Jul 14 2024

US Senate Bill Filed to Restrict Marijuana Use Consideration in Job and Security Clearance Decisions

Legislation to “limit the consideration of marijuana use when making an employment suitability or security clearance determination” has been filed in the United States Senate.

Senate Bill 4711 was filed on Thursday by Senator Gary Peters. It’s been assigned to the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

The legislation prohibits a federal agency from considering past or present marijuana use when determining whether an individual is suitable for federal employment or eligible for a security clearance. It also establishes a review process for past applications.
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Jul 14 2024

New Hampshire Governor Signs Bill Adding Anxiety as Medical Marijuana Condition

On Friday, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed into law legislation that expands the state’s list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions.

Governor Sununu has signed House Bill 1349 into law. The measure was filed in December by State Representative Heath Howard (D). The measure adds “generalized anxiety disorder” to the state’s list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions. The law takes effect 60 days after being signed into law.

New Hampshire’s medical marijuana law, enacted in 2013, allows patients with qualifying conditions to access medical cannabis. Qualifying conditions include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, muscular dystrophy, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, severe nausea, and PTSD. The law mandates that patients obtain a written certification from a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse. Patients must register with the state’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program to receive an ID card, which permits them to purchase cannabis from designated alternative treatment centers.
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Jul 13 2024

Arizona Collects Nearly $150 Million in Marijuana Taxes in First Half of 2024

Arizona marijuana sales generated nearly $150 million in tax revenue between January and June of this year.

Licensed marijuana sales resulted in $23,640,670 in taxes in June, bringing the year-to-date total to $145,971,892.

The all-time total marijuana tax revenue since the start of legal marijuana sales in 2021 is now $903,443,181, putting it on track to cross the $1 billion mark later this year.
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Jul 12 2024

The 5 States Next in Line to Legalize Psilocybin

Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in “magic mushrooms”, is gaining traction across the United States as more states consider its legalization for medical and therapeutic purposes.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Following the footsteps of Oregon and Colorado, several states are now moving towards legalizing psilocybin. Here are the five states next in line to potentially legalize psilocybin.
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Jul 12 2024

Marijuana Rescheduling Nears the Endgame, Public Comment Period Almost Over

The long-anticipated rescheduling of marijuana is approaching a crucial milestone and is close to being finalized.

The legally required 60-day public comment period, a critical phase in the process of rescheduling any drug under the Controlled Substances Act, is set to close in just 10 days. Approximately 30,000 comments have been submitted so far, the vast majority in support of either rescheduling marijuana, or going further and descheduling it altogether.

The impending closure of the public comment period signifies the approaching endgame in the rescheduling process. Once the period concludes, the DEA and HHS will review the comments and make a recommendation on whether to reclassify marijuana, potentially holding a public hearing before making a final recommendation. This recommendation will then be forwarded to the Attorney General, who will make the final decision.
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Jul 12 2024

Five Statewide Marijuana Initiatives Being Considered This November

In less than four months, voters in five states will decide on marijuana initiatives.

The November 5 election will be monumental for several reasons, including the fact that five states will vote on marijuana law reforms. Three of these states may legalize recreational marijuana, potentially joining the 24 others that have already done so.

With that said, here is a breakdown of the five statewide initiatives being considered this November.
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Jul 12 2024

June Marijuana Sales Top $20 Million in Maine, $115 Million Year-to-Date

Marijuana sales in Maine topped $20 million for the second month in a row.

Data released by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy shows that there was $20,692,942 in marijuana sales in June, an increase from the $20,280,736 sold in May, but roughly $1 million less than the monthly record set in September 2023. June sales occurred across 387,247 transactions.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana in June dropped from $7.41 to $7.25. This is slightly above the all-time low of $7.18 in April.
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Jul 12 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris: “Rescheduling Marijuana is Great. Legalization is Better”

In a recent interaction with a supporter, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated her stance on marijuana legalization.

When asked by supporter Ashley R. (last name withheld by request, for privacy reasons) whether the DEA’s initiative to move marijuana to Schedule III is sufficient change, Harris responded, “Rescheduling is great. Legalization is better. We’ve got to get it done.”

Ashley spoke to Harris privately following her speech at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 2024 Biennial National Convention in Dallas, Texas. Ashley shared details of the conversation exclusively with The Marijuana Herald.
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Jul 12 2024

US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Sponsors SAFER Banking Act, Bringing Total Sponsors to 37

The US Senate’s SAFER Banking Act, which would allow marijuana banking, now has 37 sponsors.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) officially signed on as a cosponsor of the SAFER Banking Act (S.2860) yesterday. This measure would provide federal protections to banks and other financial institutions, such as credit unions, that offer services to marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. Murkowski is the 37th sponsor of the measure, the fifth Republican, and the first new sponsor since February.

The SAFER Banking Act was passed through the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with bipartisan support in September, just a week after it was filed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to bring the measure to a vote in the full chamber but has not yet set a date or timeframe for this to occur.
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Jul 12 2024

Federal Legislation to Allow Marijuana Banking Gains Three New Sponsors, Now Has 128

Legislation in the US House of Representatives that would allow nationwide marijuana banking now has 128 sponsors

Congressmembers Ted Lieu (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Haley Stevens (D-MI) have joined as cosponsors to the SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891), bringing the total number of sponsors to 128. No other marijuana-related bill in the US Congress has more sponsors.

The SAFE Banking Act would provide explicit federal protections for banks and credit unions that provide financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses. These businesses include medical marijuana dispensaries in the 38 states where they are legal, and recreational marijuana stores in the 23 states where they are authorized.
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