Marijuana Moment: VA legal cannabis sales compromise in works (Newsletter: February 21, 2024)

[Tokeativity]

German legalization vote lined up; RI 280E marijuana tax fix; MD cannabis & guns; AZ & VT psilocybin bills; NE medical marijuana poll

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

At least eight German Bundestag committees are scheduled to consider a marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday ahead of planned votes on final passage set for Friday. The health minister says the government “definitely” has enough support to enact it.

Virginia House and Senate leaders are working to negotiate a compromise on legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales after either chamber passed its own plan to launch the market.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) included a provision in his budget proposal to provide marijuana businesses with a partial workaround to the 280E tax penalty by decoupling state and federal policy so they can at least take state deductions for expenses.

The Maryland Senate passed a bill to protect medical cannabis patients’ state gun rights.

The Arizona Senate Rules Committee approved a bill to legalize psilocybin service centers where people could receive the psychedelic in a medically supervised setting—sending it to a floor vote.

The Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee held a hearing on a bill to legalize psilocybin and establish a work group to study further regulating psychedelics for therapeutic use—with the chair saying it could be “acted upon pretty quickly.”

A new poll found that 70 percent of Nebraska likely voters support legalizing medical cannabis as activists seek to qualify initiatives to enact the policy change for the November ballot.

A co-chair of the Maryland Coalition on Drug Use, Treatment, and Recovery authored an op-ed urging lawmakers to support a bill that would create a task force to study the  potential decriminalization of drugs in the state.

/ FEDERAL

The Food and Drug Administration tweeted, “Expecting a little one? Think twice before using marijuana — it could impact your baby’s brain growth and birth weight.”

A claim by Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about the federal government classifying marijuana in a “more dangerous category than fentanyl or cocaine”  was rated by PolitiFact as “true.”

/ STATES

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) suggested during his State of the State speech that Colorado being in the list of states with the highest GDP per capita is due to legal marijuana.

The Oklahoma Senate passed a bill to create a hemp task force.

The Florida House Appropriations Committee approved a bill to restrict hemp products.

Hawaii representatives expressed concerns about a bill to increase the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized to one ounce and lower the fine to $25.

Colorado activists filed a redrafted ballot measure to allow cannabis consumers to obtain concealed gun carry permits.

Arkansas activists behind a proposed ballot measure to expand medical cannabis access have received more than $88,000 in campaign contributions since last month.

Vermont regulators issued a consumer protection warning about pesticide contamination of marijuana products.

California regulators posted guidance on cannabis excise taxes.

Missouri regulators issued an extension on a variance for marijuana packaging and labeling compliance.

New Mexico’s top marijuana regulator spoke about efforts to ensure compliance and combat illegal operators.

The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission will meet on Friday.

—
Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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.
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/ LOCAL

Smithfield, Rhode Island officials are being sued by a licensed marijuana grower who claims police improperly destroyed evidence in a case accusing him of exceeding cultivation limits.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. again spoke out against the International Criminal Court’s investigation of the country’s bloody “war on drugs.”

The Australian Senate Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “there was no significant association between marijuana-smoking and dental caries [decayed, missing, filled teeth] experience.”

A study found that “CBD + krill oil supplements are safe against canine [osteoarthritis]” and that “CBD can reduce pain and inflammation.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Arizona Public Health Association’s executive director spoke about a psilocybin therapy legalization bill that is advancing in the state legislature.

/ BUSINESS

Aurora Cannabis Inc. has a new chief financial officer and completed a previously announced consolidation of shares.

/ CULTURE

Musician Gene Simmons said the only time he ever got high was by accidentally eating six marijuana-infused brownies.

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