Biden cannabis letter nowhere to be seen (Newsletter: August 11, 2023)

Court overturns marijuana user gun ban; Poll: half of Americans have used cannabis; CT sales; Company-funded ketamine therapy

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the federal law banning people who use drugs from possessing guns is unconstitutional in the case of a man sentenced to nearly four years in prison for admitting to being a marijuana consumer while having firearms.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it has no record of a marijuana letter that the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration claimed in congressional testimony that President Joe Biden sent to initiate a scheduling review.

A new Gallup poll found that fully half of Americans have tried marijuana—and more people now actively smoke cannabis than tobacco cigarettes. Additionally, a majority say they’re not especially concerned about the effects of adults regularly using marijuana.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection reported that retailers sold more than $13 million worth of recreational marijuana products in July—a new monthly record. Other northeastern states—Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island—also set new cannabis sales records last month.

Workers at Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap who received company-funded  ketamine-assisted therapy coverage reported “dramatic improvements” in symptoms of PTSD, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Members of the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission are fielding demands about social equity, advertising, patient access and other issues during marijuana listening tour sessions they are holding throughout the state.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “Oregon’s world-class agriculture is bountiful. From cattle and crabs, to hazelnuts and hemp, to cherries and cheese, to wine and wheat, and so much more — our state does it all.”

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) included the hashtag “#SafeBanking” at the end of a tweet that reads, “What would the federal government do differently if they were trying to cultivate a large black market for drugs, human trafficking, sex trafficking and more?”

/ STATES

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) noted that a marijuana legalization initiative may be on the state’s November ballot, saying, “we’ll have to see what the people have to say.”

Minnesota’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “In Minnesota, we’re expunging nonviolent cannabis convictions – removing the barriers that prevent thousands of Minnesotans from fully returning to their work, to their communities, and to their lives. This is one way we’re working to build safer communities across the state.” Separately, the representative who sponsored the marijuana legalization legislation that was enacted this session said the bill does not allow cannabis possession by minors, nor did he intend to change the law in that regard.

California’s attorney general is seeking a civil forfeiture order to let the state collect unpaid taxes and fees from an unlicensed marijuana business by seizing its assets.

Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader tweeted about people buying legal marijuana in other states, saying, “Wisconsinites’ hard-earned dollars should stay in Wisconsin.”

A Florida appeals court upheld a decision that regulators needed to conduct a rulemaking process before blocking medical cannabis businesses from using third-party sites to process orders.

Alabama regulators awarded medical cannabis business licenses a second time and elected a new chair.

Massachusetts regulators closed an investigation into Curaleaf’s ties to a Russian oligarch. Separately, they are being sued by a journalist who claims he was improperly blocked from asking questions due to his advocacy work, but a judge denied the reporter’s emergency request for relief.

Michigan regulators sent a reminder about marijuana event requirements.

Oregon regulators are accepting applications to serve on a psilocybin services training rules advisory committee.

The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board rescheduled a Friday meeting to September 15.

Nevada’s Cannabis Advisory Commission will meet on Tuesday.

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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 operator of New York City’s two city-sanctioned safe consumption sites for illegal drugs reported that they have averted more than 1,000 overdoses since opening in late 2021, with the facilities having been utilized 83,519 times by 3,719 participants.

/ INTERNATIONAL

An Australian senator filed a marijuana legalization bill.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “in a representative sample of middle-aged US adults, a history of monthly cannabis use >1 year before an [myocardial infarction] was not associated with a subsequent physician-diagnosed MI, except for threefold greater odds when cannabis was not used within the past month.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Miami Herald editorial board is urging the state Supreme Court to let voters decide on a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.

/ BUSINESS

TerrAscend Corp. reported quarterly net revenue of $72.1 million and a net loss of $13.5 million.

Acreage Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $58.1 million and a net loss of $18.2 million.

Schwazze reported quarterly revenue of $42.4 million and a net loss of $6.6 million.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly revenue of $16 million.

Jones Soda Co. reported quarterly revenue of $400,000 from its cannabis products.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. claimed that its former chief financial officer improperly sought reimbursements for personal expenses.

Organigram Holdings Inc. won a judicial review of regulators’ decision to classify its lozenges products as edible cannabis.

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