DOJ filing in marijuana & gun rights case; MN legal cannabis & psychedelics hearings; Study: medical marijuana reduces opioid payments to doctors
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Department of Justice is urging an appeals court to reject a case challenging the federal government’s policy banning medical cannabis patients from possessing guns—saying there would be “wide-ranging consequences” if it got overturned.
The Texas House Public Health Committee approved a bill to let patients qualify for medical cannabis if they have a chronic pain condition “for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid.” The proposal also replaces the THC potency cap under current law.
The Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill with a large-scale amendment that overhauls some major provisions.
The Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee is considering folding a bill to create a Psychedelic Medicine Task Force into larger omnibus health legislation.
A new study found “a significant decrease in direct payments from opioid manufacturers to pain medicine physicians as an effect of [medical marijuana law] passage” and showed that “physicians in states with an MML are prescribing fewer opioids.”
Mississippi lawmakers sent Gov. Tate Reeves (R) a bill to revise various aspects of the state’s medical cannabis law.
Kentucky lawmakers sent Gov. Andy Beshear (D) a bill to regulate delta-8 THC products.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Education will host a webinar on student marijuana use on Wednesday.
The National Institutes of Health formed a Psychedelic Science and Medicine Interest Group.
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) tweeted, “Banned pesticides used by illegal cannabis growers threaten our endangered species, people who consume cannabis grown with these pesticides, and the U.S. Forest Service agents who remove these crops. I co-introduced the TOXIC Act to address this danger.”
A press release from Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) touting an award she got from the Family Research Council notes her efforts to “reject legislation legitimizing recreational marijuana use.”
/ STATES
A California assemblymember filed a bill to strengthen marijuana testing and labeling standards.
Florida lawmakers filed legislation aimed at granting medical cannabis business licenses to more Black farmers.
A Pennsylvania senator tweeted, “Legalizing cannabis would be a great help to education funding.”
A Louisiana representative discussed the prospects for her marijuana legalization legislation.
An Oklahoma representative tweeted that “A lot of CBD gummies and binging Star Trek helps keep me centered.”
The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled that the smell of marijuana is not probable cause to search a parked car.
Delays and decisions by The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York are preventing licensed marijuana businesses from opening in their desired locations. Separately, regulators will hold a workshop on facility design and construction for cannabis growers on Tuesday.
New Mexico regulators created a logo to help consumers identify and purchase products sourced from cannabis microbusinesses.
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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.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
New York City’s commissioner of children’s services authored an op-ed about protecting children from unintentionally ingesting cannabis edibles.
Anchorage, Alaska voters will decide on a ballot measure to use marijuana taxes to fund early education efforts on April 4.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A former UK home secretary said the government should conduct an inquiry into drug decriminalization.
Newly revealed records shed light on how Australian officials decided to allow psilocybin and MDMA prescriptions.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “medical cannabis use provides adequate pain management” and that “patients suffering from chronic nonmalignant pain may benefit from medical cannabis due to its convenience and efficacy.”
A study found that “Canada’s recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) did not notably impact motor vehicle and pedestrian/cyclist injury.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Missouri School Board Association issued marijuana policy recommendations to school districts.
The Psychedelic Medicine PAC is a new political action committee aimed at supporting candidates who back access to psychedelic therapy.
The Casper Star-Tribune editorial board is calling on Wyoming lawmakers to study medical cannabis.
/ BUSINESS
Aurora Cannabis Inc. filed a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus to qualify the issuance of $650 million worth of common shares, warrants, options, subscription receipts, debt securities and/or units.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post TX medical cannabis expansion advances (Newsletter: March 21, 2023) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.
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