NY hits $1 billion in legal cannabis sales (Newsletter: January 2, 2025)

Federal judge rules against gun ban for marijuana users; USDA hemp survey; GOP senator pushes Russia to release medical cannabis prisoner

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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW

A federal judge ruled that the ban on gun possession by people who consume cannabis is unconstitutional as applied to a Texas man who was not shown to be “intoxicated by marijuana at the time of [the] incident, or at the time he was arrested.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that retailers in the state have now sold more than $1 billion worth of legal marijuana products—saying it’s due to “hard work of those who helped build the strongest cannabis industry in the nation.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will send the latest edition of its annual hemp survey to farmers across the country this month.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) is calling on Russia to “immediately” free U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who is incarcerated in the country for possessing medical cannabis he used to treat pain.

/ FEDERAL

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said she has “concerns” about marijuana rescheduling and discussed her opposition to legalization.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) dodged a question about cannabis banking legislation.

/ STATES

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced the awarding of $26 million in grants through the Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce recently seized nearly $23 million worth of illicitly cultivated marijuana in East Oakland.

Iowa’s House and Senate minority leaders discussed their support for marijuana reform.

Minnesota regulators announced that the state is among the first to allow hemp seed meal to be used in certain animal feed.

Illinois regulators posted an update on their new online cannabis product registration system.

New Hampshire regulators posted a reminder that a new law subjecting marijuana to the same open container policy as alcohol does not apply to medical cannabis.

/ INTERNATIONAL

France’s health minister said officials should “study” medical cannabis.

/ SCIENCE & HEALTH

A review “underscores cannabis’s potential as a multi-target therapeutic strategy for” Alzheimer’s disease.

A study of dogs concluded that “cannabidiol may have a role in modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in various medical conditions.”

/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

A AAA official argued that “we’re kind of painting the plane as we fly it when it comes to cannabis liberalization” and that “public health and safety has been more of an afterthought.”

/ BUSINESS

Here’s a look at whether U.S. investment banks test employees for marijuana and other drugs.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.