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DE cannabis bills head to gov’s desk (Newsletter: March 29, 2023)

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KY gov pushes lawmakers on medical marijuana; Congressman slams fed laws; SC medical bill in danger; Colombian legalization vote; Military drug tests

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Delaware Senate passed bills to legalize marijuana and regulate sales—sending them to Gov. John Carney’s (D) desk. The governor vetoed a cannabis legalization measure last session, but supporters believe they have enough votes to override this time.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is calling on people to pressure their House lawmakers to approve a Senate-passed medical cannabis legalization bill when they return to the Capitol this week.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) blasted the federal government’s “hopelessly out of step” approach to marijuana in comments to Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra during a House hearing.

South Carolina lawmakers and advocates are making a last-ditch push to get a medical cannabis legalization bill through the Senate before a key legislative deadline this week.

The Colombian Chamber of Representatives First Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill—its fifth stop out of eight needed to be enacted into law. The legislation already cleared the full Chamber and Senate in 2022 and must do so again this year.

The Department of Defense says that marijuana ingredient delta-9 THC is by far the most common substance that appears on positive drug tests for active duty military service members—with delta-8 THC from hemp products in second place.

/ FEDERAL

National Institute on Drug Abuse Deputy Director Dr. Wilson Compton spoke in support of allowing researchers to study cannabis products from dispensaries.

The National Institute of Justice published a report on developing methods to “rapidly identify and quantify THC in complex matrices that are difficult to analyze by conventional methods.”

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) expressed concerns about Chinese entities growing marijuana in his state in a Senate floor speech.

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) said “it would be most helpful” if Congress and the Biden administration “worked in coordination as opposed to unilaterally” on cannabis policy.

/ STATES

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) praised a federal appeals court’s decision to narrow an injunction against regulators issuing recreational marijuana dispensary licenses in five regions of the state so that it only covers one.

New Jersey’s attorney general posted an updated FAQ about police procedures related to marijuana.

The Vermont House of Representatives approved a bill to increase marijuana product THC limits. Separately, regulators will hold a special meeting to approve a staff recommendation for marijuana business licensure on Wednesday.

The Florida Senate Committee on Health Policy approved a bill allowing doctors to conduct medical cannabis follow-up visits via telehealth.

The chairs of the California Senate Labor Committee and Agriculture Committee will host a cannabis town hall on Thursday.

Pennsylvania senators asked the head of the State Police about marijuana legalization during a hearing.

The Arkansas House Rules Committee will take up a bill to ban delta-8 THC that some say could also ban CBD on Wednesday.

North Carolina senators filed a marijuana legalization and expungements bill.

A Nevada assemblymember introduced a bill to track how marijuana revenue is being used to fund schools.

Colorado regulators posted updated marijuana business licensee demographic data. They also issued a compliance tip about how medical cannabis patients can redact certain information from their physician certifications.


Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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 Kenosha, Wisconsin Common Council Public Safety and Welfare Committee deferred action on a proposal to lower marijuana possession fines.

Denver, Colorado’s new social impact plan that’s required for marijuana business licenses goes into effect on Monday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The International Criminal Court’s appeals chamber rejected the Philippine government’s request to suspend a probe into the county’s bloody “war on drugs.”

The head of the Mexican Senate’s Legislative Studies Committee spoke about cannabis legalization.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “cannabidiol treatment improves metabolic profile and decreases hypothalamic inflammation caused by maternal obesity.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The American Trucking Association’s president and CEO said in congressional testimony that lawmakers need to “untangle federal and state regulations [on] state legalization of recreational marijuana.”

The AFL-CIO tweeted, “Today is National Weed Appreciation Day.  Did you know @UFCW represents more than 10 thousand cannabis workers across more than 23 states? The future of legal cannabis is #UnionStrong!”

Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly discussed his concerns with legal marijuana.

/ BUSINESS

AYR Wellness Inc. closed the sale of its Arizona assets to AZ Goat AZ, LLC.

Leaf Trade merged with Sweed.

Shoppers Drug Mart is transitioning its medical cannabis business to Avicanna.

/ CULTURE

Ric Flair spoke about his cannabis brand and his own use of marijuana.

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Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 20-year veteran in the cannabis law reform movement, he covers the policy and politics of marijuana. Separately, he founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Previously he reported for Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and handled media relations and campaigns for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

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