A federal veterans' medical marijuana bill gets refiled, an Oklahoma fentanyl test strip bill advances, and more.

Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Medical Marijuana for Military Veterans Refiled. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors refiled the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act Wednesday. The bill would legalize medical marijuana for military veterans. The bill would amend federal law to allow vets to legally possess and use medical marijuana in accordance with state laws and with a doctor's recommendation. It would also allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana. Earlier versions of the bill were filed in the last three Congresses.

Harm Reduction

Oklahoma Bill to Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips Heads for Senate Floor Vote. A bill to legalize fentanyl testing strips by declaring that they are no longer considered drug paraphernalia, House Bill 1987, has passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a unanimous vote and is now headed for a Senate floor vote. The bill has already been approved by the House by a vote of 58-22.

Law Enforcement

DEA Head Investigated for No-Bid Contracts to Past Associates. In the latest scandal to rock the DEA, the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General is investigating whether DEA Administrator Anne Milgram improperly awarded no-bid contracts worth millions of dollars to past associates. Under scrutiny is $4.7 million the agency spent for "strategic planning and communication," much of which went to people Milgram knew in her capacity as New Jersey's attorney general and as a New York University law professor and who were paid at far higher rates than government officials.

Also under scrutiny is a $1.4 million contract given to a Washington, DC, law firm to review the DEA's scandal-plagued foreign operations. That review was widely panned for downplaying agent misbehavior. It was written by Boyd Johnson, a former assistant to former New York City US Attorney Preet Bharara, one of Milgram's closest friends.

Federal contracting is not supposed to bypass the government hiring process and is supposed to take place without preferential treatment for anyone. If the Inspector General finds wrongdoing, it could lead to administrative or even criminal charges.

Sentencing Policy

Push for California Ballot Initiative to Increase Penalties for Fentanyl Dealers Gets Underway. An Orange County group calling itself Fentanyl Solution has $2.2 million in initial funding and plan to draft a ballot initiative that would increase sentences for people convicted of fentanyl distribution. The groups says it will begin with a public opinion poll on the issue to help figure out the best way to draft the proposed initiative.

"We want to let the legislators, who voted against every form of penalty for these drug dealers, know that we are holding them accountable," said Janice M. Celeste, President & CEO of Fentanyl Solution.org. "We believe that drug dealers who sell fentanyl and murder their customers must pay the price for their actions. The Poll-to-Prop initiative is a crucial step in our efforts to raise awareness about the need for stricter penalties for these criminals."

It's a long way from here to an initiative qualifying for the 2024 ballot. Once an initiative is approved by state officials, backers will have 180 days to come up with more than half a million valid voter signatures, but that must happen by July 2024 to get on the November 2024 ballot.

Canada's Supreme Court upholds a Quebec ban on home marijuana cultivation, the Illinois Senate approves bills deepening marijuana legalization, and more.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signs a bill creating lengthy mandatory minimums around fentanyl. (ar.gov)

Candidate Trump Suggests "Genetically Engineered" Marijuana May Be Linked to Mass Shootings. During a campaign speech before America's most powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association (NRA), former President Donald Trump suggested that "genetically engineered" marijuana could be behind some mass shootings. But marijuana is just one of the blame agents Trump pointed to instead of addressing the proliferation of weapons in the country. "We have to look at whether common psychiatric drugs, as well as genetically engineered cannabis and other narcotics, are causing psychotic breaks" that lead to gun violence, he said. He would direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate, he added. He also pointed a finger at "transgender hormone treatments and ideology," Above all, he argued, don't blame the guns: "This is not a gun problem. This is a mental health problem," he said. "This is a social problem. This is a cultural problem. This is a spiritual problem."

Illinois Senate Approves Marijuana Search, Probation Bills. The Senate has passed a pair of bills aimed at deepening marijuana legalization in the state. Senate Bill 125 would bar police from searching a vehicle based solely on the odor of marijuana, while Senate Bill 1886 would allow some people on probation to consume marijuana and alcohol. Both bills now await action in the House.

South Dakota Poll Suggests Marijuana Legalization Could Win in 2024. A South Dakota State University poll released Monday had support for marijuana legalization at 49 percent, with 41 percent opposed. State voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in the 2020 election by a margin of 54-45 only to have the measure overturned by the state Supreme Court. Legalization was on the ballot again last year, only to be defeated 53-47. The pollsters noted that 2022 turnout was much lower than 2020 and that a higher turnout in 2024 could lead to another marijuana legalization victory.

Psychedelics

Nevada Senate Committee Approves Bill to Create Psychedelic Working Group. The Senate has approved Senate Bill 242, which would create a working group to study psychedelics and create a plan to allow for access for therapeutic purposes. The bill originally would have legalized psilocybin and promoted research on it, as well as MDMA, but was significantly narrowed in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Now, instead of legalization, the bill would create a Psychedelic Medicines Working Group to examine the use of the substances "in medicinal, therapeutic, and improved wellness." The bill now awaits a Senate floor vote.

Sentencing Policy

Arkansas Governor Signs Bill Allowing for Drug Sellers to Be Charged with Murder in Cases of Overdose Death. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) has signed into law House Bill 1456, popularly known as the "Death by Delivery" bill. Under the bill, people who sell a drug that leads to an overdose death face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The same sentence applies to those who package fentanyl in a way that "entices" minors or who sell to minors, regardless of whether a fatal overdose takes place.

Harm Reduction

Vermont Senate Committee Amends Overdose Prevention Bill to Include Drug-Checking Sites. The Senate Health Committee has amended an overdose prevention bill, House Bill 222, to include a statewide network of drug-checking sites where street drugs can be tested for deadly concentrations of illicit drugs. Approved by the committee last Friday, the amendment would grant immunity from arrest and prosecution for people running the sites and collecting samples, as well as the drug users who bring their stashes to be tested. If the bill now passes the Senate, it will have to go back to the House for a concurrence vote on the new language.

International

Canada Supreme Court Rules Quebec Ban on Home Marijuana Cultivation Can Stand. Under federal marijuana law, people can grow up to four plants at home, but the province of Quebec barred home grows in 2019. Now, after a Quebecer challenged the ban, the Canadian Supreme Court has ruled that the provincial ban is constitutional. "The Quebec legislature saw the possession and personal cultivation of cannabis not as a social evil to be suppressed, but rather as a practice that should be prohibited in order to steer consumers to a controlled source of supply," the court held. That controlled source of supply is held by the state -- in this case, the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), the government agency that operates cannabis stores in the province.

The court also held that even though the federal law permits growing up to four plants at home, there is no "positive right to self-cultivation," writing that: "It is true that, in everyday language and even in the speeches of some parliamentarians, the creation of exceptions or exemptions under a scheme of criminal offences is often described as a 'legalization effort,'" the ruling reads. However, this way of speaking is incorrect and falsely suggests that positive rights authorizing particular conduct have been granted to the public."

Taiwan Reaffirms Strong Opposition to Marijuana Legalization. Responding to street demonstrations calling for marijuana decriminalization, the Taiwanese Ministry of Justice on Saturday reaffirmed the government's strong opposition to marijuana legalization. The reformers, organized as Wave Green, rallied in front of the presidential office in Taipei Saturday, urging the Justice Ministry to "stop the war against cannabis." But the ministry said prohibition would remain and is aimed at keeping people healthy and keeping society safe and stable. It asserted that long term marijuana use damages people's health and causes other harm to them. Under current law, marijuana use is punishable by up to three years in prison, while growers and sellers face up to life in prison and a $491,000 fine.

(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org's 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this website. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)

Houston's DA tells the cops not to jail people for less than four grams of drugs, Washington's House votes to keep drug possession a misdemeanor, and more.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Grisham Lujan (D) has vetoed two sentencing reform bills. (nm.gov)

Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Ban Car Searches Over Marijuana Odor. The Senate has approved Senate Bill 125, which bars police from conducting car searches based on the smell of marijuana emanating from a vehicle. Now, state residents will no longer have to store their weed in an odor-proof container as they travel the state's roads and highways. "People -- especially people of color -- are unnecessarily pulled over far too often," said bill sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura (D). "The odor of cannabis alone shouldn't be one of those reasons. Cannabis is legal in Illinois and it's a pungent scent that can stick to clothes for extended periods of time."

Medical Marijuana

Oklahoma House Committee Approves Package of Medical Marijuana Bills. The House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee on Wednesday approved eight different medical marijuana bills, including one that would limit the THC content of edibles. Senate Bill 440 would limit Delta-9 THC content to 1,000 milligrams per package. Among other bills, Senate Bill 437 would force the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to rebid its contract for seed-to-sale technology. Senate Bill 645 would require packaging of all products, including flower. Senate Bill 801 would allow authorities to monitor water and power usage of grow facilities. Senate Bill 913 would require grow operators to post a $50,000 bond unless they've owned the property for at least five years.

Texas House Passes Bill to Expand Medical Marijuana Program. The House on Wednesday approved a bill that would add people with chronic pain to the state's list of people eligible to use medical marijuana, House Bill 1805. Texans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, ALS, cancer and epilepsy already qualify under the program.

Drug Policy

Drug Policy Alliance Reacts to Biden Administration Designating Fentanyl Combined with Xylazine as an Emerging Threat. In response to the White House today designating fentanyl combined with xylazine as an emerging threat, Maritza Perez Medina, Director of the Office of Federal Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement:

"We, too, are concerned about xylazine and agree that more public health tools are urgently needed. This should include public education, evidence-based treatment and harm reduction, xylazine test strips and other life-saving overdose prevention services, such as overdose prevention centers. And because xylazine is most often combined with opioids, we should continue to double down on increasing access to naloxone and medications to treat opioid use disorder, like methadone and buprenorphine. We should also fund further research into xylazine, its potential harms and benefits, and possible antagonists that could reverse xylazine-involved overdoses, similar to the way naloxone can reverse opioid-involved overdoses.

"Yet, in order for these to be fully effective, the Biden Administration must learn from the mistakes of the past and not push more supply-side interdiction policies. They are incredibly counterproductive and lead to a more unknown and potentially more potent drug supply. Crackdowns on prescription opioids and heroin created the conditions for fentanyl analogues to flourish and overtake the drug supply. And now history is once again repeating itself, with newer, potentially more harmful substances -- like xylazine -- popping up and already overtaking some markets. Make no mistake, focusing on supply-side interdiction will only dig us deeper into this crisis and inevitably result in more loss of life."

New Mexico Governor Vetoes Two Sentencing Reform Bills. In a nod to law enforcement, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has vetoed two sentencing reform bills saying prosecutors needed tools to "encourage" defendants to get drug treatment. Senate Bill 187 would have no longer allowed courts to count a drug possession charge or a DWI charge from another jurisdiction when considering sentencing someone as a "habitual offender." Senate Bill 84 would have revised the state's probation and parole system and tied punishments to the severity of the violation -- rather than the crime that originally sent them to prison.

Washington House Votes to Keep Drug Possession a Misdemeanor. The House voted early Wednesday morning to keep drug possession a misdemeanor, which it had been temporarily since the state Supreme Court threw out the state's felony drug possession law in 2021. Senate Bill 5536 will allow police to arrest drug possessors on a first offense, but also give them full discretion to divert offenders. The maximum sentence for a gross misdemeanor is one year in jail. The bill also allows drug charges to be wiped from someone's record if he commits no new offenses in a year, even if they have not completed drug treatment. Efforts to decriminalize or re-felonize drug possession both came up short.

Law Enforcement

Houston DA Tells Police Not to Jail Small-Time Drug Offenders. Harris County (Houston) District Attorney Kim Ogg (D) has sent a memo asking local law enforcement to not take people into custody for possessing less than four grams of drugs. Citing a backlog of criminal cases in the county, Ogg said the move will shorten the time between case filing and the final disposition of the case. "This means people will not languish in jail as long, cases will not crowd up dockets as long, and we will continue to prioritize the serious violent crimes over those cases,"said Ogg. "If there's a public safety threat, there's an exception to the policy."

Psychedelics

Washington House Passes Bill Setting Framework for Psilocybin Use. The House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 5263, which would allow the state to establish an advisory board and task force to provide advice and recommendations on developing a regulatory framework for access to psilocybin. If ever legalized, only Washington residents who are 21 and older would be able to access the drug. The Senate has already approved the bill, but because the House amended it to add a pilot program psilocybin to serve veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance use disorder, it must now go back to the Senate for a concurrence vote.

International

Germany Waters Down Marijuana Legalization Plan After Talks with European Union. After discussions with the European Union, the German government says it now plans to legalize the possession and private cultivation and distribution of marijuana but not widespread sales in pot shops. The legislation does include a pilot project for a small number of licensed pot shops to evaluate the effect of a commercial marijuana supply chain on public health, the black market, and the protection of minors. Under the plan, possession of up to 25 grams would be legal. The government gave no time line for moving the legislation.

A Maryland bill blocking police searches based on the odor of marijuana is on the governor's desk, a Delaware bill to end civil asset forfeiture reform is filed, and more.

Xylazine is used to accentuate the fentanyl high, but has serious side effects. (Creative Commons)

Maryland Legislature Approves Bill Blocking Police Searches Based on Marijuana Odor. With a final House concurrence vote just minutes before the legislative session ended money, lawmakers approved House Bill 1071 that bars police from using the smell or possession of marijuana alone as the basis of a search. The bill had passed the House last month, but was revised in the Senate Monday, necessitating the final House vote. Police "may not initiate a stop or a search of a person, a motor vehicle, or a vessel" based only on the smell of burnt or unburnt marijuana, the possession of a personal use amount of marijuana or the presence of money near marijuana without additional evidence of intent to distribute. The bill also lowers the fine for public pot smoking from $250 to $50. The bill now joins the broader marijuana commerce bill awaiting the signature of Gov. Wes Moore (D).

Asset Forfeiture

Delaware Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill Filed. House Democrats last week filed a bill aimed at reining in asset forfeiture in the state, House Bill 115. The bill from Rep. Kim Williams (D) would require that property owners be convicted of a crime before seizure could occur. The bill would also create stricter guidelines for civil asset forfeiture and tighter legislature oversight over civil asset forfeiture revenues. In the three-year period between 2018 and 2021, the state saw more than 2,500 cases of civil asset forfeiture, including 170 where property owners were not even arrested, let alone convicted of a crime.

Drug Policy

Biden Administration Designates Fentanyl Combined with Xylazine as an Emerging Threat to US. On Wednesday, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP -- the drug czar's office), has officially designated fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States. Xylazine is a non-opioid tranquilizer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for veterinary use but not human use. This designation comes after careful review of the impact of xylazine on the opioid crisis, including its growing role in overdose deaths in every region of the United States.

"As a physician, I am deeply troubled about the devastating impact of the fentanyl-xylazine combination, and as President Biden's drug policy advisor, I am immensely concerned about what this threat means for the Nation," said Dr. Gupta. "That's why the Biden-Harris Administration is using this designation authority for the first time since it passed Congress in 2018. By declaring xylazine combined with fentanyl as an emerging threat, we are being proactive in our approach to save lives and creating new tools for public health and public safety officials and communities across the Nation. To parents, loved ones, community leaders, and those affected by xylazine use: I want you to know that help is on the way."

But not a safe drug supply.

Arizona Governor Vetoes Fentanyl Mandatory Minimums Bill. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) on Tuesday vetoed Senate Bill1027, which would have placed a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison on the first offense, and 15 years on the second offense, for anyone convicted of possessing, distributing, transferring, selling, or manufacturing heroin, fentanyl, or fentanyl analogs. "Last week, I signed a bill continuing Arizona's Good Samaritan law," Hobbs wrote in her veto message. "I fear this bill, particularly Section 2, would undermine the purpose of that law. I encourage the legislature to send me a narrower bill that focuses on the manufacture of fentanyl."

Maryland is just the governor's signature away from having a system of taxed and regulated marijuana commerce, Minnesota lawmakers fold a psychedelic task force bill into a must-pass healthcare omnibus bill, and more.

A Washington state bill would allow jail terms of up to a year for drug possession (Creative Commons)

Another Federal Court Rules Banning Marijuana Consumers from Possessing Guns is Unconstitutional. The US District Court for the Western District of Texas has ruled that banning marijuana users from possessing firearms is unconstitutional. The decision comes on the heels of a February ruling in the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma that also found the gun ban unconstitutional.

Both decisions come in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court ruling last year that makes it more difficult to restrict gun access. The Justice Department is already set to argue a similar case in the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Texas case involves a woman who was charged with firearms offenses after she admitted being a marijuana consumer, but who was never charged with a marijuana offense.

"The longstanding prohibition on possession of firearms by felons requires the Government to charge and convict an individual before disarming her," the court held. "In short, the historical tradition of disarming 'unlawful' individuals appears to mainly involve disarming those convicted of serious crimes after they have been afforded criminal process," the ruling continues. "Section 922(g)(3), in contrast, disarms those who engage in criminal conduct that would give rise to misdemeanor charges, without affording them the procedural protections enshrined in our criminal justice system. The law thus deviates from our Nation's history of firearm regulation."

Maryland Marijuana Legal Sales Bills Go to Governor. Both the House and the Senate have now passed bills that would launch a system of taxed and regulated marijuana commerce in the state. The bills are now on the desk of Gov. Wes Moore (D), who is expected to sign them. The bills set a marijuana retail sales tax at 9 percent and directs most of the revenues to communities damaged by the war on drugs. It also sets fees for medical marijuana businesses to convert to recreational marijuana licenses, limits the number of licenses a business can own, and sets terms for social equity applicants, who will be able to obtain licenses when a second round is awarded in January.

Psychedelics

Minnesota Lawmakers Include Psychedelic Provisions in Omnibus Health Bill. Lawmakers have folded a bill that would create a psychedelics task force to prepare the state for possible legalization, House File 1884, into a larger, must-pass omnibus health care bill. The action was taken last week by the House Health finance and Policy Committee, which adopted an author's amendment to the omnibus bill that added a revised version of the psychedelics measure. If the bill passes, the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force would be charged with advising lawmakers on "the legal, medical, and policy issues associated with the legalization of psychedelic medicine in the state." The omnibus bill must still be approved the Ways and Means Committee before heading for a House floor vote.

Drug Policy

Washington Bill to Make Drug Possession a Gross Misdemeanor Wins House Committee Vote. After a 2021 state Supreme Court decision invalidated the state's felony drug possession law, the legislature has scrambled to come up with an alternative, and now, a bill that would make simple drug possession a gross misdemeanor, Senate Bill 5536, has passed the Senate and won a vote in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill will allow police to arrest drug possessors on a first offense, but also give them full discretion to divert offenders. The maximum sentence for a gross misdemeanor is one year in jail. The bill also allows drug charges to be wiped from someone's record if he commits no new offenses in a year, even if they have not completed drug treatment.

An Arkansas marijuana legalization bill gets filed, the German health minister says the government's marijuana legalization bill will be revealed after Easter, and more.

Afghan opium poppies. The Taliban says it is eradicating them this year. (UNODC)

Arkansas Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed. Just months after state voters defeated a marijuana legalization initiative by 10 points, Sen. Claude Tucker (D-Little Rock) has filed a marijuana legalization bill, Senate Bill 580. The bill would legalize the possession of up to two ounces and undo the sentence of anyone convicted for possession of less than two ounces. It would also allow for the expungement of past felony convictions for less than two ounces of marijuana and release from correctional supervision anyone on probation or parole for possession of less than two ounces. The bill has no provisions for taxed and regulated marijuana commerce.

New Hampshire House Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill. For the second time this session, the House has approved a marijuana legalization bill, House Bill 639. The bill had passed the House in February, but had to go back to the House Ways and Means Committee before returning to the floor for final passage. It would legalize the possession of up to four ounces and create a system of taxed and regulated legal marijuana commerce. The bill would allow localities to limit or ban pot businesses in their jurisdiction. It now goes to the Senate.

Sentencing Policy

Bipartisan Smart Sentencing Act Introduced. US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) on Tuesday in introducing the Smarter Sentencing Act. The bill lowers certain mandatory derug sentences, but does not repeal any mandatory minimum sentence and does not lower any maximum sentence. This approach reserves the option to dole out the harshest penalties where circumstances warrant, while allowing judges to moderate sentences based on individual circumstances. These changes do not apply to penalties for violent offenses.

International

Taliban Says Opium Eradication Campaign Has Begun. Local officials in Herat province have begun a campaign to destroy poppy fields, in line with official pronouncements by the Taliban banning opium production. "Our operation is underway and hundreds of acres of land have been cleared of poppy in different districts," head of the counter narcotics department of Herat Hayatullah Rouhani said. Eradication campaigns are also ongoing in Ghor, Badghis, Nimroz and Farah provinces. It is expected that poppy fields in the west of the country will be destroyed ahead of the harvest season. Farmers are calling on the government to assist them by providing alternative crops to replace opium poppies.

German Health Minister Says Marijuana Legalization Bill to Be Released After Easter. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said Wednesday the long-awaited marijuana legalization bill will be released "immediately after Easter." Details on the bill remain unclear, however. But that isn't stopping some members of the governing coalition from expressing concern about reported decisions to reduce the scope of legalization.

With the signature of Gov. Andy Beshear (D) on Senate Bill 47 last Friday, Kentucky became the 38th state to make medical marijuana legal. The legislature had balked for years on medical marijuana, but Beshear pushed hard for it since he took office in late 2019.

Last fall, Beshear turned up the heat on the legislature by signing an executive order providing access to medical marijuana for Kentuckians who suffer from at least one of 21 medical conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, muscular dystrophy and terminal illness. Beshear then worked with lawmakers this session to push for full legalization of medical marijuana, arguing it would further provide relief for those suffering, fuel job growth, and help support the state's farmers. And now, those efforts have paid off.

"In November, I signed an executive order to help Kentuckians with certain medical conditions, like our veterans suffering from PTSD, find safe and effective relief through medical cannabis," Beshear said. "Now, I am finally able to sign this legislation into law and fully legalize medical cannabis -- something the majority of Kentuckians support."

He wasn't the only one basking in the glow of victory.

"I am very happy to be here with friends to celebrate this special day. The signing of SB 47 comes after about five years of hard-fought legislative efforts," said bill sponsor Sen. Stephen West (R-Paris). "This bill is how the legislative process should work. Senate Bill 47 is probably one of the most vetted bills in the history of the General Assembly, going through numerous committees being worked and reworked numerous times. I am proud to be a part of that effort."

"It is a true honor to be here today to celebrate this momentous legislation. For far too long, we have had to depend on the pharmaceutical companies pushing substances that have been a bane to rural Kentucky. I come from Eastern Kentucky, and I have seen firsthand the devastation that opioids have brought on my region," said Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville). "I came here late to the issue, but I am glad I jumped on board and was able to play a small part in getting it over the finish line."

"This is how it is supposed to be done. I am filled with emotion. There are thousands and thousands of Kentuckians who just want to be and want to feel better. This will help them with that," said Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville), the majority whip. "This is such a good bill because there will be tens of thousands of Kentuckians who will never know our names, who have never walked these halls, but will be helped. I am happy to have played a small part in that."

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) also pronounced itself pleased.

"Kentuckians who are suffering will finally be able to have access to safe, legal medical cannabis. We applaud the Kentucky legislature for recognizing the value of medical cannabis and passing legislation that will help provide relief and meet the needs of patients with serious medical conditions throughout the state, and are also grateful for the governor's championing of this compassionate issue," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP director of state policies.

The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2025, with regulations due to be in place by July 1, 2024. In the meantime, the executive order allowing for medical marijuana use will remain in effect, and residents can purchase medical marijuana out of state as well.

The new law will allow for the use of raw marijuana. It cannot be smoked, but vaping will be allowed. Patients will be allowed to keep a 30-day supply at home and a 10-day supply while traveling, with definitions to be provided by state regulators. Home cultivation will not be allowed.

The Cabinet of Health and Family Services will oversee the implementation, operation, oversight, and regulation of the medical program, while a nine-member Board of Physicians and Advisors will have prescriptive authority. It will make recommendations, including regarding how much cannabis constitutes a 10-day and 30-day supply, adding or removing qualifying conditions, and performance standards for medical cannabis businesses. And medical marijuana will be subject to state sales and excise taxes.

Welcome to the club, Kentucky.

A Florida marijuana legalization initiative looks well placed to meet its signature gathering threshold, a pair of GOP senators introduce a bill designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and more.

If reelected, former President Donald Trump is hankering for military action against Mexican drug cartels. (Creative Commons)

Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative Two-Thirds of the Way There on Signatures. Supporters of a proposed marijuana legalization initiative in the form of a constitutional amendment are more than two-thirds of the way to coming up with enough valid voter signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot. According to the state Division of Elections, the campaign had 635,961 valid signatures as of Tuesday, with 891,589 needed to qualify. And it has until February 1, 2024 to come up with the remaining signatures.

Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Wins Senate Committee Vote. The Senate Rules and Administration Committee on Tuesday approved the marijuana legalization bill,  Senate File 73. The legislation, which has passed through more than 20 House and Senate committees, is now nearing floor votes. In the Senate, it must pass only two more panels before heading for a floor vote. Both the Senate and House bills have been amended numerous times throughout this process, with lawmakers working to incorporate public feedback, revise policies around issues like tax structures for the market and tighten up language.

Psychedelics

Massachusetts GOP Legislator Files Three Psychedelic Reform Bills. Rep. Nicholas Boldgya (R) has filed three bills aimed at loosening restrictions on various psychedelic substances. House Bill 3574 would allow prescription medications containing MDMA. House Bill 3589 would legalize psychedelics from natural plants and fungi. House Bill 3605 would legalize the therapeutic, spiritual, and medicinal use of psilocybin or magic mushrooms. "People are suffering from debilitating mental health issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and depression. These psychedelic compounds and plant medicines are offering hope and healing to those that were once hopeless," Boldyga said. The war on drugs has had "disastrous consequences," he added, including deterring society from benefiting from medically useful substances.

Foreign Policy

GOP Senators File Bill Designating Mexican Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in introducing the Ending the Notorious, Aggressive and Remorseless Criminal Organizations and Syndicates (NARCOS) Act of 2023 to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The legislation would also create a task force for the purpose of eliminating the threat that cartels and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, pose to American citizens. By designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the US government would have authority to prosecute individuals for drug and human trafficking. America could also use extraterritorial jurisdiction to target and prosecute foreign nationals involved with Mexican cartels or other transnational criminal organizations. The bill names the following groups as meriting the terrorist designation: the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the  Gulf Cartel, the Los Zetas Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, the Beltray-Leyva Cartel, and La Familia Michoacana.

Donald Trump Seeking Plan to Wage War on Cartels in Mexico. The recently indicted ex-president, who is now campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, has been asking policy advisors for a range of military options for attacking Mexican drug cartels, including military actions not sanctioned by the Mexican government—which the Mexicans are likely to see as acts of war. He has been briefed on options that include US troop deployments on Mexican territory and unilateral military strikes. "'Attacking Mexico,' or whatever you'd like to call it, is something that President Trump has said he wants 'battle plans' drawn for," said one source close to Trump. "He's complained about missed opportunities of his first term, and there are a lot of people around him who want fewer missed opportunities in a second Trump administration."

(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org's 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this website. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)

Minnesota's marijuana legalization bill wins yet another committee vote, a Connecticut psilocybin decriminalization bill heads for a House floor vote, and more.

Medical marijuana dispensaries like this one will soon be coming to the Bluegrass State. (Creative Commons)

Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Wins 14th House Committee Vote. The House Tax Committee has become the 14th House committee to approve the marijuana legalization bill, House File100. Approval came on a voice vote last Thursday after the committee adopted a large-scale amendment to overhaul various tax provisions of the legislation, moving away from the legalization plan put forward by Gov. Tim Walz (DFL). Companion legislation is also moving in the Senate, with differences between the two bills to be worked out in conference committee. The bill heads next to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday. Meanwhile, the Senate version is heading to the Rules and Administration Committee next Tuesday.

Washington Bill Banning Pre-Employment Marijuana Drug Approved by Legislature. Both the House and the Senate have approved a bill, Senate Bill 5123, that would bar employers from taking adverse actions against new hires because of a failed drug test for marijuana. The Senate approved it last month, and the House passed it last week. Because of minor changes in the bill's text in the House, it must go back to the Senate for a concurrence vote this week. Then it will go to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee (D). "It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in the initial hiring for employment if the discrimination is based upon: (a) The person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace; or (b) An employer-required drug screening test that has found the person to have non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites in their hair, blood, urine, or other bodily fluids."

Medical Marijuana

Kentucky Becomes 38th State to Legalize Medical Marijuana. Gov. Andy Beshear last Friday signed into law Senate Bill 47, making the state the 38th to allow for the medicinal use of marijuana. The bill will allow patients with specified medical conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder to obtain a doctor’s recommendation to use cannabis medicinally. The bill does not allow patients to smoke marijuana, although it does allow for the sale of unprocessed cannabis flower for vaporization. Other marijuana formulations including capsules, tinctures and topical products are also authorized by the bill. Patients will be permitted to possess a 10-day supply of cannabis on their person and a 30-day supply at home. It will be up to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to draft and put into place regulations for the production and sale of medical marijuana.

Psychedelics

Connecticut Psilocybin Decriminalization Bill Wins Committee Vote. The House Judiciary Committee voted last Thursday to send a bill decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of psilocybin, House Bill 6734, to the House floor. Under the bill possessing less than a half ounce of psilocybin or psilocybin-containing mushrooms a ticketable offense with a maximum $150 fine for a first offense. Further offenses would carry fines between $250 and $500 along with a referral to a drug education program.

Drug Policy

Bipartisan Reentry Act Introduced in Senate. US Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation that expands access to health care, including mental health services and substance use disorder treatment, for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before their release from jail or prison. The Reentry Act would also make it easier for states to provide effective substance use disorder treatment and services, allowing for smoother transitions to community care and a reduced risk of overdose deaths post-release. Just released inmates are at extremely high risk of suffering drug overdoses. "When people serve their time and are working to transition back into the community, it is our responsibility to give them the tools they need to live healthy, successful lives, and that includes health care coverage to help reduce the risk of overdose," said Sen. Baldwin. "The opioid and substance use epidemic impacts every community across the country, but particularly incarcerated individuals who are working to reenter society. I’m proud to work with Democrats, Republicans, law enforcement, and the public health community on this reform to fight against this deadly epidemic and help those reentering our communities do so safely."

A former DARE cop gets decades in prison for sexually assaulting teens years ago, a south Texas cop faces an occupational hazard, and more. Let's get to it:

In Brownsville, Texas, a former Donna police officer was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in federal prison for using his police vehicle to provide protection for cocaine loads. Alejandro Martinez, 44, also diverted other officers from the trafficker's route. He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He had been out on bond but was remanded to custody upon sentencing.

In Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a former suburban Philadelphia DARE officer was sentenced March 21 to a minimum of 24 ½ years in state prison for sexually abusing teens in the DARE program decades ago. James Carey, assaulted boys in the 1990s, while also serving in the Centennial School District as a resource officer with the then-federally funded program. Carey pleaded no contest to 20 counts of statutory rape, aggravated indecent assault without consent and related charges.

A North Carolina marijuana legalization bill has been filed, more New York regions have been cleared to license marijuana businesses, and more.

Naloxone nasal sprays will be available OTC by late summer, the FDA has announced. (Creative Commons)

New York Able to Issue More Recreational Marijuana Licenses After Court Ruling. A ruling from the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal has cleared the way for state officials to issue recreational marijuana licenses in Brooklyn, central New York, the mid-Hudson region, and central New York. Licensing in those regions had been blocked by a temporarily restraining order issued on behalf of a Michigan entrepreneur who challenged the state's licensing system that aims to put the first round of licenses into the hands of people who had prior marijuana convictions or whose relatives did. His lawsuit charges that policy violates constitutional interstate commerce protections. That temporary restraining order has now been limited to the Finger lakes region. Licensing in nine other areas of the state, including the rest of New York City was not impacted by the lawsuit or the injunction.

North Carolina Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed. A measure to legalize marijuana, Senate Bill 346, was filed late last week. The bill would legalize the possession of up to two ounces and would allow for up to six plants to be grown for personal use. It would also create a taxed and regulated system of legal marijuana commerce, with a state retail tax of 20 percent and localities being able to add another three percent. A quarter of marijuana tax and fee revenues would go to a "community reinvestment and repair fund," while another 10 percent would go to a social equity fund and half would go to the state general fund. It would also include "the automatic expunction of certain marijuana offenses." The bill's seven sponsors are all Democrats. It is now before the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations.

Harm Reduction

Food and Drug Administration Approves Narcan Without a Prescription. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday that the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone (Narcan) can now be sold over the counter (OTC). It is a move long sought by public health officials and harm reductionists who hope that it can help reduce the nation's opioid overdose death toll. OTC naloxone should be available on store shelfs in big box chains, supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, as well as online and in vending machines by late summer. "Today’s approval of OTC naloxone nasal spray will help improve access to naloxone, increase the number of locations where it’s available and help reduce opioid overdose deaths throughout the country," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said. "We encourage the manufacturer to make accessibility to the product a priority by making it available as soon as possible and at an affordable price."