MD House passes cannabis referendum bill (Newsletter: February 28, 2022)

NY gov indicators marijuana licensing invoice; UT psychedelics research advances; FL legalization ballot; NM insurers pressed to cowl medical hashish; AZ gross sales

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Supreme Court is asking the solicitor normal to weigh in on two medical hashish staff compensation instances it’s contemplating taking on. State courts have reached differing selections on the difficulty.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a invoice to offer short-term marijuana enterprise licenses to hemp growers and processors to assist the state put together for a well timed launch of the adult-use market. There are fairness, labor and sustainability necessities for members.

The Utah Senate Health and Human Services Committee authorised a invoice to create a process pressure to review and make suggestions on the therapeutic makes use of of psychedelics akin to psilocybin for treating psychological well being issues. The laws has already handed the total Home.

A brand new ballot discovered that three out of four Florida voters help legalizing marijuana—together with majorities throughout social gathering, age, intercourse and racial demographic teams.

New Mexico hashish firm Ultra Health despatched a letter urging insurance coverage firms to cowl the price of medical hashish for sure sufferers, a transfer it argues is required below a brand new state legislation.

The Arizona Department of Revenue reported that customers bought greater than $1.4 billion price of marijuana merchandise in 2021, the primary yr of authorized adult-use gross sales. The brand new figures embody gross sales of medical hashish as properly.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) tweeted, “Legalizing hashish and expunging non-violent convictions isn’t only a legal justice subject — it’s a well being and financial subject too. I’m preventing alongside @CPeoplesStokes to make sure communities which have been disproportionately harmed are capable of profit from this rising business.”

A spokesperson for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) mentioned there must be extra analysis on “the potential public well being penalties of legalization.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “As we speak, 81% of the hashish business is dominated by white enterprise house owners— but hundreds of individuals of coloration serve time for marijuana-related offenses. It’s gone time for my colleagues in Congress to hitch me within the battle to proper this injustice.”

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) tweeted, “It’s time for Congress to behave on achievable, incremental #hashish reform that may construct the bipartisan consensus essential to turn into legislation and enhance tens of millions of lives.”

/ STATES

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) cheered legislation enforcement actions in opposition to medical hashish companies that officers say have been diverting merchandise to the unlawful market. The state’s top medical marijuana regulator mentioned the raids ought to function a “warning.”

Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Danielle Neuschwanger mentioned Gov. Jared Polis (D) “belongs in a jail cell” for “taking cash out of your pockets and lining marijuana firms’ pockets.”

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, a former Cincinnati mayor, tweeted, “If we need to discuss authorities overreach, let’s discuss a long time of locking up Black and brown males for smoking marijuana. It’s time we legalize it and make investments that income again into good-paying jobs for Ohioans.”

Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, at present the lawyer normal, tweeted, “1. Legalize leisure marijuana. 2. Expunge the information of these serving time for non-violent marijuana offenses. 3. Increase our financial system. It’s that easy.”

South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, mentioned his help for legalizing marijuana.

Right here’s a have a look at the place Texas gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana reform.

A Nebraska medical hashish marketing campaign committee reported that as of the top of January, it had obtained $68,000 in money contributions and spent about $38,000.

The Kansas Home of Representatives authorised a hemp testing and seed invoice.

The Oregon Senate Committee on Finance and Income Committee authorised a invoice to permit municipalities to extend native marijuana taxes. Individually, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation voted to divert no less than $26 million from substance misuse therapy and towards police to fight unlawful hashish cultivation, however lawmakers say the transfer will likely be reversed.

The West Virginia Home Judiciary Committee authorised a invoice to permit regulators to require medical hashish companies to keep up movement activated video surveillance.

The Wyoming Senate Labor, Well being & Social Providers Committee rejected a invoice that may have allowed prosecutors to carry felony prices in opposition to pregnant ladies who eat unlawful medication.

Washington State lawmakers unveiled a funds plan that directs $125 million to reinvestment grants for communities harmed by the conflict on medication.

Maryland’s Home Judiciary Committee chairman spoke about his marijuana legalization laws that’s anticipated to get flooring votes this week.

A Missouri consultant who’s sponsoring a marijuana legalization invoice says the coverage change “is coming whether or not we need to do it this manner or not.”

A California senator tweeted, “Hurt discount — together with protected needle & paraphernalia packages — is a confirmed technique to cut back infections & overdose deaths. But conservatives proceed to work to criminalize them & prop up the failed Battle on Medicine. How about we simply comply with the science?”

Florida regulators are asking a decide to completely ban a physician from recommending medical hashish following an undercover investigation that concerned undercover brokers posing as sufferers.

Nevada regulators met to behave on marijuana enterprise points.

Utah regulators despatched an replace on the medical hashish program.

The Tennessee Medical Hashish Fee will meet on Friday.

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Marijuana Second is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this yr. Patreon supporters pledging no less than $25/month get entry to our interactive maps, charts and listening to calendar in order that they don’t miss any developments.

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/ LOCAL

The Seattle, Washington Metropolis Council  Finance & Housing Committee hosted a dialogue about fairness within the marijuana business.

Denver, Colorado officers despatched a discover to marijuana companies in regards to the launch of a statewide program that “gives free technical help, connections to assets and helps organizations all through the state in growing operational effectivity and sustainability.”

/ INTERNATIONAL

The European Commission validated a number of purposes to promote CBD merchandise.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A research discovered that body mass index “could partially account for the obvious anti-inflammatory results of hashish use.”

A overview concluded that cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid  system are “a promising therapeutic intervention for multiple sclerosis.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable says it’s “deeply troubled in regards to the growing proliferation of merchandise which are offered below the guise of the hemp identify however which are marketed for his or her intoxicating impact.”

/ BUSINESS

MedMen plans to amend authorized filings to withdraw sure claims it made about Ascend Wellness allegedly pressuring New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) workplace over a deal for the latter firm to accumulate the previous firm’s operations within the state.

HEXO Corp. reached an settlement with an aggrieved shareholder to refresh its board of administrators.

Ayr Wellness Inc. is launching a collection of file expungement clinics to happen on Sunday.

/ CULTURE

Wiz Khalifa’s hashish model, Khalifa Kush, will likely be completely produced, processed and offered by Trulieve Hashish Corp. in Florida and northeast markets.

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