The governor of Connecticut on Tuesday signed a bill to legalize marijuana—making it the 19th state to enact the reform. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) has been broadly supportive of ending prohibition, but the path to get the legalization bill to his desk was rocky. Just as lawmakers were preparing to give the bill final passage, he threatened a veto over language on equity licensing that had been added, prompting legislators to revise it. “It’s an important thing to do on a number of fronts. Number one, in terms of equity and social justice,” the governor said. “I think it is a model for the rest of the nation. We had a chance to learn from others,” Lamont said. “It’s been a long time coming.” Connecticut is the fourth state to legalize cannabis for adult use this year alone, following New York, Virginia, and New Mexico.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 06/22/2021 12:22:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/connecticut-governor-signs-marijuana-legalization-into-law/

Two Pennsylvania lawmakers are working to build support for a marijuana legalization bill they plan to introduce soon. In a memo sent to colleagues on Monday, Reps. Jake Wheatley (D) and Dan Frankel (D) said the proposal “will create a legal and regulatory framework structured to control and regulate the cultivation, processing, transportation, distribution, delivery, and sale at retail of cannabis and cannabis products. This comes as a bipartisan Senate duo is also in the process of crafting legislation to legalize cannabis across the commonwealth. Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) announced some details of the proposal earlier this year, but the bill has yet to be formally introduced. Wheatley and Frankel said their upcoming measure will legalize possession and sale of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older. It would establish a legislatively appointed Cannabis Regulatory Control body to oversee the market.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 06/22/2021 09:04:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/pennsylvania-lawmakers-build-support-for-new-marijuana-legalization-bill/

The governor of Texas allowed a bill that will require the state to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to become law without his signature on Friday. This comes days after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed separate legislation to modestly expand the state’s limited medical marijuana program. Under the psychedelics measure, the state will be required to study the medical risks and benefits of psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for military veterans in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and a military-focused medical center. It also mandates a clinical trial into psilocybin for veterans with PTSD, in addition to a broader review of the scientific literature on all three substances. “Psychedelic medicine has the potential to completely change society’s approach to mental health treatment, and research is the first step to realizing that transformation,” Rep. Alex Dominguez (D), sponsor of the bill, said in a press release after it was sent to Abbott’s desk.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 06/21/2021 09:04:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-will-study-benefits-of-psychedelics-for-military-veterans-under-bill-enacted-without-governors-signature/