VA legalization bill amended; USDA puts hemp rep on trade panel; NY legal marijuana details; NV gov touts money for schools; SD Cannabis Caucus...

VA legalization bill amended; USDA puts hemp rep on trade panel; NY legal marijuana details; NV gov touts money for schools; SD Cannabis Caucus

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…

Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. 

  • Kimberly Pham: “Tom and the team at Marijuana Moment have been a staple to my morning routine. I have learned and grown so much in the cannabis industry over the past few years by following Marijuana Moment, and it’s even helped me with advocating and networking within the cannabis industry. I know I can always count on Marijuana Moment to keep me up-to-date with the most accurate and timely cannabis news!”

If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment

/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

President Donald Trump, in one of his final acts in office, granted pardons and commutations to dozens of people with marijuana and drug convictions.

  • “It feels like a new life,” one of the clemency recipients told Marijuana Moment.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) released the full legislative details of his marijuana legalization plan though his budget proposal. No home cultivation, delivery services or on-site consumption at dispensaries would be authorized, and advocates are underwhelmed with the equity provisions. Meanwhile, lawmakers are pushing a different framework.

The new Virginia Senate Marijuana Subcommittee debated and approved amendments to the governor’s legalization bill. Among key changes were a decision to move cannabis to the jurisdiction of a new agency instead of under the state’s alcohol regulator, a delay in the implementation of sales, switching to local opt out instead of opt in and equity reforms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative appointed a second official from the National Industrial Hemp Council to serve on a federal agricultural trade advisory committee.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) pledged in his State of the State address that his budget will keep using marijuana tax revenue to fund schools.

South Dakota lawmakers formed a Cannabis Caucus to coordinate efforts on marijuana bills after voters approved legalization in November. But the Senate majority leader said implementation could end up taking more than one legislative session.

/ FEDERAL

President Joe Biden named a new acting director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

/ STATES

The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee held a hearing on a bill to expand the state’s marijuana decriminalization law.

Top New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are pushing legislation to limit the potency of medical cannabis for patients under 21.

New Mexico representatives coauthored an op-ed on the need to legalize marijuana with equity and justice in mind.

Michigan regulators sent bulletins on marijuana social equity fee reductions.

Florida’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee and Hemp Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday.

Washington State’s Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force will meet on Monday.


Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 300 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 Burlington, Vermont City Council voted to place a question allowing marijuana sales on the March ballot.

The Las Cruces, New Mexico City Council voted to endorse statewide marijuana legalization.

Los Angeles County, California’s district attorney tweeted, “Today, the justice reform movement gains an ally in White House. Biden’s promise to confront mass incarceration fills me with hope.  It’s past time to reform our bail system, decriminalize marijuana, abolish the death penalty & so so much more.”

/ INTERNATIONAL

Costa Rican lawmakers are pressing the government to support medical cannabis and hemp legislation.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “heavy drinkers engaged in treatment to reduce their alcohol consumption who also use cannabis appear to increase their cannabis use on days when they reduce their alcohol consumption.”

A review concluded that “overall results demonstrate potential usefulness of cannabinoids as adjunctive analgesics and in mitigating opioid use” but that “current evidence is far from convincing.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana released cannabis recommendations for the Biden administration.

/ BUSINESS

Fyllo acquired DataOwl.

CannTrust Holdings Inc. entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement with plaintiffs who sued the company after it was sanctioned by Canadian officials for growing marijuana in unlicensed rooms, including a C$50 million trust that will be established to settle claims.

Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. announced a deal to sell 40,550,000  units for gross proceeds of C$15,003,500.

/ CULTURE

Aubrey Plaza lamented that she couldn’t take marijuana gummies with her on a trip to Qatar.

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

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

MJ Shareholders avatar

MJ Shareholders

MJShareholders.com is the largest dedicated financial network and leading corporate communications firm serving the legal cannabis industry. Our network aims to connect public marijuana companies with these focused cannabis audiences across the US and Canada that are critical for growth: Short and long term cannabis investors Active funding sources Mainstream media Business leaders Cannabis consumers

No comments so far.

Be first to leave comment below.

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )