AL & KS approve medical cannabis bills (Newsletter: May 7, 2021)

LA House votes to legalize medical marijuana flower; NY legalization revenue projection; IL sees record sales; Study: Cannabis consumers aren’t lazy

Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.

Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…

Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going.

Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Mexican lawmakers missed the Supreme Court’s deadline to legalize marijuana by April 30, and they didn’t ask for another extension. Now there is talk about a special session after June’s elections—but the court could issue a new ruling striking down criminalization in the meantime.

The Louisiana House of Representatives voted to legalize medical cannabis flower under the state’s existing limited program. The body also advanced a bill to prepare for broader recreational marijuana legalization as well as separate hemp regulation legislation.

A new analysis by New York’s state comptroller projects that legalizing marijuana will generate $245 million in annual revenue by fiscal year 2024-2025.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported that marijuana sales set another monthly record in April, with nearly 2.5 million cannabis items purchased—worth almost $115 million.

A new study smashes lazy stoner stereotypes by finding that frequent marijuana consumers “engaged in more physical activity than non-current users.”

• “Our findings do not support the mainstream perception of cannabis users as living sedentary lifestyles.”

/ FEDERAL

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from marijuana businesses that want to challenge their tax bills despite late filings.

The federal trial into allegations that a former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor solicited bribes from marijuana businesses entered its second week.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee tweeted, “Last week, @RepLouCorrea introduced a bill to ensure VA employs the scientific rigor of a clinical trial framework as it continues to research cannabis use for veterans. It is vital for VA to investigate if, when, & for whom, various forms and doses of cannabis may be effective.”

House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) tweeted, “No legitimate & legal small business — including a cannabis business — should be excluded from support. I’m working to ensure they have access to loans that won’t just help their businesses, but address inequities facing small business owners of color.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) touted his efforts to force roll call votes on a marijuana banking bill and other legislation.

Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) tweeted, “Criminal justice reform also means resetting the balance. I used to work with ATF agents who knew how to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. But there were always more dollars & manpower for the war on drugs. That has to change.”

/ STATES

Tennessee’s lieutenant governor and House speaker said there’s still a chance some form of medical cannabis legislation could pass this year.

North Dakota’s secretary of state notified marijuana activists and other groups that they now need to collect a higher number of signatures to qualify ballot initiatives due to population growth as reflected in recent census data.

Illinois’s House speaker tweeted, “For too long, communities of color have been victimized by the ‘War on Drugs.’ Illinois needs cannabis licensing that is equitable and prioritizes small providers in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.”

A Minnesota legislature conference committee will decide whether expansions to the medical cannabis program will be included in the final version of an omnibus health and human services bill.

The Washington, D.C. Council is expected to consider a bill on Tuesday to help formerly incarcerated people get marijuana business licenses.

Here’s a look at where Colorado cannabis reform bills stand in the legislative session.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments in a case on the scope of local marijuana ordinances.

New Mexico regulators sent a notice to medical cannabis patients about how the new marijuana legalization law will affect home cultivation limits. They also sent guidance about the re-licensing process for existing medical marijuana businesses.

Washington State regulators sent a clarifying statement about their position on delta-8-THC.

Utah regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program.

West Virginia regulators sent a press release about the ability of patients and physicians to register for the medical cannabis program.

Nevada regulators sent a renewal reminder about marijuana business licenses that are expiring at the end of next month.

Oklahoma regulators published an updated list of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will meet on Tuesday.

South Dakota regulators will hold a hearing on proposed medical cannabis regulations on May 17.

—
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,100 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

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s mayor signed an ordinance banning most employers from conducting pre-employment marijuana testing.

San Diego, California officials are conducting a review of ways to increase equity in the cannabis industry.

Baltimore, Maryland’s state’s attorney spoke about her move to stop prosecuting many drug cases.

The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors confirmed new members of the Cannabis Oversight Committee.

Denver, Colorado regulators will hold marijuana social enquiry licensing information sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The possession limits in Vancouver, British Columbia’s drug decriminalization proposal to the Canadian federal government are being criticized by advocates as too low.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “medical cannabis authorization showed intermediate effects on opioid use, which was dependent on initial opioid use” and that “greater observations of changes in [oral morphine equivalent] appear to be in those patients who were on a high dosage of opioids.”

A forthcoming study reportedly found that people with PTSD who received MDMA during therapy experienced a significantly greater reduction in the severity of their symptoms compared to those who received therapy and an inactive placebo.

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A survey of Alabama doctors found that 70% support allowing medical cannabis and 42% support legalizing marijuana.

The Bangor Daily News editorial board highlighted the benefits of a proposed drug decriminalization bill.

/ BUSINESS

Tilray, Inc. will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Wednesday following its merger with Aphria Inc.

Green Thumb Industries withdrew as a member of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois.

The CEO of Organigram Holdings Inc. is stepping down.

Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Medterra CBD, LLC are partnering on a CBD venture.

Aleafia Health Inc. secured a cannabis research license from the Canadian government.

TerrAscend Corp. closed its acquisition of GuadCo, LLC and KCR Holdings LLC.

Cresco Labs announced that the waiting period on its acquisition of Cultivate Licensing LLC and BL Real Estate LLC has expired.

GW Pharmaceuticals plc received a UK Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2021 in the innovation category.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.