Congress to vote on cannabis record sealing this week (Newsletter: September 20, 2022)

Poll: MD voters back legalization on ballot; MO Dems stay neutral on marijuana initiative; MN edibles lawsuit; Cannabis in Apple’s Health app

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The House Judiciary Committee plans to vote on bills this Wednesday to automatically seal records for certain federal marijuana convictions and provide funding to states to facilitate expungements.

A new poll found that 59 percent of Maryland likely voters plan to support the marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot. An even bigger majority of 62 percent say cannabis records should be expunged if legalization is approved.

The Missouri Democratic Party supports legalizing marijuana but is remaining neutral on the cannabis measure on the November ballot, saying it has “concerns about the expungement provisions laid out in the amendment,” as well as those that could make it “difficult for those who do not currently have a license to enter the industry.”

Vireo Health filed a lawsuit arguing that a new Minnesota law legalizing THC-infused hemp-derived edibles means that it should be allowed to sell marijuana-derived edibles to all adults over 21 instead of being limited to registered medical cannabis patients only.

Apple’s latest iPhone Health app update allows users to indicate whether they use marijuana to help identify any potential interactions with medications they are taking. Listing cannabis alongside federally legal substances alcohol and tobacco is another example of the mainstreaming of marijuana in Big Tech.

/ FEDERAL

President Joe Biden issued an annual list of major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Focus Areas of Regulatory Science contains a brief mention of efforts to evaluate “how to use novel data sources to obtain better marketplace, safety, and quality data on cannabis-derived products including cannabidiol (CBD) to help inform regulatory policy development.”

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams posted a Twitter thread complaining about smelling marijuana smoke in New York City.

The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control published a report on strategies to combat money laundering by drug cartels.

The Senate Judiciary Committee tweeted a video about the need to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said, “We are at a point now where most people understand that the SAFE Banking bill as written is not enough to pass the Senate. They’re going to have to add equity issues and fairness issues into the banking provisions and do some restorative justice as well. The question is how much can we get done.”

House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velzquez (D-NY) tweeted, “Offering licenses to New Yorkers with marijuana convictions first is a big deal — and a critical step towards equity in the cannabis industry. We need to address these concerns now.”

Former Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Lacy Clay (D-MO) spoke at the launch of the new organization Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions that’s led by officials with the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

/ STATES

Missouri state auditor candidates discussed marijuana during a debate.

The California Senate Republican Caucus tweeted, “Illegal cannabis grows up & down the state are plaguing rural communities with deadly violence, environmental damage & they take cruel advantage of laborers. They do not play by the rules, & the criminals who run them must be held accountable.”

A Minnesota Republican representative tweeted, “When given the choice between regulating marijuana and sports gambling versus prohibiting marijuana and sports gambling, more Minnesotans prefer regulating. Neither are partisan issues.”

A top New York regulator said recreational marijuana sales are “fully on track” to begin by the end of the year.

Alaska regulators amended rules on marijuana waste management.

A spokesman for Illinois marijuana regulators said newly issued licenses mean next year will be one of “incredible growth and momentum” for the state’s legal cannabis market even though neighboring Michigan has outpaced it in several ways to date.

Ohio’s Department of Agriculture reported that “for the 2022 growing season there are no prohibited hemp varieties in Ohio.”

Michigan regulators posted bulletins with tips for marijuana license renewal applications and miscellaneous forms.

Vermont regulators will consider recommendations for marijuana social equity status and licensure on Wednesday.

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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

Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s mayor said legalizing marijuana won’t help the city reduce crime. The Minnehaha County sheriff praised the mayor for speaking out.

The Denver, Colorado City Council approved a proposal to reduce marijuana delivery service license fees and permanently extend exclusivity for the category to social equity businesses.

San Marcos, Texas kicked off a campaign to pass a local marijuana decriminalization ballot initiative.

Washtenaw County, Michigan’s chief assistant prosecutor expressed concerns about psychedelics being “whitewashed” in a speech at the University of Michigan’s Entheofest.

Montgomery County, Maryland police host “green lab” events where they invite participants to smoke marijuana and take a variety of sobriety tests.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s chief executive said the government will ban CBD by early next year.

Jamaica’s culture and entertainment minister said the country is considering further reforming its marijuana laws.

Ireland’s Food Safety Authority recalled batches of CBD oil over “unsafe levels” of THC.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “children and adolescents with [autism spectrum disorder] treated with CBD-rich cannabis exhibit significant improvements particularly in social symptoms.”

A study of rats found that “maladaptive behavioural and synaptic plasticity promoted by the intersection between binge-like alcohol withdrawal and exposure to adverse social stress can be rescued by a CBD détente effect that results in a successful defensive strategy, supported by a functional endocrine and synaptic plasticity.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A poll of Texas voters found that they support legalizing marijuana, 51 percent to 28 percent, and back medical cannabis, 67 percent to 21 percent.

The Navajo Nation Council is considering a resolution opposing the broad decriminalization of peyote.

The Washington Examiner editorial board says California’s experience with marijuana legalization should make other states wary about enacting the policy change.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial board is urging Pennsylvania officials to fix problems with the medical cannabis program before moving to enact recreational legalization.

The chair of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation was appointed as a commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

/ BUSINESS

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. completed its majority stake acquisition  in Four 20 Pharma GmbH.

TREES CORPORATION is acquiring the Green Tree Longmont and Green Tree Berthoud dispensaries in Colorado.

Aurora Cannabis Inc was removed from the S&P/TSX Composite Index as of Monday.

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