{"id":51828,"date":"2021-12-17T03:12:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T11:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2021\/12\/17\/gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021\/"},"modified":"2021-12-17T13:45:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T21:45:49","slug":"gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2021\/12\/17\/gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP lawmakers press Biden for cannabis action (Newsletter: December 17, 2021)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-50.jpg\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\"> <\/p>\n<p><em>VA panel votes to speed up sales; Congressional marijuana memo; CA AG: seal cannabis records; Edible hemp-infused German bus tickets<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">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<p>(function() {<br \/>\n\twindow.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {<br \/>\n\t\tlisteners: [],<br \/>\n\t\tforms: {<br \/>\n\t\t\ton: function(evt, cb) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.mc4wp.listeners.push(<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t{<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tevent   : evt,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcallback: cb<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t);<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t}<br \/>\n\t}<br \/>\n})();<br \/>\n<!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.8.6 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-form-fields\">\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t<label>Email address: <\/label>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><label>Leave this field empty if you&#8217;re human: <\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-response\" \/><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin --><\/p>\n<p><b>Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Before you dig into today\u2019s cannabis news,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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 style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Join us at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><b>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/virginia-legislative-joint-commission-recommends-speeding-up-marijuana-sales-launch-by-a-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Virginia legislature\u2019s Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> voted to recommend speeding up recreational marijuana sales. If approved by the full House and Senate, existing medical cannabis dispensaries could sell to adults on January 1, 2023.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/gop-lawmakers-blast-biden-and-harris-over-continued-silence-on-marijuana-and-urge-rescheduling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Don Young (R-AK)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> sent a letter demanding that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris \u201cbegin to seriously engage\u201d on marijuana reform and remove it from Schedule I.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYour continued silence speaks volumes.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/congressional-memo-touts-marijuana-momentum-in-2021-and-lays-out-2022-reform-priorities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> issued a new memo looking back at marijuana momentum in 2021 and ahead to priorities for 2022.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/california-ag-pushes-county-prosecutors-to-stop-delaying-relief-for-past-cannabis-convictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> issued a memo urging county prosecutors to stop delaying the required sealing and dismissal of past marijuana convictions under a law he authored as an assemblymember.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/pro-legalization-missouri-gop-lawmaker-addresses-marijuana-resistance-in-his-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missouri Republican representative<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who is sponsoring a resolution to put marijuana legalization on the 2022 ballot says he\u2019s not optimistic about overcoming resistance to reform from within his own party.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/berlin-public-transit-is-selling-edible-hemp-infused-tickets-to-help-riders-to-relax-this-holiday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Berlin public transit agency BVG<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is selling hemp-infused tickets it says bus and subway riders can eat to stay calm during the holiday season. This comes as Germany\u2019s new government has pledged to legalize marijuana nationwide.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ FEDERAL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/12\/16\/us\/covid-prison-inmates-compassionate-release-invs\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">federal judge<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> granted compassionate release to a 90-year-old, seriously ill man serving life in prison for a nonviolent marijuana trafficking offense.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenSchumer\/status\/1471514979224326146\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> tweeted. \u201cI\u2019m working with @SenBooker and @RonWyden to pass our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. Because we must end the federal prohibition and make criminal justice reforms. And that\u2019s exactly what our bill does.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/video\/?516762-1\/senate-approves-national-defense-authorization-bill-88-11&amp;vod&amp;start=12190\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> spoke in a Senate floor <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassley.senate.gov\/news\/remarks\/grassley-congress-needs-to-continue-taking-action-on-the-opioid-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">speech<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> about his work on legislation to remove barriers to marijuana research, which he argued is necessary before it is legalized or decriminalized.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ STATES<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Michelle4NM\/status\/1471208453917929474\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New Mexico<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) tweeted, \u201cThis year my administration legalized cannabis, fulfilling a promise to the people of New Mexico, who overwhelmingly supported the effort. Legalized cannabis will create thousands of NM jobs and bring in millions in revenue.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NikkiFried\/status\/1471331184064045057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, currently the agriculture commissioner, tweeted about getting 420 donors to her campaign, saying, \u201cAnd yes, it\u2019s past time to legalize marijuana!! We have to win first!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legis.la.gov\/legis\/Agenda.aspx?m=4866\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Louisiana<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> House Criminal Justice Impacts of Legalizing Cannabis Subcommittee held its first hearing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VoteGloriaJ\/status\/1471269943144591362\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tennessee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> representative tweeted, \u201cDemocrats have been working on this for years, a handful of GOP play like they are on board, yet never run the bills. It\u2019s time for this to happen and time to listen to 81% of Tennesseans who want to see cannabis reform!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JulianCyr\/status\/1471232154487169033\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> senator tweeted, \u201cLet\u2019s be honest: we need legal, public locations for adults to consume cannabis in communities that want them. I filed S.65 to address nuisance issues &amp; promote public health by giving adults a space to consume cannabis after purchase from a dispensary.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasobserver.com\/news\/in-latest-crackdown-on-anything-vaguely-adjacent-to-marijuana-texas-again-bans-smokable-hemp-12947810\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Texas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators appealed a ruling overturning their ban on smokable hemp to the state Supreme Court, a move that reinstates the policy for now.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/public-interest\/2021\/12\/licensing-agency-asks-judge-to-allow-removal-of-moldy-weed-from-michigan-marijuana-market.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Michigan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators asked a judge to reconsider a ruling that they say could allow the sale of moldy and contaminated marijuana.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.ny.gov\/system\/files\/documents\/2021\/12\/ccb-meeting-agenda-12.16.21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New York<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators approved <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.ny.gov\/system\/files\/documents\/2021\/12\/ccb-proposed-cannabinoid-hemp-regulations-12.16.21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to cannabinoid hemp rules. Separately, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CrainsNewYork\/status\/1471232527356551178\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">chair of the Cannabis Control Board<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> said she hopes to have draft marijuana rules available for public comment sometime in the first quarter or next year.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sos.state.co.us\/CCR\/RegisterPdfContents.do?publicationDay=12\/10\/2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Colorado<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators adopted new marijuana and hemp rules.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/arizona-marijuana-recreational-marijuana-tucson-a8fe1ed40be280084e0b1130322ecc69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators received more than 1,500 applications for 26 marijuana social equity dispensary licenses.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legislature.maine.gov\/doc\/7679\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators submitted a report on the hemp program to lawmakers.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/cannabis\/documents\/businesses\/personal-use\/Cannabis%20Business%20Application%20FAQ.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New Jersey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators posted a FAQ about marijuana business license applications.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/WALCB\/bulletins\/3014625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Washington State<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators sent an update about transitioning to a new marijuana tracking system.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregon.gov\/olcc\/marijuana\/Documents\/Rules\/Public-Hearing-Notice-2021-MJ-Bill-and-Technical-Package-122021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Oregon<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> regulators will hold a hearing on marijuana and hemp rules on Monday.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<strong>\u2014<br \/>\n<strong>Marijuana Moment is already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tracking more than 1,300 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">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><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9128 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-49.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Learn more about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/bills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/marijuanamoment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.<br \/>\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\/ LOCAL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.portlandoregon.gov\/cbo\/article\/797964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Portland, Oregon<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> officials issued a memo forecasting cannabis revenue.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ INTERNATIONAL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mycomoxvalleynow.com\/83205\/drug-decriminalization-bill-introduced-by-ndp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canadian<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> lawmaker <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GordJohns\/status\/1471317891396272129\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">filed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parl.ca\/LegisInfo\/en\/bill\/44-1\/C-216\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">bill<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to decriminalize drug possession and expunge prior records.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afr.com\/companies\/healthcare-and-fitness\/tga-blocks-mdma-magic-mushrooms-trials-for-mental-health-20211216-p59i6u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Australia\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Therapeutic Good Administration rejected a proposal to reschedule psilocybin and MDMA.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.malaymail.com\/news\/malaysia\/2021\/12\/16\/minister-calls-on-moh-home-ministry-to-approve-growing-of-cannabis-hemp-and\/2028897\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Malaysia\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> deputy minister for communications and multimedia is calling for the legalization of cultivating marijuana and kratom for medical purposes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ SCIENCE &amp; HEALTH<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A review concluded that \u201cit is evident that the risks from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/20503245211055381\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">driving after using cannabis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are much lower than from other behaviours such as drink-driving, speeding or using mobile phones while driving\u201d and that \u201cwith the medical and recreational use of cannabis becoming more prevalent, the removal of cannabis-presence driving offences should be considered (while impairment-based offences would remain).\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ ADVOCACY, OPINION &amp; ANALYSIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscannabiscouncil.org\/uscc-launches-task-force-to-advance-dei-in-cannabis-industry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">U.S. Cannabis Council<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> launched a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force that includes NAACP and National Urban League officials, as well as former basketball player Isiah Thomas and former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL).<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>\/ BUSINESS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/news-release\/2021\/12\/16\/2354124\/0\/en\/Acreage-Holdings-Secures-150-Million-Credit-Facility-to-Accelerate-Strategic-Growth-Initiatives.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acreage Holdings, Inc.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> secured a $150 million credit facility with AFC Gamma, Inc. and Viridescent Realty Trust, Inc.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A psilocybin patent from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/pkpg7b\/synthetic-psilocybin-patent-challenge-compass-pathways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">COMPASS Pathways PLC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is being challenged.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newswire.ca\/news-releases\/havn-life-successfully-exports-psilocybin-from-jamaica-facility-into-the-u-s-for-research-purposes-819808175.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Havn Life Sciences Inc.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> announced it exported naturally derived psilocybin from its facility in Jamaica into the U.S.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/numinus-wellness-inc-to-commence-trading-on-the-tsx-on-december-16-2021-301444773.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Numinus Wellness Inc.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20211214006079\/en\/Innovative-Industrial-Properties-Declares-Fourth-Quarter-2021-Dividends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Make sure to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">subscribe<\/a> to get Marijuana Moment\u2019s daily dispatch in your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(function() {<br \/>\n\twindow.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {<br \/>\n\t\tlisteners: [],<br \/>\n\t\tforms: {<br \/>\n\t\t\ton: function(evt, cb) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.mc4wp.listeners.push(<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t{<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tevent   : evt,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcallback: cb<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t);<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t}<br \/>\n\t}<br \/>\n})();<br \/>\n<!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.8.6 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-form-fields\">\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t<label>Email address: <\/label>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n\t&#013;\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><label>Leave this field empty if you&#8217;re human: <\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"mc4wp-response\" \/><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin --><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">GOP lawmakers press Biden for cannabis action (Newsletter: December 17, 2021)<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\" target=\"_blank\">Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<br \/>\nRead More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">GOP lawmakers press Biden for cannabis action (Newsletter: December 17, 2021)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VA panel votes to speed up sales; Congressional marijuana memo; CA AG: seal cannabis records; Edible hemp-infused German bus tickets Subscribe\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. (function() { window.mc4wp<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2021\/12\/17\/gop-lawmakers-press-biden-for-cannabis-action-newsletter-december-17-2021\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":459,"featured_media":51829,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15451],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51828"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/459"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51828"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51830,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51828\/revisions\/51830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}