Apr 25 2024

Court to Hear Arguments in Landmark Case Against Federal Marijuana Ban

A federal judge has scheduled oral arguments in a landmark case where multiple marijuana companies are challenging the U.S. prohibition on marijuana.

In the case CANNA PROVISIONS, Gyasi Sellers, Wiseacre Farm, Verano Holdings, v. Merrick Garland (in his official Capacity as Attorney General of the United States), the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts’s Western Division has scheduled oral arguments for May 22.

“The case presents multiple constitutional questions and concerns matters of great importance both in the Commonwealth and nationwide. Oral argument will allow for a meaningful review of these issues”, argued the coalition of marijuana companies in requesting the hearing.
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Apr 25 2024

38 States Have Legalized Medical Marijuana: An In-Depth Breakdown

At the time of publication, 38 states—76% of the entire nation—have legalized medical marijuana.

California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Less than 30 years later and 37 other states have followed suit, in addition to a handful of other states that have legalized low-THC marijuana oil.

Below is a breakdown of all 38 states that have passed comprehensive medical marijuana programs, with information on teach state’s possession limits, whether or not they allow licensed dispensaries, and if they allow patients to grow their own marijuana at home.
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Apr 25 2024

Bicameral Coalition of US Lawmakers Tell DEA to “Promptly Remove Marijuana From Schedule I”

A bicameral coalition of lawmakers has sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging them to “promptly remove marijuana from Schedule I”.

The letter was led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) in the Senate, and Congressmembers Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the House of Representatives. It was signed by 17 other lawmakers in both the House and Senate. The letter was addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

“We urge you to promptly remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)”, begins the letter. “In recent months, we have sent you multiple letters explaining the importance of doing so. We are now nearing eight months since the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III — and 18 months since President Biden directed HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin the process of reviewing marijuana’s scheduling. It is time for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to act.”
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Apr 25 2024

Delaware Senate Health Committee Passes House-Approved Bill to Allow Marijuana Banking

Legislation to protect banks and other financial institutions that provide services to state-legal marijuana businesses has been passed by a key Senate committee in Delaware, roughly a month after it passed the full House of Representatives.

House Bill 355 was approved today through the Senate Health & Social Services Committee. On March 28, the measure was passed by the House of Representatives in a unanimous 38 to 0 vote.

Sponsored by Representative Ed Osienski and Senator Trey Paradee in partnership with State Treasurer Colleen Davis, the proposal clarifies under state law that those offering financial services to marijuana businesses are following state law and thus cannot be prosecuted.
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Apr 24 2024

Study: THC Associated With Increased Survival Time in Palliative Cancer Patients

According to the findings of a newly published study, the use of “THC is associated with a significant increase in survival time in ambulatory palliative patients”.

Conducted by researchers in Germany, the study titled The Use of Tetrahydrocannabinol Is Associated with an Increase in Survival Time in Palliative Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. The abstract is available online through the US National Library of Medicine.”

“Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is often prescribed for ambulatory palliative patients to improve sleep quality and appetite and to reduce anxiety, stress, and pain”, states the study. “However, it is not known if THC has also an effect on the mortality of these patients.”
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Apr 24 2024

These Two States Are Set to Vote On Initiatives to Legalize Recreational Marijuana This November

Voters in two states are set to have an opportunity to legalize recreational marijuana this November.

While advocates are working on marijuana legalization initiatives in several states, only two are set to appear on the November ballot. Other statewide efforts are expected to reach ballots in 2025 or later.

That said, here are the two states that could shift the balance, increasing the number of states with legalized recreational marijuana from 24 to 26, establishing a majority.
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Apr 24 2024

Missouri Senate Schedules Vote On Psilocybin Measure

Missouri’s full Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow on legislation that would facilitate research on the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Senate Bill 768 was prefiled by Senator Holly Thompson Rehder in December, and it was approved through the Senate Emerging Issues Committee in March. Tomorrow, the measure is scheduled to receive consideration by the full Senate, with approval sending it to the House of Representatives.

According to its official summary, under this act “any person who acquires, uses, produces, possesses, transfers, or administers psilocybin for the person’s own therapeutic use shall not be subject to state or local criminal or civil penalties if the person:
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Apr 24 2024

President Biden Announces More Pardons and Commutations for Non-Violent Drug Offenses

In an announcement made today, President Biden says he’s pardoned and commuted the sentences of numerous individuals, all for non-violent drug-related offenses.

“America is a Nation founded on the promise of second chances”, said President Biden in an official White House statement. ‘During Second Chance Month, we reaffirm our commitment to rehabilitation and reentry for people returning to their communities post incarceration. We also recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals and ensures that everyone receives equal justice under law.”

Biden says “That is why today I am announcing steps I am taking to make this promise a reality. I am using my clemency power to pardon 11 individuals and commute the sentences of 5 individuals who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses.”
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Apr 24 2024

Kentucky to Hold Medical Marijuana Lottery in October, 48 Dispensary Licenses to Be Awarded Across 11 Regions

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced that the state will use a lottery system to award an initial round of medical marijuana business licenses.

The lottery will take place in October, with Governor Beshear arguing that it should remove any temptation to lobby in an effort to “get a leg up in different ways that we don’t want to see”. Governor Beshear says that the medical marijuana industry is expected to be up and running by the first half of 2025.

“[The lottery] reduces or eliminates litigation, and it creates a more fair process, not one where people bid against each other and only then the big companies can be a part of it,” said the governor. “But one that provides at least a chance for everyone who can meet the criteria.”
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Apr 24 2024

US Senate Majority Leader Includes “SAFER Banking Act” and “Cannabis Reform” as Top Senate Goals

At a press conference today Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer committed to passing the SAFE Banking Act and other “cannabis reform” in “a bipartisan way”.

When asked “what are your major goals?”, Senator Schumer (D-NY) responded “We have a bunch of different bills, they’ll all have to work in a bipartisan way and we’ll do our best to get many of them done.”

Schumer says this “includes getting $35 insulin, they’re trying to get online child safety done, they’re trying to deal with rail safety, they’re trying to deal with the SAFER Act and Cannabis reform.”
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