Marijuana Moment: DEA questions “medical” cannabis despite rescheduling move (Newsletter: May 13, 2024)

[Tokeativity]

FL legalization polls; VT & AK psychedelics bills to govs; NY safe drug consumption; MN marijuana court cases

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Drug Enforcement Administration released a new report appearing to call into question marijuana’s medical value with the selective use of scare quotes despite the recent federal rescheduling decision that for the first time acknowledges cannabis’s medicinal benefits.

A new poll found that 58 percent of Florida likely voters support a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot—not enough to reach the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. The survey was commissioned by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the reform.

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers pushed back against recent surveys showing the Florida marijuana legalization ballot initiative her company is funding doesn’t have enough voter support to pass, citing “incredibly strong” internal polling.

Vermont lawmakers sent Gov. Phil Scott (R) a bill to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group that would make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances like psilocybin and MDMA.

Alaska lawmakers sent Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) a bill to create a task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy in the event of federal approval of substances such as MDMA and psilocybin.

The New York Senate Health Committee approved a bill to legalize safe consumption sites for illegal drugs under a five-year pilot program.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Legal Marijuana Now Party failed to meet the state’s requirements to qualify as a major political party.

Minnesota regulators are being sued by four people who grow marijuana at home and say the state Constitution gives them the right to sell what they produce without a license.

The Kansas Cannabis Justice Coalition is a new organization pushing for marijuana reform in the state, and its founders include members of the Prairie Village City Council and a former U.S. attorney.

/ FEDERAL

A federal judge rejected a claim from President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden that the ban on gun possession by people who use illegal drugs, which he is being charged for allegedly violating, is unconstitutional.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow authored a journal article about the agency’s support for research, saying that “we can predict that the landscape of substance use will continue to change, including the emergence of new and increasingly more powerful synthetic drugs, as well as state-level legislative changes in medicinal and recreational use of drugs like cannabis.”

A Congressional Research Service report on the 2018 Farm Bill includes an overview of its hemp provisions.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) tweeted, “Rescheduling weed is the right move. Legalizing weed is the right move. Expunging nonviolent weed possession charges is the right move.”

/ STATES

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that the state’s top marijuana regulator will be leaving when his current terms in September after an audit she directed identified “significant structural limitations…that have affected the agency’s ability to fulfill its mandate to efficiently establish New York State’s cannabis marketplace.”

South Carolina’s Senate minority leader decried the legislature’s failure to pass a medical cannabis legalization bill this session.

The Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case alleging that Warren’s Marijuana Review Committee violated the state Open Meetings Act.

California regulators issued a recall of marijuana products due to inaccurate labeling that reports more cannabinoid content than is actually present.

Washington State regulators filed rules concerning changing the acronym of the Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Connecticut regulators said businesses selling THC-infused beverages must take inventory of all products in their possession on May 14.

The Colorado Department of Transportation posted information on how various cannabinoids can affect driving ability.

The Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will meet on Monday.

The Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council will meet on Monday.

—
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

The Boston, Massachusetts Cannabis Board will meet on Wednesday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Antigua and Barbuda’s Cabinet is proposing to create a cannabis research and development program.

The Jamaican opposition is pushing the government to address challenges facing the marijuana industry.

At least 125 people serving marijuana sentences in German prisons have been released following the enactment of the country’s legalization law.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study on the effect of Thai marijuana outlets “found no association between outlet density and hazardous cannabis use or cannabis use disorder, nor association with the amount of cannabis use among cannabis smokers.”

A study of rats found that “psilocybin reduces alcohol self-administration.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Maryland Association of Counties published an analysis of the federal move to reschedule marijuana.

The Los Angeles Times editorial board is cheering the  federal marijuana rescheduling decision.

/ BUSINESS

Jushi Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $65.5 million and a net loss of $18.4 million.

Planet 13 Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $22.9 million and a net loss of $5.9 million.

Leafly Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $9 million and a net loss of $2.4 million.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. made its first shipment of medical cannabis products to New Zealand.

TILT Holdings Inc. announced that its subsidiary Standard Farms secured funding to support plans to construct and operate dispensaries in Pennsylvania.

Colorado retailers sold $126.6 million worth of legal marijuana products in March.

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