/ THINGS TO KNOW
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has proposed detailed changes to his original plan to legalize marijuana, including allowing delivery and lowering certain penalties.
The North Dakota House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has approved a bill to expand the decriminalization of marijuana, while rejecting a separate measure to implement broader legalization of cannabis.
In 2021, the Maryland House of Delegates Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on a bill to legalize marijuana. On the Senate side, a separate cannabis bill is sponsored by the organization’s president and majority leader.
An Iowa Republican congressman has introduced a bill allowing seriously ill patients to use psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, DMT or peyote as an alternative treatment after exhausting traditional legal drugs.
A new report from Leafly shows that despite the coronavirus pandemic, 77,000 new jobs were created in the marijuana industry last year. With 321,000 employees, the cannabis industry now surpasses dentists, electricians and electrical engineers to become the fastest growing industry in America.
/ BUND
Both 2 and 3. In March, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Drug Testing Advisory Board will discuss issues related to marijuana and CBD.
A former U.S. attorney from Colorado wrote an opinion piece calling for the use of marijuana capsules.
Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) had an online discussion about marijuana with the Majority Leader in the Minnesota House.
Assemblyman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) tweeted that he was the first to sponsor a bill that would help farmers in #WI06 and across the state by developing the market for industrial hemp.
/ STATES
Both the Virginia House and Senate have approved amended versions of their respective marijuana legalization bills, taking another step toward establishing a conference committee to draft a final proposal to be sent to supportive Gov. Ralph Northam (D). Separately, the Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McCauliffe, tweeted: Legalizing marijuana should be the first step. Tiers two, three, four or more, however, must be based on reinvestment in communities that have been disproportionately affected by decades of racist policies and practices.
The majority leader in New York’s House of Representatives spoke of the need to continue to give proceeds from marijuana legalization to communities affected by the war on drugs.
The Minnesota House of Representatives Finance and Health Policy Committee has decided to potentially include a bill to add raw flower to the state’s medicinal cannabis program in a series of health care bills.
The New Mexico Senate Public Health and Public Affairs Committee has approved a bill to ban drug possession.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed passage of a bill to address concerns about youth provisions in marijuana legalization legislation. In the meantime, the president plans to introduce an additional cannabis bill as a safeguard.
The Indiana Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Justice has approved a bill allowing the attorney general to investigate whether a local prosecutor is violating the rules by refusing to prosecute marijuana or other cases.
The Florida Subcommittee on Professions and Public Health held a hearing on medical issues related to cannabis.
A Tennessee senator has introduced a bill to prevent employers from discriminating against their employees because they test positive for marijuana.
Regulators in Iowa will discuss issues related to the state’s limited medical cannabis program on Friday.
/ ROOM
The Gwinnett County Commission in Georgia is considering a proposal to decriminalize marijuana.
/ SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The study showed that cannabis could have a positive effect on cytokine and the clinical profile of multiple sclerosis.
A study in rats showed that CBD was effective in inhibiting the acquisition and expression of methamphetamine-induced conditional place preference and may be a useful agent in the treatment of drug addiction.
/ INTEREST REPRESENTATION, OPINION FORMING AND ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted: It is time to decriminalize the possession of cannabis. Once our elected leaders do, we will create more economic opportunities for Indiana and our families.
The Drug Policy Alliance has released a series of new reports examining how the war on drugs is affecting education, employment, housing, child welfare, immigration and benefits.
The Fiscal Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. has released a report on structuring the legalization of marijuana in Washington, D.C. as a remedy for blacks.
A report by Rice Baker University’s Public Policy Institute says that without federal reform, marijuana policy will remain racially inequitable.
/ COMPANY
A former CEO of Eaze is being prosecuted in a case that accuses two other businessmen of tricking banks into processing credit card payments from marijuana companies.
MedMen Enterprises Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $33.8 million and a net loss of $68.9 million.
GW Pharmaceuticals plc reported quarterly earnings of $148.2 million and a net loss of $29.1 million.
HEXO Corp. acquires Zenabis Global Inc.
Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. has filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq.
Cresco Labs has acquired four medical cannabis dispensaries from Verdant Creations in Ohio.
Sundial Growers Inc. invested $22 million in Indiva Limited.
Since the market opened in October, monthly marijuana sales in Maine have more than doubled.
The Wall Street Journal looked at real estate issues in the marijuana industry.
/ CULTURE
Former basketball player Chris Webber has partnered with JW Asset Management, LLC to launch a $100 million private equity fund.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil have warned CBD companies to stop falsely claiming their products are approved.
