Trump met with cannabis CEO before legalization endorsement (Newsletter: September 4, 2024)

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Poll: Swing state voters back legalization; ACLU to push Harris on marijuana if elected; CA cannabis tax bill; Volkswagen’s hemp play

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Before you dig into today’s cannabis news, I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment / TOP THINGS TO KNOW Former President Donald Trump met with Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers ahead of announcing his support for the cannabis legalization initiative on Florida’s November ballot, as well as with a GOP state senator who backs the measure, several sources confirmed to Marijuana Moment. Former President Donald Trump said in a new interview that marijuana legalization is “going to be very good” for Florida and that medical cannabis is “amazing” for patients.

A new poll shows that voters in the presidential swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin support marijuana legalization—highlighting an opportunity for the campaigns to embrace the popular issue. The American Civil Liberties Union published a memo pledging to continue to fight for federal marijuana legalization if Kamala Harris is elected president, saying it will also push her to commute the sentences of people with cannabis and other drug convictions. California lawmakers sent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) a bill to prevent the “double taxation” of marijuana by local governments, a current policy that advocates say “leads to an artificially inflated purchase price and incentivizes consumers to purchase cannabis from the unlicensed, untested, and untaxed market.” A new study on the “largest cohort of pediatric medical cannabis users in the world” found that “there is a significant number” of minor and young adults using marijuana medically, and that “anxiety, chronic pain, and PTSD are among the most commonly self-reported conditions.” Volkswagen is launching a new project that aims to use hemp as a sustainable and vegan alternative to leather in car interiors. / FEDERAL President Joe Biden included his mass marijuana pardons in a list of “actions to advance equity and opportunity for Black Americans.” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) reacted to former President Donald Trump’s support for marijuana legalization by tweeting, “I’ve got this 🙋‍♀️#StatesReformAct” The U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a hemp germplasm stakeholder meeting on September 11. / STATES New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates discussed their views on marijuana legalization. Kentucky regulators received more than 2,600 medical cannabis business license applications ahead of the deadline. Oregon regulators published a revenue forecast for marijuana and psilocybin services taxes. New Mexico regulators posted a list of approved hemp analytical laboratories. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors will meet on Thursday. — 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 St. Paul, Minnesota City Council is considering a relatively permissive zoning proposal for marijuana businesses. / INTERNATIONAL Germany’s Health Ministry pushed back against concerns that the country’s marijuana legalization law is fueling the illicit market. / SCIENCE & HEALTH A study found that “high-intensity interval training combined with cannabidiol supplementation improves cognitive impairment by regulating the expression of apolipoprotein E, presenilin-1, and glutamate proteins in a rat model of amyloid β-induced Alzheimer’s disease.” A review concluded that “patients who use cannabis may require special attention regarding preoperative counseling and workup, intraoperative anesthesia, postoperative pain management, nausea, wound healing, and drug-drug interactions.” / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS A United Food and Commercial Workers International Union official discussed the union’s effort to organize cannabis industry employees. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial board is calling on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to consider granting clemency to people convicted for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia charges. / BUSINESS MINT Cannabis and Shango announced that they formed a joint venture to acquire all membership interests in The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc.’s Florida subsidiary. Organigram Holdings Inc. closed the second of three tranches of a C$124,559,674 strategic equity investment by BT DE Investments Inc., a subsidiary of British American Tobacco plc.

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Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.

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