Newsletter
69% of Americans want legal cannabis, poll says (Newsletter: April 16, 2021)
Schumer: Marijuana bill on Senate floor “soon”; AL medical cannabis advances; TN senators approve marijuana bill; WI gov pushes legalization
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
A new Quinnipiac University poll found that 69% of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, an all-time high. A majority of Democrats, Republicans, independents and people from every age and racial demographic in the survey are on board.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said his forthcoming federal marijuana legalization bill will be considered on the Senate floor “soon.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said he’s sick of seeing marijuana revenue go to other states. He also held a town hall meeting about cannabis and urged voters to pressure lawmakers in the Republican-controlled legislature to stop blocking reform.
- “Frankly I’m kind of tired of talking to the governor from Illinois. Whenever I get with him, he thanks me for having Wisconsinites cross the border to buy marijuana.”
The Alabama House Health Committee approved a medical cannabis bill, sending it to the House floor. A prior version has already passed the full Senate.
The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee approved a limited medical cannabis bill, sending it to the floor.
/ FEDERAL
The Census Bureau is extending the public comment period on a request to add marijuana and other new questions to an annual survey about state tax collections.
Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders coauthored an op-ed criticizing the American Medical Association for its opposition to legalizing marijuana.
Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) again spoke about his evolution on marijuana policy reform.
The House marijuana banking bill got four new cosponsors for a total of 151.
The House bill to allow CBD as a dietary supplement got one new cosponsor for a total of 23.
/ STATES
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed a bill allowing hemp to be used as animal feed. Separately, the Senate Select Committee on Marijuana Laws held another hearing on legalization implementation legislation.
The Idaho House of Representatives defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prevented voters from legalizing Schedule I or II drugs via ballot initiatives.
The California Senate passed a bill to remove mandatory prison and jail sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Wisconsin’s Senate majority leader said there isn’t enough Republican support in the body to approve a medical cannabis bill.
The Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill to allow the taxation of medical cannabis flower, if legalized under separate legislation.
Several Connecticut Democratic lawmakers said they will vote against a marijuana legalization bill unless it contains sufficient equity provisions.
The Oregon Psilocybin Research Subcommittee held its first meeting.
Oklahoma regulators are being sued by medical cannabis businesses who say the state’s tracking system is unlawful.
New Mexico regulators fined New MexiCann Natural Medicine $142,000 for worker safety violations related to a fire that injured employees.
Michigan regulators sent a bulletin about marijuana compliance testing, research and development testing and remediation rules.
Missouri regulators have now approved more than 100 medical cannabis businesses to operate.
Minnesota regulators launched a new dashboard for data about the medical cannabis program.
Ohio regulators will consider medical cannabis rules changes on Monday.
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/ LOCAL
The Nassau County, New York legislature is considering a proposal to ban marijuana on county-owned properties.
Chicago, Illinois marijuana arrests continue to be carried out on a racially disproportionate basis following legalization, police data shows.
Denver, Colorado regulators sent alerts about application information for marijuana businesses and upcoming City Council consideration of cannabis legislation..
San Francisco, California officials will host a Monday meeting on how marijuana businesses can prepare for potential unrest as a result of the pending verdict in the Derrick Chauvin trial.
A former Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mayor coauthored an op-ed about the need for federal marijuana reform.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Canadian member of Parliament filed a bill to decriminalize drug possession and expunge prior records, days after the city of Vancouver, British Columbia asked the federal government for permission to enact a local decriminalization policy.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of cancer patients found that using medical cannabis “improved sleep initiation and continuity, resulted in decreased use of sleep medications, and that improved sleep led to better health.”
A study on using psilocybin to treat depression found that results “did not show a significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and escitalopram in a selected group of patients” but that “secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin over escitalopram.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Alex Berenson and Tucker Carlson discussed what they see as the harms of marijuana during an interview.
/ BUSINESS
Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen is launching a line of marijuana prerolls.
Tilray, Inc. is delaying its shareholder meeting to approve a proposed merger with Aphria Inc. for two weeks.
TILT Holdings Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $42.3 million and a net loss of $92.1 million.
Columbia Care Inc. launched a solid-fill cannabis powder capsule for medicinal use in the UK.
JOI Guitars released a line of acoustic guitars made out of hemp wood.
/ CULTURE
Basketball players John Wall and Carmelo Anthony are investing in cannabis company LEUNE.
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