Congressman: Pass marijuana banking now; Richardson: Change sports cannabis penalties; Feds fund hemp insulation; Portland psychedelics decrim
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen.
If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Ohio’s attorney general certified a petition for a marijuana legalization initiative that activists are hoping to place on the state’s 2022 ballot, a move that comes weeks after he rejected a previous version.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said that passing his marijuana banking bill should not have to wait for broader cannabis reform to build up enough support, arguing that it’s “not about making corporations richer; it’s about protecting employees, patients and customers of small businesses.”
The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research into the development of insulation made from hemp fiber as a more environmentally friendly and healthier alternative to conventional preparations.
Runner Sha’Carri Richardson said she would feel “blessed” if the reaction to her suspension from the Olympics for marijuana led to the end of cannabis punishments for other athletes.
Portland, Oregon activists are asking the City Commission to pass a measure to bridge the gaps between state psilocybin therapy and drug decriminalization laws by making cultivating, gifting and administering psychedelics the lowest law enforcement priority.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wrote in a constituent letter that she is worried federal marijuana reform would make it harder for police to pursue drug cases.
Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Ken Buck (R-CO) criticized the Food and Drug Administration for being slow to regulate CBD.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) tweeted, “The bad actors working the illegal marijuana grows in CA25 are participating in a federal crime, and so are those who are aiding & abetting them. These illegal operations are stealing our water and hurting our environment.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) tweeted about taking cannabis questions at an event.
/ STATES
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) appointed a director of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. He also tweeted, “With @NewJerseyCRC’s adoption of the first set of rules for New Jersey’s personal-use cannabis industry, we are advancing our commitment to create an equitable, safe, and inclusive adult-use recreational cannabis marketplace in record time.”
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, tweeted, “If you elect me governor, I will legalize marijuana in Florida. #SomethingNew”
An Illinois representative is working to build support for legislation to protect workers from getting fired solely for a positive marijuana test.
A New York senator launched a marijuana industry workforce training program.
Oklahoma’s new top medical cannabis regulator sought to dismiss concerns that she is “anti-marijuana.”
Maine regulators are seeking participants for a new medical cannabis workgroup.
Missouri regulators issued guidance on changes to the material design of medical cannabis facilities.
Michigan regulators sent a bulletin on the preharvest hemp sampling process.
Louisiana regulators are undertaking rulemaking on tax requirements for hemp and CBD products.
The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission Subcommittees on Public Health and Public Safety will meet on Wednesday.
—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 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 Meadville, Pennsylvania police chief is proposing that the City Council decriminalize marijuana.
Paterson, New Jersey’s mayor vetoed a ban on marijuana businesses that was passed by the City Council.
A lawsuit against Los Angeles, California’s marijuana social equity program is being dropped by the plaintiffs.
Denver, Colorado’s first recreational marijuana delivery was made by Strawberry Fields.
A Polk County, Iowa attorney candidate tweeted, “The Polk County Attorney’s Office has limited resources. We should be focusing our resources on violent crime and not low level, non-violent offenses like marijuana possession. That is how we make the public safer and the justice system more just.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Board of Police Commissioners approved a motion asking for research on decriminalizing drug possession.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found that “orally administered CBD does not appear to produce false-positive (or true-positive) tests for THC” and that the ” likelihood of an individual who is using a CBD (only) oral formulation being falsely accused of [driving under the influence of cannabis] therefore appears low.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
A poll of UK adults found that 32 percent say sale and possession of “soft drugs” should no longer be illegal.
The Alabama Democratic Party is hosting a phone bank to engage voters on marijuana issues on Thursday.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party tweeted, “It’s time to decriminalize & legalize marijuana. Thank you @SenatorAgard for moving Wisconsin forward with the rest of the country on this issue!” It is also selling a shirt to promote legalization.
The chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party blamed cannabis-focused third parties for attracting too many votes and costing his party a Senate majority, thus impeding the progress of marijuana legalization.
/ BUSINESS
HEXO Corp raised $140 million in an overnight marketed public offering.
TerrAscend Corp. increased its ownership in TerrAscend NJ, LLC.
A Rutgers University task force determined that marijuana must remain prohibited on campus and at school events despite New Jersey’s legalization.
Canadian retailers sold C$318.7 million worth of legal marijuana in June.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
