Hello, My Four Twenty Spot Family it’s Tuesday, April 5th, 2022, and in the news today:
TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to expand research on marijuana—including by letting scientists study products from dispensaries. The Senate approved a separate cannabis science bill last month.
Democratic Cannabis Caucus Co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) said that GOP Co-chair Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) voting against the only legalization bill that’s advancing in Congress does not undermine the bipartisan group’s work.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) didn’t buy any marijuana when she visited a dispensary on the first day of legal sales—but she says she might in the future because legalization is “going to stay forever.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced that the state is auctioning off another round of marijuana-themed license plates—including ones reading, “WEED,” “420,” “BONGWTR,” “BLUNT,” “TERPENE,” “TOKER,” “VISINE” and “NORML—to raise money for programs to aid disabled people.
The South Carolina House Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee heard hours of testimony on a Senate-passed medical cannabis bill.
The Maryland House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on a Senate-passed bill to create a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Customs and Border Protection of illegally detaining more than 3,000 pounds of hemp.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said she expects a hearing on her marijuana legalization bill to take place in the House Oversight Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) tweeted, “I’m deeply disappointed the president’s proposed FY23 budget prohibits DC from using its local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana. It’s difficult to reconcile the budget with his support for #DCStatehood, which would end congressional interference in DC local affairs.”
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) tweeted, “Too many Black entrepreneurs have been kept out of New Jersey’s cannabis industry. We need to do more to create equality in this important, emerging marketplace.”
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) will hold a telephone town hall on “the state and federal landscape on cannabis” on Tuesday.
Ohio Democratic congressional candidate Nina Turner tweeted, “People are incarcerated for using cannabis while others are legally profiting from it in this country. Legalize it, erase convictions, and make the cannabis industry equitable for Black and brown communities that have been devastated by its criminalization.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) tweeted about a new public education effort, saying, “After adult-use cannabis was legalized, we promised to provide New Yorkers with the tools to stay healthy. That’s why we’ve started Cannabis Conversations, to share information on who can consume, where to consume, & how to consume safely.” Separately, regulators opened a 60-day public comment period on proposed marijuana dispensary conditional licensing rules. They also launched a web portal for localities to report repealing bans on cannabis businesses.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he thinks medical cannabis dispensaries will be able to sell adult-use marijuana within weeks, and that standalone recreational stores are “a couple of months” away. Separately, the Assembly speaker said he met with regulators to express lawmakers’ “frustration” with the time it is taking for the state to launch sales.
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate John King, a former U.S. education secretary, tweeted, “I fully support cannabis legalization in Maryland, and will make equitably implementing legalized cannabis a top priority as governor. I urge Governor Hogan to sign this bill and put cannabis on the ballot.”
Texas Republican attorney general candidate George P. Bush said he would challenge municipalities that move to reduce marijuana arrests.
The Missouri Senate approved a bill that includes provisions to allow medical cannabis businesses to deduct expenses on their state taxes
Minnesota’s House majority leader tweeted, “Cannabis laws were designed to and, tragically, have been effective at criminalizing people from our communities of color, especially the African Americans. I will continue to push for legalization of cannabis as Majority Leader.”
The Louisiana House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee approved a bill to outlaw smoking marijuana in a moving car.
A Colorado representative who is one of the four handpicked candidates being backed by a new anti-marijuana super PAC that launched last week has tweeted in support of the House passing a federal legalization bill.
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