IA Democratic governor candidate: Legalize marijuana; Study: medical cannabis for lower back pain; AL withdraws objection to rescheduling
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Zachary Nunn (R-IA) filed a bill to make it so past marijuana use could not be used to deny federal employment or security clearances.
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said legalizing marijuana is a “no-brainer” move to raise revenue and help ward off a “fiscal time bomb” that could lead to cuts in funding for education and public safety.
A new study that followed patients with chronic lower back pain for a period of 10 years found that “medical cannabis therapy was associated with reductions in opioid use (−89.8%), pain intensity (−84.2%), and functional disability (−30.4%).”
- “Substantial polypharmacy reductions and acceptable tolerability were observed.”
The Alabama State Committee of Public Health unanimously voted to withdraw a previous objection to rescheduling marijuana under state law in line with the Trump administration’s federal move.
The University of Maine’s Karyn Sporer and Robert Glover argue in a new op-ed that 25 years of data on Portugal’s successful drug decriminalization law shows that “reducing the harms of drug use requires painstakingly building and sustaining a system that connects people with treatment, healthcare and social support without making abstinence a precondition for receiving help.”
- “Although the Portuguese still hold negative views of substance use, problematic use increasingly came to be understood as a health and social problem rather than a moral failing warranting punishment.”
/ FEDERAL
U.S. Tax Court is considering petitions from a cannabis business that is challenging taxes and penalties, arguing that its products aren’t controlled substances because of their low THC content.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is proposing to revise some National Survey on Drug Use and Health questions to ask about “using” marijuana rather than “smoking” it in order to to “measure other ways of using marijuana that are common with youth, such as vaping or edibles.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting a New England summit on Monday.
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) expressed concerns about federal marijuana rescheduling, while independent challenger Dan Osborn discussed his support for the reform.
/ STATES
An Idaho representative discussed his support for a proposed constitutional initiative to block voters from legalizing marijuana or other drugs through ballot initiatives.
Texas state Senate candidates detailed their views on hemp THC product policy.
Michigan regulators announced a recall of marijuana products after testing indicated they contain a banned chemical.
New Mexico regulators granted the state’s first medical psilocybin producer permit.
California regulators are proposing changes to rules on group tagging of cannabis plants.
New Jersey regulators published guidance about marijuana business violation penalties.
Kentucky regulators posted guidance for advanced practice registered nurses to renew their ability to recommend medical cannabis.
Minnesota regulators sent a newsletter with various cannabis updates.
The North Carolina North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis’s Market and Regulatory Subcommittee met.
Colorado regulators will hold a hearing on proposed changes to marijuana tax rules on October 15.
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/ INTERNATIONAL
New South Wales, Australia lawmakers approved legislation to protect medical cannabis patients from DUI charges.
Canadian regulators published updated guidance on analytics methods in cannabis testing.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study found “no statistically significant impact of cannabis legalization on fatal THC-positive crashes or all crashes” in Canada.
The findings of a study of dogs “support the potential of cannabinoids as safe adjuvants in multimodal anesthesia in veterinary medicine.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Pacific Legal Foundation officials authored an op-ed arguing that a scheduled federal ban on hemp THC products will undermine the Trump administration’s plan to cover CBD through Medicare.
/ BUSINESS
Smiling Bud workers in Ridgefield, New Jersey voted to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360.
Vireo Growth Inc. issued shares to Altmore and Altmore Debt I, LP in connection with a confidential settlement agreement with SHWZ Altmore, LLC.
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