Feb 26 2024

DEA Should “Reject” Arguments that Rescheduling Marijuana Violates International Treaties, Says Congressmember

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) has sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging them to reject any argument in support of maintaining marijuana in Schedule I or Schedule II based on U.S. Treaty obligations.

This letter is in response to a former letter from the DEA, which stated that the Administration would conduct a review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), states a press release.

The letter emphasizes that applicable Treaties neither require the U.S. to keep marijuana in Schedule I or II nor do they preclude the DEA from accepting HHS’s recommendation.
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Feb 26 2024

Massachusetts Committee Approves Bill Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Based On Marijuana Use

Legislation that would prohibit employers from discriminating against those who legally use marijuana off the job has been passed by its initial committee.

House Bill 4426 was introduced today by the House Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy along with cosponsors State Representatives Muchael Kushmerek, Colleen Garry and Rady Mom. Also today, the measure was “reported favorably” by the Cannabis Policy Committee and referred to the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee.

The measure prevents an employer from refusing to hire or employ, or to bar or to discharge from employment, “or to discriminate against such person in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment”, someone who uses marijuana legally, “unless reasonable suspicion exists that the employee was impaired by marijuana at the employee’s place of employment or during the hours of employment.”
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Feb 26 2024

Washington: Second Senate Committee Votes to Make Medical Marijuana Tax Free

A second Senate committee in Washington State has voted to pass legislation removing the 37% marijuana excise tax for qualified patients.

House Bill 1453 was given approval today by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, a week after it was passed by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee in a unanimous vote. The measure was approved through the full House of Representatives 85 to 12 earlier this month.

The measure provides “a permanent tax exemption from the 37 percent cannabis excise tax for qualifying patients and designated providers with a recognition card on purchases of cannabis products that are labeled as Department of Health (DOH)-compliant product and tested in accordance with the DOH’s rules.”
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Feb 26 2024

California: Government-Funded Survey Finds 62% Believe Marijuana Legalization Has Had a Positive Impact

New polling data commissioned by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) shows that a strong majority of adults in the state believe the legalization of marijuana has benefited the community.

The survey, conducted by FM3 Research as part of the Department’s Real California Cannabis campaign, found that 62% of Californians believe the legalization of cannabis has had a positive impact on the state.

The survey also found that 86% of marijuana consumers believe it’s important to purchase their marijuana legally.
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Feb 26 2024

US House Bill to Allow Marijuana Banking Gains 104th Sponsor

The SAFE Banking Act just gained its 104th sponsor in the United States House of Representatives.

On Friday Congressmember Susan Wild (D-PA) joined the list of 103 lawmakers currently sponsoring the SAFE Banking Act. The SAFER Banking Act, an updated Senate version of the bill, has 35 sponsors.

The SAFE and SAFER Banking Acts would allow banks and other financial institutions to provide banking services to state-legal marijuana businesses. This included debit and credit card services, access to business loans and so forth. The SAFE Banking Act was filed in April, while the SAFER Banking Act was filed in September.
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Feb 26 2024

Washington Legislature Passes Bill to Alter Possession Limit for Marijuana-Infused Liquids

Washington’s full legislature has approved a bill to alter the state’s possession limit for marijuana-infused liquids, sending it to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration.

Washington’s House of Representatives voted 88 to 9 earlier this month to pass House Bill 1249. On February 22 the measure was passed through the whole Senate 47 to 1.

Now, the measure will be sent to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration. Even if Inslee chooses to veto the measure, it has well more than the 2/3rds support required to override a veto.
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Feb 26 2024

Legislation to Decriminalize Psilocybin Filed in Connecticut

Legislation that would decriminalize the personal possession of psilocybin mushrooms has been filed in Connecticut.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms. (Photo credit: Rich Townsend/Getty Images).

House Bill 5297 was filed today in the Connecticut Legislature and assigned to the Joint Committee on Judiciary.

The measure states that “Any person who possesses or has under such person’s control less than one-half ounce of psilocybin, except as authorized in chapter 420b of the general statutes, shall:
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Feb 25 2024

US Receives First-Ever DEA-Sanctioned Marijuana Import from Jamaica

The US has received its first ever DEA-sanctioned marijuana import from Jamaica.

Pure Jamaican and its GMP-certified, licensed pharma manufacturer Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals have legally exported proprietary pharmaceutical products with cannabis-derived THC, as well as hemp-derived CBD and other cannabinoids, to the United States, Brazil and other major international markets, according to a press release.

The permissions to export Pure Jamaican pharmaceutical products containing THC to the US were granted by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) to Seven-10 Pharmaceuticals pursuant to valid corresponding import permits received from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The products were shipped to a DEA-licensed facility in the US for successful analytical testing.
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Feb 25 2024

Marijuana Stock Index Up 10% From Start of Year

The Global Cannabis Stock Index has seen an over 10% increase in value since the start of the year.

At the time of publication the Global Cannabis Stock Index stands at 8.90. This marks a 10.8% increase over where the market stood on January 2, when it was at 8.03.

Despite seeing an increase from the start of the year, the market is actually down around 0.8% from the last time we reported its value roughly a month ago.
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Feb 25 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris Has “No Plans” to Remove Video Saying Biden Administration Has “Changed Federal Marijuana Policy”

A recent campaign video posted by Vice President Kamala Harris says the Biden Administration has “changed federal marijuana policy”. A campaign official says she has no plans to remove the video.

(Photo credit: Patrick Semansky/AP).

In the February 9 video meant to appeal to “young voters”, Vice President Harris said “We changed federal marijuana policy, because nobody should have to go to jail just for smoking weed.”

Despite the fact that the Biden Administration has not yet “changed federal marijuana policy”, the video has remained live for 16 days, accumulating over 435,000 views. Now, a campaign official says the Vice President has “no plans” to remove the video. The official refused to give further comments or to elaborate on the discrepancy between VP Harris’ statements and the facts.
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