Alcohol group advises Congress on cannabinoid regulation (Newsletter: August 23, 2023)

Gallup: Americans say marijuana is safer than alcohol/tobacco; WI lawmakers’s legalization zine; DeSantis op-ed; OH cannabis oppo; Another AL lawsuit

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

New Gallup polls found that American adults now view cannabis as significantly less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and nicotine vapes—and that “marijuana usage has surpassed cigarette usage in the U.S.”

Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Melisaa Agard (D) published a cartoon zine about the need for the state to legalize marijuana.

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America is offering Congress some advice on regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids—including CBD and delta-8 THC—in response to a request for information posted by House and Senate committees.

The Ohio Association of Health Commissioners, which represents the state’s 112 local health departments, is urging voters to reject a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.

The BOWL PAC’s Justin Strekal argues in a new Marijuana Moment op-ed that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) recent “anti-cannabis turn” is “yet another reason why he must not be elected president.”

The Washington State Department of Health is spending $1.3 million in legal marijuana revenue on grants aimed at reducing youth smoking rates.

Verano Holdings is suing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission over regulators’ decision not to grant the company a license in a do-over round of awards after initially deciding to give it one.

South Dakota’s top medical cannabis regulator told lawmakers at a hearing that the program already has 11,500 registered patients—nearly double the amount the state had expected to sign up by 2024.

/ FEDERAL

The Congressional Research Service noted that a Supreme Court ruling limiting state challenges to immigration enforcement policies could have implications for their ability to meet “standing requirements to challenge federal policies that exercise enforcement discretion in limiting the criminal prosecution of marijuana-related offenses.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a report on the Canadian hemp market.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) said he supports descheduling, rather than rescheduling, cannabis, adding that “we are probably better off with more marijuana consumption and probably less alcohol consumption.”

/ STATES

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “Folks said we wouldn’t get anything done, but we’ve proved them wrong and moved forward bipartisan legislation years in the making. Medical cannabis…”

Staff for Ohio’s Senate president said it is too early to tell if lawmakers would move to repeal a marijuana legalization initiative should voters approve it on the November ballot.

New Mexico has a new top marijuana regulator.

The New York Department of Correctional and Community Supervision is being sued by a woman who alleges that officers revoked her ability to visit her incarcerated husband because her legal marijuana use was a violation of prison policy.

Nevada regulators considered cannabis consumption lounge licenses and proposed revised rules.

California labor officials are investigating what the International Brotherhood of Teamsters alleges was a memberless “fake union” established at a marijuana company owned in part by rapper Jay-Z.

Oregon regulators are conducting a survey about customer service and expertise at the Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

The Missouri Office of Prosecution Services will host a webinar on cannabis-impaired driving on Wednesday.

—
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.

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—

/ LOCAL

The Johnston County, Oklahoma sheriff’s office is auctioning off land seized from an illegal marijuana grow operation.

/ INTERNATIONAL

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he has never consumed cannabis, though he said his government’s legalization plan is “exactly the right thing.”

The Costa Rican Legislative Assembly’s Environmental Commission is expected to take up a marijuana legalization bill this week.

New Zealand regulators are proposing changes to minimum quality standards for medicinal cannabis.

Canadian regulators said that last year there were 706 complaints filed by cannabis businesses about other operators.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “cannabis improves clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with chronic pouchitis.”

A review concluded that “MDMA-assisted therapy has promising effects in PTSD treatment and its safety profile is satisfactory.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners published a white paper on marijuana-related insurance issues.

The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association published a report about the slow growth of the state’s marijuana industry.

The New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association authored an op-ed pushing back against what it described as “falsehoods” from the Cannabis Association of New York about the influence of big business in the state’s fledgling marijuana market.

/ BUSINESS

Greenlight is acquiring a dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada and a cultivation facility in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming that Tilray Brands, Inc. misled investors about the value of a partnership.

Washington, D.C. dispensaries sold $2.9 million worth of medical cannabis in July.

/ CULTURE

Killer Mike spoke about his cannabis consumption.

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