VA gov slams legal marijuana sales push; USDA hemp appointments; KY bill on medical cannabis & gun rights; Dallas police end marijuana arrests
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BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWA Drug Enforcement Administration judge canceled the marijuana rescheduling hearings that were set to begin next week amid an ongoing dispute about whether the agency actually supports the proposal it is supposed to be defending.Earlier in the day, the Drug Enforcement Administration declined the opportunity to say if it supports the marijuana rescheduling proposal it is supposed to be defending in response to a recent legal filing that claimed the agency improperly conspired with opponents of the reform.And the Drug Enforcement Administration judge slammed the agency for its “disobedience of an unequivocal directive” on marijuana rescheduling evidence for the now-canceled hearings, saying it is “unprecedented and astonishing.”Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) claimed during his State of the Commonwealth speech that legalizing marijuana sales leads to “significant negative impacts on children and adolescent health and safety” and other harms that “far exceed the perverse benefit of tax revenue.”The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative appointed more hemp industry representatives to a federal trade advisory committee to help bolster efforts to promote U.S.-grown cannabis around the world.Kentucky lawmakers filed a resolution calling on Congress to let medical cannabis patients possess guns, saying current policy causes “confusion, inconsistency and unnecessary legal risks” and that people shouldn’t “be forced to choose between accessing essential medical care and exercising their rights under the Second Amendment.”The Dallas, Texas Police Department sent a memo directing officers to no longer make arrests or issue citations for possessing four ounces or less of marijuana in accordance with a voter-approved cannabis decriminalization ballot measure.Bipartisan Colorado lawmakers introduced a bill to let doctors prescribe a form of psilocybin if the psychedelic is federally approved by the Food and Drug Administration.A researcher discussed her new study showing that “in states where both medical and recreational marijuana are legal, fewer patients are filling prescriptions for medications used to treat anxiety.”/ FEDERALThe White House touted President Joe Biden’s marijuana actions in a social media post.The Drug Enforcement Administration spotlighted reporting on teen drug use being at a record low./ STATESFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) again criticized Trulieve for funding an unsuccessful marijuana legalization ballot campaign at a press conference urging lawmakers to reform the citizen initiative process.Texas’s agriculture commissioner spoke about efforts to restrict intoxicating hemp products.A New York judge ruled that state and New York CIty officials’ actions against hemp stores were improper.Massachusetts’s incoming top marijuana regulator spoke about how he plans to approach the job.Alabama’s top medical cannabis regulator spoke about ongoing mediation to resolve litigation over business licensing.California regulators are promoting disaster relief opportunities for marijuana businesses affected by recent wildfires.Oklahoma regulators published a list of physicians willing to issue medical cannabis recommendations.Minnesota regulators posted an FAQ about cannabis social equity grants.Kentucky regulators will host a webinar for prospective medical cannabis patients on Wednesday.—
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/ INTERNATIONALGlasgow, Scotland is hosting the UK’s first safe consumption facility for illegal drugs.The German Social Democratic Party made clear in an update to its election manifesto that it supports the country’s marijuana legalization law./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study concluded that “CBD can be incorporated into denture materials, enabling antibiotic-free dentures for preventing dental biofilms and reducing dental plaques.”A study suggested “efficacy and safety of psilocybin in severe” treatment-resistant depression./ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISStudents for Sensible Drug Policy filed a post-trial brief in a Drug Enforcement Administration administrative court case concerning the agency’s proposed ban on two psychedelics./ BUSINESSHigh Tide Inc. is acquiring most of Purecan GmbH.TRP Management Co., which operates under the name Cookies Retail, is being sued by five former employees over alleged gender discrimination.A nonprofit backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin is supporting psychedelics startups.Michigan retailers sold $265.5 million worth of legal marijuana products in December.Colorado retailers sold $113.3 million worth of legal marijuana products in October.Arizona retailers sold $73.1 million worth of recreational marijuana and $16.5 million worth of medical cannabis products in November.
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VA gov slams legal marijuana sales push; USDA hemp appointments; KY bill on medical cannabis & gun rights; Dallas police end marijuana arrests Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day. Your support makes Marijuana Moment Read More
