Newsletter: Maker of Sensodyne lobbies on CBD • Mich. regulators warn about THCA • Alcohol group’s report on impaired driving highlights cannabis • & more …

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Cannabis Wire spotted a new(ish) addition to the cannabis lobbying landscape: Haleon US Holdings LLC, or the maker of Sensodyne. 

Specifically, since late 2023, Haleon has started lobbying on the “general review of FDA rulemaking and processes on cannabis, specifically CBD, and associated proposed safety standards for CBD to be lawfully marketed as a dietary supplement or food additive,” according to their most recent filing. 

Cannabis Wire reached out to Haleon to ask about its cannabis-related priorities and did not receive a response by deadline. 

However, recent research has highlighted that CBD is increasingly used as a tool in dentistry, as it has analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory potential. 

Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) sent out a reminder to licensees yesterday about their “roles and responsibilities regarding the selling of cannabis in Michigan.” 

The email reiterated that, under the state’s law, “THC is defined to include THCA and marijuana, generally, is defined as cannabis in any form with a THC concentration greater than 0.3%. Therefore, cannabis in any form with a concentration of THC (including THCA) greater than 0.3% is, by definition, marijuana. Under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA), marijuana and industrial hemp have the same meaning as defined in the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA).” 

Further, seizures and criminal charges are on the table if members of law enforcement find that a retailer is selling products that contain any kind of THC at a concentration higher than 0.3%, the email noted. 

“We work shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement to ensure the health and safety of cannabis consumers in Michigan,” CRA Executive Director Brian Hanna said in a statement. 

Cannabis Wire asked the CRA what, specifically, prompted Tuesday’s outreach, and the scope of the illicit sales problem.

Regulators asked Michigan residents, or workers at cannabis businesses, to let cops or regulators know if they see any businesses selling unregulated cannabis, including THCA.

This week, Responsibility.org, a not-for-profit org founded by distillers that works to raise awareness about alcohol-impaired driving, released its annual report.

There were several areas that highlighted cannabis, including the National District Attorneys Association’s partnership with Responsibility.org on traffic safety resources. One of these was the Cannabis Impairment Detection Workshop Handbook, aimed at helping cops identify cannabis-impaired drivers.

The group noted “significant” interest in these resources.

The group also highlighted research from Columbia researchers that shows that consumption of cannabis and alcohol together is on the rise, which “creates a new set of responsibility challenges, particularly in the area of impaired driving.”