The Marijuana Herald

Nov 20 2023

“Stop Pot Act” to Withhold Funds from Legal Marijuana States Now Has Five Sponsors in US House

By Anthony Martinelli in News

Filed in September, the Stop Pot Act now has five sponsors in the US House of Representatives.

Filed by North Carolina Congressmember Chuck Edwards, the Stop Pot Act would withhold federal funding from states and tribes that have legalized recreational marijuana. The measure was filed with just one cosponsor. Since being filed, the measure has garnered three additional sponsors, bringing the total to five.

By comparison, a measure to fully decriminalize marijuana and remove it as a controlled substance has 69 sponsors. In the US Senate, a federal marijuana banking bill is sponsored by 34% of the entire Senate.
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Nov 20 2023

US House: Federal Bill to Deschedule Marijuana Has 69 Sponsors, 32% of All Democrats

By Anthony Martinelli in News

In September House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D), along with four other House members, filed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 5601). It now has 69 sponsors.

Described as “one of the most comprehensive marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress” by Representative Nadler, the MORE Act would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level by removing it as a controlled substance. The measure also “aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities by requiring resentencing and expungement of prior convictions.”

When the measure was filed in September, it had 33 cosponsors. Now, the proposal is sponsored by 69 members of the House of Representative, all Democrats. This represents nearly one out of every three member of the House Democratic Caucus.
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Nov 20 2023

Missouri: $113 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in October, Year-to-Date Sales Pass $1 Billion

By Anthony Martinelli in News

For the ninth straight month there was over $100 million in legal marijuana sold in Missouri.

In total there was $113.1 million in marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in Missouri in October. $95.5 million of this was purchased for recreational use, with the remaining $17.6 million purchased by medical marijuana patients.

Sales totals for October were around $4 million lower than the total for September. The year-to-date total for marijuana sales in Missouri is now approximately $1.1 billion.
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Nov 20 2023

New Hampshire Governor Says Marijuana Legalization is “Inevitable”

By Anthony Martinelli in News

It’s “inevitable” that marijuana will be legalized in New Hampshire, according to Governor Chris Sununu (R).

When asked at a recent event about the state potentially legalizing marijuana, Governor Sununu said they are “looking at that”, before saying “that it is inevitable.”

In April New Hampshire’s House of Representatives voted 272 to 109 to pass a bill that would have legalized recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older. The bill, introduced by Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) and Minority Leader Matthew Wilhelm (D), failed to advance in the Senate.
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Nov 20 2023

US Senate Leader Says Chamber is “Getting Close” to Vote on Federal Marijuana Banking Act

By Anthony Martinelli in News

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who vowed in September that a federal marijuana banking act will be voted on “very soon”, said in a recent interview the chamber is “getting close” to a vote.

The SAFER Banking Act passed the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in September. It is now sponsored by 34% of the entire US Senate and 56% of all Democrats. The measure would allow banks and other financial institutions to provide services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law.

In a recent interview with Yahoo News. Schumer said that the Senate is “getting close” to a vote on the SAFER Banking Act. The holdup? Schumer is waiting to secure “10 or 11 Republican votes”, given the measure needs 60 votes to pass. Schumer believes that the chamber is “going to get there”, but he’s currently short by a couple votes.
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Nov 20 2023

Snoop Dogg Confirms He is Not Giving Up Marijuana, Announces Promotion of “Smokeless” Stove

By Anthony Martinelli in News

Roughly four days after Snoop Dogg says he “Decided to give up smoke”, setting media ablaze, Snoop has clarified his statement.

Last week on Instagram Snoop Dogg made a post stating “After much consideration & conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke. Please respect my privacy at this time.”

This led to a plethora of media articles, many claiming Snoop Dogg is quitting cannabis, with others speculating about what it could really mean (with many believing he may be promoting a new line of marijuana edibles). Now, Snoop has confirmed that he’s neither giving up marijuana or promoting a new line of marijuana products.
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Nov 19 2023

CBD Reduced Duration of Seizures and Increased Onset Time of Seizures in New Study

By Anthony Martinelli in News, Studies

A new study found anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in an animal model.

“Status epilepticus (SE) is a series of seizures that can lead to serious neurological damages”, states the study, conducted by researchers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. “This study aimed to determine the efficacy of various doses of CBD on lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE in rats and possible involvement of multiple pharmacological pathways.”

Researchers “hypothesized that cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1) and CB2, as well as GABA_A receptors, might have important roles in the anticonvulsant effects of CBD against SE by its anti-inflammatory effects.”
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Nov 18 2023

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Urges DEA to Reschedule Marijuana

By Anthony Martinelli in News

United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock).

Senator Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, has sent a letter to the DEA requesting marijuana be reschedule, while cementing her support for fully descheduling it. Senator Gillibrand is Chair of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security as well as Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

“While I continue to believe that marijuana should be descheduled entirely, I am urging the DEA to, at a minimum, consider rescheduling it from Schedule I to a Schedule III substance,” Senator Gillibrand said in the letter, sent yesterday. “Marijuana is simply not comparable to other Schedule I substances like heroin, LSD, and MDMA. Moreover, marijuana enforcement has for decades disproportionately targeted communities of color.”
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Nov 18 2023

Hawaii Attorney General Issues Marijuana Legalization Roadmap

By Anthony Martinelli in News

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has released a proposed roadmap for legalizing marijuana.

In March legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was passed by Hawaii’s full Senate in an overwhelming 22 to 3 vote. However, as it has in past years the measure stalled in the House of Representatives. Now, AG Lopez has released a roadmap that she believes will help breakthrough the roadblocks that have stood in the way of legalization.

Under current Hawaii law, marijuana is legal for medical purposes, but not recreationally. Recently the state approved the 25th medical marijuana dispensary.
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Nov 17 2023

New York Governor Signs Bill Allowing NYC Marijuana Businesses to Take Tax Deductions

By Anthony Martinelli in News

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill to allow marijuana businesses in New York City to take tax deductions they would otherwise be able to take if they were federally legal.

(Photo credit: Jake Offenhartz/Gothamist).

Four days after it was sent to her desk, Governor Hochul has signed Senate Bill 7508 into law. Filed by Senator Luis Sepulveda, the measure passed the Senate 43 to 18, and the full Assembly 116 to 29.

The new law alters the Administrative Code of the City of New York to allow marijuana businesses to take deductions for an amount equal to the deductions that are disallowed under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code for the taxable year. Section 280E explicitly disallows businesses that are illegal under federal law, even if they’re legal under state law, from taking standard tax deductions.
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Maryland Senate Approves Bill Protecting Fire and Rescue Workers From Employment Penalties for Medical Marijuana Use

Illinois Lawmakers Schedule Public Hearing on Kratom Consumer Protection Act

Mother of Five From Milwaukee Deported to Laos Over Marijuana Conviction, Now Stranded Without Medical Care

Vermont Marijuana Sales Reach $11.38 Million in January, 9% Increase From Previous Year

Illinois Committee Schedules Public Hearing on Bill to Restrict Vehicle Searches Over Cannabis Odor

North Carolina Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Marijuana

“Stop Pot Act” to Withhold Funds from Legal Marijuana States Now Has Five Sponsors in US House

Filed in September, the Stop Pot Act now has five sponsors in the US House of Representatives.

US House: Federal Bill to Deschedule Marijuana Has 69 Sponsors, 32% of All Democrats

In September House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D), along with four other House members, filed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 5601). It now has 69 sponsors.

Missouri: $113 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in October, Year-to-Date Sales Pass $1 Billion

For the ninth straight month there was over $100 million in legal marijuana sold in Missouri.

New Hampshire Governor Says Marijuana Legalization is “Inevitable”

It’s “inevitable” that marijuana will be legalized in New Hampshire, according to Governor Chris Sununu (R).

US Senate Leader Says Chamber is “Getting Close” to Vote on Federal Marijuana Banking Act

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who vowed in September that a federal marijuana banking act will be voted on “very soon”, said in a recent interview the chamber is “getting close” to a vote.

Snoop Dogg Confirms He is Not Giving Up Marijuana, Announces Promotion of “Smokeless” Stove

Roughly four days after Snoop Dogg says he “Decided to give up smoke”, setting media ablaze, Snoop has clarified his statement.

CBD Reduced Duration of Seizures and Increased Onset Time of Seizures in New Study

A new study found anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in an animal model.

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Urges DEA to Reschedule Marijuana

United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance.

Hawaii Attorney General Issues Marijuana Legalization Roadmap

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has released a proposed roadmap for legalizing marijuana.

New York Governor Signs Bill Allowing NYC Marijuana Businesses to Take Tax Deductions

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill to allow marijuana businesses in New York City to take tax deductions they would otherwise be able to take if they were federally legal.

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