A group of 29 former federal prosecutors have sent a letter to the leaders of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging them to retain marijuana as a schedule I drug.

The letter from the former prosecutors comes in response to a letter sent in August by the Department of Health to the DEA, officially requesting marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (this would legalize it for prescription use across the country). A report released in September by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) states that it’s “likely” the DEA will reschedule marijuana to reschedule III, which will have “broad implications for federal policy”.

The letter from the former prosecutors, directed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, states that “Almost no one has benefitted from legal weed, but there is one group coming out on top – drug cartels. Many states have enacted home-grow marijuana laws, which led to cartels growing marijuana in the United States to cut trafficking costs.”
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The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act gained three new sponsors yesterday, bringing the total number to 79.

The MORE Act (H.R. 5601) is now sponsored by 37% of all Democrats in the House of Representatives. The measure was filed in September by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D) along with four cosponsors. The legislation has steadily gained new sponsors since being filed, with Representatives Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) signing on just yesterday.

The MORE Act is described by Rep. Nadler as “one of the most comprehensive marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress”. The measure would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and remove it entirely as a controlled substance, while establishing a federal marijuana tax that would apply to legal marijuana states.
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Legislation in the US House of Representatives to allow marijuana banking has nearly 100 sponsors.

H.R. 2891, the SAFE Banking Act of 2023, was filed in the House of Representatives in April with eight sponsors. Despite an updated version of the bill – the SAFER Banking Act – advancing in the Senate, the original SAFE Banking Act continues to garner new sponsors.

Just last month Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Shri Thanedar (D-MI) and Max Miller (R-OH) signed on as cosponsors to the bill, the most recent on November 29.
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Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield announced today the appointment of James V. Canepa as the first Superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control.

James V. Canepa.

The Division is “poised to ensure safety and regulation of both medical and non-medical cannabis, which is now legal for consumers to possess in Ohio”, according to a press release.

“Jim’s proven leadership and innovative approach make him the perfect choice to navigate this new area of retail and regulatory responsibility,” said Maxfield. “His diverse experience and impressive regulatory credentials will be instrumental in developing a non-medical cannabis program that aligns with the expectations of Ohioans.”
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The entire United States Congress has given approval to legislation that includes provisions to fund psychedelic studies.

Congress approved the psychedelic provisions as part of a larger defense bill (the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act). The provisions would put millions of dollars into funding the potential medical and therapeutic use of psychedelic substances including magic mushrooms (psilocybin) and MDMA (often referred to as ecstasy). The studies would be conducted on military service members, especially those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The psychedelic provisions, introduced by Representative Morgan Littrell (R), would require the Department of Defense to establish a process for military members who have PTSD or traumatic brain injury could take part in clinical psychedelic trials. In addition to psilocybin and MDMA, the trials could include ibogaine and/or DMT.
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The Veterans Equal Access Act (H.R. 2431) has gained its 29th sponsor.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

H.R. 2431 was filed in April by US Representatives Brian Mast (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), along with a coalition of 15 bipartisan cosponsors. The proposal would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize providers to discuss medical marijuana with veterans and complete forms reflecting their best recommendations.

Under current law, physicians at the VA are prohibited from discussing marijuana with their patients, and veterans who receive care from VA facilities cannot receive the forms required to participate in medical marijuana programs – regardless of whether the state they reside in has legalized it for medical use. H.R. 2431 would change this by providing federal protection to VA doctors who discuss and recommend medical cannabis.
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For the fifth straight month marijuana sales in Rhode Island were between $9 million and $9.7 million.

Licensed marijuana retail outlets sold $9,430,642 worth of product in October, according to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations. $2,381,005  of this was purchased by medical marijuana patients, with the remaining $7,049,637 sold to recreational consumers.

The average sales receipt per marijuana-related transaction was $25.64, a $0.47 decrease from the $26.11 average in September.
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The leader of the Ohio House of Representatives says that any changes to the voter-approved law that legalized marijuana won’t come until next year.

Last week Ohio’s full Senate voted 28 to 2 to pass legislation that would make multiple changes to Issue 2, a law legalizing recreational marijuana that was passed by voters in last month’s election. The Senate approved the bill one day before the provisions of the law allowing marijuana possession and cultivation took effect, with proponents hoping the House would promptly take up the issue. Now, it appears clear that the House will not act on any marijuana bill this year, with the legislative session nearly over.

“I don’t think there will be anything about marijuana on the floor”, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R) told reporters Tuesday morning. “I think we’ll continue the discussion”.  Continue reading

Pennsylvania’s full legislature has passed legislation to allow all licensed marijuana growers and processors to sell marijuana directly to patients.