Congressional Dems push cannabis rescheduling ASAP (Newsletter: October 2, 2024)

Fed loan program’s marijuana business ban; AR medical cannabis lawsuit; Cannabis as orgasm disorder treatment; Study: Marijuana enhances music

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) sent a letter urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to “swiftly complete” marijuana rescheduling and “continue to assess” whether full descheduling is appropriate.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service issued a new rule saying that a “borrower that intends to lease space or enter into a power purchase agreement with a marijuana dispensary is not eligible” for its OneRD guaranteed loan program.

Arkansas activists filed a lawsuit challenging the secretary of state’s determination that a medical cannabis expansion initiative has “insufficient” signatures.

New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte attacked Democratic opponent Joyce Craig’s plan to raise revenue through marijuana legalization by saying she can “smoke her way to a balanced budget, but I’m going to do it the old-fashioned way.”

Officials in three states are now accepting public comments on approving female orgasm difficulty as a medical cannabis qualifying condition—with two states holding hearings on the issue over the next week.

A new study found that using marijuana leads to “a general enhancement and appreciation for music, as well as increased musical reward, such as enhanced rhythmic perception and the inclination to physically respond to rhythms.”

Authors wrote that “familiar songs often sounded new or different when listened to while high” and “altered interpretations of lyrics was a common theme.”

/ FEDERAL

The National Institute on Drug Abuse updated its cannabis page.

Sen. Lisa Murkowsi (R-AK) discussed her views on rescheduling marijuana and cannabis banking legislation.

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) tweeted, “The fentanyl crisis is destroying lives in Georgia & across our country… We must face this crisis head on and not repeat the failures of the War on Drugs.”

/ STATES

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that a task force seized more than $2.3 million in illegally cultivated cannabis, including 2,652 plants from a single operation.

Massachusetts lawmakers held a rally in support of the psychedelics legalization initiative on the November ballot.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a conviction for firearms and other offenses after rejecting arguments that the smell of marijuana is not sufficient grounds for a police search.

Oregon regulators are accepting comments on proposed psilocybin services rules.

Vermont regulators posted a request for proposals for various consulting services.

New Jersey regulators published tips for how to talk to a doctor about medical cannabis.

A Massachusetts regulator discussed proposed changes to marijuana rules.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission met.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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 El Paso County, Colorado Board of Health is opposing a measure on the November ballot to allow recreational marijuana stores to operate.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Germany’s federal commissioner for addiction and drug issues is calling on officials to approve more cannabis associations in order to continue to shrink the illicit market.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of Ohio medical cannabis patients found that 74 percent are satisfied with the state’s program.

A study found that “six-week intensive treatments with either psilocybin or escitalopram (with psychological support) for [major depressive disorder] were associated with long-term improvements in depressive symptom severity.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll found that Florida Hispanic voters support the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot, 50 percent to 44 percent.

The Marijuana Policy Project published a New Hampshire voter guide.

/ BUSINESS

RIV Capital Inc. has a new interim CEO.

Honey Sour workers in Butte, Montana voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

TerrAscend Corp. announced that certain entities consolidated by the company in Michigan completed the second draw of $26 million in gross proceeds of its senior secured term loan.

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