Happy Thursday, Cannabin-vestors! Did any of y’all ever actually finish a textbook in school? Yeah, me neither. I never understood why you’d need 500 pages of dense paragraphs to say something the study guide I bought off our valedictorian could say in just five pages of bullet points.

That may make me sound lazy. But I rest easy knowing elected officials feel the same way. Colorado lawmakers across the aisles introduced a new measure to “streamline” regulations in the state — where the cannabis rulebook is more than 500 pages long. See? It’s not just me who prefers the SparkNotes.

Plus, a slew of new bills and laws, the hemp industry rallies for reform, and a marijuana activist goes to jail for — well, take a guess.

And, check out the newest episode of Cannabis Insider, also available on Apple and Spotify.*

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TOP STORY

A Blow To Legalization Advocacy And Psychedelic Policy Reform

Briefly: “The Lenin of the Marijuana Movement” is behind bars… again.

What: Dana Beal was arrested in Idaho. He faces charges of marijuana trafficking and is being held at a steep $250,000 bail.

Who: The longtime activist has been organizing demonstrations since MLK’s March on Washington. Most notably, he’s the brains behind the Global Marijuana March, which spurred decriminalization in NYC.

Why: Beal’s car, which I assume smelled like a frat house basement, broke down in Idaho, where weed is fully illegal. But it’s nothing new for the activist. This is the fifth time Beal has been arrested on his crusade.

So What? With cannabis use largely normalized, Beal has set his sights on ibogaine, a psychedelic used to treat problematic substance use, PTSD and other disorders. He was recently in war-torn Ukraine researching its use.

What Next: This latest arrest deals a blow to Beal’s mission, but not his resolve. Speaking from prison, Beal said, “If they keep me here, it is highly probable that I will legalize pot.” Read more here.

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FIVE ZINGERS

BYOW: New Jersey regulators approved rules for cannabis consumption areas where medicinal patients can bring their own weed to consume.

Does Not Compute: In a state where cannabis is fully legal, Maryland Republicans want to allow cops to search any car that smells like weed.

Shot Down: The South Dakota Senate killed a bill that forced dispensaries to notify medical marijuana patients about the federal firearm ban.

Rip And Sip: Washington state lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize hemp-infused food and beverages.

You Are Getting Very Sleepy: A new study suggests suggestibility plays a role in the antidepressant effects of psilocybin therapy.

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Hemp Industry Rallies For Higher THC Limits

Briefly: Cannabis companies aren’t the only industry players pushing for reform.

What Happened: The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is urging Congress to undertake hemp regulation changes as one of their policy priorities for 2024.

Quoted: "Increasing the THC concentration [from 0.3%] to 1% would enable farmers to plant more seed varieties," NASDA said, “retain[ing] limits on THC concentration while giving farmers greater assurance their crop will be viable."

What Else: A coalition of hemp industry organizations is also asking the House committee to hold a hearing on the lack of FDA regulations for CBD products.

Why It Matters: According to a letter penned by nearly 30 hemp nonprofits, "U.S. farmers have been crushed economically by the lack of regulations, with commodity prices dropping across the board by more than 90%.”

Why Now: "The time for a hearing has never been riper."

What Next: Check out the related challenges facing 5 states.

KEEP READING

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