IRS on SAFE Banking; Congressman’s marijuana memo; NH gov on legalization; GA cannabis in pharmacies; SD ballot; AK psychedelics; FDA MDMA meeting

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Drug Enforcement Administration head Anne Milgram told lawmakers that due to her role in the “ongoing” marijuana rescheduling rulemaking process, it would be “inappropriate” for her to respond to their questions about the issue during a hearing.

Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Daniel Werfel told lawmakers at a hearing that passing a marijuana banking bill would drive “integrity and quality control” in the financial system while reducing “uncertainties and variables” in a way that is “helpful to the taxpayer” as well as to the federal government.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) published a new memo on “optimism for the path ahead” for marijuana reform— laying out specific next steps Congress and the administration can take as cannabis moves to Schedule III.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said he will sign a marijuana legalization into law if senators make certain key changes to a House-passed bill.

South Dakota marijuana activists submitted what they say are more than enough signatures to put a legalization initiative on the November ballot.

Georgia regulators and businesses spoke to Marijuana Moment about the possibility that federal rescheduling could allow pharmacies to begin selling medical cannabis under a state policy that was interrupted when the Drug Enforcement Administration sent threat letters last year.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee will meet next month to consider an application to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Former Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) said the federal marijuana rescheduling move will make his fellow Republicans “​​more comfortable voting yes” for incremental reforms like a cannabis banking bill.

The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee approved a House-passed bill to create a task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy following federal approval of substances like MDMA and psilocybin.

A new study of women with female orgasmic disorder found that “cannabis use increased orgasm frequency, eased orgasm difficulty, and improved orgasm satisfaction.”

• Ohio officials will consider adding FOD as a medical marijuana qualifying condition on Wednesday.

Negotiations between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and a group of tribal nations within the state could make the tribes major players in the marijuana industry—both on and off reservation land, including in urban areas.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) tweeted, “It is far past time that the federal government catch up to WA state when it comes to cannabis laws. I helped reintroduce legislation that will set us on a safe and responsible pathway to cannabis legalization. This a common-sense legislation—& we’ve got to get it done.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) tweeted, “America’s federal marijuana laws simply do NOT make sense, and the enforcement of these laws are riddled with hypocrisy and injustice.”

Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) cheered the federal marijuana rescheduling decision in a House floor speech.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) tweeted, “Medical marijuana can help veterans manage PTSD and other battlefield injuries. The federal government should get out of the way and let states chart their own course.”

The House bill to federally legalize marijuana got one new cosponsor for a total of 87.

The House marijuana banking bill got one new cosponsor for a total of 117.

/ STATES

Indiana lawmakers discussed the implications of the federal marijuana rescheduling decision on prospects for enacting reform at the state level.

A Pennsylvania senator spoke about his bill to protect gun rights for medical cannabis patients.

New Jersey’s top marijuana regulator is transitioning to a new role in the Department of Health.

California regulators issued a consumer advisory about a marijuana product recall due to the presence of aspergillus.

Vermont regulators issued guidance on cannabis seeds and clones.

Delaware’s top marijuana regulator gave an update on legalization implementation efforts to the Lewes mayor and City Council.

Minnesota regulators are accepting responses on a survey about developing marijuana rules.

New Mexico’s medical cannabis patient population is declining.

Michigan marijuana regulators will host a statewide municipal summit on May 14.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,400 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL

New York City officials launched an operation to shut down unlicensed marijuana businesses.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau debated the head of the Conservative Party about drug decriminalization on the floor of the House of Commons.

The UK Food Standards Agency granted its first positive safety assessment to a CBD product intended for use as a novel food supplement.

The Victoria, Australia government is funding research on the effects of medical cannabis on driver impairment.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review concluded that “the current literature landscape suggests that medicinal cannabis could be used as a therapy in [opioid use disorder]” but that “the majority of existing research is preclinical, observational or epidemiological, hindering reliability due to the inability to generalise animal-findings to humans and the potential for extraneous factors to impact results in observational research.”

A study found that “psilocybin restrains activity-based anorexia in female rats by enhancing cognitive flexibility.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Medical Society of The State of New York issued a statement about the federal move to reschedule marijuana, saying the Drug Enforcement Administration “has been moving at glacier speed on this.”

The Healing Advocacy Fund has a new executive director.

/ BUSINESS

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $142.4 million and a net loss of $18.2 million.

Canopy Growth Corporation confirmed that Canopy USA, LLC has exercised options to acquire Wana and Jetty.

Planet 13 Holdings Inc. closed its sale of Planet 13 Florida, Inc.

Cronos Group Inc. is entering the UK medical cannabis market.

Numinus Wellness Inc. announced a strategic plan “designed to streamline expenses and sharpen the company’s focus on its higher-growth U.S. operations.”

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