Good morning.
No rest for the cannabis industry. As an end-cap to the cannabis year, we hope you’ll tune in for our webinar on Tuesday: Aligning banks and cannabis operators for the next phase of industry growth. The webinar will stream through LinkedIn. We’ll see you there.
Let’s get to it.
-JB, JR, ZH
This newsletter is 600 words or about an 5-minute read.
📣 Quotable
The New York Times’ Ezra Klein discusses why he wants cannabis to be legal, but doesn’t support commercialization:
"...and with commercialized cannabis, which I very much supported. Now I think commercialization is probably a bad idea that has been very bad for a segment of society. Even though I don’t want it to be illegal.”
⏩ Quick hits
Democrats file federal hemp regulation bill 🌿
Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley filed Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, which would federally regulate hemp and allow states to set their own policies around hemp-derived THC products. The bill would limit servings to 5 mg of THC or 10 mg for drinks, and 50 mg per container. Here’s the full text.
Ohio Senate passes cannabis law with new restrictions 📜
The Ohio Senate passed SB 56, which would recriminalize the possession of cannabis purchased outside of the state or removed from its original package. The bill would also criminalize consuming cannabis edibles in public and it would potentially limit which cannabis paraphernalia consumers were allowed to use. Some advocates say the bill Fox 8 has more.
Michigan operators plan to appeal 24% wholesale tax 🧑⚖️
The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association says that it plans to continue fighting the state's proposed 24% wholesale tax on cannabis. A state judge recently ruled against the association's pursuit of a court order blocking the new tax. The association told CBS News Detroit that they plan to appeal.
Texas regulators release new hemp rules that age gate those under 21 🚫
Texas officials released new hemp rules on Dec. 9 that include a restriction on consumers that are under the age of 21. The new rules come in the wake of a state-wide effort to ban cannabis which ultimately failed with the help of the governor's veto. Marijuana Moment has more.
Florida GOP lawmaker files bill to expand medical program 🩺
A Florida Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, including by allowing doctors to recommend cannabis to any patient who has a condition for which they have been prescribed opioids, reports Marijuana Moment.
California cannabis regulators lose illicit cannabis case 🌁
California’s state government was handed an embarrassing court loss Tuesday after an Orange County judge ruled that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), failed to comply with its own laws designed to stop illegal cannabis from leaving the state, SF Gate reports.
🚀 Deals, launches, partnerships
Green Flower rolled out new 16-week online certificate programs with partner colleges to help people quickly get job-ready for roles in cannabis cultivation, retail, and product development.
🧳 People moves
Cannabis insights company Lit Alerts is hiring a Solutions Engineer and a Data Engineer. Check out the post here.
📰 What we’re reading
Is a MAGA-Aligned Think Tank Using the Hemp Ban to ADvance a New Federal War on Cannabis? | High Times
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors set to vote on controversial cannabis regulations | The Press-Democrat
Who Is Smoking Weed? Medicare Opens the Door to CBD, Congress Moves to Shut It | American Council on Science and Health