Feb 07 2024

South Carolina Senate Advances Bill to Legalize Medical Marijuana

South Carolina’s full Senate has voted to advance a bill that would legalize medical marijuana, with a final vote coming as soon as tomorrow.

South Carolina remains one of just 10 states in the US that have not legalized medical marijuana. Senate Bill 423, filed by Senator Thomas Davis with a bipartisan coalition of 11 cosponsors, would change this by legalizing the medicine. Yesterday, the Senate voted 26 to 13 to advance the measure to a special order, allowing it to be quickly considered by the full chamber for final consideration. Today ,the Senate debated the measure, but delayed a final vote until tomorrow.

The measure must now be passed through one more vote of the Senate, and then through the House of Representatives, before it can be sent to Governor Henry McMaster.
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Feb 07 2024

US House Bill to Fund Psychedelics Research Gains 16th Bipartisan Sponsor

Legislation to facilitate and fund psychedelics research has gained a new sponsor in the US House of Representatives.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

The Douglas “Mike” Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act of 2023 (H.R. 3684) was filed in May by Congressmember Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) along with 11 bipartisan cosponsors. Since then, the measure has gained five new sponsors, with Rep Yakym the first new sponsor for the bill in almost six months.

This legislation “requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to award grants to eligible entities to research the treatment of certain members of the Armed Forces through the use of specified psychedelic substances (e.g., MDMA).”
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Feb 07 2024

Federal Marijuana Banking Act Gains Three New US House Sponsors, Now Has 103

Just one day after the SAFE Banking Act gained its 100th sponsor in the United States House of Representatives, three new lawmakers have joined as cosponsors.

Congressmembers Matthew Carthwright (D-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Joseph Morelle (D-NY) signed on yesterday as cosponsors for the SAFE Banking act, bringing the total number of sponsors to 103. When you take into account the Senate companion bill, the SAFER Banking, the legislation has a total of 138 sponsors in US Congress.

If passed into law, the SAFE/R Banking Acts would explicitly allow banks and other financial institutions (such as credit unions) to provide banking services to state-legal marijuana businesses. This would include allowing banks to offer debate and credit card processing and access to business loans, among other services.
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Feb 07 2024

Hawaii: Two House Committees Overwhelming Vote to Pass Psilocybin Bill

Legislation to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms was passed through two House committees yesterday.

Psilocybin mushroom.

House Bill 2630 was filed last month by State Representative Della au Belatti along with 13 cosponsors. Yesterday the measure was approved by the Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee in a unanimous 10 to 0 vote. It was then approved through the Health & Homelessness Committee 7 to 1.

The proposed law would legalize the possession and use of psilocybin by those with a qualifying medical condition who receives a recommendation from a licensed physician.
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Feb 07 2024

US Congress: The Three Marijuana Bills Most Likely to Pass in 2024

There are numerous marijuana-related bills currently active in the US House and Senate, but only a few have even a remote possibility of being approved through either chamber this year.

To date there has only been one piece of standalone marijuana-related legislation ever passed through Congress and sent to the president; the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, signed into law by President Biden in December, 2022.

Since then, proponents of marijuana law reform have put forth multiple proposals seeking to bring further reforms, with many being far more consequential than the above-mentioned act.
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Feb 06 2024

Washington State Senate Votes 48 to 1 to Pass Marijuana Advertising Bill

Washington’s full Senate has approved legislation that restricts the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (LCB) from regulating the size of signs and billboards put up by marijuana stores, while removing the 1600 square inch cap for retail signs.

Senate Bill 5363, filed by Senators Drew MacEwen (R) and Derek Standford (D), was passed by the Senate today in a 48 to 1 vote. The measure must now be passed through the House of Representatives before it can be sent to Governor Jay Inslee.

According to an official summary of the bill, the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (LCB) “may not regulate the size of retail signs, whether indoor or outdoor, and billboards for licensed cannabis retailers.”
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Feb 06 2024

DEA Announcement on Marijuana Rescheduling or Descheduling Could Come This Week

Recent rumors indicate that the Drug Enforcement Administration may announce news on the potential rescheduling or even descheduling of marijuana within a matter of days.

In August the US Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to the DEA officially requesting marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Last month the DEA sent a letter to congressional lawmakers informing them that their review of marijuana as a Schedule I drug is currently underway, while noting that the agency has “the final authority” when it comes to any rescheduling effort.

Recently a DEA official said he believes marijuana will be rescheduled before the end of the summer, and now, attorney Adrian Snead, a partner at firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP who previous worked for Senator Jeff Merkley (D), says that an announcement regarding the DEA’s decision could come soon.
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Feb 06 2024

Florida Senate Committee Votes to Preemptively Limit Legal Marijuana to 30% THC, 60% for Concentrates

A Florida Senate committee has given approval to legislation that would place a cap on the amount of THC recreational marijuana is allowed to have, even though recreational marijuana is not yet legal in the state.

Senate Health Policy Committee voted 7 to 3 today, along party line (with Republicans in support), to pass Senate Bill 7050. The measure would preemptively establish a cap of 30% THC for any legal marijuana sales, and a 60% THC cap for marijuana concentrates. The measure was approved in anticipation of voters approving an initiative this November to legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

SB 7050 would prohibit marijuana edibles with more than 200 milligrams of THC for whole edibles and 10 milligrams of THC per serving.
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Feb 06 2024

Clinical Trial: CBD Reduced the Growth of Periodontal Pathogenic Bacteria

Cananbidiol (CBD) may be a useful tool for combatting periodontitis, according to a new placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

Published by the Journal of Periodontal Research, the study was conducted by researchers at Palacky University, the University Hospital Olomouc, Masaryk University and the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences, all in the Czech Republic.

The aim of this study “was to: (1) evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and (2) to clinically monitor the effect of CBD in subjects with periodontitis.”
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Feb 06 2024

US House Bill to Allow Marijuana Banking Gains 100th Sponsor

The SAFE Banking Act just gained its 100th sponsor in the United States House of Representatives.

safe banking act

Yesterday Congressmember Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) joined 99 of her colleagues to serve as a cosponsor for the SAFE Banking Act. The measure would provide federal protections to banks and other financial services such as credit unions that provide services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law.

The SAFE Banking Act, which was filed in April with eight cosponsors, has strong bipartisan support, with 76 Democrat sponsors and 24 Republican sponsors.
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