Top Cannabis News to Know
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) spoke about the prospects for his marijuana banking bill being enacted this year, saying he’s an “eternal optimist” but also a “realist” who has “been disappointed before” by Senate inaction.
The Nevada Board of Pharmacy is moving to appeal a court ruling that found its ongoing classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug under state law to be unconstitutional.
Nevada’s Cannabis Compliance Board held lottery drawings to award marijuana consumption lounge licenses, with half going to social equity businesses.
The Berkeley, California Community Health Commission approved a psychedelics decriminalization measure that includes LSD but which has some limitations that certain advocates oppose. It’s largely understudied.
Marijuana Moment compiled a look at 3 states that almost legalized cannabis in 2022. In addition to the three states that succeeded in legalizing recreational marijuana and one that approved medical cannabis this year, there are several others where bills passed one chamber and then stalled—putting those states at the top of the list where reform stands the best chance of advancing business 2023.
In a new Marijuana Moment op-ed, Minority Cannabis Business Association President Kaliko Castille argues that cannabis banking legislation must pass by the end of the year—and that several amendments to aid minority entrepreneurs are achievable.
Louisiana’s Employment and Medical Marijuana Task Force met as members face a December 21 deadline to issue recommendations on workplace protections for medical cannabis patients.
FEDERAL
The White House has formally received the marijuana research bill that the Senate approved last month. President Joe Biden has until December 10 to act on it.
The House of Representatives approved a bill to provide retroactive relief to people harmed by the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
STATES
Staff for Washington State’s treasurer reportedly discussed marijuana banking issues in a White House meeting.
The Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee approved a bill to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips.
A South Carolina representative said he opposes legalizing medical cannabis because “we’ve got enough drugged up people in America as it is.”
A Texas representative discussed growing support for marijuana reform.
Rhode Island’s top marijuana regulator spoke about work to prepare the launch of recreational sales on Thursday.
Minnesota regulators added irritable bowel syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder as medical cannabis qualifying conditions, but rejected petitions to add gastroparesis and opioid use disorder.
New Mexico regulators filed rules on marijuana sales being subject to the gross receipts tax.
Nevada regulators posted proposed changes to marijuana tax rules.
The California Cannabis Control Appeals Panel is proposing rules changes to automatically stay the effect of adverse administrative actions pending resolution of appeals.
Missouri regulators began accepting applications for the new Chief Equity Officer position created by the voter-approved marijuana legalization initiative.
Alaska regulators are seeking proposals for a marijuana and alcohol licensing and enforcement database.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands regulators published budgetary information about the territory’s Cannabis Commission.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Thursday.
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“The public and voters have decided that they want to see a different framework in the District of Colombia,” the committee chairman, Council member Kenyan McDuffie (D), said on Tuesday. “We’ve done that over the years, and this is just one additional step where we’re trying to fulfill those commitments to both the initiatives and laws that we pass in the District of Columbia around medical cannabis.”
Another component of the legislation would empower officials on “gifting.” In this case, a handler ”Here operators that sell non-cannabis trinkets in exchange for “free” marijuana products. We also need to gifting to slow down. The aim is to encourage those businesses to become part of the legal and regulated market by taking advantage of the new licensing opportunities.