A new Gallup poll found that 68 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana—including majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Overall, U.S. adults back legalizing cannabis by a more than two-to-one margin.
Arkansas activists filed a new marijuana legalization initiative they hope to put on the state’s 2022 ballot. It’s the third legal cannabis effort in the state to announce plans to qualify a measure to go before voters next year.
Recent comments from Drug Enforcement Administration officials signaling that hemp-derived delta-8 THC is not a federally illegal controlled substance are being seized on by industry advocates pushing back against state bans.
The Transportation Security Administration’s Southwest division tweeted a picture of seized cannabis, saying, “Many states allow marijuana use but Texas isn’t one of them. As a reminder, ignorance of the law excuses no man. @TSA officers found these illegal items @SATairport security checkpoint. Know what’s in your bag before you travel.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “The War on Drugs has been a war on people—NY is taking an important step to address its harms. I’m working with @SenBooker and @RonWyden to pass our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end marijuana prohibition & undo the harms of the War on Drugs at the federal level.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) pressed President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives about the possibility that Hunter Biden provided false information about illegal drug use on a federal form he had to fill out when purchasing a gun.
The House bill to protect the gun rights of cannabis consumers got one new cosponsor for a total of three.
“(36) The term ‘unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance’ shall not include a person by reason of unlawful use of or addiction to marihuana (as defined in section 102(16) of the Controlled Substances Act) if—
“(A) the person resides in a State, or on lands under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian-Self Determination and Education Assistance Act), the laws of which permit the use of marihuana by an adult; and
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, tweeted, “A commonsense new bill from @JeffreyBrandes would allow out of state visitors who have access to medical marijuana at home to continue to exercise that right here in FL. Good ideas don’t come with a partisan label – and I’m proud to support this one.”
An Oklahoma senator filed a bill to remove the agricultural sales tax exemption for medical cannabis growers.
Burns said specifically removing marijuana growers, harvesters, and processors from the list of approved industries and products eligible to receive an ag sales tax exemption would create additional revenue from the medical marijuana industry that could be used to hire more law enforcement officers to further regulate the industry and weed out illegal grows.
Missouri regulators proposed loosening advertising restrictions on medical cannabis businesses.
The Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation in July put the kibosh on weed sales promotions, telling business license holders that advertising sales events, including discounts on a particular product and holiday promotions, were not allowed under state regulations.
But under draft regulations published Thursday, promotions advertised outside of a dispensary would be allowed and would need to contain this disclaimer: “Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.” Promotions advertised at a dispensary would have to adhere to state signage regulations.
Public comment on the draft rules will last until Nov. 18, according to the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Australian regulators are still considering possible standards for medical cannabis imports after months of reviews.
The chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics said the panel will not support a marijuana legalization bill.
“We are not supporting the so-called legitimization of Cannabis,” he said, adding that “If there is so much madness, killings and so in the country now if we legitimize Cannabis, the madness would quadruple.”
A study found that “in Norway, adolescents who have parents with higher university education, may be protected from getting a drug charge, even though they report similar levels of drug law infractions as other adolescents.”
