420 with CNW — Ohio Voters to Decide on Recreational Cannabis Legalization

Ohioans are currently voting to decide the fate of a proposed initiative aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana. Early voting commenced on Oct. 11, 2023, with the statewide election scheduled for Nov. 7.

The initiative, which bears the designation Issue 2 on the ballots, has been championed by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The campaigners spent more than a year pushing for the initiative to be included on the ballot since the Republican-controlled legislature would not expand on the present medicinal marijuana policy.

Should the initiative gain approval, Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize recreational cannabis. This would supersede the existing medical cannabis program, which has steadily expanded since its inception in 2016.

The proposal encompasses provisions permitting adults 21 years of age and older to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15g of concentrate. Additionally, they would be allowed to cultivate a maximum of six plants, with a cap of 12 for households with multiple adult occupants.

The commercial production and distribution of marijuana products would be subject to regulation by a newly established state agency: the Division of Marijuana Control. The commission will be responsible for licensing, enforcing regulations, conducting investigations, and levying penalties on testing laboratories, operators, and other players in the recreational cannabis sector.

Recreational cannabis sales would be subject to a 10% tax, with the generated revenue allocated toward a cannabis social-equity and employment fund, the oversight of the program, support for communities hosting marijuana facilities and addiction services.

A poll conducted in July by the USA Today Network revealed that a majority of Ohio voters, approximately 58.6%, are in favor of legalization. This sentiment is more pronounced among younger respondents, with 76% of those aged 18 to 34 showing support, in contrast to 43% of individuals aged 65 and above. Additionally, another survey by Fallon Research discovered that 59% of voters were in favor of the ballot initiative, while 32% stated they would vote against it.

The law would take effect 30 days after the voting results are officially certified. However, the longevity of legalization is not assured since this is a citizen-initiated statute and not a constitutional amendment. State legislators can still repeal or amend the program following the election.

Currently, several groups, including law-enforcement agencies and the Ohio Children’s Hospital Associations, are against the initiative. Republican legislators are also against it and may become more assertive in contravening the public’s will, particularly with a favorable presidential election year in 2024.

If the measure to legalize recreational cannabis succeeds and is implemented, Ohio could see the mushrooming of not just marijuana companies but also other verticals connected to the industry in the same way that entities such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) have carved out a niche serving marijuana companies in other state markets.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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420 with CNW — Company Hopes Breathalyzer Will Curb Workplace Marijuana Use

California-based biotechnology company Hounds Lab has developed a first-of-its-kind breathalyzer with the ability to accurately detect cannabis use. The first model works by preserving breath samples and sending them to the lab for chemical analysis. However, the company is developing a second model that can deliver test results on scene.

According to Hound Lab’s chairman of the board Mike Lynn, the company learned via extensive testing that smoked cannabis will trigger a 100% positive result within an hour of smoking, but the positivity rate declines to around 85% at two hours.

Cannabis testing has been a contentious issue across the United States as dozens of states have legalized recreational or medical cannabis despite ongoing federal prohibition. Although many employers weren’t happy with the fact that their employees may be using cannabis, especially federal employees and those in safety-related positions, properly enforcing cannabis requirements was nigh impossible.

While we have standardized and relatively accurate tests for alcohol, there is no test that can accurately determine if and when an individual used cannabis or whether they are still affected by the drug at the moment of testing. With dozens of states legalizing the controversial plant, law enforcement and some employers have called for proper cannabis tests to facilitate proper enforcement of driving and workplace drug policies.

The new test represents a breakthrough that could finally provide an accurate means of testing for cannabis and curbing workplace cannabis use. Lynn says the Hound Cannabis Breathalyzer took close to a decade of engineering and science to develop. He calls the breathalyzer the “first and only” commercially available breath-based test that can help employers limit cannabis use at the workplace without penalizing their employees for using cannabis during their free time. Ideally, Lynn notes, the breathalyzer test should allow workers to use state-legal cannabis during their off hours just as they would consume alcohol without fear of reprisal by their employers.

Although Hound Labs will first market the cannabis breathalyzer to employers, it hopes other industries such as law enforcement will use the technology in the future. Lynn explains that the compny will be better equipped to serve law enforcement once federal and state governments define standards for cannabis law enforcement.

More than 20 states and nearly 40 states now allow recreational and medical cannabis respectively, meaning millions of employees across the country now have access to legal cannabis. As such, an effective system for testing whether or not employees are under the influence of cannabis while on the job will be critical to curbing workplace cannabis use.

Such a testing tool would likely gain the support of industry actors such as Green Thumb Industries Inc. (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF) since such testing equipment would eliminate cases of people who have been wrongly accused of being under the influence because they consumed cannabis off hours.

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420 with CNW — Census Bureau Report Shows Cannabis Firms Remitted $5.7B in Taxes

The Federal Census Bureau has unveiled its inaugural report on state-level cannabis tax revenue data. The report reveals that states raked in more than $5.7 billion from regulated marijuana sales over the span of 18 months, starting in July 2021 and ending in December 2022. This report’s launch signifies a significant shift within some segments of the federal government, which are beginning to acknowledge the marijuana industry as a legitimate economic sector.

The bureau initially disclosed its intention to gather marijuana tax data in January 2021 to incorporate into its quarterly summaries of local and state government tax earnings. Additionally, the agency called upon states to include marijuana revenue data in their annual reports.

The data amalgamates sales from both recreational and medical markets without distinguishing between the two. Aggregate figures from various states reflect both the size of individual state markets and their duration of operation. For instance, Colorado and Washington, the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis respectively, collected the third- and second-largest tax revenues (648.2 million and $818.5 million) during the specified period.

California, which is the largest by market size, generated more than $1.4 billion, while New York, where only an estimated 30 retailers have opened since sales commenced last December, accumulated a mere $27.9 million.

One prominent trend discernible from the data is an overall decrease in nationwide cannabis tax revenue during the reporting period. Although the second quarter of 2022 witnessed a zenith of approximately $839.6 million in total nationwide marijuana taxes, the revenue exhibited a downward trajectory from the third quarter of 2021 ($772.2 million) to the second quarter of 2023 ($606.6 million).

Notably, the bureau’s reporting period does not encompass the bulk of this year’s sales, during which some states have repeatedly established monthly sales records. Illinois, for instance, celebrated the industry’s record-breaking success in fiscal year 2023, with sales of marijuana products at regulated retailers totaling more than $1.5 billion. However, tax income fell short of the record of $435.1 million in 2022, coming in at $420.9 million.

In Maryland, licensed retailers set a record for recreational marijuana sales in September, despite a drop in medical cannabis sales. On the other hand, New Mexico’s September sales narrowly missed an August record, with the state surpassing half a billion dollars in total recreational sales.

August also marked a record-breaking month in Rhode Island, with cannabis sales reaching a new high for the fourth consecutive month, totaling $9.7 million. Montana also witnessed record-breaking sales of recreational cannabis in August, amounting to $23.7 million, although medical cannabis sales plummeted to $5 million, their lowest point since recreational markets opened last year.

Connecticut also shattered another record for marijuana sales in August, with $25 million worth of recreational and medical marijuana sales. And in Missouri, retailers have been averaging about $4 million in daily cannabis sales since the state’s recreational market commenced in February. The state witnessed a record $121.2 million in marijuana sales in June.

While the cannabis industry welcomed federal recognition of its economic contribution, industry reps also emphasized the necessity for further changes, including tax reform and the cessation of ongoing criminalization.

This federal report shows that when prohibition is ended, licensed marijuana companies such as Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) could have a considerable impact on the economies of the jurisdictions where they operate.

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420 with CNW — International Report Says Drug War Compromises Efforts to Attain Environmental Justice, Fight Climate Change

An international coalition of advocacy groups has released a report outlining how the global war against drugs has compromised efforts to deal with the climate crisis and accelerated the environmental destruction of crucial ecosystems across the world. While the initial days of the drug war are long gone, especially in nations such as the United States, Canada and Australia, which are now embracing drug reform, its harmful effects are still felt in many facets of society.

One of the most dire results of the drug war was almost unparalleled growth in the illicit drug market that has significantly contributed to global organized criminal activity and impacted the environment in a myriad of harmful ways. This includes mind-boggling levels of water theft by the illicit cannabis industry and significant environmental damage by fertilizers, pesticides, fuels and all kinds of waste.

The International Coalition on Drug Policy Reform and Environmental Justice is comprised of artists, activists, academics and advocates from the environmental and drug-policy reform movements. The coalition published a 63-page report stating that its efforts to protect tropical forests across the globe will likely fail as long as climate change and environmental activists continue to ignore how global drug prohibition has impacted environmental justice.

With the world actively working to mitigate climate change amid increasing instances of disrupted and extreme weather, protecting tropical forests is crucial to mitigating global warming. Tropical forests are prolific carbon sinks and are estimated to store around 46% of all living terrestrial carbon in the world as well as around 11.55% of the globe’s soil carbon pool.

The report called drug policy the missing link in delivering proper climate justice, stating that prohibitionist drug policies have pushed illicit drug production and trafficking into key ecosystems such as the jungles in Southeast Asia as well as the Amazon.

Players in the illicit drug market cultivate drug crops and traffic illicit drugs through tropical forests because law enforcement puts them in that position, the report said. In cases where the cultivation of drug plants such as opium, coca and cannabis is legal and regulated by governments, cultivation almost always occurs in traditional agricultural settings.

Furthermore, the report noted that the money earned from illicit drug operations often funds further criminal activity that harms the environment, such as the illicit trade of tropical timber, wildlife, minerals, precious metals such as gold, archeological artifacts and even human trafficking. The drug war continues a cycle of persecution and poverty against the most vulnerable people in society, the report said, pushing them into the illicit drug trade as a means of desperate survival.

The report estimates that around 200,000 Colombian families currently make a living from growing coca as the financial benefits it offers supersedes persecution from the military and police. Furthermore, the drug war often incarcerates lower-level players such as farmers who often lose their livelihoods while top players face no consequences.

In jurisdictions where marijuana is legal, licensed companies such as Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) not only create well-paying job opportunities but also contribute to communities in various ways, such as paying taxes and giving ancillary businesses market for their products.

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420 with CNW — Study Reveals No Major Change in Youth Cannabis Use Following Legalization in Canada

A recent study, featured in the JAMA Open Network, has shed light on the impact of marijuana legalization in Canada, specifically concerning its effects on young individuals and potential adverse consequences. The research, conducted in Ontario, focused on a cohort of young adults aged between 19.5 to 23 years, aiming to understand changes in marijuana consumption patterns and related outcomes. Over the span of three years, from February 2017 to February 2020, the researchers conducted surveys every four months, collecting data that encompassed both the pre- and post-legalization periods.

The study involved 619 participants, with an average age of 21 and a standard deviation of 1.2 years. Approximately 56% were female, and 53% held bachelor’s degrees at the latest recorded time point. Notably, before legalization, around 33% reported occasional marijuana use as the norm.

Contrary to concerns about a surge in marijuana use among young people following legalization, the study revealed an overall reduction in marijuana use. This decline in consumption aligns with the existing substance-use patterns within this age group, unaffected by the policy change brought about by legalization.

Interestingly, the most frequent marijuana users before legalization experienced a significant decrease in usage following the legal transition. Consequently, there was a marked decrease in cannabis-related adverse consequences reported among the group. This suggests that the legalization of marijuana may have led to more responsible use among those who were previously heavy users.

On the other hand, individuals who abstained from cannabis use in the period leading up to legalization exhibited a modest but noteworthy increase in consumption over time. Importantly, this increase in use did not result in a corresponding surge in adverse consequences, challenging the notion of increased risks associated with cannabis legalization.

Those who had refrained entirely from using cannabis before legalization experienced no significant increases in negative consequences or usage post-legalization. These observations highlight the complexity of factors influencing marijuana use among young adults and suggest that further research is necessary to fully understand the determinants at play.

This study represents the first longitudinal analysis of the impact of marijuana legalization on young adults in Canada, incorporating multiple time points both before and after legalization.

It is, however, consistent with several U.S. studies that show state marijuana legalization has not significantly changed the consumption habits of adolescents and young people. Over the past 10 years, federal and state data have consistently shown a drop in the overall rate of youth marijuana usage.

This study goes to show that those who regard cannabis companies such as Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) as possibly doing harm to youth have no justification for their attitude to marijuana legalization.

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Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Expands Ongoing Diabetes Study Program to Examine its Patented DehydraTECH(TM) Technology with Launch of Human and Animal Studies for Oral GLP-1 Drugs

Lexaria recently announced its intention to launch new human and animal studies exploring its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology on GLP-1 drugs for the potential treatment of diabetes
The studies will build on what Lexaria has achieved so far since it started its diabetes-related studies in 2022
Its DehydraTECH-CBD demonstrated an almost three-fold improvement in drug delivery into the blood in its DIAB-A22-1 diabetes study compared to the DehydraTECH-CBD formulation used in its HYPER-H21-4 hypertension study
These studies follow Lexaria’s announcement of its intention to study weight loss and diabetes control in a human population using DehydraTECH

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, just announced its intention to launch new human and animal studies that will explore its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology on glucagon-like peptide-1 (“GLP-1”) drugs for improved bioavailability, cost-effectiveness, tolerability, weight loss potential, management of diabetes and other health conditions. Regarded as a significant expansion for Lexaria, these studies will build on what the company has achieved so far with its DehydraTECH-processed CBD while examining the technology’s impact on GLP-1 drugs (https://cnw.fm/Np3FA).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) recently approved GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes and weight loss management following their demonstration of an average loss of 15% of body weight across 667 individuals in a 68-week-long study. The drug has also demonstrated that some patients experience reduced cravings for alcohol, nicotine, and opioids while taking the drugs, with other trials showing the reduced build-up of proteins amyloid and tau in the brain, both thought to be partly responsible for Alzheimer’s.

Despite their overall potential, GLP-1 drugs have many side effects, ranging from mild ones, such as nausea and vomiting, to more serious ones, such as reduced bone density and muscle loss. Some of the more severe side effects have been reported when the drugs are taken in oral form, which has prompted researchers and medical practitioners to treat patients with lower oral doses. Given the overall nature of GLP-1 drugs to have low oral bioavailability, Lexaria, through its DehydraTECH technology, looks to address that, ultimately improving the drug’s pharmacokinetic (“PK”) performance.

In the recently completed DIAB-A22-1 diabetes study, Lexaria demonstrated an almost three-fold improvement in drug delivery into the blood compared to the DehydraTECH-CBD formulation used in its HYPER-H21-4 hypertension study. With such results in this and five other human clinical studies, Lexaria has proven severally that its technology can significantly improve the PK performance of many orally administered drugs into the bloodstream. Its applications have ranged from cannabinoids, estradiol, PDE-5 Inhibitors, and certain antiviral drugs. The company is optimistic about the technology’s application, GLP-1, and its potential to improve its bioavailability.

The animal and human clinical studies on GLP-1 will be a logical progression to Lexaria’s efforts to explore DehydraTECH in the potential treatment of diabetes, which kicked off in 2022. In its pre-clinical study DIAB-A22-1, DehydraTECH-CBD has yielded a 19.9% lowered blood glucose level, a 7% lowered overall body weight sustained over eight weeks, increased locomotor activity, lowered triglyceride levels by more than 25%, and lowered blood urea nitrogen levels by 27.9%. Given its intention to study weight loss and diabetes control in a human population using DehydraTECH, as announced on August 2, 2023, the GLP-1 studies come at the opportune time, facilitating this specific objective.

Program design for the GLP-1 study has already commenced, and initial study work is set to begin as soon as possible. This ambitious step affirms Lexaria’s commitment to creating shareholder value and advancing its technology to become a leader in its segment.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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420 with CNW — Georgia State Residents Could Soon Access Medical Cannabis in Pharmacies

Officials in Georgia recently announced that the state would begin to provide medical cannabis products in pharmacies statewide. Last week, the state’s pharmacy board started accepting applications for independent pharmacies that wanted to take part in the exercise. Once applications have been submitted, all pharmacies will have to undergo inspection before they can receive approval from the board.

Thus far, almost 120 drugstores have agreed to provide drugs from Botanical Sciences, one of the licensed production companies in the state. It is expected that it will take a couple of weeks before medical cannabis is available in pharmacies. At the moment, medical cannabis is available to individuals in the state who have received approval from a physician for the treatment of serious illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s disease, seizures and terminal cancers.

THC oil should contain no more than 5% THC, which is one of the two major compounds found in marijuana. The expansion of medical marijuana sales into pharmacies will allow many more patients to access THC oil, which adds to the seven dispensaries in the state that have launched since April. Individuals will be able to purchase THC oil at drug stores once they present a state-issued registry card and identification.

Botanical Sciences notes that nearly 90% of the population in the state live within a half-hour drive of a pharmacy that sells medical cannabis. Mindy Leech, a pharmacist in Newnan, stated that this move by the state would help destigmatize medical marijuana while also making it more comfortable for customers to ask questions about the drugs.

In 2019, the Georgia General Assembly approved the distribution of low THC oil. However, it’s taken years to establish regulations for inspections, safety, licensing and distribution.

In other news, the state’s department of public health recently revealed that it had misreported the number of registered medical cannabis patients in Georgia. The inflated figure, 50,000, is far higher than the 14,000 individuals who have signed up for the program.

Jonathan Marquess, Georgia Pharmacy Association VP, stated that patients who didn’t have dispensaries near them would be able to access this healthcare. Marquess, who owns a number of pharmacies in the Atlanta area, noted that with more than 400 independent pharmacies in the state, most would be interested in selling cannabis oil given that the product isn’t being sold in drugstores such as Walgreens and CVS.

Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission’s executive director Andrew Turnage added the pharmacy rule would help licensees as well as patients.

A time will come when states such as Georgia will fully reform their marijuana laws so that local companies can also enjoy the kind of success that enterprises such as Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) have earned for themselves in the markets in which they operate.

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420 with CNW — DOJ Defends Ban on Gun Rights of Medical Cannabis Users in Federal Appeals Court

A federal court of appeals recently held oral arguments in a case addressing the constitutionality of the federal ban that prevents medical cannabis patients from buying or owning firearms. The proceedings unfolded before a three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, where lawyers representing the Justice Department and Florida’s medical marijuana patients presented their respective arguments. The case has been extensively discussed through numerous briefings spanning over a year.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Will Hall, outlined two key reasons supporting the federal ban’s unconstitutionality. Firstly, Hall argued that regardless of whether marijuana usage is lawful, committing a crime does not automatically deprive people of their Second Amendment rights. Secondly, he asserted that the Supreme Court has established new standards for evaluating gun limitations, declaring them illegal unless they are consistent with the historical background of the Second Amendment, which was passed in 1791. Hall said that prohibiting people who use medical cannabis is inconsistent with this historical setting.

While the Justice Department’s counsel conceded that illegal drugs were not widely used when the law was set, he argued that early laws restricting gun rights because of conditions such as mental health and intoxication serve as historical precedents consistent with the goal of the federal gun ban for regular cannabis users.

The discussion also delved into the definition of a law-abiding person whose Second Amendment rights should be safeguarded. One of the judges observed that it would seem incongruous to categorize state-registered medicinal cannabis patients as not adhering to the law in light of the federal rider, which has been extended yearly since 2014 and bans DOJ involvement in state medical-marijuana programs.

Both parties and judges acknowledged that the forthcoming Supreme Court case, U.S. vs. Rahima, which addresses the disarming of individuals with domestic violence injunctions, could influence the ruling in this case by clarifying whether Second Amendment rights can be systematically denied to nonlaw-abiding individuals for whatever reason.

The hearing also referenced a ruling by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Daniels vs. the U.S., which declared the ban on marijuana users possessing firearms unconstitutional, even for recreational cannabis users. The DOJ expressed disagreement with this ruling, reiterating its reservations about the foundation of the decision.

The plaintiffs in the current case are seeking a narrow declaration, distinct from Daniels, specifically addressing state medical marijuana patients who are law compliant.

Several district court rulings have also questioned the constitutionality of the firearms ban for marijuana users, including cases in Oklahoma and Texas. Additionally, the ATF has voiced concerns regarding state laws allowing medical marijuana patients to obtain concealed carry gun licenses, citing potential risks and conflicts with federal firearm licensing policies.

Major marijuana companies such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) are likely to follow this court case keenly since it would address one of the big concerns that many people have about using state-legal marijuana products, which are regarded illegal by the federal government.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Inks Global Collaboration, License Agreement with SulfoSyn

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX, LEXXW), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, has granted a new global, exclusive license to SulfoSyn Limited; the license is for the exclusive global use of all nonpharmaceutical applications of Lexaria’s proprietary DehydraTECH-sulforaphane, including the right to authorize sublicenses. According to the announcement, Lexaria has already received an up-front cash payment, and the agreement outlines minimumongoing payments, royalties and manufacturing revenues. Nonpharmaceutical uses could include supplements, additives, foods, dietary ingredients and more. In addition to the license agreement, the two companies have a broader agreement that, for at least the next two years, Lexaria will conduct certain DehydraTECH-related manufacturing operations at its U.S. partner facility on behalf of SulfoSyn, which should also result in an increase in revenue to Lexaria. The announcement noted that the two companies started exploring the applicability of DehydraTECH upon sulforaphane late last year; results of that indicate that DehydraTECH confers certain superior qualities upon the sulforaphane molecule that are of commercial interest.

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/IiAI3

About Lexaria Bioscience Corp.

Lexaria Bioscience’s patented drug-delivery technology, DehydraTECH(TM), improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream through oral delivery. Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to increase bioabsorption with cannabinoids, antiviral drugs, PDE5 inhibitors and more. DehydraTECH has also evidenced an ability to deliver some drugs more effectively across the blood brain barrier. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 37 patents granted and many patents pending worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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420 with CNW — Advocates, Lawmakers Push Biden for More Action as His Mass Pardons Order Reaches Year Mark

One year after President Joe Biden ordered a mass cannabis pardon and called for a review of marijuana’s status at the federal level, advocates and lawmakers are pushing for more marijuana action. President Biden based part of his campaign on cannabis reform and pledged to do things such as pardon Americans with cannabis-related convictions, something his administration set out to do a year ago.

However, cannabis advocates and lawmakers have long argued that the administration could do more to further cannabis reform in the country, calling on the Biden administration to fulfill its cannabis promises in full and on time.

Most agree that last year’s mass pardon followed by the directive to review marijuana’s federal status were major steps in the right direction. However, now that the mass pardon’s first anniversary has arrived, activists and lawmakers are urging the administration to take its cannabis action even further with the ultimate goal of finally putting an end to federal cannabis prohibition.

According to Congressional Cannabis Caucus cochair Representative Earl Blumenauer, the president must “send a clearer signal” that he fully supports cannabis legalization at the federal level. While Biden’s pardon and his call for a scheduling review were a critical step in the right direction, Blumenauer said “more is needed” to further cannabis reform in the country. This includes prioritizing efforts by Congressional lawmakers to “rationalize” America’s federal marijuana laws and reissuing Cole Memo protections, Blumenauer said.

Although last year’s mass cannabis pardons would theoretically benefit several thousand Americans saddled with cannabis possession on their records, advocates quickly pointed out that communities such as immigrants would be left out of the pardons. The 2022 pardons did not apply to people in federal prison, meaning people who are currently incarcerated in federal prisons for cannabis possessions have not been released. Furthermore, the pardon will not prevent Americans from being persecuted for cannabis possession in the future.

Cannabis Caucus cochair Representative Dave Joyce noted that while the federal government has indicated that it is keen on updating its approach to cannabis, he has seen little application of the administration’s rescheduling and expungement efforts over the past year. Consequently, Joyce said, he is “laser focused” on advancing bipartisan marijuana legislation in Congress to grant the state-level cannabis industry access to banking, incentivize cannabis expungement at the state level and prepare the federal government for marijuana legalization.

According to Joyce, such cannabis measures will force the Biden administration to take action and provide relief to the Americans still suffering from “unjust federal prohibition.”

Companies such as Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) founded in Canada where marijuana is legal nationally hope that their neighbor, the United States, can also reform its cannabis laws so that citizens can benefit from this industry on a bigger scale through employment, entrepreneurship and so on.

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