Tribe in NC votes to legalize cannabis (Newsletter: September 8, 2023)

SAFE Banking deal “imminent”; CA psychedelics to gov; NY legalization challenges hearing; MA sales; Study: medical marijuana aids anxiety & depression

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said an agreement to vote on a cannabis banking bill is “imminent”—and the office of lead GOP sponsor Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) tells Marijuana Moment that lawmakers had “very productive talks over the recess.”

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians approved a marijuana legalization referendum, putting the tribe on the path to be the first legal seller of recreational cannabis within North Carolina or any neighboring state.

California lawmakers sent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) a bill to legalize possession and cultivation of certain psychedelics. The governor has long endorsed marijuana legalization and has vocally criticized the war on drugs, but last year he vetoed a bill to allow safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.

The New York Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis scheduled a hearing to examine potential solutions to the state’s ongoing marijuana legalization implementation problems.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission announced that the state hit the $5 billion mark in recreational marijuana sales since the market launched in late 2018. Another $1 billion in medical cannabis products were purchased over the same time period.

A new study found that after three months of medical cannabis use, patients saw “statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in overall [health-related quality of life] and fatigue.”

• “Anxiety, depression, and pain also improved over time, particularly for those with corresponding health conditions.”

Cypress Hill, Stephen Marley, Action Bronson and other artists will perform at Illinois’s first-ever concert to allow open marijuana consumption this weekend.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission plans to meet with prospective producers and distributors to try to resolve litigation over its licensing decisions, as a judge further extended a temporary restraining order on the process.

The New Hampshire Cannabis Association is conducting a survey that asks about farmers’ interest in joining the marijuana industry if the state enacts legalization.

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to take up several cases challenging drug searches by police.

Sen, Roger Marshall (R-KS) spoke about marijuana and other drugs being laced with fentanyl in a Senate floor speech.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) published a report that his office says exposes “federal agencies’ historic failure to properly oversee U.S. resources provided to Mexico to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.”

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) tweeted, “Rescheduling marijuana is a no brainer, and I’m thrilled to see the @POTUS take this step. We’ve had legal cannabis businesses in Colorado generating billions in tax revenue for our public schools for a decade. Colorado has led the way in common sense legalization.”

/ STATES

A former Florida agriculture commissioner criticized the state’s medical cannabis business licensing practices.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals tossed out evidence obtained by police who argued that going into a highway rest stop bathroom was reasonable suspicion of drug trafficking.

South Dakota regulators filed proposed changes to medical cannabis rules.

Montana regulators sent updates on rules concerning outdoor marijuana cultivation, testing and other issues.

Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator said he has no “definitive plans” to step down. Separately, regulators will hold a public hearing on draft cannabis rules on Friday.

A Connecticut state-sponsored cannabis business accelerator program graduated 18 entrepreneurs.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission met.

New Jersey regulators will consider marijuana rules and business issues on Friday.

The New York Cannabis Control Board will meet on Tuesday.

California regulators will hold workshops on lake and streambed alteration agreement requirements for marijuana cultivators this month.

Maine regulators are hosting a series of cannabis conversations and listening sessions this month and next month.

—
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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—

/ LOCAL

The Rock Springs, Wyoming City Council discussed the potential decriminalization of marijuana.

A New York City Council committee held a hearing on legislation to address unlicensed marijuana sales.

Hull, Massachusetts voters overturned a ban on recreational marijuana sales.

The St. Paul, Minnesota City Council held a hearing on a proposal to restrict public marijuana use.

An Albuquerque, New Mexico City Council member withdrew a proposal to restrict where people can grow their own marijuana at home.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Veterans Affairs Canada reimbursed C$167.6 million worth of medical cannabis purchases in Fiscal Year 2022-23.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study “demonstrated the therapeutic potential of crude C. sativa extracts for abating neurotoxicity and motor deficits in multiple in vivo models of” Parkinson’s disease.

A Canadian study found “large increases in cannabis involvement in [emergency department] visits for traffic injury over time, which may have accelerated following nonmedical cannabis commercialization.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll of Frankfurt, Germany residents found that 71 percent support legalizing marijuana.

A Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party informal poll at the State Fair asked people to rank their favorite policies enacted during the 2023 legislative session, including marijuana legalization.

The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics launched a free online course.

/ BUSINESS

Lucy Scientific Discovery Inc is acquiring the intellectual property of High Times.

Cresco Labs Inc. is the first company to launch cannabis advertisements on Spotify.

SpringBig Holdings, Inc. is moving from the Nasdaq Capital Market to the OTCQX Best Market and announced that several board members resigned.

KCSA Strategic Communications expanded the senior leadership team within its cannabis and psychedelic practices.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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