Revised Mexican cannabis bill emerges for vote (Newsletter: March 8, 2021)

Vets ask Congress for marijuana & psychedelics access; HI gov’s legalization “concerns”; WV gov on taxing cannabis; Spokane psilocybin decrim

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Military veterans organizations told Congress at hearings this week that they want the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide access to not only medical marijuana but also psychedelics like psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD and MDMA. Lawmakers said they’re hopeful about at least expanding cannabis research.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) said he has “concerns” about a marijuana legalization bill that’s headed to the state Senate floor. The cannabis opposition is rare for a Democratic governor in 2021, with those in many other states enthusiastically championing reform.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) responded to a voter’s proposal to “legalize marijuana and tax the absolute crap out of it” by saying he would support the reform if GOP lawmakers put it on his desk.

• “It seems like the entire nation is going to end up moving that way.”

Ahead of a joint committee vote set for Monday, Mexican lawmakers are circulating a newly amended marijuana legalization bill. The measure is expected to hit the floor of the Chamber of Deputies by Wednesday.

Activists in Spokane, Washington are working to qualify a local ballot measure that would make psilocybin mushrooms the lowest law enforcement priority and block city officials from spending any funds to enforce criminalization.

The Colorado Republican Senate minority leader is championing a bill to require schools to store cannabis-based medicines for use by students.

• “As a person that comes from a community fairly consistent in being opposed to marijuana legalization in Colorado, I’m willing to put my hand up and say I was wrong about cannabis-based medicine.”

/ FEDERAL

The Federal Trade Commission approved final administrative consent orders against six companies that were accused of making deceptive claims while marketing CBD products.

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and 134 initial cosponsors filed an immigration reform bill that excludes some marijuana offenses from a provision that blocks people with certain convictions from citizenship eligibility.

Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), who is campaigning to be appointed White House drug czar, discussed his concerns about marijuana legalization in a Fox News interview.

/ STATES

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) says he voted against a local ballot measure to allow marijuana sales where he lives.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed an executive order extending the term of conditional marijuana business licenses through June.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) spoke about the provisions of marijuana legalization enabling legislation he signed.

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor tweeted about a doctor who went to prison for growing medical cannabis, saying, “This man lost his freedom and his medical license growing marijuana for his sick wife. I urged him to apply for a pardon, and today, he is on his way to the Governor’s desk. He now can start to rebuild a life marijuana prohibition took.”

California’s attorney general argued in a court filing on behalf of regulators that marijuana businesses operating on provisional licenses are not entitled to due process.

Florida’s agriculture commissioner tweeted, “Marijuana is medicine — Florida should be working to expand access, not restrict it.” Separately, Senate Democrats tweeted, “Legislation offered by Republicans threatens to limit THC in smokable medical cannabis to 10% by volume. Most smokable marijuana offered to patients has more THC than that.”

Colorado lawmakers sent Gov. Jared Polis (D) a bill to provide aid to marijuana businesses.

Utah lawmakers sent Gov. Spencer Cox (R) legislation to add a new medical cannabis dispensary license and to allow more providers to recommend marijuana to patients.

The Washington State Senate passed a bill to exempt medical cannabis patients from taxes, while the House of Representatives approved legislation to replace the word “marijuana” with “cannabis” in state statutes.

New Mexico lawmakers plan to give themselves a few more days to merge provisions of a House-passed marijuana legalization bill with several Senate proposals and now plan to bring revised legislation before the Senate Taxation, Revenue and Business Committee on Tuesday. The Senate majority leader said he is “confident” a deal can be reached. Separately, the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee approved a bill on medical cannabis reciprocity.

The Oregon House Revenue Committee held a hearing on legislation to change how cities and counties can get marijuana tax revenue.

Idaho activists are stepping up efforts to collect signatures to put a medical cannabis measure on the 2022 ballot.

Alaska officials are prosecuting marijuana businesses for allegedly using toxic pesticides.

Washington, D.C. regulators are accepting applications for five additional medical cannabis business licenses.

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/ LOCAL

The Evanston, Illinois City Council is set to take up a reparations plan for spending marijuana tax revenue on housing on Monday.

The Clarksville, Tennessee City Council delayed consideration of a resolution calling for marijuana decriminalization.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Thailand’s health minister said households in the country can grow up to six marijuana plants each that they can sell to hospitals and state facilities, or use to make food and cosmetic products.

New Zealand officials approved new CBD products from Tilray.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “cannabinoids have been shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with PTSD” and that “besides aiding to relieve the symptoms and enhance extinction training, they also are relatively well tolerated.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The South Dakota Democratic Party tweeted about its lawmakers working to defend voter-approved marijuana reforms.

The Florida Republican Party tweeted, “Hold @NikkiFried accountable for her connections (fiancée and family) to a new cannabis company and obvious conflicts of interest as Agriculture Commissioner.”

The Santa Fe New Mexican editorial board is urging lawmakers to find a compromise on marijuana legalization.

The Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan pushed back against reports that the organization allegedly prevented girls from selling cookies outside of a marijuana dispensary.

/ BUSINESS

Waitr Holdings Inc. is partnering with Flow Payments on marketplace, delivery and payment solutions for marijuana dispensaries.

IM Cannabis Corp. began trading on the Nasdaq.

Vice looks at the growing number of companies that are racing to patent psychedelics.

/ CULTURE

Seth Rogen said he intends to do “everything in my power to shine a light on, and to lend a voice to, America’s racist policies in regards to weed.”

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