MA anti-marijuana ballot measure alarm; Study: Legal cannabis boosts agriculture jobs; NC cannabis smell court ruling; HI hemp lawsuit
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
BREAKING: Journalism is often consumed for free, but costs money to produce! While this newsletter is proudly sent without cost to you, our ability to send it each day depends on the financial support of readers who can afford to give it. So if you’ve got a few dollars to spare each month and believe in the work we do, please consider joining us on Patreon today.
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is suggesting that his opponent for the seat, state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), supports keeping marijuana illegal and banning hemp THC products “in order to enrich the big beer and a big tobacco lobby” that are donating to his campaign.
The Marijuana Policy Project is raising the alarm about an initiative on Massachusetts’s November ballot that would roll back the state’s legalization law—saying it would have “disastrous political and economic consequences for legal cannabis markets everywhere.”
- “Even a too-close victory would spook markets and incentivize a rash of similar initiatives in states around the country, each costing millions to try and defeat.”
A new study found that marijuana legalization “significantly increased agricultural employment by approximately 9 percent” in states that enacted the reform—while it had “no statistically significant effect on agricultural wages, all-industry employment, or economy-wide wages.”
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that police can use the smell of cannabis as the basis for a warrantless search.
The chair of the Hawaii House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee denied accusations that a crackdown on hemp products is intended to help medical cannabis businesses—saying that it is meant to protect public health because “there are products that have not been subject to the same rigorous testing that the medical marijuana requires.”
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration promoted an article about the “many risks of cannabis and high-dose THC.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration tweeted, “Marijuana use comes with real risks to health.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted, “Washington is three months from wiping out the hemp industry nationwide. Kentucky already regulates these products with registration rules, age limits and testing standards. We did the work. Congress should let states that got it right keep their own rules.”
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) tweeted, “This week, I introduced the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act with @RepGregLandsman. Our bipartisan legislation to bring regulatory clarity to hemp-derived beverages, by offering a targeted alternative to establish a three-tier distribution system along with labeling, advertising, and trade-practice rules that have governed alcohol for nearly a century.”
The House bill to designate psychedelic therapy centers of excellence got one new cosponsor for a total of 28.
/ STATES
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa tweeted, “Texans should know whether the THC gummies they bought last month are legal or whether they’re a felony. Greg Abbott is playing politics with our laws. When I’m governor, I’ll let the people vote.”
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly, a former congressman, said he doesn’t intend to attack Republican contended Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) over his prior marijuana arrest.
A federal judge rejected a request to place a temporary restraining order on Virginia hemp product restrictions.
A federal judge dissolved an order blocking Rhode Island marijuana business licensing from moving forward in light of recent changes to state law.
New Jersey officials are moving to appeal a federal court ruling against a state requirement that marijuana businesses enter into labor peace agreements.
Colorado regulators circulated updated proposed changes to marijuana rules.
Georgia regulators are proposing changes to medical cannabis rules.
Illinois regulators published guidance about cannabis facility alteration and modification.
Massachusetts regulators released an audit of THC potency on cannabis flower product labels, finding that “most samples fell within an accurate range.”
Minnesota’s top cannabis regulator said other states are being inspired by its approach to tribal-run marijuana businesses.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of 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.
—
/ LOCAL
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said many parents today are “a bunch of ex-hippies” that ” were smoking their marijuana, and these assholes are smoking even stronger marijuana.”
/ INTERNATIONAL
The Indian government is reviewing the rules for drug testing of airline pilots after the pilot-in-command of a flight that experienced a sudden 300-foot drop in altitude tested positive for marijuana.
A Philippine truth commission on the nation’s bloody “war on drugs” held its first hearing.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of people with burning mouth syndrome found that “full spectrum cannabidiol oil improved pain and quality of life with a favorable safety profile.”
A review concluded that “cannabinoids provide modest improvements in patient-reported spasticity in [multiple sclerosis], with more consistent effects for THC:CBD extracts.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Family Research Council tweeted, “Marijuana is not a scrappy, hippy-led grassroots effort anymore. Marijuana is a $38.5 billion industry driven by titans in tobacco, pharmaceutical, and alcohol that has given over 20 million people cannabis disorders and forced us to rethink everything we know about the industry.”
/ BUSINESS
Glass House Brands Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $47 million and a net loss of $6.7 million.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. reported quarterly net revenue of $10.9 million and a net loss of $4.1 million.
/ CULTURE
Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat spoke about their new stoner comedy film The Wrong Girls.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
