NCAA panel moves to end cannabis ban (Newsletter: June 20, 2023)

Biden touts marijuana moves for Juneteenth; Congressional reso on legal cannabis and expungements; NV possession limit increase; PA hemp grants

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports is calling for marijuana to be removed from the organization’s list of banned substances for student athletes.

President Joe Biden touted his marijuana pardons and federal cannabis scheduling review in a proclamation marking the Juneteenth holiday.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and 16 cosponsors filed a resolution in Congress saying that the U.S. has a “moral obligation to meet its foundational promise of guaranteed justice for all” in part by legalizing marijuana and overdose prevention sites as well as expunging drug-related records.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed an omnibus marijuana bill that will more than double the legal possession amount, consolidate licensing rules and broaden eligibility for participation in the cannabis industry by people with prior felony convictions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $400,000 in matched funding to promote the hemp market—including by creating a curriculum to teach high school and college students about the “many uses” of the cannabis plant.

/ FEDERAL

Democratic presidential Marianne Williamson discussed her support for decriminalizing drugs.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission published proposed sentencing guidelines policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2024.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said, “We must recognize that we cannot prosecute and incarcerate our way to sustainable public safety, that building that trust requires that we address the system that allows racial discrimination—from the disproportionate arrest and incarceration rates Black and brown people face, to the marijuana laws that criminalize Black and brown people.”

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) tweeted, “With Minnesota’s state law taking effect Aug. 1, there’s important information about federal laws that still apply related to cannabis use for workers, gun owners, and those living in federally-subsidized housing.”

/ STATES

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed a bill allowing marijuana businesses to advertise.

New Jersey’s deputy Assembly speaker said that broad legalization provisions may be stripped from a psilocybin bill, leaving a more medically-focused amended proposal that could advance.

A New York senator said he will continue to pursue proposed marijuana reform legislation that did not pass this session.

A Tennessee representative said other lawmakers who privately support marijuana reform told him they voted against it because they are “just too scared to do it right now.”

Connecticut regulators filed revised cannabis testing rules.

Arizona regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.

California regulators are moving to readopt emergency rules on tracking cannabis goods leaving licensed retail premises in delivery vehicles.

Utah regulators posted a monthly update about the medical cannabis program.

The Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy launched a new website to educate people about new and emerging drugs.

Nevada regulators will consider rules changes concerning ventilation plan requirements for cannabis consumption lounges and other business issues on Tuesday.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 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

Wichita, Kansas mayoral candidates discussed their views on marijuana policy.

A former New York City police commissioner criticized the city’s move to make drug harm reduction supplies available through a vending machine.

Proposed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania zoning rules could block current medical cannabis dispensaries from participating in a future recreational marijuana market if the state legalizes.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The president of the United Nations International Narcotics Board argued that legalizing marijuana “trivializes” its dangers.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction published an annual report on drug trends.

The UK National Health Service reimbursed a patient for medical cannabis flower for the first time.

German state interior ministers are pushing the federal government to study the impact of marijuana reform in other countries before pursuing legalization.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “cannabis clinical trial participants are skewed toward overrepresentation by White males in their 20s and 30s” and that “this represents structural discrimination in the research landscape that perpetuates social and health inequities.”

A study found that “psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Star-Ledger editorial board criticized New Jersey lawmakers’ move to reignite the war on drugs, which it says has been a failure.

/ BUSINESS

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has a new chief financial officer.

Indiva Limited received a $2,155,617 private placement from Canopy Growth Corporation subsidiary  Tweed Inc.

/ CULTURE

The Bellamy Brothers spoke about a Florida marijuana legalization ballot initiative campaign they are involved with.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.