DeSantis slams marijuana legalization in RNC speech; DOJ guns & medical cannabis brief; KY gov pushes to reschedule; Study: Marijuana, alcohol & sex
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…
Hold on, just one second before you read today’s news. Have you thought about giving some financial support to Marijuana Moment? If so, today would be a great day to contribute. We’re planning our reporting for the coming months and it would really help to know what kind of support we can count on.
Check us out on Patreon and sign up to give $25/month today:
https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Democratic National Committee is advancing a draft party platform that touts President Joe Biden’s mass marijuana pardons and scheduling review—adding a pledge to go further by expunging records. It also criticizes anti-marijuana actions of the prior Trump administration but does not include a plank on decriminalizing cannabis that was in the party’s 2020 platform.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) used an appearance at the Republican National Convention to criticize the marijuana legalization initiative on his state’s November ballot—claiming it “will be bad for quality of life, and it will make Florida more blue.”
The Department of Justice argued in a new federal court brief that allowing medical marijuana patients to possess guns would “endanger public safety in multiple ways.”
- “Illegal drug users can use firearms to commit crimes that fund their drug habit, to engage in violence as part of the drug business or culture, and to commit suicide.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) sent a letter urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule marijuana—saying that cannabis “provides an alternative to deadly opioids.”
A new study found that while alcohol “facilitates” sexual encounters, using marijuana helps people “feel more sexually satisfied.”
- “Cannabis promotes orgasm, excitement, and helps them be more relaxed during the sexual encounter and, consequently, accentuates the sensitivity to physical contact and increases satisfaction.”
Companies suing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services over new rules restricting hemp-derived THC-infused drinks say regulators knowingly approved the sale of 12-ounce beverages with up to 10 servings per can.
/ FEDERAL
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) sent a press release touting his role in secure report language attached to a funding bill that presses the Department of Veterans Affairs on a policy change that no longer allows GI Bill benefits to be used for courses or job training related to cannabis industry careers.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) cited a marijuana-related tweet from President Joe Biden, asking, “Did he issue this at 4:20 pm? Up next: government subsidies for Doritos and Twinkies.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) cited President Joe Biden’s mass marijuana pardons as an example of the positive use of executive power.
/ STATES
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office touted his support for cannabis social equity applicants and licensees.
A former Florida Office of Drug Control director authored an op-ed laying out concerns about the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority cut staff amid a budgetary shortfall.
Washington State regulators proposed rules on medical cannabis excise tax exemption implementation and approved a preproposal statement of inquiry on transferring authority for accreditation of cannabis testing laboratories.
The Connecticut Medical Examining Board agreed not to discipline a doctor over previous cannabis use.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Restoration Grant Program selected three water conservation, resource protection, cleanup, remediation and watershed enhancement projects to receive funding.
Oregon regulators will consider rules on a marijuana tax compliance extension on Thursday.
Massachusetts regulators will consider changes to cannabis rules on Friday.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 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
Gadsden County, Florida’s sheriff authored an op-ed about his support for the marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot.
Denver, Colorado officials submitted a public comment supporting federal marijuana rescheduling.
The Montgomery County, Maryland Council voted to create a commission to determine how cannabis revenue should be distributed to communities most impacted by the war on drugs.
New York City’s mayor and police officials announced enforcement actions against illegal cannabis operations.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said legislation to legalize medical and religious cannabis use is “a long time coming.”
Latvian Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa support decriminalizing drug use.
A former Vancouver, British Columbi, Canada mayor who supported drug decriminalization said the province’s current trial of the policy is a mistake without more focus on treatment.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that CBD “shows various clinical benefits against various neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.”
A study of mice found that “adolescent cannabinoid exposure rescues phencyclidine-induced social deficits.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
NORML is again taking steps toward hiring a new executive director.
Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
