{"id":4842,"date":"2022-03-15T10:27:20","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T10:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1hcmlqdWFuYW1vbWVudC5uZXQvdmEtd29udC1mdW5kLWNhbm5hYmlzLXRyZWF0bWVudHMtZm9yLXN1aWNpZGUtcHJldmVudGlvbi1uZXdzbGV0dGVyLW1hcmNoLTE1LTIwMjIv0gEA"},"modified":"2022-03-15T10:27:20","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T10:27:20","slug":"va-wont-fund-cannabis-treatments-for-suicide-prevention-newsletter-march-15-2022-marijuana-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=4842","title":{"rendered":"VA won’t fund cannabis treatments for suicide prevention (Newsletter: March 15, 2022) – Marijuana Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"

DOT changing drug testing rules; WA funds psilocybin study; NOLA marijuana employment testing resolution; GA psychedelics panel; CO cannabis sales<\/em><\/p>\n

Subscribe<\/a> to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.<\/p>\n

Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n

Your good deed for the day:<\/b> donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Support our work at <\/span>https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span><\/a>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Congressional Democrats<\/span><\/a> hosted a closed-to-press panel on equity in the cannabis industry at their retreat in Philadelphia last week. Marijuana Moment spoke to several people who were there.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>U.S. Department of Transportation<\/span><\/a> is proposing drug testing rules changes to allow saliva as an alternative to urine screening. Advocates say it could result in fewer positive tests for people who used marijuana days prior and aren\u2019t high on the job.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Washington State lawmakers<\/span><\/a> passed a budget that includes $200,000 in funding to form a workgroup to study the possibility of legalizing psilocybin services\u2014including using current marijuana regulatory systems to track psychedelic mushrooms.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>New Orleans, Louisiana City Council<\/span><\/a> passed a resolution calling for an end to drug testing for marijuana as a condition of employment for city workers.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Georgia lawmakers<\/span><\/a> filed legislation to create a new House Study Committee on Alternative Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Resources for Veterans that would be tasked with examining the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and other psychedelics.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Colorado Department of Revenue<\/span><\/a> reported that retailers sold more than $151 million worth of marijuana products in January, a decline from December.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ FEDERAL<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>President Joe Biden<\/span><\/a> and Colombian President Iv\u00e1n Duque M\u00e1rquez spoke about a commitment to a \u201cbroader drug policy strategy, with a holistic approach to counternarcotics focused on expanding access to evidence-based prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services, as well as reducing the supply of illicit drugs.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki<\/span><\/a> avoided commenting directly on the case of American basketball player Brittney Griner, who is being detained in Russia after allegedly being caught with cannabis vape cartridges at an airport.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)<\/span><\/a> said that \u201cthe path for marijuana legislation has always faced hurdles, but the discussion around marijuana legalization has advanced further in 15 months than over the last decade because of Democratic leadership.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)<\/span><\/a> sought to blame Republicans for the continuation of a spending bill rider blocking Washington, D.C. from legalizing marijuana sales.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Members of the <\/span>Congressional Black Caucus<\/span><\/a> are working to free American basketball player Brittney Griner, who is being detained in Russia after allegedly being caught with cannabis vape cartridges at an airport.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cSRA is already here and what\u2019s not to like? @SenSchumer @RonWyden @CoryBooker Small Business\u2705 Veterans\u2705 Law enforcement\u2705Protects kids\u2705 Safe expungement\u2705Low taxes\u2705#meetinthemiddle\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The House bill to <\/span>help marijuana companies access small business assistance<\/span><\/a> got one new cosponsor for a total of six.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ STATES<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a> Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed a bill allowing regulators to to refuse to issue hemp cultivation licenses based on supply and demand.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>New Jersey<\/span><\/a> Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said that \u201ccriminal prosecution of those suffering from addiction and returning to the failed War on Drugs will not solve this problem.\u201d Separately, a <\/span>federal judge<\/span><\/a> ruled that an activist does not have standing to challenge the state\u2019s voter-approved marijuana legalization referendum.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Texas<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O\u2019Rourke, a former congressman, spoke about his support for legalizing marijuana. He <\/span>also<\/span><\/a> said that \u201cRepublicans like to get high just as much as Democrats.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>New York<\/span><\/a> Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, currently a congressman, criticized incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D),tweeting,  \u201cThe Criminals for Kathy coalition is growing. Cannabis dispensary licenses are going to start getting distributed in NY, & the Hochul admin will be giving FIRST PRIORITY to people previously convicted for marijuana offenses. Hochul\u2019s criminal first agenda is so wrong for NY.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Rhode Island<\/span><\/a> Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Cynthia Mendes said a pending marijuana legalization bill \u201cdoesn\u2019t do nearly enough to repair the damage of the War on Drugs (ie Black, brown & low-income communities). Where\u2019s the racial equity in that??\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Virginia<\/span><\/a> lawmakers sent Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to enact restrictions on delta-8 THC products.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>West Virginia<\/span><\/a> lawmakers sent Gov. Jim Justice (R) legislation setting security and surveillance requirements for medical cannabis businesses and to <\/span>decriminalize<\/span><\/a> fentanyl test strips. A <\/span>bill<\/span><\/a> to allow no more than two medical marijuana testing laboratories in the state passed both chambers in differing forms but failed to reach the governor\u2019s desk by the end of the session.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Vermont<\/span><\/a> Senate approved legislation on cannabis cultivation rules and licensing fees. Separately, <\/span>regulators<\/span><\/a> will vote on adopting marijuana rules on Monday.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A <\/span>California<\/span><\/a> senator filed a bill to allow cannabis import and export agreements with other states.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>An <\/span>Illinois<\/span><\/a> judge warned regulators against \u201cforum shopping\u201d in a lawsuit challenging their marijuana business award process.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Indiana<\/span><\/a> regulators filed updated hemp rules.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a> regulators issued a health and safety advisory about potentially unsafe levels of yeast and mold contamination in marijuana products produced by LivWell. Separately, <\/span>regulators<\/span><\/a> began accepting applications for the new  Cannabis Business Pilot Grant program.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Michigan\u2019s<\/span><\/a> top marijuana regulator says he spoke to the Drug Enforcement Administration about getting permission for colleges to utilize marijuana as part of cannabis degree programs, <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>South Dakota<\/span><\/a> regulators held a lottery to award medical cannabis dispensary licenses.<\/span>
<\/span>
\u2014
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n


Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

\/ LOCAL<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Jackson and Josephine County, Oregon<\/span><\/a> officials moved to declare states of emergency in order to enact moratoriums on new hemp licenses.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A <\/span>Denver, Colorado<\/span><\/a> official will give a cannabis business update at a Black Economic Opportunities Council meeting on Monday.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ INTERNATIONAL<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Canadian<\/span><\/a> regulators proposed rules changes on marijuana research and public possession limits for cannabis beverages.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ SCIENCE & HEALTH<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>A study found that medical cannabis \u201ctreatment demonstrates good efficacy and tolerability in adult <\/span>[Gilles de la Tourette syndrome]<\/span><\/a> patients.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A study concluded that \u201c50, 75, and 100\u2009\u00b5g LSD are tolerable with <\/span>favourable safety profiles<\/span><\/a> in healthy adults, only mild adverse events during the day of drug administration, and mystical-type subjective experiences.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America\u2019s<\/span><\/a> CEO spoke about how medical cannabis is \u201cproven\u2026to be much more effective than traditional opioids and pain pills\u201d for many military veterans.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Michael J. Fox Foundation<\/span><\/a> published a guide about medical cannabis and Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Drug Policy Alliance, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Human Rights Watch<\/span><\/a> and other organizations criticized Congress for extending the Schedule I status of fentanyl-related substances as part of omnibus appropriations legislation.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ BUSINESS<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Jones Soda<\/span><\/a> is launching a line of cannabis-infused sodas, gummies and syrups.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>MedMen<\/span><\/a> filed amended counterclaims maintaining that it believes Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. inappropriately used political influence to push through approval of the latter company\u2019s acquisition of the former firm\u2019s New York assets.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>WM Technology, Inc.<\/span><\/a> has a new board chair.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Eaze\u2019s<\/span><\/a> former CEO is avoiding prison time due to cooperation with an investigation into a scheme to trick banks into processing marijuana transactions.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Metrc<\/span><\/a> was awarded a new marijuana tracking contract in New Jersey.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Michigan<\/span><\/a> retailers sold $154.8 million worth of legal cannabis products in February.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure to subscribe<\/a> to get Marijuana Moment\u2019s daily dispatch in your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DOT changing drug testing rules; WA funds psilocybin study; NOLA marijuana employment testing resolution; GA psychedelics panel; CO cannabis sales Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026 Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.Support our work at https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWCongressional Democrats hosted a closed-to-press panel on equity… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/va-wont-fund-cannabis-treatments-for-suicide-prevention-newsletter-march-15-2022-marijuana-moment.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}