Federal Pot Expungement Bill Filed, CA Bill to Speed Psychedelic Research Goes to Governor, More... (7/8/24)

Marijuana Policy

The Thai government has taken another step toward decriminalizing marijuana, North Carolina's Eastern Band of Cherokees began selling adult-use weed on July 4, and more.

US Lawmakers File Bipartisan Bill to Expunge Marijuana Convictions. A bipartisan pair of lawmakers, Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), last week filed a bill that would create a mechanism for expunging minor federal marijuana convictions and clearing non-felony pot offenses currently in the federal judicial system.

The bill "would deliver justice for countless Americans whose lives have been disrupted and deprived because of a misdemeanor marijuana offense," the pair said.

"No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. This bipartisan bill will restore justice to millions of Americans who have suffered excessive secondary consequences associated with marijuana-related misdemeanors," said Carter. "These misdemeanors, even without a conviction, can restrict the ability to access educational aid, housing assistance, occupational licensing, and even foster parenting. Delivering justice for people who have been impacted by marijuana-related misdemeanors is a vital part of comprehensive cannabis reform."

The bill has now been assigned a number, HR 8917, and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

North Carolina Eastern Band of Cherokees Members Can Now Buy Weed. What had been the Great Smoky Cannabis Company medical marijuana dispensary has transformed into the Great Smoky Cannabis Company adult-use retail marijuana outlet for members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and any other federally recognized tribe. The change, and the first legal sale of adult-use marijuana, occurred on the 4th of July.

The tribe overcame opposition from state Republican political figures and a Republican congressman to achieve this benchmark.

Any member of a recognized tribe who is 21 or over and has a tribal membership card can show up and buy weed.

Medical marijuana patients can continue to purchase their medicine at the shop and need not be tribal members.

Psychedelics

CA Lawmakers Approve Bill to Break Psychedelic Research Logjam. The Assembly last week gave final approval to a bill that aims to streamline research applications for psychedelics and marijuana, Assembly Bill 2841. The Assembly passed the bill earlier, but it was amended in the Senate, and the Assembly voted to accept those changes last week.

The legislation is meant to address a large number of psychedelic study applications piling up at the Research Advisory Panel of California (RAPC), which must approve any research. Currently, nearly 70 research proposals are pending.

The RAPC has not met since last August, when a policy change blocked it from holding closed-door meetings. The panel decided to suspend its activities because it is barred under existing law from publicly disclosing trade secrets and other confidential information. The bill would allow the panel to return to closed-door meetings, freeing it to take on the backlog.

The panel would have to report to lawmakers on its progress in addressing the backlog by January 1, 2026.

The bill is now on the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

International

Thai Government Takes Step Toward Recriminalizing Marijuana. A committee under the Ministry of Public Health has voted unanimously to reclassify marijuana and hemp as narcotics, a change set to go into effect on January 1. The decision will now be reviewed by the Narcotics Control Board and if approved, sent to the Food and Drug Administration to adjust existing marijuana-related legislation and set usage guidelines.

The committee agreed unanimously that marijuana should be used only for medicinal purposes, not recreational ones.

Under the new classification, any cannabis products containing more than 0.2 percent THC will be considered narcotics. Branches, roots, and seeds are exempt.

The previous government had liberalized the country's marijuana laws but was unable to get unambiguous decriminalization legislation through the parliament. The current government came to power vowing to undo the reforms, and now it is moving to do so.