KY Dems say medical marijuana a 2022 priority; WY cannabis ballot measures aim for 2024; TX gov candidate touts legalization support
/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) confirmed in a new interview that he “will not seek to overturn” the legalization of marijuana possession—but he’s sending more mixed signals on allowing commercial cannabis sales to launch.
Kentucky Democratic House and Senate leaders are including legalizing medical cannabis as a top legislative priority for 2022.
Wyoming activists are turning their attention to qualifying marijuana decriminalization and medical cannabis legalization initiatives to the 2024 ballot instead of 2022 as initially hoped—and they’ll pressure lawmakers to enact reform legislation in the meantime.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke is touting voters’ support for marijuana legalization—an issue he has long championed since his days as an El Paso city council member.
/ FEDERAL
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality posted an infographic about how medical cannabis “can reduce some types of chronic pain” but can have adverse effects as well.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tweeted, “The #StatesReformAct is the long overdue, common sense cannabis legislation Americans are looking for. It allows states to do what they have always done (or not) and provides a federal framework to allow what’s already happened in 47 of 50 states.”
North Carolina Democratic congressional candidate Steve Miller tweeted, “One of my top issues is Federal decriminalization of marijuana.”
/ STATES
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) reiterated his concerns with purchase limits in medical cannabis legislation.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, “We’ve been busy delivering for #NM: … Legalized cannabis… 2022 is here and we’re not done yet.”
Ohio’s secretary said activists did not initially turn in a sufficient number of valid signatures for the marijuana legalization-initiated statute and must now collect more to force lawmakers to consider the measure.
Louisiana smokable medical cannabis flower sales launched.
New Hampshire lawmakers will vote this week on overriding Gov. Chris Sununu’s (R) veto of a bill to let medical cannabis companies reorganize as for-profit operations.
Indiana’s Senate president pro tem said he’s “going to be very, very, very slow to support legalization” of marijuana.
South Dakota lawmakers filed more than two dozen marijuana reform bills for the new session.
Florida lawmakers have introduced several marijuana legalization bills.
A Montana representative tweeted, “It’s great that cannabis is legal again in MT. But we owe an apology (and automatic expungement of past convictions) to Montanans whose rights were trampled upon, and whose lives were ruined by public officials who chose hysteria over real public safety.”
The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission issued a report on the illegal marijuana enforcement grants program.
Washington State’s Department of Ecology published a report on cannabis testing.
Michigan regulators sent an advisory bulletin about annual financial statement requirements for marijuana businesses.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture tweeted about the state’s hemp plan going into effect.
New Mexico regulators published a checklist for marijuana retail business applicants.
Vermont cannabis regulators will meet on Tuesday.
Disclaimer: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/va-gov-wont-overturn-legal-cannabis-but-sales-unclear-newsletter-january-4-2022
