OH gov signs marijuana expungements provisions; KY & OH cannabis ballot developments; Congresswoman accuses colleague of being high
Subscribe to receive Marijuana Moment’s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It’s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.
Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible…
Your good deed for the day: donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.
Support our work at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Customs and Border Protection marijuana seizures have declined 95 percent over the past decade as more states enact legalization and give consumers a legal way to buy cannabis.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a criminal justice reform bill that allows local officials to facilitate mass expungements of marijuana records on citizens’ behalf. The legislation also makes it so possessing cannabis paraphernalia doesn’t constitute a criminal record.
Ohio’s secretary of state re-transmitted a marijuana legalization proposal to lawmakers. If the legislature doesn’t act within four months, activists can collect additional signatures to place it on the November ballot for voters to decide on.
A Kentucky representative filed legislation to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the ballot for voters to decide on.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who supports marijuana legalization, appeared to accuse Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who also supports legalizing cannabis, of being high on drugs amid their Republican Party’s ongoing fight over electing a speaker of the House.
/ FEDERAL
The Drug Enforcement Administration posted a video about how its agents’ badges have changed over the years.
/ STATES
Maryland’s new attorney general pledged to push for equitable cannabis licensing and to make the expungement process easier in remarks after being sworn in.
Tennessee’s House speaker said he doesn’t support marijuana legalization, and the chairman of the House Health Committee said he will file medical cannabis research legislation this session.
South Carolina lawmakers filed medical cannabis bills.
Minnesota’s House speaker said lawmakers will hold a press conference on legalizing marijuana on Thursday. Separately, a senator who opposes legalization said it is a “foregone conclusion” that it will happen, but wants revenue to be directed to law enforcement.
A Washington State senator blamed homelessness issues in part on drug policy reform.
Wisconsin lawmakers discussed the prospects for marijuana legislation.
A Florida marijuana legalization campaign has so far submitted nearly 150,000 signatures in support of its proposed ballot initiative.
Washington State’s top cannabis regulator announced he is retiring in July.
New Jersey’s top marijuana regulators spoke about the ongoing roll-out of the recreational market.
Illinois regulators re-extended the allowance for curbside pickup at medical cannabis dispensaries.
New York regulators missed a deadline to produce a cannabis social and economic equity plan. Similarly, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York missed a deadline for a report on the social equity fund.
Pennsylvania regulators are rolling out a new design for medical cannabis patient and caregiver registration cards.
Oregon regulators touted the launch of the state’s psilocybin services program.
California officials announced a vacancy on the Industrial Hemp Advisory Board.
Vermont regulators will host a marijuana social equity networking event on Thursday.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
The Jefferson City, Missouri City Council voted to place a marijuana tax measure on the local ballot.
The Evanston, Illinois City Council’s Human Services Committee is considering a proposal to allow cannabis consumption businesses.
New York City’s safe consumption sites for illegal drugs are in danger of running out of funding.
Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.
/ INTERNATIONAL
A Thai bill to regulate cannabis and hemp again stalled due to the House of Representatives’s inability to achieve a quorum. Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry published marijuana guidance for tourists.
A German lawmaker is pressing the government to move ahead with unveiling marijuana legalization legislation.
A Canadian member of Parliament tweeted about marijuana record sealing in the U.S., saying, “And yet Canada has not even issued 1000 pardons 4 years post-legalization. The NDP warned the Liberals in 2017 that automatic expungement was the better policy to help end cannabis conviction stigma. They refused, and Canadians are needlessly suffering the result today.”
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study indicated that “neither past nor current cannabis use is associated with clinical hypertension.”
A study found that “cannabidiol reduced the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms of opioid withdrawal in male and female mice.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Bangkok Post editorial board is calling on Thai lawmakers to pass a cannabis and hemp regulation bill.
The NY CAURD Coalition is a new group that aims to educate and organize New York marijuana retailers.
U.S. Hemp Roundtable posted a review of developments on hemp issues in 2022.
/ BUSINESS
TILT Holdings Inc. retired $7.5 million in debt.
Aurora Cannabis Inc. closed the sale of a facility in Alberta, Canada.
/ CULTURE
Wiz Khalifa, who has a line of cannabis products in partnership with Trulieve, tweeted, “Some pre rolled have little holes in em dont toss the whole doob cover that bitch up and keep it movin.”
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.