RFK could push cannabis & psychedelics reform at Trump’s HHS (Newsletter: November 18, 2024)

Trump VA pick voted no on vets’ medical marijuana access; USDA delays hemp testing rule; Study: Most common uses for medical cannabis; VT psychedelics

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…

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 KNOW

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could take steps to advance cannabis and psychedelics reforms he supports as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to serve as health and human services secretary.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, former Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), voted three times to oppose amendments to let VA doctors issue medical cannabis recommendations to military veterans—but he later pushed for legislation to protect state marijuana programs from federal interference.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is again delaying enforcement of a rule requiring hemp to be tested only at laboratories registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration due to “setbacks” that have led to “inadequate” access to such facilities.

A new study of 81,000 medical cannabis patients shows that pain, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are the leading conditions that qualify people for legal access to marijuana under state laws, and that a majority also report using it to treat multiple medical conditions.

The Vermont Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Group published a report recommending that the state provide “education for the public and training for practitioners to reduce risk for those who choose to use psilocybin outside of a legalized system.”

Nebraska’s attorney general and secretary of state are asking a judge to overturn voters’ approval of two medical cannabis legalization ballot measures due to alleged fraud in the signature gathering process.

The Minnesota Office Cannabis Management filed a lawsuit against a hemp retailer accused of selling not-yet-legal cannabis products.

The director of Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation said officials are “very concerned with brand new compounds” being derived from hemp through “processes that we’ve never seen before.” 

• “We really have no idea what they do, either from experimentation or study.”

/ FEDERAL

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats sent a letter urging the House Ethics Committee to share documents related to its investigation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who President-elect Donald Trump has selected as attorney general, over “illicit drug use” and other alleged violations.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who President-elect Donald Trump has selected to serve as secretary of state, said that “marijuana has as much negative impact on health as tobacco smoke does.”

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tweeted, “Three years ago, we shook up Congress with the States Reform Act—common-sense cannabis reform. Now, with @RepMattGaetz tapped as AG by President Donald Trump, a fearless ally for freedom and reform, it’s time to finish what we started.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) will need to answer questions during his confirmation hearing for attorney general about “does he still stand for legalization of marijuana and is that a policy that he would advocate.”

/ STATES

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said it is unlikely that medical cannabis products will be available for patients on January 1.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and other state officials celebrated the launch of a new Cannabis Research Institute.

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Sweeney, a former state Senate president, discussed his views on marijuana policy.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a lawsuit challenging Kittery’s licensing process for recreational cannabis stores can proceed.

The Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an unpaid-wages lawsuit against a marijuana company.

Missouri regulators issued a recall of marijuana products for which an adverse reaction has been reported.

Colorado regulators issued an advisory about marijuana products that exceeded yeast, mold and aspergillus limits.

Massachusetts regulators approved the state’s first marijuana research facility license.

California regulators seized more than $5.2 million worth of unlicensed cannabis products during operations targeting illegal indoor cultivation sites in Solano County.

—
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

The Wilmington, Delaware City Council is considering a resolution to ask the state legislature if the city can receive a dedicated share of marijuana tax revenue.

New York City officials will host an event about empowering military veterans in the cannabis industry on Wednesday.

/ INTERNATIONAL

German lawmakers debated the country’s marijuana legalization law, with conservative parties pledging to overturn the policy if elected to government.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A study found that “patients with a history of cannabis use were less likely to be using opioids as early as 2 months postoperatively and had lower rates of high-dose opioid utilization in the immediate postoperative period.”

A study found that “recreational cannabis taxes accounted for 18 % of the retail price per ounce, a significantly lower rate than that for other taxed substances, raising concerns about the efficacy of the cannabis tax in reducing consumption.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Tax Foundation published an overview of drug policy reform ballot measure votes this month.

/ BUSINESS

4Front Ventures Corp. reported quarterly revenue of $17.1 million and a net loss of $6.4 million.

SNDL Inc. is renewing its share repurchase program.

Numinus Wellness Inc. is selling its wellness clinics in Utah to Stella.

Ohio retailers have sold $155 million worth of legal recreational marijuana products since the launch of legal sales in August.

Make sure to subscribe to get Marijuana Moment’s daily dispatch in your inbox.