2024 cannabis news lookahead (Newsletter: January 3, 2024)

NY “SMOKEOUT” bill to shut down illegal sales; CO marijuana & guns ballot measure; AMA psychedelic codes; Cannabis & exercise study

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Several more states are poised to legalize marijuana and psychedelics in 2024 as the Biden administration’s federal cannabis rescheduling review concludes. Plus, Germany’s legalization plan is expected to get a vote and the U.S. Senate could take up SAFER Banking.

A New York assemblymember introduced a new bill to give local officials the power to shut down unlicensed cannabis businesses and seize their products. It’s called the Stop Marijuana Over-proliferation and Keep Empty Operators of Unlicensed Transactions (SMOKEOUT) Act.

Washington State representatives filed a bill to roll back new employment-related protections for marijuana consumers that were enacted this week so they wouldn’t apply to people seeking to work as drug treatment professionals.

Colorado Second Amendment activists are poised to begin collecting signatures for an initiative to let marijuana consumers receive permits to carry concealed guns following a hearing with the secretary of state’s office this week.

New American Medical Association codes for psychedelic-assisted therapy have taken effect—and could provide for insurance coverage and reimbursement for MDMA sessions once federally approved.

A new exercise study found that “participants reported significantly more enjoyment” and increased “runner’s high symptoms” while running under the influence of marijuana—but that they also experienced “more exertion.”

/ FEDERAL

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said in an annual report that federal drug cases fell 8 percent in 2023.

A former U.S. Sentencing Commission member coauthored an op-ed arguing that President Joe Biden’s marijuana pardons amount to “not much there.”

/ STATES

A California senator discussed his bill to streamline marijuana business licensing.

A Kansas representative spoke about his opposition to legalizing medical cannabis.

Kentucky regulators filed emergency rules on hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

Connecticut regulators are looking to hire a cannabis ombudsman.

Oregon officials published a report on the Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant program.

Texas regulators published an updated list of registered hemp laboratories.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 900 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.
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/ LOCAL

Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew spoke about the economic benefits of the medical cannabis industry.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that medical cannabis “increases appetite but not body weight in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.”

A review concluded that “psilocybin demonstrates a safety profile which does not differ from standard drugs used in therapies of psychiatric disorders” and that “positive results of its administration were noticed on different psychiatric scales and are considered as clinically meaningful.”

/ BUSINESS

Shiny Health & Wellness Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $C4.28 million and a net comprehensive loss of C$5.96 million.

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