FDA could approve hemp as tobacco additive; Indian tribe’s marijuana store; Study: Medical cannabis reduces healthcare costs; PA gov on legalization

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill to protect people from being denied federal employment or security clearances over past marijuana use. The “DOOBIE Act” is sponsored by the panel’s chairman.

The Congressional Research Service says in a new report that the Food and Drug Administration could approve hemp as an additive to tobacco products—but that it could not do so for marijuana even if it is rescheduled.

The general manager of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’s cannabis store spoke to Marijuana Moment about the new rollout of sales to all adults and how the dispensary is an ambassador for what legalization looks like as recreational sales remain prohibited in the rest of North Carolina and all of its surrounding states.

A new study conducted by Leafwell finds that nationwide legalization of medical cannabis would save the U.S. an estimated $29 billion in health insurance costs every year.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said legalizing marijuana is “something that we want to be focused on doing here in our commonwealth” because there are “Pennsylvanians who may be traveling out of state to purchase cannabis.”

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’s general counsel sent a letter clarifying that regulators will stop embargoing—or tagging—hemp products simply because they contain THC.

The Vermont Department of Health published guidelines for safe consumption sites for illegal drugs—laying out rules concerning mobile units, smoking areas and other aspects of the overdose prevention facilities.

/ FEDERAL

The Drug Enforcement Administration is promoting a prohibitionist group’s analysis of research on “physical risks of daily or frequent marijuana use.”

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

/ STATES

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams, currently the Huntington mayor, said he supports legalizing marijuana, but Republican contender Patrick Morrisey, currently the attorney general, opposes it.

California’s Assembly majority leader touted regulators’ new rules to ban most hemp products.

Florida senators discussed their support for and opposition to the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.

Missouri regulators issued a recall of marijuana products that were not compliantly tested.

Alabama regulators are facing additional legal challenges to their medical cannabis business licensing processes.

Washington State regulators are proposing a potential ban on kratom.

Massachusetts’s top marijuana research official said she will take medical leave for job-related post-traumatic stress, days after releasing a letter alleging she’d experienced “inappropriate” and “harmful” behavior.

Delaware’s top marijuana regulator discussed steps toward launching the recreational market.

The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.

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Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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.

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/ LOCAL

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Council amended a proposal on banning employment marijuana testing of medical cannabis patients to add an exemption for workers who are covered by a union contract.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health filed a marijuana regulation bill.

Zurich, Switzerland officials gave a positive assessment of the city’s marijuana sales pilot project.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “acute migraine treatment with 6% THC+11% CBD was superior to placebo at 2 hours post-vaporization with sustained benefits at 24 and 48 hours.”

A case report of a brain cancer patient concluded that psilocybin-assisted therapy “was effective in partially alleviating the patient’s existential distress.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Brookings Institution published a podcast about drug decriminalization policies.

/ BUSINESS

Jushi Holdings Inc.’s board of directors approved options to be issued to executive officers.

The North American Companies Council, Inc. is launching a 401(k) solution for cannabis businesses.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. is touting its research on auto-flowering technology.

/ CULTURE

Virgin founder Richard Branson authored a blog post on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

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