Fed power agency threatens cannabis businesses (Newsletter: February 9, 2022)

1st PA legalization listening to; DEA psychedelics ban pushback; OK gov: voters misunderstood medical marijuana measure; Weedmaps advert on hashish censorship

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) slammed Democrats for together with marijuana banking provisions in a Home-passed China competitiveness invoice.

• “Evidently, this isn’t a profitable technique for international competitors between nice powers.”

The Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee held the Republican-controlled legislature’s first-ever listening to on marijuana legalization. The panel’s GOP chairman plans to carry two extra hearings after which file a authorized hashish invoice.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) stated in his State of the State deal with that voters misunderstood the medical marijuana poll measure they authorised, arguing that licenses are too low-cost and have led to too many hashish companies being fashioned.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is receiving damaging suggestions a few proposal to newly classify 5 psychedelics within the restrictive Schedule I class, which advocates say will hinder analysis.

Checks performed as a part of a media investigation indicated {that a} cannabis shop co-owned by Virginia’s Senate president pro tempore is promoting mislabeled merchandise containing quantities of delta-9 THC which might be unlawful within the state.

A brand new Weedmaps ad jokes in regards to the plight of the broccoli emoji, which is commonly used as a stand-in for marijuana whereas social media corporations proceed to censor hashish content material.

• “It’s taking up my life.”

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration launched a brand new effort to fight “drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) referred to as on marijuana companies to assist combat for restorative justice for individuals harmed by the struggle on medication.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) tweeted, “As a founding member of the Home Hashish Caucus, I labored arduous to incorporate provisions within the #AmericaCOMPETESAct to guard banks serving lawful hashish institutions. Inform the Senate to agree. Nevada wants this!”

Wisconsin Democratic Senate candidate Tom Nelson tweeted, “Completely happy #NationalHempDay! Wisconsin farmers develop over 5,000 acres of hemp. Immediately, you may help WI hemp farmers by researching hemp-derived merchandise. We’d like a Senator who will combat for our hemp farmers and develop the trade!”

The Home invoice to remove barriers to marijuana research obtained one new cosponsor for a complete of eight.

The Home invoice to deschedule marijuana obtained one new cosponsor for a complete of seven.

/ STATES

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) stated it might be untimely to touch upon a medical hashish invoice till he sees its closing amended kind.

The South Dakota Senate handed a invoice to restrict medical hashish house cultivation to 3 mature and three immature crops.

The Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee authorised a marijuana report sealing and expungements invoice.

Maryland Home Democrats tweeted, “Proper now, leisure hashish is authorized in 18 states and DC. HB1 will make Maryland the nineteenth state to finish the struggle on marijuana & HB837 creates an equitable path ought to Marylanders vote to legalize hashish within the 2022 Basic Election.” In addition they tweeted, “Authorized hashish means lasting fairness. Home Invoice 837 addresses urgent felony justice & public well being points dealing with legalization whereas constructing the mandatory basis to create social fairness within the leisure hashish trade.”

Kansas Home Democrats tweeted, “Mississippi handed medicinal marijuana. Kansas hasn’t. Home Dems wish to bypass #ksleg-islative obstruction and put marijuana use on the poll for voter approval.”

A Missouri consultant who’s sponsoring marijuana legalization referendum decision criticized an activist-led initiative over its licensing provisions.

The director of the Maine Middle for Illness Management and Prevention testified in opposition to a invoice to permit therapeutic use of psilocybin.

Alaska regulators are proposing modifications to guidelines for enforcement motion processes for violations of marijuana legal guidelines.

Rhode Island regulators issued steerage about testing necessities for medical hashish.

West Virginia regulators despatched steerage on hemp grower reporting necessities.

The New Mexico Division of Agriculture tweeted, “Completely happy #NationalHempDay! The New Mexico Division of Agriculture’s hemp licensing program has led to a revitalized greenhouse trade within the state. NMDA licensed over 10 million sq. ft of greenhouse area for hemp in the course of the 2021 rising season.”

Florida’s Division of Agriculture and Client Providers posted a thread about Nationwide Hemp Day, tweeting, “The @USDA authorised Florida’s state hemp program in April of 2020. Since then, the state’s program has led the best way in creating jobs and modern merchandise! Now in 12 months two, this system continues to develop throughout our state!”

The North Carolina Division of Agriculture and Client Providers tweeted, “It’s Nationwide Hemp Day! Hemp is a crop being researched and grown by many farmers throughout our state. Actually, in response to the NC State School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, there are roughly 1,500 licensed hemp growers in our state as we speak!”

Pennsylvania’s Division of Agriculture tweeted, “Hemp = Alternative! These crops pack a mighty punch! After harvest, their stalks can be utilized for biofuel, fire-proof constructing materials, and even bullet-proof vests.”

The California Division of Fish and Wildlife launched annual hashish enforcement knowledge.

Vermont regulators are internet hosting a marijuana social fairness and financial empowerment networking occasion on Thursday.

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/ INTERNATIONAL

Mexico’s Senate majority chief stated lawmakers will prioritize marijuana legalization laws this session.

Germany’s new drug commissioner spoke in regards to the challenges of implementing marijuana legalization.

Pakistan’s minister of science and expertise helped inaugurate a pilot challenge for hashish processing.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A research discovered that leisure marijuana legal guidelines “​​haven’t any impact on tobacco use and within the medium-run, we discover some proof of a lagged reduction in tobacco use on the order of roughly 0.5 to 2 share factors” and that “fears of grownup tobacco-related public well being prices from RMLs are, no less than within the short- and medium-run, unfounded; as a substitute, there could also be essential public well being advantages from reductions in grownup tobacco use.”

A overview of psychedelics’ results concluded that “medical risks are often minimal, and that many – albeit not all – of the persistent damaging perceptions of psychological dangers are unsupported by the presently obtainable scientific proof, with nearly all of reported antagonistic results not being noticed in a regulated and/or medical context.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A ballot discovered that 46 p.c of young French people help legalizing marijuana.

The South Dakota Democratic Party tweeted, “Immediately @RepJamieSmith’s HB 1157, decriminalizing the consumption of Marijuana and different managed substances from a felony to misdemeanor, was shot down by the legislature. How for much longer should we destroy lives with felony costs and harsh penalties?”

The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “Greater than 37 states, each Republican and Democrat, have legalized hashish in some kind. The @indgop’s opposition to hashish is rooted partisanship. It’s previous time Indiana legalizes marijuana. @INDems are able to ship this for Hoosiers.”

The New York Post editorial board is looking on Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for extra transparency about her workplace’s relationships with marijuana trade marketing campaign donors.

/ BUSINESS

Leafly Holdings Inc. started buying and selling on NASDAQ.

Papa John’s launched a Hemp Sticks product within the UK.

Optimi Health Corp. was granted a vendor’s license by Canadian officers permitting for regulated possession, manufacturing, assembling, sale and supply of psilocybin.

The Parent Company’s COO will step down in March.

Illinois retailers offered greater than $117 million price of leisure marijuana merchandise in January.

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