WI GOP against gov’s marijuana plan; TX psychedelics bill; NC cannabis support; IA senators OK patient fee cut; Marijuana helps/hinders biz ideas
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Top Wisconsin Republican leaders are not on board with Gov. Tony Evers’s (D) new plan to legalize marijuana, but some GOP lawmakers are floating more modest reforms such as decriminalizing possession or allowing medical cannabis.
The Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee scheduled the first hearing on a marijuana legalization bill sponsored by the majority leader and speaker for Wednesday.
- “As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand the amount of resources the state expends on current cannabis restrictions,” the chairman of the committee said,
The Virginia House General Laws Committee took a procedural step to get lawmakers closer to working out the differences between separate marijuana legalization bills approved on the floor of both chambers last week.
A new poll found that a majority of North Carolina adults support legalizing marijuana and that three out of four back medical cannabis. The survey also asked about the morality of marijuana use and whether it is a gateway drug.
A Texas representative filed a bill to require the state to study psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine as alternative therapies to treat PTSD, depression, chronic pain and other disorders.
An Iowa Senate Judiciary subcommittee approved a bill to slash medical cannabis patient fees from $100 annually to just $10 every two years. Fees on medical marijuana providers would also be cut.
A new study found that using marijuana both helps and hinders the brainstorming process for coming up with new business ideas.
- “Despite generating more original ideas, we found that cannabis users’ ideas were less feasible.”
/ FEDERAL
The Biden administration is reviewing a Trump-era Office of the Comptroller of the Currency rule preventing banks from denying service for non-financial reasons that cannabis and other businesses say could benefit them.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture official spoke about hemp-related research and data projects the government is undertaking.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote in a constituent letter that he will “continue to push for legislation that addresses the systemic and racial inequities that have plagued our drug laws and criminal justice system for decades.”
/ STATES
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said she would “not be inclined to sign” any marijuana legalization bill that lawmakers pass. Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to remove some marijuana convictions from background checks.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) budget proposal contains funding for marijuana regulation and social equity initiatives and for a “Clean Slate” program to clear prior criminal records.
The Idaho House Agriculture Committee introduced a bill to legalize hemp.
A Georgia House Regulated Industries subcommittee approved a bill to add ulcerative colitis as a low-THC medical cannabis qualifying condition.
The Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to limit the potency of marijuana products on Friday.
A Connecticut senator said he is “embarrassed” by the lack of detail on equity in Gov. Ned Lamont’s (D) marijuana legalization plan.
A Kentucky representative filed a marijuana legalization bill.
Colorado regulators issued the state’s first recreational marijuana delivery permit.
Maryland’s Department of Agriculture tweeted about a participant in the state’s hemp pilot program becoming “the first in the U.S. to commercially produce hemp using aquaponic methods.”
Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver numbers.
California’s Cannabis Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday.
Florida’s Medical Cannabis and Hemp Advisory Committees will meet on Wednesday.
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/ LOCAL
Broward County, Florida’s state’s attorney issued a memo aimed at reducing marijuana possession cases.
The Missoula County, Montana clerk and treasurer published an op-ed calling on lawmakers and the governor to immediately implement the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization measure.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study indicated that “hemp extracts can be a valuable source of biologically active substances that reduce oxidative stress, inhibit skin aging processes and positively affect the viability of skin cells.”
A study concluded that “cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of elevated fatty liver index in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A FiveThirtyEight analyst predicted that marijuana will not be federally legalized by the end of President Joe Biden’s first term.
The Hemp Feed Coalition is pushing for hemp to become an approved animal feed ingredient.
The International Drug Policy Consortium released a new strategic plan.
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of C$67.7 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of C$16.8 million.
Columbia Care Inc. entered into an agreement to sell C$25 million worth of shares.
Ayr Strategies Inc. changed its corporate name to Ayr Wellness Inc.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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