NY gov signs marijuana licensing bill; UT psychedelics study advances; FL legalization poll; NM insurers pressed to cover medical cannabis; AZ sales<\/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 Before you dig into today\u2019s cannabis news,<\/b> I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We\u2019re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Join us at <\/span>https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span><\/a>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>U.S. Supreme Court<\/span><\/a> is asking the solicitor general to weigh in on two medical cannabis workers compensation cases it is considering taking up. State courts have reached differing decisions on the issue.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D)<\/span><\/a> signed a bill to give temporary marijuana business licenses to hemp growers and processors to help the state prepare for a timely launch of the adult-use market. There are equity, labor and sustainability requirements for participants.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Utah Senate Health and Human Services Committee<\/span><\/a> approved a bill to create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics such as psilocybin for treating mental health disorders. The legislation has already passed the full House.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A new poll found that <\/span>three out of four Florida voters<\/span><\/a> support legalizing marijuana\u2014including majorities across party, age, sex and racial demographic groups.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>New Mexico cannabis company <\/span>Ultra Health<\/span><\/a> sent a letter urging insurance companies to cover the cost of medical cannabis for certain patients, a move it argues is required under a new state law.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Arizona Department of Revenue<\/span><\/a> reported that consumers purchased more than $1.4 billion worth of marijuana products in 2021, the first year of legal adult-use sales. The new figures include sales of medical cannabis as well.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ FEDERAL<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cLegalizing cannabis and expunging non-violent convictions isn\u2019t just a criminal justice issue \u2014 it\u2019s a health and economic issue too. I\u2019m fighting alongside @CPeoplesStokes to ensure communities which were disproportionately harmed are able to benefit from this growing industry.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A spokesperson for <\/span>Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)<\/span><\/a> said there needs to be more research on \u201cthe potential public health consequences of legalization.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cToday, 81% of the cannabis industry is dominated by white business owners\u2014 yet thousands of people of color serve time for marijuana-related offenses. It\u2019s long past time for my colleagues in Congress to join me in the fight to right this injustice.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cIt\u2019s time for Congress to act on achievable, incremental #cannabis reform that can build the bipartisan consensus necessary to become law and improve millions of lives.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\/ STATES<\/b>
<\/span>
<\/span>Oklahoma<\/span><\/a> Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) cheered law enforcement <\/span>actions<\/span><\/a> against medical cannabis businesses that officials say were diverting products to the illegal market. The state\u2019s <\/span>top medical marijuana regulator<\/span><\/a> said the raids should serve as a \u201cwarning.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a> Republican gubernatorial candidate Danielle Neuschwanger said Gov. Jared Polis (D) \u201cbelongs in a jail cell\u201d for \u201ctaking money out of your pockets and lining marijuana companies\u2019 pockets.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Ohio<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Cranley, a former Cincinnati mayor, tweeted, \u201cIf we want to talk about government overreach, let\u2019s talk about decades of locking up Black and brown men for smoking marijuana. It\u2019s time we legalize it and invest that revenue back into good-paying jobs for Ohioans.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, currently the attorney general, tweeted, \u201c1. Legalize recreational marijuana. 2. Expunge the records of those serving time for non-violent marijuana offenses. 3. Boost our economy. It\u2019s that simple.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>South Carolina<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a former congressman, discussed his support for legalizing marijuana.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Here\u2019s a look at where <\/span>Texas<\/span><\/a> gubernatorial candidates stand on marijuana reform.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A <\/span>Nebraska<\/span><\/a> medical cannabis campaign committee reported that as of the end of January, it had received $68,000 in cash contributions and spent about $38,000.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Kansas<\/span><\/a> House of Representatives approved a hemp testing and seed bill.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a> Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue Committee approved a bill to allow municipalities to increase local marijuana taxes. Separately, the <\/span>Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation<\/span><\/a> voted to divert at least $26 million from substance misuse treatment and toward police to combat illegal cannabis cultivation, but lawmakers say the move will be reversed.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>West Virginia<\/span><\/a> House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow regulators to require medical cannabis businesses to maintain motion activated video surveillance.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Wyoming<\/span><\/a> Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee rejected a bill that would have allowed prosecutors to bring felony charges against pregnant women who consume illegal drugs.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Washington State<\/span><\/a> lawmakers unveiled a budget plan that directs $125 million to reinvestment grants for communities harmed by the war on drugs.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Maryland\u2019s<\/span><\/a> House Judiciary Committee chairman spoke about his marijuana legalization legislation that\u2019s expected to get floor votes this week.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A <\/span>Missouri<\/span><\/a> representative who is sponsoring a marijuana legalization bill says the policy change \u201cis coming whether we want to do it this way or not.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>A <\/span>California<\/span><\/a> senator tweeted, \u201cHarm reduction \u2014 including safe needle & paraphernalia programs \u2014 is a proven strategy to reduce infections & overdose deaths. Yet conservatives continue to work to criminalize them & prop up the failed War on Drugs. How about we just follow the science?\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Florida<\/span><\/a> regulators are asking a judge to permanently ban a doctor from recommending medical cannabis following an undercover investigation that involved undercover agents posing as patients.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Nevada<\/span><\/a> regulators met to act on marijuana business issues.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Utah<\/span><\/a> regulators sent an update on the medical cannabis program.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The <\/span>Tennessee<\/span><\/a> Medical Cannabis Commission will meet on Friday.<\/span>
<\/span>
\u2014
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg\"){kind=tracking}