TX gov and lt. gov. clash over hemp; Poll: US voters support marijuana reform; UT cannabis legalization support; DEA psychedelics ban

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Trump administration solicitor general D. John Sauer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case on marijuana consumers’ gun rights, saying that they pose a “clear danger of misusing firearms.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is calling lawmakers into a special session next month, directing them to pass legislation regulating intoxicating hemp products similar to alcohol—including with age limits and requirements for testing and labeling, rather than banning them as would be the case under a bill he vetoed.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) accused Gov. Greg Abbott (R) of wanting to legalize recreational marijuana after he vetoed a bill to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC and instead recommended regulations—also implying the governor may have lied to him about supporting the proposal.

A Drug Enforcement Administration judge sided with the agency in its attempt to ban two psychedelic compounds that researchers say hold significant therapeutic potential, recommending that they be placed in Schedule I.

A new poll of U.S. registered voters found that 70 percent want to end federal marijuana prohibition and that 45 percent would view the Trump administration’s agenda more favorably if it supported reforming cannabis laws.

A new poll shows that 53 percent of Utah voters support legalizing recreational marijuana—but the Republican House speaker and Senate president say they remain opposed to the reform.

A Bigfoot statue outside the Higher Love marijuana dispensary in Menominee, Michigan is causing controversy—with concerned citizens testifying at a recent Planning Commission meeting that they’re concerned it could appeal to children.

/ FEDERAL

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality included search terms for cannabis and MDMA in a database on treatments for PTSD.

/ STATES

An Ohio representative said he believes the state Constitution prevents the legislature from making major changes to the voter-approved marijuana legalization law.

Delaware’s top marijuana regulator spoke about plans to launch recreational sales.

Alabama’s top medical cannabis regulator discussed the path forward to launching patient access.

The executive director of the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission discussed the agency’s role in implementing a new law granting collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers.

Vermont regulators will consider cannabis social equity, licensing and waste issues on Wednesday.

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board will meet on Wednesday and Thursday.

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/ LOCAL

A Norfolk, Virginia grievance panel denied an appeal from a firefighter who is trying to get his job back after being fired over medical cannabis use.

/ INTERNATIONAL

Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that CBD is considered illegal cannabis.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “cannabis sativa extract may be considered an adjuvant in the management of pain and quality of life in patients with metastatic lung cancer.”

A study’s results “add to the existing pool of evidence for the usefulness of [psilocybin, LSD and ketamine] for treating cluster headache, and further support the lowering of legal and regulatory barriers to medical access to the psychedelic indoleamines.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Iowa’s executive director authored an op-ed supporting federal marijuana rescheduling.

/ BUSINESS

Jones Soda Co. sold its cannabis beverage business, including all related cannabis-specific assets under the Mary Jones brand, to MJ Reg Disrupters LLC.

Compass Pathways plc reported positive results of its psilocybin medicine in treating depression.

Elon Musk announced that Tesla launched robotaxis in Austin, Texas “with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee.”

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

Medical cannabis dispensary licenses in Alabama are expected to be issued soon, following years of litigation, Alabama Daily News reports. Justin Aday, general counsel for the state Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), told the Daily News last week that dispensary licenses have been referred to an administrative law judge for investigative hearings and, once complete, the licenses would be issued. 

A court had already allowed the issuance of cultivation, processor, secure transporter, and testing licenses – which were uncontested – to move forward but the issuance of dispensary and integrated facility licenses remained in limbo. 

Sam Blackmore, pharmacist and member of the AMCC, told the Daily News that he has “guarded optimism about the dispensary category proceeding.” 

“…Our mantra amongst ourselves has been that if we can just get one of these dispensaries open, that will allow the physicians to finally get going so that they can at least make a recommendation that will allow for the patient registry to open up so patients can start registering.” — Blackmore to the Daily News 

Blackmore added that while only the dispensary licenses have been allowed to move forward in the process, he thinks “the same thing is going to play out with the integrated category as well.” 

In April, parents of would-be medical cannabis patients sued the commission over delays implementing the program by the date mandated by law. The lawsuit contends that the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act, signed into law nearly five years ago, mandated the creation of a system to track qualified patients and caregivers, and used mandatory language requiring action by a specific deadline – giving the AMCC no discretion on timelines – but the state has not yet registered patients or caregivers. A hearing on that case is scheduled for June 26 in Montgomery County.   

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In a letter to Mississippi state Rep. Lee Yancey (R), Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R) said intoxicating hemp-derived products are “prohibited” under the state’s Controlled Substances Law. However, Fitch declined to offer an “official opinion” on whether the products could be possessed in the state due to federal law, which allows hemp cultivation. 

“Except for products possessed in strict accordance with the provisions of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, the possession – with intent to sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense – of a product derived from the hemp plant designed for human ingestion and/or consumption that is not approved by the United States FDA is prohibited under Mississippi’s Uniform Controlled Substances Law.” — Fitch in the letter 

Yancey had asked Fitch for clarification on state law as it relates to the sale of hemp-derived products “designed for human ingestion and/or consumption” outside of the Mississippi medical cannabis program.  

“Mississippi law does not specifically address the possession or sale of products derived from the hemp plant designed for human ingestion and/or consumption,” Fitch wrote. “However, as implied by your questions, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act … allows for the sale and possession of medical cannabis products, including edible cannabis products.” 

Mississippi allows hemp cultivation, although, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Commerce, “the necessary funding to implement the program was not appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature” and the federal Department of Agriculture is in charge of licensing hemp cultivators.

Yancey had sponsored a bill to ban intoxicating hemp products during this term’s session, but the legislation was never taken up by lawmakers and died when the legislature adjourned in April.

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