NM lawmakers debate marijuana revenue; Cannabiz hurt by wildfires can’t get fed aid; WA cops might lose cannabis money; WV legalization plan

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW



The New Mexico legislature’s joint Interim Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee held a hearing on the economic potential of legalizing marijuana.

“We can’t legalize for the sake of legalizing without making a commitment to righting the wrongs of the past.”

The Food and Drug Administration published draft guidance that’s meant to streamline the process for approving generic CBD-based oral medications.



The Small Business Administration confirmed that marijuana businesses impacted by recent wildfires in Oregon are ineligible for federal relief funds. Cannabis operators whose homes have been damaged may still be able to get some assistance, the agency told Marijuana Moment.



The King County, Washington State executive is proposing stripping $4.6 million in marijuana tax revenue from the sheriff’s department and reinvesting some of those funds into helping people vacate their prior cannabis convictions.



Candidates for the West Virginia House of Delegates held a press conference in a hemp field to announce the details of a far-reaching marijuana legalization bill they plan to introduce if elected. Among other things, it would expunge cannabis records dating back to 1937.



/ FEDERAL



Surgeon General Jerome Adams discussed his concerns about marijuana use by young people.



Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningman debated marijuana policy and both admitted that they have consumed cannabis in the past.



Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) said he is “adamantly opposed” to legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, which he says is “nothing more than a gateway drug.”



Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) cheered the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s move to make hemp farmers eligible for coronavirus relief funds.



The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair the harms of the drug war got one new cosponsor for a total of 114.



/ STATES



Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tweeted, “Instead of taking votes on meaningless bills, the Republican legislature should take action on my plan to help PA by providing child care and hazard pay funding, passing sick leave legislation, and legalizing adult-use marijuana to help businesses impacted by the pandemic.” The state’s lieutenant governor tweeted, “Last year, nearly 22,000 people in PA were arrested for having less than 30 grams of cannabis. Imagine how we could better devote that time and those resources, instead of prosecuting people for something most of us don’t even think should be illegal.”



Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Woody Myers tweeted, “Thank you again to @INORML for giving me the “Best Cannabis Politician in Indiana” award this year. We need criminal justice reform and legal medicinal marijuana to ensure a healthy and just society.”



Vermont’s lieutenant governor cheered the passage of legislation to legalize marijuana sales and expunge past convictions.



The New Jersey Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on legislation to allow medical cannabis recommendations via telemedicine on Thursday.



A lawsuit challenging Illinois regulators’ marijuana business licensing approval process is being dropped after unsuccessful applicants got a chance to rework their proposals.



California regulators released a proposed hemp regulatory plan.



New York regulators published guidance about medical cannabis research.



Nevada regulators approved complaints against several marijuana companies.



Maine regulators sent a letter to medical cannabis caregivers about program updates.



The Albuquerque Journal asked several New Mexico House and Senate candidates about their positions on marijuana policy.



Colorado regulators published a mid-year update on marijuana licensing, cultivation and sales.



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/ LOCAL



Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s police chief said he is open to lobbying state lawmakers to lessen marijuana penalties.



Providence, Rhode Island’s mayor said he’s interested in using marijuana revenue to fund housing as a form of reparations.



/ INTERNATIONAL



Former Mexican President Felipe Calderón reportedly admitted in private remarks that legalizing drugs is the only solution to cartel violence.



Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defended his country’s bloody “war on drugs” in a speech before the United Nations.



Swiss lawmakers approved legislation allowing local legal marijuana pilot projects.



The Colombian government declared the medical cannabis industry to be a Project of National and Strategic Interest.



/ SCIENCE & HEALTH



A study found that people living with HIV “with past cannabis use have similar or better neurocognition across domains compared to PLWH without past use.”



A study demonstrated a proof of concept “for preservation, augmentation, and replenishment of terpenes to cannabis inflorescence over various storage durations.”



/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS



A poll found that North Carolina voters support legalizing marijuana, 48%-39% and back medical cannabis, 73%-19%.



Decriminalize Nature released dozens of pages of communications with the Native American Church and the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative over a dispute about the inclusion of peyote in reform legislation.



The Nevada Dispensary Association hired a new executive director.



/ BUSINESS



GW Pharmaceuticals plc announced that Australian officials approved its CBD-based EPIDYOLEX medicine for treatment of certain forms of epilepsy.



Hightimes Holding Corp. reportedly lost the leases for marijuana dispensary properties that were part of its deal to acquire Harvest Health and Recreation.



Canopy Growth Corporation and Acreage Holdings, Inc. announced the implementation of an amended agreement between the companies.



Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s new CEO spoke about plans to turn the company’s financial situation around.



Terrapin Care Station is suing the Hoboken, New Jersey Planning Board over allegations that the approval process for rival Harmony Foundation skipped over several requirements.



New Frontier Data projected that more than $9 billion in new revenue will be generated from 2022-2025 if five states approve marijuana ballot measures in November.



/ CULTURE



Lenny Kravitz wrote in his new memoir about how he discovered marijuana and Led Zeppelin on the same day.

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