New drug czar touted medical marijuana benefits; NJ clears 88,000 cannabis cases; CA psychedelics bill vote; SC GOP senator defends Dem over marijuana
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the full text of their long-anticipated federal draft marijuana legalization bill. It would deschedule cannabis, expunge prior records, fund equity programs, remove collateral consequences and transfer regulatory authority for marijuana to the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies.
President Joe Biden nominated Rahul Gupta, who previously oversaw the implementation of West Virginia’s medical cannabis program and touted the health and economic benefits of marijuana reform, to serve as the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Under his leadership, the state program added smoking as an approved form of consumption.
- Harm reduction advocates have concerns about how he oversaw the decertification of a syringe access program, however.
The California Assembly Health Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to legalize possession of psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA. But the panel added new possession limits that are dividing advocates.
New Jersey courts have dismissed or vacated nearly 88,000 marijuana cases since a decriminalization law took effect on July 1. And that’s just the start of the more than a third of a million cannabis cases eligible to be cleared and expunged.
A South Carolina Republican senator came to the defense of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham after he was attacked by the state GOP for his support of legalizing marijuana. Sen. Tom Davis (R) said his party’s stance is “intellectually lazy” and a “fail.”
/ FEDERAL
One of the assassins of Haiti’s president was reportedly once a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential informant.
New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Tim Alexander tweeted, “As a former law enforcement officer, I know it’s time we legalize marijuana and expunge the records. We should be investing in our communities, not incarcerating them for nonviolent drug offenses.”
/ STATES
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed legislation to regulate delta-8-THC. Separately, regulators suspended the license of 3843 Euclid, LLC for allegedly jeopardizing the health or safety of customers through a series of violations.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical cannabis businesses to reorganize as for-profit entities.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed a bill to set medical cannabis testing standards.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed his longtime marijuana advisor as director of the newly created Department of Cannabis Control.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) said he opposes legalizing marijuana but that medical cannabis is “a little bit different story.” Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham will participate in a virtual conversation about cannabis with South Carolina NORML on Wednesday.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Marijuana is now legal in three more states (CT, NM, VA). In Pennsylvania, I’m still waiting for legislators to get a bill to my desk. Pennsylvanians want it. I’m for it. And it’s long past time we restore justice to those harmed by criminalization.”
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate John King, a former U.S. education secretary, tweeted, “Legalizing cannabis is only step one. We must also ensure that businesses led by folks of color and women are able to fairly participate in licensing and sales.”
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader said the Democratic caucus is “as a whole, the caucus is in favor of marijuana reform, decriminalization, and eventual legalization.”
New Mexico regulators are proposing to more than double marijuana plant limits for licensed producers.
Nevada regulators sent a notice informing marijuana retailers that they may be eligible to open consumption lounges. Separately, the Cannabis Advisory Commission held its first meeting.
Alaska regulators finalized rules on marijuana social consumption cleanup.
Oklahoma regulators said part of a medical cannabis business’s lawsuit against the state’s tracking system should be dismissed and the rest should be transferred to a different court.
Missouri regulators published data on medical cannabis business minimum standards reviews.
Ohio regulators published an updated list of compliant medical cannabis devices.
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/ LOCAL
Pima County, Arizona’s county attorney filed court petitions to expunge marijuana convictions.
Oakland, California officials will discuss cannabis equity grants on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Trinidad and Tobago lawmakers filed a bill to legalize marijuana for medical, research and religious purposes.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that marijuana legalization laws “reduce opioid-related [emergency department] visit rates by roughly 7.6% for two quarters after implementation” and that, while the “effects dissipate after 6 months,” the results indicate the laws “did not increase opioid-related ED visits.”
A study of rats concluded that “CBD therapy is effective for parkinsonism-induced orofacial nociception.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Doctors for Cannabis Regulation has a new president.
The Brewers Association is promoting a new book on brewing with cannabis.
Arizona Bar Foundation is promoting a webinar to help people expunge marijuana convictions that’s taking place on July 28.
/ BUSINESS
Organigram Holdings Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $20.3 million and a net loss of $4 million.
Wesana Health Holdings Inc. is acquiring Psychedelitech Inc.
High Tide Inc. is acquiring six marijuana retail locations in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. is launching a new B Noble brand to tell the story of Bernard Noble, who served time in prison for marijuana.
The husband of Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s CEO is facing federal bribery and corruption charges.
Colorado retailers sold $194 million worth of marijuana products in May.
/ CULTURE
Former Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes said she agrees with the marijuana-related suspension of runner Sha’Carri Richardson.
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