Newsletter
Ohio cannabis sales could launch early (Newsletter: April 11, 2024)
DC 4/20 marijuana tax holiday; PA legalization bill; Cannabis industry jobs report; ME psychedelics; HI expungements; AMA psilocybin study
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Ohio Joint Committee On Agency Rule Review is set to approve regulations allowing for recreational marijuana sales to launch ahead of schedule in June, the panel’s chairman says.
- “We should begin to see legal recreational sales of marijuana in Ohio certainly before July 4th weekend.”
Maine lawmakers sent Gov. Janet Mills (D) a bill to create a commission charged with recommending a “legal framework for the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs, including but not limited to psilocybin.”
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed a bill declaring a medical cannabis tax holiday surrounding the 4/20 celebration this month, allowing patients to temporarily make purchases without added fees.
The Hawaii Senate approved a bill to create a marijuana expungements pilot program that previously passed the House of Representatives in earlier form. It now heads back to that chamber for concurrence before potentially going to Gov. Josh Green (D).
Pennsylvania representatives filed a new marijuana legalization bill ahead of a House Health Subcommittee on Health Care hearing on cannabis scheduled for Thursday.
The legal marijuana industry is now supporting 440,445 full-time equivalent jobs in the U.S.—an increase of nearly 5 percent over the past year—according to a new report from Vangst and Whitney Economics.
A new study published by the American Medical Association found that therapeutic doses of psilocybin are “not associated with risk of paranoia and transient thought disorder” and that other adverse effects like headaches are “tolerable and resolved within 48 hours.”
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is proposing to clarify that ineligibility for public housing for “currently engaging in” illegal drug activity cannot be based on conduct that occurred more than 12 months ago and needs to take into account mitigating evidence such as completing substance use treatment services.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) expressed openness to supporting marijuana expungements legislation.
A staffer for Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) gave a briefing on cannabis legislation for reform advocates.
/ STATES
The Maine House of Representatives rejected a bill aimed at cracking down on illegal cannabis operations.
A Florida Democratic senator predicted that voters will approve a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot, saying he wants to play a leadership role in putting “guardrails” on it.
An Alabama senator filed a bill to change how medical cannabis business licenses would be awarded.
A Minnesota representative expressed concerns about a bill to add autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder as medical cannabis qualifying conditions.
The Nevada Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging the state’s continued classification of marijuana as a Schedule I substance.
California regulators sent a consumer advisory about a recall of cannabis products due to the presence of aspergillus.
Colorado regulators posted draft psychedelics rules.
Missouri regulators rescinded cannabidiol oil rules.
New York regulators posted a map of licensed cannabis dispensaries and proposed locations on pending applications.
The Nevada Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Subcommittee on Market Participation will meet on Friday.
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/ LOCAL
The North York Borough, Pennsylvania Council voted to uphold the mayor’s veto of a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Guyton, Georgia City Council is considering a marijuana decriminalization proposal.
The Prince George’s County, Maryland Council approved a proposal to restrict where marijuana businesses can operate.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The UK government is touting changes to hemp licensing policies that it says will “maximise the economic and environmental potential of the crop.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of people with fibromyalgia found that “the most common symptoms for which respondents reported using cannabis were pain; fatigue; stress, anxiety, or depression; and insomnia” and that “improvement in pain symptoms with cannabis use was reported by 82.0%,” while “most cannabis-using respondents reported that cannabis also improved symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression and of insomnia.”
A study suggested that “the influence of MDMA during the [traumatic event] may carry protective effects into the peritraumatic period, possibly mediated through the known effects of MDMA in reducing negative emotions and elevating prosociality.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Santa Fe New Mexican editorial board is urging marijuana consumers to not litter with the detritus of their joints.
The U.S. Cannabis Council sent a letter urging House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to “tackle the national crisis caused by unregulated intoxicating hemp products” in the next Farm Bill.
/ BUSINESS
Eaze workers are continuing to prepare for a potential strike ahead of 4/20.
Village Farms International, Inc. regained compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum closing bid price rules.
Colorado retailers sold $114.4 million worth of legal marijuana products in February.
/ CULTURE
Call of Duty games are rolling out cannabis-themed content around 4/20.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
