Study: Legalization hurts pharma profits; PA marijuana pardon effort; MO special session marijuana push; Court rejects cannabis ballot rules challenge

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) launched a month-long Marijuana Pardon Project to expedite relief for people with low-level cannabis convictions on their records.

A major general said the U.S. Air Force and Space Force are considering enacting a “common sense” change to no longer disqualify applicants due to positive marijuana drug testing results.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reinstated Nebraska’s requirement that ballot initiative campaigns collect signatures from a certain number of counties across the state, rejecting a temporary injunction that was instituted after a challenge brought by medical cannabis activists.

A coalition of Missouri marijuana legalization supporters who don’t like the cannabis initiative on the November ballot—including state lawmakers and a former lieutenant governor—are calling on the legislature to pass an alternate measure in a special session.

A Missouri judge held a hearing on a lawsuit that seeks to remove a marijuana legalization initiative from the November ballot, and he could make a decision in the case next week.

A new study found that “cannabis legalization is associated with a decrease in the stock market returns for pharmaceutical firms.”

• “Investors anticipate a single legalization event to reduce drugmaker annual sales by $3 billion on average.”

/ FEDERAL

President Joe Biden tweeted, “Too many families are losing loved ones to drugs like fentanyl. My Safer America Plan addresses the opioid epidemic by imposing tougher penalties for the deadly trafficking that has poisoned our communities.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seeking White House Office of Management and Budget permission to collect information on how to improve drug recognition expert programs, said that “as the number of states legalizing marijuana continues to increase, the need for effective strategies to address the growing concerns about impaired driving is imperative.”

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow highlighted several areas where she says we don’t need any more research to show that certain policies can help reduce drug overdose deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted updated information about the “potential harms and side effects” of CBD.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said he supports legalizing marijuana but would need to look more closely at a lawsuit on gun rights for medical cannabis patients before he weighs in. (Around 1:20:10 into the video.)

Rep. Marie Newman (D-IL) tweeted about Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman’s call for marijuana reform, saying, “As a proud member of the cannabis caucus, I agree – good for people, good  for the economy and good for small biz!”

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz accused Democratic rival John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, of wanting to “legalize all drugs.”

/ STATES

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) joked that he might be better off cultivating marijuana than the alfalfa he grows on his farm.

Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brenda Siegel tweeted, “These are not partisan issues. It is not extreme to keep people from freezing to death or to use science to make good drug policy & keep people alive or to follow climate science. These are the most pragmatic, strategic & humane things we can do.”

A Massachusetts representative who is running for state Senate is defending a drug decriminalization bill she introduced from attacks levied by an electoral opponent.

Arkansas regulators filed revised medical cannabis rules.

New York regulators filed emergency marijuana testing rules.

Oregon regulators released draft psilocybin services rules.

Alabama regulators began accepting applications for medical cannabis business licenses.

The New Mexico State Fair will feature a “Discovering Cannabis” exhibit.

California regulators sent an alert about labor peace agreement requirements for cannabis businesses.

Michigan regulators published a series of marijuana social equity videos.

Pennsylvania regulators published a list of pesticides that can be used on medical cannabis.

South Carolina regulators published a list of permitted hemp transporters.

—
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/ LOCAL

Meridian Township, Michigan officials conducted a recount of the results of a ballot question on which voters opted to allow recreational marijuana sales by a small margin, and the outcome was not reversed.

The Suffolk County, New York legislature is considering a measure to enact strict guidelines on cannabis packaging and marketing with the aim of preventing them from appealing to children.

A Denver, Colorado City Council member tweeted about discussing psilocybin decriminalization with Canada’s minister of mental health and addictions.

Jackson County, Missouri’s discussed what marijuana legalization would mean for her office.

/ INTERNATIONAL

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Sweden did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights by prosecuting a man who said grew cannabis for medical reasons. The court also posted an updated fact sheet about medical marijuana and human rights issues.

Canadian officials rejected a drug safe supply compassion club’s request for an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, a decision that will be appealed in the nation’s Supreme Court.

Fiji’s minister for economy said the country will source hemp seeds from Canada.

Kent, England’s police and crime commissioner said law enforcement should take “​​swift and strong enforcement against those who are using the strongest substances, like cocaine and cannabis.”

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study of mice indicated that “broad-spectrum cannabis oil attenuated fibromyalgia-induced mood behavior signs.”

A study concluded that “a commercially competitive legal market may affect and harm the local illicit cannabis market.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Advocates launched a new Marijuana for America Super PAC.

/ BUSINESS

A federal judge certified class status for Aphria Inc. investors suing company insiders for allegedly orchestrating an acquisition deal “for the purpose of stealing money” from the company.

Ignite International Brands, Ltd. is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for potentially violating “federal securities laws by making false or misleading statements in reporting its 2020 financial results.”

Massachusetts marijuana businesses are pressing regulators to ease restrictions on delivery services.

/ CULTURE

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios complained about the smell of marijuana during a U.S. Open match.

Family Feud had a question about how to react if you smell marijuana coming from your boss’s office.

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The post Air Force weighing cannabis policy change for recruits (Newsletter: September 2, 2022) appeared first on Marijuana Moment.