New cannabis guidelines for federal judged proposed (Newsletter: January 13, 2023)

GOP congressional chair plans to press FDA on CBD; WA psilocybin bill; Study: Less alcohol misuse in legal marijuana states; Record AZ sales

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The U.S. Sentencing Commission proposed guidelines amendments suggesting that past marijuana possession convictions no longer count as aggravating factors that can contribute to longer sentences in new federal cases.

New House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said he plans to haul Food and Drug Administration officials before his panel and grill them about the agency’s lack of action to regulate hemp-derived CBD products.

A bipartisan group of Washington State senators filed a bill to legalize psilocybin services.

A new federally funded study of twins found that the siblings living in states where marijuana remains criminalized have higher rates of alcohol use disorder than those who have access to legal cannabis markets.

The Arizona Department of Revenue reported that the state’s retailers set a new record for monthly recreational marijuana sales in October as the medical cannabis market continued to shrink.

/ FEDERAL

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and other federal agencies posted a notice of special interest in studies of the endocannabinoid system and its role in brain health, disease and substance use.

A Transportation Security Administration official touted officers’ seizure of a candle containing marijuana.

/ STATES

Tennessee’s lieutenant governor claimed that marijuana leads to use of other drugs, while the Senate majority leader expressed openness to advancing medical cannabis legislation.

Connecticut’s attorney general voiced concerns about deceptive marijuana product packaging.

New York’s Assembly majority leader said she’s frustrated that ongoing litigation is preventing regulators from issuing marijuana retail licenses in certain areas of the state.

Arkansas’s Senate minority leader said he wants to work on marijuana reform this session.

Arizona Legislative Democrats issued a priorities document that says they will “uplift policy that addresses the failed War on Drugs” and that “in partnership with the Biden Administration, our caucus will work to expunge all nonviolent marijuana charges.”

Indiana lawmakers introduced a marijuana legalization bill.

A Virginia delegate wants to support ending the state’s personal income tax by using marijuana revenue.

An Illinois representative sent a press release about his psychedelic therapy bill.

Maryland lawmakers discussed how to allocate marijuana tax revenue.

A Minnesota senator said the state should not legalize marijuana until more research is done.

A Florida campaign seeking to place a marijuana legalization initiative on the 2024 ballot received another $5 million in support from Trulieve.

Top New Jersey regulators discussed their marijuana plans for 2023.

Massachusetts regulators voted to approve a change of ownership and final licensure for a marijuana cultivation business for which the chair of the Cannabis Control Commission once held a stake, shortly after an investigative report determined that she did not violate any rules.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs said that approximately 2,000 medical cannabis licensees are running potentially unlawful operations.

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/ LOCAL

The Kansas City, Missouri City Council voted to place a measure to enact a local tax on marijuana sales on the April ballot.

A Bell County, Texas commissioner suggested that Harker Heights officials may face recalls over their efforts to block a voter-approved local marijuana decriminalization initiative from taking effect.

Casper, Wyoming City Council members expressed support for decriminalizing marijuana.

New York City’s second recreational marijuana dispensary is expected to open next month.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Spanish lawmakers filed medical cannabis regulation legislation.

Santa Fe, Argentina’s Ministry of Health is training doctors about medical cannabis.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of hip/knee arthroplasty patients concluded that “cannabis use may lead to increased revision arthroplasty and decreased mortality, with mixed findings regarding post-surgical complications.”

A review “demonstrates cannabinoid treatment effects in alleviating motor symptoms of [Parkinson’s disease] animal models and supports the conduct of clinical trials of cannabis in PD population.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “Cannabis should be legalized across Indiana. It is a win-win for the state’s economy and will put a stop to senseless litigation over an issue more than 80% of Hoosiers support. It’s time to #LegalizeIt and create a better economic future for our state.”

The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “@GovAndyBeshear’s executive action to allow medical cannabis use is a life-changer for many Kentuckians. But Republicans have refused to pass a legalization bill, which would allow medical cannabis sales and prevent a future governor from simply undoing this policy.”

The Maryland Association of Counties hosted a conference session on the implementation of marijuana legalization.

The Brennan Center for Justice said President Joe Biden’s mass marijuana pardon is a “step forward” but noted its limitations.

/ BUSINESS

Organigram Holdings Inc reported quarterly net revenue of C$43.3 million.

Akerna sold off 365 Cannabis to 365 Holdco LLC.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. is asking a federal court to dismiss an investor lawsuit claiming that the company kept stock prices high via an alleged sham sale.

Cannabis businesses were the biggest funders of marijuana legalization ballot initiative campaigns in the 2022 cycle.

Colorado retailers sold $130.3 million worth of legal marijuana products in November.

/ CULTURE

Wiz Khalifa tweeted, “Too much weed slander goin on these days I’m not feelin it.”

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