Top NY lawmaker\u2019s PAC has marijuana focus; KY legalization bills; Wells Fargo: Fed cannabis policy hurts workforce; Canadian drug decrim momentum<\/em><\/p>\n Subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.<\/p>\n Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n Looking for more cannabis news and resources? <\/b>If you support our reporting with a monthly donation of $25 or more, we\u2019ll give you access to our Cannabis Bill Tracker, exclusive material from our interviews and more. <\/span>
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<\/span><\/a>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Maryland House Judiciary Committee<\/span><\/a> approved bills to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot and begin setting up details for the program if voters approve. Floor votes are expected this week.<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Delaware House Appropriations Committee<\/span><\/a> advanced a bill to legalize marijuana. It\u2019s now cleared for a House floor vote as its next stop.<\/span>
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<\/span>New York\u2019s Assembly majority leader<\/span><\/a> is leaching a new PAC that will focus in part on electing candidates that support equity-centered marijuana reform.<\/span>
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<\/span>Kentucky Democratic lawmakers, including the Senate minority floor leader<\/span><\/a>, filed new bills to legalize marijuana.<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>Wells Fargo analyst<\/span><\/a> said federal marijuana criminalization and resulting drug testing mandates are a major driver of rising costs and worker shortages in the transportation sector.<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>bill to decriminalize drugs in Canada<\/span><\/a> is gaining momentum as more localities, police officials and lawmakers express support for the policy\u2014with one member of Parliament saying it has a real chance of becoming law.<\/span>
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<\/span>\/ FEDERAL<\/b>
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<\/span>Federal judge Michelle Childs<\/span><\/a>, a top contender to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Joe Biden, once sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for selling less than nine ounces of marijuana. The <\/span>White House<\/span><\/a> reacted by saying it was just one of \u201cthousands\u201d of decisions she made on the bench.<\/span>
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<\/span>Congress<\/span><\/a> passed, and President Joe Biden signed, legislation again extending the classification of fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I.<\/span>
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<\/span>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cComprehensive federal cannabis legalization with justice for the communities most impacted by the War on Drugs\u2014especially communities of color\u2014is a Senate priority. This is long overdue, and we will move forward.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)<\/span><\/a> said making it hard for licensed marijuana businesses to access bank accounts is \u201cperfect for organized crime.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Rep .Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)<\/span><\/a> called out Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), tweeting, \u201cOne US Senator \u2018heard stories; about people allegedly using the Child Tax Credit \u2018for drugs\u2019 without any evidence or data to back it up. He then used that as justification to nuke the entire national program, causing millions of kids to fall into poverty in weeks. Horrifying.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Louisiana Democratic Senate candidate <\/span>Gary Chambers<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cKim Potter getting 2 years for murdering a Black man is America\u2019s latest example of an inequitable criminal legal system, it is NOT justice for all. There are people serving more time for cannabis than this woman will serve for murder. This is America. It\u2019s shameful.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Virginia Republican congressional candidate <\/span>Heerak Christian Kim<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cLet\u2019s illegalize marijuana & get rid of drugs from the streets & form USA public schools & save American children from drug overdose death & unemployment & broken marriages!\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>\/ STATES<\/b>
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<\/span>South Dakota<\/span><\/a> Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed several medical cannabis reform bills into law. Separately, the <\/span>Senate Judiciary Committee<\/span><\/a> approved legislation to let people clear certain marijuana records.<\/span>
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<\/span>Maryland<\/span><\/a> Gov. Larry Hogan (R) nominated a member of the Medical Cannabis Commission. Separately, the <\/span>House of Delegates<\/span><\/a> approved a bill to add a representative of the hemp industry to the state Agricultural Commission.<\/span>
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<\/span>South Carolina<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mia McLeod, currently a state senator, tweeted, \u201cEvery day South Carolinians like me live with chronic conditions and experience excruciating pain. We must recognize that medical marijuana is a safe alternative to opioids. It\u2019s time to vote in favor of our residents.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Texas<\/span><\/a> Democratic attorney general candidate Lee Merritt tweeted, \u201cCannabis use should never be a reason for arrest and imprisonment. Its criminalization is nothing more than another way for law enforcement to harass and arrest Black and Brown communities. It\u2019s time we legalize it.\u201d He also <\/span>tweeted<\/span><\/a>, \u201cThe War on Drugs is and always has been nothing more than a war on communities of color.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Utah<\/span><\/a> Senate approved a bill to allow medical cannabis for acute pain post-surgery, let students receive cannabis medications at school from a nurse and make other changes to the program.<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Georgia<\/span><\/a> Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee approved a bill to remove certain limitations on hemp grower licenses.<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>New Mexico<\/span><\/a> bill to increase marijuana production limits for small businesses and to make other changes to the legalization program failed to pass by the end of the session.<\/span>
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<\/span>California\u2019s<\/span><\/a> Senate majority leader tweeted about his bill to eliminate the marijuana cultivation tax, saying, \u201cWe can\u2019t continue to tax family farmers based on the product\u2019s weight \u2014 because when prices fall, the taxes remain disproportionately high. It\u2019s simply not sustainable.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Washington State<\/span><\/a> Senate Republicans tweeted, \u201cCannabis stores are falling victim to armed robbery. Senator Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, filed legislation (SB 5927) to halt this trend. The bill would increase the penalty for these heinous acts and it passed the Senate.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>Michigan<\/span><\/a> representative filed a bill to allow Indian tribes to sell recreational marijuana on tribal lands.<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a> representative tweeted, \u201cAny conversation on decriminalizing #cannabis must have an emphasis on equity and correcting the harms to communities that have been most affected by the enforcement of cannabis laws. #HB2050 enacts the Cannabis Clean Slate that will expunge non-violent cannabis-related charges.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Connecticut<\/span><\/a> regulators increased monthly medical cannabis purchase limits.<\/span>
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<\/span>Arizona<\/span><\/a> regulators are threatening to revoke medical cannabis testing labs\u2019 licenses over inflated potency reports and other issues. <\/span>
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<\/span>New York<\/span><\/a> regulators published hemp licensing guidance.<\/span>
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<\/span>Vermont<\/span><\/a> regulators posted information about the prequalification process for marijuana business licenses. They will also <\/span>meet<\/span><\/a> on Tuesday.<\/span>
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<\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a> regulators reduced a backlog of marijuana business violation cases.<\/span>
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<\/span>New Jersey<\/span><\/a> regulators will hold a public meeting on marijuana issues on Thursday.<\/span>
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