BACK IN THE HOUSE
US House pass SAFE Banking reform (again)
The US House has once again passed SAFE Banking reform, this time as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), per NORML.
It’s the seventh time the House has passed banking reform legislation and the second time it has been included in the NDAA. According to Politico, its version of the bill will be introduced to the Senate in September, and the two will have to be reconciled.
“The House has shown once again that the people’s chamber is ready, willing, and able to move forward with sensible cannabis policy reforms,” said NORML political director Morgan Fox in a statement, adding that the several additional amendments impacting veterans and their access to cannabis are equally significant.
“Our nation’s disastrous marijuana policies negatively impact national security on a number of levels and actively harm those who have valiantly served. It is now up to the Senate to help veterans and small businesses by including these broadly popular measures in their companion legislation, or continue standing in the way of progress.”
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GRINER TRIAL
Brittney Griner was authorized to use medical cannabis in Arizona
WNBA star Brittney Griner’s lawyer told the Russian court where she is on trial for drug possession that the Olympian had a doctor’s note to use medical cannabis for pain relief, reports CP24.
Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted. She has been detained since February and has pleaded guilty to bringing cannabis to Russia, although without criminal intent.
“The attending physician gave Brittney recommendations for the use of medical cannabis,” Griner’s lawyer Maria Blagovolina told the court last week. “The permission was issued on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health.”
READY, SET, GO
New York regulators greenlight cannabis retail rules
The state of New York’s initial set of retail licences will officially go to entrepreneurs with previous cannabis convictions now that regulators have approved the proposal, reports the New York Daily News.
The online application website, which is being designed so that applicants can complete it without the help of consultants, is scheduled to launch in August.
“This is a tremendous stride in the right direction,” board chair Tremaine Wright said. “We’re leading with equity in this state.”
SHARES INCREASE
European cannabis companies rebound after months of declines
Several European cannabis companies saw their share prices increase in the lsat last week after months of steady declines, reports BusinessCann.
The details
- MGC Pharmaceuticals was up by more than 52% last week after announcing positive results from its study on oral spray ArtemiC and its benefits to people with long Covid
- Akanda’s share price increased by more than 23% through the week, largely due to its agreement to supply cannabis to Tetra Bio-Pharma
- Cellular Goods and Panaxia Labs were both up by more than 16%
See the full round-up here
