Feds revising cannabis questions for job applicants (Newsletter: November 23, 2022)

Biden cheers OR marijuana pardons; FDA warns CBD companies; RI legal sales starting next week; Colombian legalization vote; Poll: SC reform support

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

President Joe Biden and top White House officials cheered Oregon’s governor for following his lead on issuing mass marijuana pardons.

The Office of Personnel Management is proposing to revise marijuana questions that people applying for federal jobs must answer “in recognition of changing societal norms” as more states move to enact legalization. The move may “improve the pool of applicants,” a Federal Register notice says.

The Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to companies that sell CBD-infused foods and beverages.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) announced that recreational marijuana sales will begin next week. Five existing medical cannabis dispensaries have been awarded “hybrid retail licenses.”

The Colombian Senate First Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill for the first time, weeks after the legislation advanced in the country’s Chamber of Representatives.

A new poll shows that a majority of South Carolina adults support legalizing marijuana and that 78 percent—including supermajorities of Republicans and Democrats—back allowing medical cannabis.

• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) told Marijuana Moment that lawmakers who oppose popular cannabis reforms are “on the wrong side of history.”

New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission held three hearings to take public input on how marijuana social equity fees should be spent.

/ FEDERAL

A Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations report on the medical mistreatment of women being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement notes the cases of several women who were arrested for possessing marijuana.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “Studies suggest some Schedule I substances such as MDMA & psilocybin could serve as potential lifesaving drugs. My bill would remove regulatory red tape that impedes researchers from studying & patients from accessing these potential drugs.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) tweeted, “@GovKateBrown, thank you for building on @POTUS’s executive action to pardon federal marijuana possession charges. This is a hugely important action that will open employment and housing opportunities for so many folks. Pardoning cannabis possession charges federally and in Oregon is an important step forward. I will keep working to make sure that all of our cannabis reforms are rooted in restorative justice.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) move to issue marijuana pardons “is the proper use of [the] governor’s clemency powers and I hope that every governor and state legislature will follow suit.”

Former Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) tweeted that the passage of a marijuana research bill is “another common-sense cannabis move by Congress.”

Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) tweeted, “After the legalization of sports betting and the commercialization of marijuana how can we be surprised by the levels of addiction in our country?”

/ STATES

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s (R) proposed budget seeks to withhold marijuana revenue from Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks programs.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) tweeted, “The mother of a veteran sat next to me at a baseball game and shared the struggles her son had faced with treatment following an IED explosion. Medical cannabis was the only thing that helped. Providing access to medical cannabis is simply the right thing to do for these heroes.”

Indiana’s House speaker said he remains “skeptical” of marijuana legalization, while the Senate president said he thinks “you’ll see us talk about that” this session.

An Ohio senator spoke about his bill to expand the medical cannabis program.

New York regulators are asking a federal judge to limit the scope of an injunction on issuing marijuana dispensary licenses to just one area of the state instead of five.

Connecticut regulators said several existing medical cannabis retailers and producers have completed necessary steps to serve the recreational market. Separately, they selected cannabis product packager and transporter licenses in a lottery.

Oregon’s Judicial Department posted resources about Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) marijuana pardons.

Maine regulators are accepting public comments on proposed hemp cultivation rules.

A spokesperson for Missouri regulators said it is likely that recreational marijuana business licenses can be issued by early February.

Michigan regulators issued an advisory bulletin about increased criminal activity against marijuana businesses.

An Arkansas judge rejected a rejected medical cannabis cultivation license applicant’s move to join a lawsuit challenging the validity of regulators’ award process.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said four people found dead at a marijuana growing operation were executed.

Virginia officials will be seeking to replace a member of the Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors.

Texas’s Medical Advisory Board will consider “guidelines for drug use/abuse as it pertains to the Compassionate Use Act and low potency cannabis” on December 1.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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.

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/ LOCAL

New York City’s mayor cheered the state’s approval of the first recreational marijuana dispensary licenses.

The St. Cloud, Minnesota City Council rejected buffer zones for THC and CBD retailers around schools and parks that had been recommended by the Planning Commission.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that The Netherlands cannot deport a Russian man who uses medical cannabis, which is not legally available in his home country.

Thailand’s public health minister said he is confident that cannabis won’t be relisted as a narcotic.

Spain’s Ministry of Health is working on medical cannabis regulations.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published a guide on manufacturing cannabis-based medicines.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study indicated that “inhaled THC-rich therapy is more effective than CBD-rich sublingual extract therapy for treating low back pain and that cannabis therapy is safe and effective for chronic low back pain.”

A case study of a woman with hypophosphatasia showed that “treatment with a cannabidiol-predominant, full-spectrum, prescription cannabis extract led to a clinically meaningful pain reduction to 2.5/10 NRS, a discontinuation of opioids, and a recent resumption of employment as a physician.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Wall Street Journal editorial board criticized Democratic politicians for celebrating marijuana reform.

The New York Daily News editorial board is pushing state officials to impose consequences on unlicensed marijuana sellers.

Groups including Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action, NAACP Illinois State Conference, National Sheriffs’ Association, Family Research Council and the Drug Free America Foundation sent a letter urging senators to oppose passage of marijuana banking legislation.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable submitted comments to the Virginia Hemp Task Force in response to a draft report.

/ BUSINESS

Indiva Limited reported quarterly gross revenue of C$8.8 million and a comprehensive net loss of C$2.6 million.

Molson Coors and HEXO Corp. are unwinding theirTruss USA joint venture and will be exiting the CBD beverage business in the U.S.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.