on the cannabis plant,” Brady Cobb, CEO of Sunburn Cannabis, said. “Cannabis has never belonged on Schedule 1 with drugs like cocaine and heroin or as President Biden noted on a more restrictive schedule than fentanyl, and the move to Schedule III is the first real step towards meaningful reform,” he said. “A tremendous amount of work has been done by so many people, and while I’ve been critical of the Biden administration on the timing of this move, credit is due for actually making it happen. Onward.” Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) “While today’s reported landmark decision to reclassify cannabis is a step in the right direction to ending the conflict between state and federal law, it further underscores the need for Congress to take critical action and create a clear, comprehensive federal regulatory structure that protects public health and safety and empowers states to regulate cannabis products,” WSWA said. “Since the enactment of the 21st Amendment, a safe, consumer-centric and economically vibrant marketplace has developed—one that serves the dual needs of regulators and consumers. WSWA continues to strongly believe that the core features of federal alcohol regulation should be the model upon which to build a federal cannabis regulatory system.” Opponents Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. @KevinSabet issued the following statement today in response to reporting that the Biden Administration has proposed a decision to reverse decades of policy and reduce federal restrictions on marijuana… pic.twitter.com/kDtu4nfO4c — SAM (@learnaboutsam) April 30, 2024 Drug Free America Foundation This decision is anti-science & harmful to public health & safety. The FDA rescheduling review that supported this decision was flawed. The Biden Admin didn’t even consider the impact that marijuana use has on pregnant women & their babies in the analysis. #MarijuanaKnowTheTruth https://t.co/fnZH3cCTdt — DrugFreeAmerica (@DrugFreeAmerica) April 30, 2024 DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post Lawmakers, Advocates And Stakeholders React To DEA’s Historic Marijuana Rescheduling Decision, With Many Calling For Bolder Reform appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is again lashing out at marijuana legalization as voters prepare to decide on a ballot initiative in November, warning that the reform would negatively impact quality of life in the state. The governor, who has mocked legalization repeatedly in a series of recent comments, signaled that he may be taking on a more active role in the effort to defeat the cannabis reform as Election Day approaches. “We’ll be getting involved in different ways on those initiatives,” he said remarks Tuesday about the marijuana ballot measure and a separate proposal on abortion rights. The comments came as the governor announced the start of the state’s “Freedom Month” tax holiday. “It’s like, OK, we have medical marijuana in Florida,” DeSantis said, appearing to call into question whether registered patients in the state truly need cannabis products. “I’m not saying none of them are legit, but some of them, clearly they’re doing it to get the card.” “Why would we want to have more?” the governor asked. “You want to walk down the street here and smell it? Do you want to…not be able to take your family out to dinner because you’re worried about it?” “Look what’s happened in Denver, Colorado. Look what’s happened in Los Angeles, New York City,” he continued, saying he’s “talked to people that have moved from New York” who tell him that it “reeks of marijuana.” “I don’t want this state to be reeking of marijuana,” he said. “We’re doing fine. We don’t need to do that.” Watch DeSantis’s marijuana comments, around 30 minutes into the video below: DeSantis also claimed the motives of the campaign behind legalization were profit-driven. “There’s people that will benefit financially if these things pass, and that’s what’s driving this, is the ability for people to line their pockets,” he said. “On the marijuana one, you’re going to have marijuana everywhere.” The governor’s comments come on the heels of his warnings earlier this month that the proposed constitutional amendment would be “not good for families” and “not good for [the] elderly.” At the time, he urged voters to reject ballot initiatives that might seem vague or confusing—including the cannabis measure. “The marijuana one is written so broadly, you are not going to be able to restrict where people use it,” DeSantis said, repeating a claim that the legalization campaign has said is untrue. “Understand: Your life will be impacted by this. It will change the quality of life and our communities. You will smell it when you’re walking down a lot of these streets, particularly in our urban areas.” Smart and Safe Florida, the campaign behind the ballot measure, has previously said that its proposal gives state lawmakers “the authority to limit outdoor and public consumption” just like the state does for smoking tobacco products. DeSantis has previously predicted voters will reject the marijuana initiative in November and argued that passage would “reduce the quality of life” in the state. This week’s most recent comments aren’t the first time the governor has questioned medical marijuana. “There are people that have these cards,” he said at the event earlier this month. “You know some of them do not have really, truly debilitating—we know how that works. That is what’s happened.” “I did that,” he repeated. “I see the stores in all parts of the state. Do we really need to have, like, 10 times more of that than we do? No, we don’t.” Floridians would need to pass the medical marijuana industry-backed legalization initiative with at least 60 percent of the vote for it to become law. Recent polling released by USA Today/Ipsos suggests that might be a tall order, however: The survey found that 56 percent of Florida registered voters and 49 percent of Florida adults overall back the cannabis measure. A separate Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mainstreet Research poll found that only a 47 percent plurality of voters back the cannabis initiative, compared to 35 percent opposed and 18 percent undecided. Economic analysts from the Florida legislature and DeSantis’s office, estimate that the marijuana legalization initiative would generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million in new sales tax revenue annually if voters enact it. Those figures could increase considerably if lawmakers opted to impose an additional excise tax on cannabis transactions that’s similar to the ones in place in other legalized states. If approved, the measure would change the state Constitution to allow existing medical cannabis companies in the state, such as Trulieve, the campaign’s main financial contributor, to begin selling marijuana to all adults over 21. It contains a provision that would allow—but not require—lawmakers to take steps toward the approval of additional businesses. Home cultivation by consumers would not be allowed under the proposal as drafted. — 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. — Adults would be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis, only five grams of which could be marijuana concentrate products. The three-page measure also omits equity provisions favored by advocates, such as expungements or other relief for people with prior cannabis convictions. Nearly all of the campaign’s financial backing has come from existing medical marijuana businesses, predominantly multi-state operators. Last week, the Florida Division of Elections (DOE) released the campaign finance activity report from the first quarter of the year, showing nearly $15 million in new contributions. Trulieve, the main financial backer of the initiative, led the pack again with $9.225 million in donations during the first quarter. That follows the company previously contributing about $40 million as advocates worked to collect more than one million signatures to qualify for ballot placement. As noted by the outlet Florida Politics, which first reported DeSantis’s comments on Wednesday, the governor himself received a $25,000 campaign donation from Trulieve back in November 2020. The company’s CEO said recently that, contrary to the governor’s claims, legalization could actually “improve quality of life” for residents. Here’s what the Smart & Safe Florida marijuana legalization initiative would accomplish: Adults 21 and older could purchase and possess up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use. The cap for marijuana concentrates would be five grams. Medical cannabis dispensaries could “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute marijuana products and marijuana accessories to adults for personal use.” The legislature would be authorized—but not required—to approve additional entities that are not currently licensed cannabis dispensaries. The initiative specifies that nothing in the proposal prevents the legislature from “enacting laws that are consistent with this amendment.” The amendment further clarifies that nothing about the proposal “changes federal law,” which seems to be an effort to avoid past legal challenges about misleading ballot language. There are no provisions for home cultivation, expungement of prior records or social equity. The measure would take effect six months following approval by voters. Here’s the full text of the ballot title and summary: “Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.” The Smart and Safe Florida campaign is soliciting veterans in an effort to build voter support for the reform, saying in an email update that the “goal is to raise awareness among voters about the importance of cannabis as a safer alternative to synthetic opioids for treating PTSD and related conditions among veterans.” Organizers are “looking to engage with veterans across the state of Florida to support our cause.” Despite his opposition to the initiative, DeSantis, the former GOP presidential candidate who dropped out of the race in January, previously accurately predicted that the state’s highest court would ultimately allow the measure on November’s ballot. DeSantis also weighed in on another relevant cannabis policy issue earlier this year when, while still a presidential candidate, he said that he doesn’t believe the federal gun ban for state-legal marijuana consumers is constitutional. Florida’s former agriculture commission, Nikki Fried, brought a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the rule, though the governor did not get involved. Prior to dropping out, DeSantis also said that if elected president, he would “respect the decisions that states make” on marijuana legalization despite his personal view that the reform has a “negative impact.” DEA Agrees To Reschedule Marijuana Under Federal Law In Historic Move Following Biden-Directed Health Agency’s Recommendation The post DeSantis Will Be ‘Getting Involved’ In Effort To Defeat Marijuana Measure On Florida Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has made a historic decision—agreeing with the top federal health agency and proposing to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department confirmed on Tuesday. The decision comes more than 50 years after cannabis was first listed as a strictly prohibited drug, on par with heroin and defined as a substance with no known medical value and a significant abuse potential. Moving marijuana to Schedule III, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), also carries major implications for state-legal cannabis businesses. If it’s ultimately implemented, it will mean that marijuana firms can officially take federal tax deductions that they’ve been barred from under an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. “Today, the Attorney General circulated a proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III,” Justice Department Director of Public Affairs Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement to Marijuana Moment on Tuesday evening. “Once published by the Federal Register, it will initiate a formal rulemaking process as prescribed by Congress in the Controlled Substances Act.” The proposed rescheduling determination, first reported earlier on Tuesday by the Associated Press, would also free up research barriers that are currently imposed on scientists who wish to study Schedule I substances. The next step in the rescheduling process is for the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to review the rule. If approved, it would go to public comment before potentially being finalized. The White House did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. Moving cannabis to another schedule will not legalize it, however. Participants in state cannabis markets would continue to run afoul of federal law, and existing criminal penalties for certain marijuana-related activity would remain in force. DEA’s decision means it has generally accepted the findings from a nearly year-long scientific review into cannabis that HHS carried out before sharing its scheduling recommendation. HHS determined that cannabis “has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States” and has a “potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II.” Federal health officials said their review found that more than 30,000 healthcare professionals “across 43 U.S. jurisdictions are authorized to recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than six million registered patients for at least 15 medical conditions.” “There exists widespread, current experience with medical use of the substance by [health care practitioners] operating in accordance with implemented jurisdiction-authorized programs, where medical use is recognized by entities that regulate the practice of medicine,” HHS said. In terms of relative safety compared to other substances, the federal health review concluded that “the risks to the public health posed by marijuana are low compared to other drugs of abuse (e.g., heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines), based on an evaluation of various epidemiological databases for [emergency department] visits, hospitalizations, unintentional exposures, and most importantly, for overdose deaths.” “For overdose deaths, marijuana is always in the lowest ranking among comparator drugs,” it said. DEA has been under significant pressure from the Biden administration, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, to complete the review in a timely manner. Also, a coalition of 21 congressional lawmakers told DEA this week to “promptly remove marijuana from Schedule I,” while recognizing that the agency may be “navigating internal disagreement” on the issue. “Although some at the DEA have indicated that the agency’s review of an HHS scheduling recommendation often takes up to six months, almost eight months have now passed since the DEA received HHS’s recommendation,” they said. “While we understand that the DEA may be navigating internal disagreement on this matter, it is critical that the agency swiftly correct marijuana’s misguided placement in Schedule I.” That point references reporting in The Wall Street Journal that said DEA officials are “at odds” with the Biden administration over the scheduling review. Meanwhile, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there’s “no reason” for DEA to “delay” making a marijuana scheduling decision. Last month, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra defended his agency’s rescheduling recommendation during a Senate committee hearing and also told cannabis lobbyist Don Murphy that he should pay DEA a visit and “knock on their door” for answers about the timing of their decision. This is a developing story and will be updated. DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting The post DEA Agrees To Reschedule Marijuana Under Federal Law In Historic Move Following Biden-Directed Health Agency’s Recommendation appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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“Governor Youngkin’s failure to act allows an already thriving illegal cannabis market to persist, fueling criminal activity and endangering our communities.” By Michael Chun, Capital News Service Three years, four sessions and one veto since the first legislative attempt, Virginia still does not have a recreational cannabis market. Potential investors say that makes it hard to plan for the future. Advocates and some politicians say the reasons the governor gave for his recent veto are only exacerbated by preventing recreational cannabis sales. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) recently vetoed House Bill 698 and Senate Bill 448, which would have created a framework for an adult-use, recreational cannabis market. This session was not the first time the General Assembly acted to create a retail market. Lawmakers passed a bill in 2021, but the part of the bill that would create a recreational market had to also be passed the next year before it became law—which never happened. The part that did not need reenactment legalized simple possession of marijuana. Republicans gained a House majority in 2022, along with a new governor who was uninterested in creating a cannabis market. Lawmakers skipped over the issue in 2023 and brought it back this year with a legislative Democratic majority. Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax) and Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) worked on a compromise between their two bills, and expressed disappointment over the governor’s vetoes. “Public servants are obligated to tackle pressing issues, regardless of their origin or culpability. They cannot cherry-pick which problems to address,” Rouse stated. Youngkin is concerned the illegal market will thrive if a recreational market is established, but other lawmakers believe the lack of a legal market is driving up those numbers. “States following this path have seen adverse effects on children’s and adolescent’s health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue,” Youngkin stated in his veto. The better approach would be to revisit any discrepancies in enforcement, according to the governor. “Governor Youngkin’s failure to act allows an already thriving illegal cannabis market to persist, fueling criminal activity and endangering our communities,” Krizek stated in an email. “This veto squandered a vital opportunity to safeguard Virginians and will only exacerbate the proliferation of illicit products.” Rouse called the governor’s “dismissive stance” toward cannabis sales unacceptable. Video by Mark Jones, VCU Insight The unregulated and untaxed illegal cultivation and distribution of cannabis generates at least over a billion dollars annually in Virginia, according to a 2020 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, report. As the law currently stands in Virginia, adults over 21 can legally use and possess cannabis for an amount up to 1 ounce. Green-thumb adults are allowed to cultivate four plants at home. Adults can also pay to get medical approval and purchase cannabis through state-approved dispensaries. Advocates Disappointed, Say Bill Was Good Chelsea Higgs Wise is the executive director of Marijuana Justice. She has tread the Capitol steps since 2019 to lobby and inform lawmakers. She testifies in committees about cannabis-related legislation, including equity measures and the modification of cannabis-related offenses. The Black-led organization’s advocacy work includes a path forward for people who have been incarcerated on marijuana charges, through repeal, repair and rehabilitation. The organization also pushed for social equity programs that help formerly incarcerated people get into the legal cannabis business. The legislation vetoed by the governor would have legalized it right, Higgs Wise said. “It includes the equity portions and includes repair for communities and includes certain funds,” she said. “This is what we’ve been promising Virginia.” The excitement did not last long. A few weeks after the bill passed, it met the governor’s veto pen. “It’s a grave disappointment that Virginia is going to have to wait for a safe and regulated cannabis market,” Higgs Wise said. “Gov. Youngkin’s obsession with the legacy market is misplaced, but we recognize the need for a regulated market for reinvesting our community.” Marijuana Justice does not use the term black market, and instead uses “legacy market.” “The legacy market is thriving, we’ve always had a marijuana market here in Virginia and across the U.S.,” Higgs Wise said. “We don’t need the government to tell us what that is. They’re just coming in now to make a lot of money off of it.” The Virginia Cannabis Equity Loan Fund would have provided grants, low-interest and zero-interest loans to qualified microbusiness applicants. The fund was called the social equity license in previous legislation, and Republicans attempted in 2022 to channel the money to other places and eliminate the qualifying provisions. The microbusiness provisions were a way for people to get involved with what is anticipated to be a multimillion dollar business, including veterans of the U.S. armed forces as long as they met certain qualifications. Illegal markets often still thrive in the first few years after a state legalizes cannabis sales. That has to do with equity provisions, or lack thereof, according to Higgs Wise. “Their people that they know are not selling it, that means it is not in their neighborhood; it’s too expensive,” she said. The familiar aspect of connecting with the local supplier, often a friend or someone from the community, also does not come with extra fees. “These are the equity portions that we have to think about for the consumers as well as for the business owners,” Higgs Wise said. The first year of the recreational market could see sales between $123 million to $206 million, according to JLARC estimates from the bill’s impact statement. By year five, sales were forecast to be between $609 million to just over $1 billion. Lawmakers settled on a 8 percent marijuana tax, with sales and use tax at 1.1 percent. Localities had the option to tax up to 2.5 percent and include a food and beverage tax. Recreational marijuana sales could bring in $6.41 million in the first year from the 8 percent tax alone. By the fifth year, the tax revenue was forecast at $66.41 million. The legal marijuana market would overtake the illegal market by year four, and have nearly two-thirds of the sales by year five, even with much higher tax rates, JLARC reported in 2020. JLARC looked at the reported cannabis use rates compared to the use rates of other states to determine this figure. Higgs Wise said to “rest assured” her organization will be back next year to push for a recreational market. “For those who want to participate in Virginia's cannabis industry, we welcome you to join us to fight for a fair and just market,” Higgs Wise said. Impact on Virginia Cannabis Companies Griffin Moon and Dave Bredard launched Chester Cannabis Co. two years ago to sell hemp products that were legal at the time, and they had hopes of getting into the cannabis market. “So that’s definitely the biggest challenge for companies in this industry is all the changing legislation.” Moon said. “You just never know what’s coming.” Currently, hemp products cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Moon and Bredard disposed of a number of products after lawmakers cracked down on THC levels in hemp in 2022. Lawmakers sought more regulation of delta-8 sales, according to a report from the Virginia Mercury. They had to go back to the lab and create a new product line, Moon said. “It’s hard to kinda set up a business if you can only think of a year or a couple years in advance and set up, you know, five, 10 years down the line,” Moon said. “It's just hard to think of the future.” Policy Standpoint Gregory Habeeb, president of Gentry Locke Consulting, represents Virginia’s Cannabis Association. He served as a Republican delegate representing southwestern constituents from 2011 to 2018. A roughly $3 billion illegal cannabis market already exists, Habeeb said. “So the real issue is how we should regulate that market,” Habeeb said. “By passing a bill to regulate it, we can address the public health and safety concerns.” The illegal market continues to grow, going untaxed, unregulated, with untested products sold, according to Habeeb. “We’re hearing from law enforcement all over the state that they want something done, it’s time to get it done,” Habeeb said. Polls continue to show that recreational cannabis is a bipartisan issue. A majority of Virginians support retail sales. Democrats have the most support (70 percent), followed by Independents (54 percent) and then Republicans (46 percent). “Nobody wants a system where unlicensed drug dealers sell untested, untaxed products,” Habeeb said. “I think there’s going to be some political consequences, as more and more people come around to the idea that we need to regulate this market.” VCU InSight reporter Mark Jones contributed to this report. Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University's Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia. VCU InSight is the school’s broadcast capstone. DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting The post Virginia Governor’s Marijuana Veto Will Fuel Illegal Market, Lawmakers And Advocates Say appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

A division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will hold an open meeting this summer to discuss the use of cannabis components to treat pain, with a special focus on minor cannabinoids and terpenes found in marijuana. The June 4 meeting of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) will convene dozens of NIH-funded researchers studying the pain-relieving properties of compounds in cannabis, and it will also feature a talk by officials at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on cannabinoid research. The event marks the final meeting of a group of investigators “who have been conducting NCCIH-supported projects on the mechanisms underlying the analgesic properties of minor cannabinoids and terpenes,” according to a blog post from Inna Belfer, an NCCIH deputy branch chief. William Heuett, a DEA mathematician, is set to present on the agency’s “processing of schedule I research applications”—though it’s still not clear if marijuana will remain in Schedule I as of June—as well as DEA’s registration of cannabis researchers and producers. He’ll be joined in an NCCIH-moderated panel also featuring Jennifer Hobin, who directs NIDA’s Office of Science Police and Communications, as well as Dominic Chiapperino, the director of FDA’s controlled substance staff. Other panel topics include the safety and efficacy of marijuana in animal models and clinical studies, various research initiatives and opportunities through NIH and NCCIH as well as a variety of five-minute “data blitz” presentations from researchers around the country. Late last year, NIH established its Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research aimed at helping scientists overcome barriers to studying cannabis under federal prohibition. At the time, NCCIH’s Patrick Still, a program director for the agency’s Basic and Mechanistic Research branch, acknowledged the “growing interest in potential therapeutic uses of cannabis and its constituents among both health care providers and the public.” “Substances in cannabis have a variety of pharmacologic effects, and rigorous research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and investigate their possible value in helping to manage health conditions,” Still added. “However, investigators working in this field have encountered barriers that have hampered their research.” The upcoming June meeting’s goals are to “highlight the progress made over the past 5 years” and “discuss challenges faced by researchers working in this field and look ahead to new opportunities to advance the science on cannabis, cannabinoids, and pain,” Belfer said. Several agencies under NIH play supportive roles in the center’s work: NCCIH, NIDA, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCCIH will provide $1 million in total costs during fiscal year 2025 to fund the center, while NIDA and NIA will each contribute $100,000 in co-funding, and NCI will provide $200,000. Separately, NCI recently awarded researchers $3.2 million to study the effects of using cannabis while receiving immunotherapy for cancer treatment. That announcement came after a National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health (NACCIH) meeting last May, where members approved the concept for the center, which was “expected to be a focal point for researchers entering the cannabis research space and to support the development and establishment of research tools and studies that will improve upon and eventually change the landscape of cannabis research.” More research in recent years has also focused on cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD. For example, a literature review in the journal Molecules earlier this year focused on the “collaborative interactions” of various chemical compounds in marijuana—including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids—arguing that a better understanding of the components’ combined effects “is crucial for unraveling cannabis’s complete therapeutic potential.” “In cannabis science, cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids have often been overlooked, with much of the literature focusing predominantly on the major cannabinoids THC and CBD,” the study in Molecules said. “However, emerging evidence suggests that these constituents, particularly cannabinoids and terpenes, play a substantial role in interacting and collaborating. This interplay gives rise to the diverse effects, benefits, and side effects observed among different cannabis strains, which can vary in the ratios of these components.” Despite obstacles to studying controlled substances, research has ticked up amid the growing legalization movement. According to analysis by the advocacy group NORML at the end of last year, scientists have published more than 32,000 marijuana studies over the past decade, with some recent years setting records for research. While much of that research has focused on the effects of cannabis consumption, some studies have tried dig into the fundamental chemistry of cannabis. Just last year, for example, scientists discovered “previously unidentified cannabis compounds” called flavorants that are responsible for the unique aromas of different varieties of marijuana. Previously, many thought terpenes alone were responsible for various smells produced by the plant. A NIDA-funded study published last month, meanwhile, found that a citrusy-smelling terpene in marijuana—limonene—may help ease anxiety and paranoia associated with THC. The findings, researchers said, could help unlock the maximum therapeutic benefit of THC and protect public health. And since the end of the federal prohibition of hemp, research into the low-THC form of cannabis has also stepped up. Last year the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published guidance on how to identify, describe and evaluate different varieties of the plant as officials work to rebuild a government seed bank that was destroyed during prohibition. The department also posted a video instructing hemp farmers on how to build and use a Ghostbusters-like backpack vacuum, which USDA says can collect up to 10 grams of cannabis pollen in less than a minute. USDA has also approved two genetically modified versions of hemp that contain higher or lower levels of some cannabinoids, including minor ones such as CBG and CBC. Marijuana Rescheduling Announcement Coming ‘Very Soon,’ As Early As This Week, Opposition Group Says The post DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

There may be a path forward for a North Carolina medical marijuana legalization bill to be enacted into law this session if it’s combined with legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products, the state Senate’s top Republican says. But a Democratic senator also said the bill is going to need broader provisions decriminalizing cannabis possession if it’s going to maintain his support. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) said he’s had bicameral discussions about the prospect of moving the measure from Sen. Bill Rabon (R) this year with a House bill that would require a license to sell hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD, while imposing zoning restrictions for those businesses. “We’d like to deal with not just CBD but medical marijuana,” the senator told CBS 17. “And maybe there’s a way we can work something out on that.” After clearing the Senate last year, Rabon’s bill moved through a House committee but has not yet advanced to the floor. There are hopes it could be revived as a part of a compromise package—but it’s not clear what form it might ultimately take. While Democrats are more broadly in favor of the reform, Sen. Graig Meyer (D) said any future proposal would need to include “some type of decriminalization language,” in addition to the limited medical cannabis program. “It has to include a way for North Carolinians to be part of the industry,” he said. “And it has to be clear that the money that’s made from it can be reinvested into neighborhoods and communities that have been hurt most by drugs.” “I want to change the dialogue about cannabis legalization,” Meyer said. “I want to make it clear that I think the majority of people understand that it’s time for us to legalize it, regulate it, grow it, tax it and to take the benefits from it and reinvest it in our communities.” However, while Meyer said he’d like to see a “good bipartisan negotiation to get to place that everyone can agree and then put it up for a vote,” he added that he doesn’t believe that’s “very likely,” which is why “Democrats should campaign on this” in the lead-up to the November election. 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. He predicted that the bill would be taken back up during this year’s legislative session. A survey of North Carolinians, conducted by the Meredith Poll and published in February, found 78 percent support for lawmakers to pass a medical marijuana bill this year. The current bicameral talks come weeks after a House committee formally recommended that the state regulate the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) said “we’ve got to find a way to stop” sales by unlicensed operators. Rep. Stephen Ross (R), chair of the committee that made the recommendation, said the issue of whether hemp regulatory legislation could be merged with medical cannabis legalization is a “really a tough question to answer because that’s an ongoing debate.” 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.” — 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. — 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 last month. But it appears those appointments will be moot this year. An Indian tribe in North Carolina launched the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary earlier this month—despite the protests of certain Republican congressional lawmakers. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) recently 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 recently declared 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.” Marijuana Rescheduling Announcement Coming ‘Very Soon,’ As Early As This Week, Opposition Group Says The post Top GOP North Carolina Senator Says Medical Marijuana Bill Could Be Merged With Hemp Regulations Measure As Compromise appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R)— one of a handful of gubernatorial candidates in New Hampshire running this year to replace outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu (R)—said in a new interview that she opposes legalizing marijuana for adults, as a House-passed, Republican-led bill would do. Speaking to local ABC affiliate WMUR, Ayotte replied in the negative when asked whether she would entertain the reform, claiming legalization would worsen the state’s fentanyl problem and lead to an epidemic of mental health conditions in young people. “I don’t think legalizing marijuana is the right direction for our state,” said Ayotte, who represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2011 to 2017 and was previously the state’s attorney general from 2004 to 2009. The exchange occurred just days after lawmakers in New Hampshire’s Senate took up a bill from Rep. Erica Layon (R) that would legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis. Sununu, the current governor, has said he’s open the change, but not in the form passed by the House. If the bill doesn’t become law this session, many expect the issue to be taken up in 2025, when a new governor will be in office. “The issue of cannabis legalization: If they can’t get that done with this governor, is that something you would entertain at all?” WMUR political director Adam Sexton asked the former senator and AG. No, Ayotte answered. “As we think about our fentanyl crisis, I’m concerned about the impact of that,” she said. “Thinking about young people and mental health, there’s been studies have been have been done that show that smoking marijuana or ingesting cannabis, in the young ages of teenagers up to 25, have led to a greater incidence of bipolar, schizophrenia [and] other mental health issues.” “Thinking about some of the mental health crisis that we have to address in this state, I don’t think this helps advance that cause or our quality of life,” Ayotte continued. “So I don’t support legalizing marijuana in the state.” It’s not yet clear whether the legalization bill will make it to Sununu’s desk this year. Though it passed the House on a 239–136 vote earlier this month, both Sununu and the state’s Senate president are calling for changes that the bill’s sponsor has said may not fly in the House. “We need to be careful that we don’t take the House’s support for granted,” Layon warned a Senate committee last week, warning some changes could cause House members to sour on the bill. “Given the fact that we need to agree between two bodies and also the person who signs the bill, there are a lot of constraints,” the sponsor said, describing the House-passed version as “a delicate tightrope walk that will get us to where we need to be with perhaps the smallest of changes.” As approved by the House, HB 1633 would allow 15 retail stores statewide and impose a 10 percent state charge on adult-use purchases. Medical marijuana would be exempt from the tax. Retailers would be regulated through a so-called “agency store” model, with significant restrictions on marketing and advertising. Changes proposed at the recent Senate committee hearing by Sen. Daryl Abbas (R)—who led a state commission on legalization last year that failed at its charge of crafting legislation to legalize marijuana—would increase penalties for public consumption, making second and subsequent offenses unspecified misdemeanors. That would expose people jail time in addition to a criminal record, an outcome critics said undercut the very purpose of legalization. Other adjustments in Abbas’s amendment would shift the bill’s regulatory approach to a franchise system, under which the state’s Liquor Commission would oversee the look, feel and operations of the 15 stores. Sununu, for his part, has supported a state-run approach to marijuana legalization—similar to how New Hampshire has government-run liquor stores—but has indicated he’s willing to accept a franchise model. Officials at the Liquor Commission have said it would be far less costly for private franchisees to build out a system of retail stores than to ask the Liquor Commission to take on that task itself. — 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. — Lawmakers 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 also convened the 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. U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Case Of Trucker Fired Over THC Test He Says Was Caused By CBD Product Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan. The post New Hampshire GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says She Would Oppose Marijuana Legalization If Elected appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

SCOTUS takes CBD case; McConnell on SAFER Banking; Study: Marijuana doesn’t affect motivation; Fed psilocybin research; MA poll 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… Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on whether a truck driver who was fired after testing positive for THC can sue Medical Marijuana, Inc., which allegedly falsely marketed its CBD product as having “0% THC.” Officials with the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana announced they are hearing rumors that a federal cannabis rescheduling decision could be announced “very soon,” possibly as early as “today or tomorrow.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office told Marijuana Moment that he “continues to oppose marijuana banking” as advocates seek to find a legislative vehicle to advance the reform. House Financial Services Committee Vice Chair French Hill (R-AR) said he would support combining a marijuana banking bill with a cryptocurrency regulation measure—arguing that “our country will benefit” if both reforms are enacted. The National Institutes of Health announced it will support research on psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat chronic pain in older adults with a new investment of $8.4 million in federal grant funding. A new study of frequent marijuana consumers found that “contrary to stereotypes, we observed minimal effects on motivation” and that there was “no evidence of a weed hangover.” “Very frequent users…are more motivated than less frequent users.” A poll of Massachusetts residents found that 65 percent say legalizing marijuana was the “right decision” for the state but that 55 percent want hemp-derived THC products to be restricted to being sold at dispensaries only. / FEDERAL Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said marijuana reform is about “privacy issues and personal liberty questions.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tweeted, “Right now, marijuana has the same status under federal law as heroin and is labeled as more dangerous than fentanyl or cocaine—which makes no scientific sense. President Biden has called on the DEA to review this policy, and it’s time for them to act.” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said President Joe Biden should embrace marijuana legalization in order to win reelection. / STATES New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, “Let me set the record straight: my candid conversation reveals my commitment to our small businesses and patients who rely on medical cannabis. Frustration with federal interference highlights my dedication to fighting for what’s right for New Mexicans.” The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case on a marijuana business licensing dispute on May 8. Oklahoma’s top medical cannabis regulator spoke about how the program has evolved over time. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday. — 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 A judge upheld a $191,000 award to a former Amsterdam, New York wastewater treatment worker who was fired over medical cannabis use. / INTERNATIONAL A Canadian lawmaker is pushing for an emergency debate in the House of Commons about drug decriminalization. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction posted a request for proposals to design a cannabis policy toolkit “that will support decision makers and planners with the design, implementation and evaluation of national cannabis policies.” Moroccan regulators have issued nearly 3,000 authorizations for legal cannabis production. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “while sports medicine physicians generally have favorable attitudes toward CBD and cannabis, these perceptions appear to be significantly affected by age, practice type, and gender.” A study of mice found that “medicinal cannabis oil improves anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors.” / BUSINESS Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. is voluntarily delisting from Nasdaq and deregistering its securities. Planet 13 Holdings Inc. received regulatory approval for a proposed sale of Planet 13 Florida, Inc. and the proposed acquisition of VidaCann, LLC. Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$27.7 million and a loss and comprehensive loss of C$1.2 million. Simply Solventless Concentrates Ltd reported annual revenue of C$6.2 million. / CULTURE Basketball player Brittney Griner blamed a “mental lapse” for her bringing cannabis vape cartridges into Russia. 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 Cannabis rescheduling imminent, opponents say (Newsletter: April 30, 2024) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net

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