CT close to legal cannabis deal (Newsletter: May 25, 2021)

States back patients in psilocybin lawsuit against DEA; Capitol insurrection investigator: Marijuana arrests waste time; MO medical cannabis tax bill

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Connecticut’s House majority leader said lawmakers have reached a “general agreement” with the governor on an equity-centered marijuana legalization bill and that they will work toward a “more formalized agreement by the end of this week.”

A bipartisan group of attorneys general of eight states and Washington, D.C. filed a brief siding with cancer patients who are suing the Drug Enforcement Administration for access to psilocybin for end-of-life care.

The deputy leader of the Capitol Attack Review Task Force told lawmakers at a hearing that busting people for marijuana is a waste of time for Capitol Police who should be focused on protecting Congress.

Missouri lawmakers sent Gov. Mike Parson (R) a bill to let medical marijuana businesses take tax deductions under state law. There’s nothing the state can do about the ongoing federal 280E provision’s application to the cannabis industry, however.

/ FEDERAL

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted, “We were prevented by HHS from moving forward with the scheduling of Kratom, and I’m convinced it’s fueling the opioid addiction crisis. The Biden Administration should follow through on efforts of FDA, NIH, and DEA — and the new ASH should affirm health findings of these agencies.”

Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) spoke about the need for federal marijuana reform.

A former Minnesota Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party congressional candidate says he was tricked into running by a Republican National Committee strategist.

/ STATES

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “In Pennsylvania, people can legally purchase long guns (like AR-15s) without a background check through a private sale loophole. Yet, people are in jail for minor marijuana offenses. Tell your legislators: Legalize PA and close the background check loophole on firearms.” Separately, the House Health Committee approved a bill to permanently extend medical cannabis program changes enacted during the coronavirus pandemic, such as curbside pickup.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) sent a press release cheering Bright Green Corp.’s decision to open a $300 million cannabis manufacturing and research facility in the state.

A top marijuana aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he thinks the state should consider having social case workers, rather than police, enforce compliance with cannabis laws.

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin said the state’s marijuana legalization law is “another problem that’s going to be dumped at my feet.”

The Arizona Senate rejected a bill to restrict marijuana billboard advertising.

The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee amended and approved a bill to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis program.

The Louisiana Senate Judiciary C Committee will hold a hearing on a House-passed marijuana decriminalization bill on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at where Colorado cannabis bills stand in the legislature.

Members of the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board praised an activist’s efforts to seek a federal exemption for the state program.

Montana regulators posted a FAQ about the state’s new marijuana law.

Ohio regulators published updated medical cannabis patient and caregiver counts.

Nevada regulators will discuss marijuana business issues on Tuesday.

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/ LOCAL

The Nassau County, New York legislature voted to ban the smoking and vaping of marijuana on all county-owned property.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The UK’s home secretary said the government will consider evidence in support of rescheduling psilocybin.

A new European Parliament caucus is aimed at expanding medical cannabis access.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “the trend of [acute pancreatitis] and [severe acute pancreatitis] increased during the study period, but this was not correlated to cannabis use” and that “cannabis users had lower hospitalization costs and hospital stay.”

A review concluded that “findings show promising evidence for the potential therapeutic use of MDMA alongside psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Alabama Democratic Party tweeted, “Did you know: Black people are 4 times as likely as White people to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite the fact that White and Black people use cannabis at virtually the same rate. The evidence is clear– our current cannabis policy is outdated and racist.”

NYC NORML is urging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) not to appoint a current state official as executive director of the new Office of Cannabis Management because he has “repeatedly encouraged culturally insensitive policies” and “deployed tactics in his previous regulatory role that resulted in documentable public distrust and harm towards the existing patient community.”

Kevin Sabet of prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana coauthored a New York Times letter to the editor claiming that he supports “removing criminal penalties for use and increasing medical research into psychedelics.”

/ BUSINESS

4Front Ventures Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $23 million and a net loss of $11 million.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. is moving its listing to the Nasdaq from the New York Stock Exchange.

Verano Holdings Corp. closed transactions to acquire TerraVida Holistic Centers, LLC, GVB Holding Group, LLC, The Healing Center, LLC and NSE Pennsylvania, LLC.

/ CULTURE

Stephen Colbert joked about psychedelic fungus growing on cicadas.

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