CO & MD govs on fed rescheduling; DeSantis on FL hemp veto; AZ gov signs MDMA; LA gov vetoes marijuana pardons; NH legalization poll

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said at a joint press briefing that they want the Biden administration to finalize its marijuana rescheduling move as soon as possible amid reports about resistance within the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) seemed to tacitly acknowledge that part of the reason he vetoed a bill to ban intoxicating hemp products was because he hopes the industry will aid his campaign to defeat a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) vetoed a bill that would have allowed him and future governors to pardon people for marijuana possession convictions without the need for a recommendation from the Board of Pardons—saying the legislation “appears to be an attempt to have Louisiana accept President Biden’s invitation to the states to join his soft-on-crime, no-consequences-for-criminals agenda.”

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed a bill allowing firefighters and peace officers with PTSD to get workers’ compensation coverage for MDMA therapy if it is federally legalized.

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control has awarded provisional dual-use licenses to dozens of marijuana businesses, setting them up to launch recreational sales as soon as final requirements are met and certificates of operation are granted.

A new poll shows that New Hampshire residents support the marijuana legalization bill that House lawmakers voted to kill this month—and that nearly a fifth of people who oppose that specific legislation still want to legalize cannabis but in another way.

Florida’s marijuana legalization campaign has raised more money than any other cannabis initiative effort in U.S. history, and it is the best-funded ballot measure in any state for the 2024 cycle.

An Arkansas judge upheld the revocation of a medical cannabis business’s license over various violations, including selling expired products, having an “unsanitary” processing area and failure to maintain a comprehensive inventory.

/ FEDERAL

President Joe Biden tweeted, “I gave you my word that I was committed to righting our nation’s failed approach to marijuana. That’s why at my request, HHS and DOJ have begun the process to recommend rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug – removing barriers to critical research.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse posted notices seeking sources to conduct research on “cannabis consumption, HIV transmission risk, and [pre-exposure prophylaxis] outcomes, with a primary focus on Black sexual minorities and gender minorities but also encompassing all individuals assigned male at birth who engage in sex with men, regardless of their HIV status.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said he is “still pushing” for marijuana banking legislation.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) said she does not support marijuana banking legislation.

/ STATES

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office circulated statements of support for his mass marijuana pardons from members of Congress, state lawmakers and other officials and advocates.

Massachusetts’s acting top marijuana regulator pushed back against the inspector general’s call for lawmakers to appoint a receiver to manage the Cannabis Control Commission.

Missouri marijuana regulators have a new chief equity officer.

Colorado regulators issued a health and safety advisory about contaminated marijuana products.

Nevada regulators issued a health and safety bulletin about cannabis products that were mislabeled at a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD when they in fact were produced at a 2:1 ratio of THC to CBD.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services said state employees can use recreational marijuana while off duty, but only if they work in positions not subject to random drug testing.

Minnesota regulators hosted a webinar on marijuana legalization implementation progress.

Oregon regulators reviewed a five-year strategic plan and approved marijuana businesses stipulated settlement agreements.

Alaska regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Wednesday.

Delaware regulators will propose new revisions to marijuana rules on July 1.

—
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—

/ LOCAL

Elgin, Texas officials settled a lawsuit the state attorney general filed seeking to overturn a voter-approved local marijuana decriminalization law that was never implemented.

Multnomah County, Oregon officials are instituting a new policy allowing police to either arrest people found with drugs or take them to a drop-off center without a requirement that they enter treatment.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Brazilian Supreme Court justices are slowly casting their votes in a case on marijuana decriminalization.

Victoria, Australia lawmakers criticized colleagues who have admitted to past cannabis use but support continued criminalization.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “adult cannabis [emergency department]-related visits significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained higher than pre-pandemic levels for the remainder of the study periods, without a significant change upon legalization.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Democratic Governors Association tweeted, “In Maryland, Black Americans were three times more likely to be arrested on low-level marijuana use charges than white Americans before legalization. [Gov. Wes Moore’s (D)] pardon is a step towards true equity.”

The Washington Post editorial board said more governors should join Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) in issuing mass marijuana pardons.

The Cannabis Regulators Association elected new executive board members.

The founder of Bay Staters for Natural Medicine reportedly “impersonated” a military veteran in “several communications.”

/ BUSINESS

Cronos Group Inc. is infusing approximately $51 million into an expansion of Cronos Growing Company.

Canadian retailers sold C$428.6 million worth of legal marijuana products in April.

/ CULTURE

Jimmy Kimmel joked about the California State Fair allowing marijuana sales and on-site consumption.

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