Trump’s health lawyer pick calls cannabis a “gateway drug” (Newsletter: February 19, 2025)
From toxifillers.com with love
ND decrim expansion; SD medical marijuana repeal stalls; FL legalization poll; AR to use medical cannabis revenue for school breakfast
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Mike Stuart, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the Department of Health and Human Services’s top lawyer, says marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to greater misuse of opioids.
- “My office is preparing to enforce laws against marijuana aggressively – AGGRESSIVELY.”
Arkansas lawmakers sent Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) a bill to dedicate revenue from medical marijuana taxes to pay for free breakfast for students at schools.
The North Dakota House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to significantly expand the state’s existing marijuana decriminalization law by reducing the offense for possession to a civil citation punishable by a fine of $150.
The South Dakota House Health and Human Services killed a bill that would have repealed the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law—though the panel did advance separate legislation to remove a legal defense for patients without registry identification cards.
The Ohio Senate General Government Committee held a hearing on a bill to significantly alter the voter-approved marijuana legalization law—by halving the number of plants adults can grow and eliminating certain social equity measures—but members voted to remove provisions to increase taxes.
A new poll of Florida voters shows that they support legalizing marijuana, 67 percent to 32 percent—exceeding the supermajority threshold needed to enact a ballot initiative under state law, even though a cannabis measure fell short of that last year.
South Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict intoxicating hemp-infused edibles and drinks.
Minnesota lawmakers are working to repeal a law that requires illegal drug sellers to buy tax stamps for their products to avoid additional penalties.
/ FEDERAL
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a fact sheet about marijuana use and pregnancy.
/ STATES
The Nebraska attorney general’s office is appealing a judge’s dismissal of charges against a notary for alleged misconduct in handling medical cannabis legalization petitions.
The Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives approved differing legislation to restrict intoxicating hemp products.
A Pennsylvania representative discussed his opposition to legalizing marijuana.
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering several bills to amend various medical cannabis rules.
Minnesota regulators began accepting cannabis business license applications.
Colorado regulators sent a notice about health and safety QR code flyers that they are asking marijuana businesses to display.
Vermont regulators launched new cannabis data portals.
Nevada regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Thursday.
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/ LOCAL
The Hamilton County, Ohio Commission voted to oppose a proposed state bill to strip marijuana tax revenue from local governments.
/ INTERNATIONAL
French lawmakers filed a marijuana legalization proposal.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabinoids offer a promising avenue for the development of innovative treatments to combat drug-resistant infections and reduce the reliance on traditional antimicrobial agents.”
A study found that “repeated intermittent administration of [MDMA] mitigates demyelination in the brain from cuprizone-treated mice.”
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
Amnesty International is condemning the pending execution in Singapore of a Malaysian man convicted of drug-related offenses.
/ BUSINESS
LEEF Brands Inc. is acquiring a New York marijuana processing license.
/ CULTURE
Kid Rock said President Donald Trump will “make cocaine great again” by stopping the flow of fentanyl across U.S. borders.
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