Former fed marijuana prisoner’s White House meeting; RFK on LSD; DE gov signs cannabis bill; CA psychedelics; TX decrim block; PA legalization

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Free to read (but not free to produce)! We’re proud of our newsletter and the reporting we publish at Marijuana Moment, and we’re happy to provide it for free. But it takes a lot of work and resources to make this happen. If you value Marijuana Moment, invest in our success on Patreon so we can expand our coverage and more readers can benefit: https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOWThe U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter warning a city-licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Washington, D.C. that it appears to be “in violation of federal laws, which are intended to protect children” and “may be subject to criminal prosecution.”Former federal cannabis prisoner Weldon Angelos told Marijuana Moment that his meeting at the White House last week with President Donald Trump’s new pardon czar left him feeling “incredibly hopeful” about the prospect of further clemency and reform.Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he had a “wonderful time” taking LSD and trying to see dinosaurs, but added that it led him to later try meth and heroin.A federal judge ruled that insurance companies are not required to cover medical cannabis, dismissing a lawsuit that Mexico Top Organics – Ultra Health, Inc. filed against Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Mexico.Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed a bill to address a marijuana industry fingerprint background check dispute with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that has threatened to delay the launch of the state’s recreational cannabis market.The California Senate Health Committee amended and approved a bill to create a psilocybin-focused Veterans and First Responders Research Pilot Program to research and develop psychedelic services for target populations with PTSD, end-of-life distress and other conditions.The Texas House State Affairs Committee held a hearing on a bill to block cities from putting initiatives on local ballots to decriminalize marijuana or other controlled substances, days after companion legislation was passed by the Senate.A new poll of Pennsylvania residents shows that opposition to legalizing marijuana is at an all-time low in the state, with majority or plurality support for the reform across party lines and in every demographic.Virginia gubernatorial candidates did not respond to a reporter’s query about their stance on legalizing marijuana sales, although former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) has previously voiced support for the reform.A Nebraska senator and Common Cause Nebraska are requesting an investigation into undisclosed funding behind an effort to prevent voters from being able to decide on medical cannabis initiatives on last year’s ballot.An official with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Administration said the state is delaying moving forward with opening safe consumption sites for illegal drugs, arguing that, “more work needs to be done on a state and federal level before these services can be implemented in a way that is safe.”/ FEDERALA draft of President Donald Trump’s forthcoming budget request reportedly proposes a cut to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s international counternarcotics efforts in European countries and refers to overdose prevention programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as the “Biden crack pipe.”The Drug Enforcement Administration launched a Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit in recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day on Tuesday.Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the state’s attorney general “skimmed $10 million that should have been repaid to the state after the state was over-billed $67 million. They spent the money on ads to defeat the marijuana amendment. Some people are fine with that. I think it’s very grifty. And I opposed the marijuana amendment.”/ STATESOhio’s attorney general sent a warning about psilocyn-infused candies being sold in the state.Indiana lawmakers sent Gov. Mike Braun (R) a bill to ban marijuana advertising.A Maine senator discussed his bill to crack down on illegal marijuana grow operations by tracking electricity usage.An Arizona judge rejected a request to temporarily block enforcement of a policy barring sales of hemp-derived THC products without a license.California regulators announced a recall of marijuana products due to the presence of aspergillus and inaccurate labeling that reports more cannabinoid content than the product contains. Separately, regulators are being sued by a cannabis testing lab that claims its license was improperly suspended.Minnesota regulators filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss his order requiring them to hold a marijuana business social equity preapproval lottery that was canceled last year.New York regulators ordered hundreds of batches of cannabis vapes and pre-rolls to be quarantined.Washington, D.C. officials touted their 50th closure of an illegal cannabis store.Missouri regulators posted the latest episode of their marijuana podcast.
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/ LOCALThe New York City Police Department is being sued by an officer who claims its marijuana testing policy unfairly targets people with dark hair./ INTERNATIONALThe United Nations Human Rights Office tweeted, “The so-called war on drugs has destroyed lives and communities. These policies are simply not working… It’s time to care—not criminalise.”Israeli government ministers are in a disagreement over tariffs on Canadian medical cannabis imports.Jersey’s health minister said legislation to “reduce the criminalization” of marijuana is expected to be considered this year./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study found that “two-thirds of participants with concurrent chronic pelvic pain and fibromyalgia have used CBD” and that “a large proportion of those using CBD reported substituting it for higher risk medications.”A study of mice indicated that “CBD reduces inflammatory response in the brain and improves cognitive decline associated with aging.”/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISThe New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association claims that “illegal cannabis flower—smuggled in from the West Coast—is being sold in licensed dispensaries across New York State.”The Colorado Springs editorial board criticized Tommy Chong for promoting marijuana, which it said has caused “many maladies across Colorado.”/ BUSINESSTilray Medical is leaving the New Zealand market to focus on Australia.Jushi is being sued by a former facility controller over alleged age discrimination.Metrc announced redesigned eco-friendly tags, a significant reduction in its use of plastic in packaging and a donation of 5,000 trees in honor of Arbor Day to support reforestation efforts.Illinois retailers sold $147.5 million worth of legal recreational marijuana products in March.

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