PA gov’s marijuana pardons; NY gov signs psychedelic rescheduling bill; Poll: Cannabis as alcohol alternative in Dry January; MO equity officer
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that states where marijuana is legal adopt laws mandating impaired driving warning labels on cannabis products—pointing out that ongoing federal prohibition makes a national standard impossible.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced before leaving office this week that he has issued 2,540 pardons—with at least a quarter of those for marijuana. That’s the most acts of clemency by any governor in the state’s history.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill to automatically legalize Schedule I drugs like psilocybin and MDMA in the state if and when they are reclassified at the federal level.
More than one in five people who are abstaining from alcohol as part of “Dry January” say they are using cannabis products as alternative intoxicants to help get through the month.
Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services says it will “soon” hire a chief equity officer to implement a marijuana microlicense program.
/ FEDERAL
A National Counterintelligence and Security Center official spoke about proposed changes to marijuana questions on federal security clearance forms.
A new federal policy took effect removing the requirement for doctors to receive a waiver to prescribe medications like buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Brian Mast (R-FL) spoke at an event hosted by the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation.
/ STATES
A spokesperson for Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) said she is “evaluating the best course of action” to follow through on a pledge to pardon people with marijuana possession convictions.
Just before leaving office, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) included information about her mass marijuana pardons in a clemency report to lawmakers. Separately, regulators issued a recall of cannabis vaping products with prohibited additives.
Oklahoma’s attorney general discussed efforts to combat illegal marijuana operations. Separately, the State Election Board secretary is asking lawmakers for money to carry out the scheduled March 7 special election on a cannabis legalization initiative.
Connecticut House Democrats cheered the launch of legal recreational marijuana sales. And the state’s consumer protection commissioner spoke about the rollout.
Wisconsin’s Senate minority leader said she will not stop pushing to legalize marijuana just because Republican leaders are open to more limited medical cannabis legislation.
A Tennessee representative filed legislation to place nonbinding cannabis questions on the state’s 2024 ballot.
Ohio lawmakers refiled a revised bill to overhaul the medical cannabis program, including by allowing doctors to recommend it for any debilitating condition, increasing the number of dispensaries and allowing growers to expand.
A Vermont representative introduced a bill to ban cannabis or tobacco products with single-use filters.
New York Republican lawmakers are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to crack down on unlicensed marijuana retailers.
Mississippi has a new top medical cannabis regulator.
California regulators filed proposed cannabis tax rules.
New Jersey regulators approved additional marijuana business licenses as well as the proposed Cresco-Columbia Care merger.
A Washington, D.C. woman filed a lawsuit seeking to enact a restriction on smoking marijuana in multiunit buildings.
North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement took action against tobacco stores for allegedly selling cannabis products containing THC levels in excess of what is allowed for legal hemp.
Maryland regulators issued recommendations on delta-8 THC products for lawmakers to consider.
Florida officials declined to issue an opinion on whether a physician’s proposed business arrangement with medical cannabis recommendation service Veriheal constitutes a prohibited split-fee arrangement.
Washington State regulators posted maps of disproportionately affected areas for cannabis social equity purposes.
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/ LOCAL
Wichita, Kansas’s mayor said local officials are monitoring state marijuana legislation.
A former Adelanto, California mayor pleaded guilty to federal charges of accepting bribes and kickbacks in exchange for approving marijuana ordinances and ensuring colleagues obtained cannabis licenses or permits.
The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee held a hearing on safe consumption sites for illegal drugs.
Portland, Oregon officials will begin accepting applications this week for relief funds for cannabis businesses and workers who have been impacted by robberies and other issues.
New York City officials posted information about the local cannabis market.
/ INTERNATIONAL
British Columbia, Canada’s government published a report on the possibility of opening cannabis consumption spaces.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “most sources concluded their respective cannabinoid treatments to provide some therapeutic benefit for [chronic orofacial pain] and all concluded their treatments to be safe.”
A review concluded that “while the literature on this matter is young, published and anecdotal evidence imply that cannabis could be useful in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, stimulating appetite, reducing pain, and managing seizures” and that it “may also decrease inflammation and cancer cell proliferation and survival, resulting in a benefit in overall patient survival.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Tennessee Democratic Party tweeted, “Republicans like Senator Briggs have been saying ‘we need more research’ on marijuana for a decade — at this point, it’s just a stalling tactic. It’s a no-brainer to legalize weed for medical purposes, economic benefits, and for freedom.”
/ BUSINESS
Connecticut retailers sold more than $1 million worth of recreational marijuana products in the first four days of sales.
/ CULTURE
Actor John Larroquette said he was paid in marijuana for his work on the 1974 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”