Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Georgia's Medical Marijuana Production Bill Falls Short By One Vote
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Medical Marijuana Production Bill Falls One Vote Short
Georgia lawmakers couldn’t agree on a compromise medical marijuana bill Monday that would have finally allowed businesses to grow and sell cannabis oil to registered patients. Without a bill, Georgia’s medical marijuana program remains stalled amid a drawn-out government process to authorize companies to manufacture the drug. The legislation sought to award production licenses to six companies by June 7, giving over 22,000 patients a way to obtain a medicine they’ve been allowed to consume since 2015. (Niesse, 4/4)
In other news about marijuana and cannabis —
WTOP: DC Council Considers Restricting Marijuana Sales
The D.C. Council will consider a bill Tuesday that would boost the city’s handful of medical marijuana dispensaries while aiming to close dozens of “gifting shops,” where customers are able to obtain marijuana without violating the city’s ban on the sale of recreational marijuana. Recreational marijuana is legal in the District but it’s illegal to sell it. The gifting shops get around the ban by selling incidental items, then gifting the buyer the marijuana that the customer is really seeking. (Uliano, 4/5)
KRQE: Recreational Marijuana Sales Total More Than $3.5 Million First Weekend
The long-awaited start of retail cannabis sales brought out a lot of New Mexicans over the weekend who were ready to spend millions. From Friday through Sunday, New Mexico cannabis businesses racked up a total of more than $3.5 million in recreational use sales statewide. Those numbers were reported by the Cannabis Control Division (CCD), which tracks sales across the state. (Segarra, 4/4)
KOB 4: Elementary Students Accidentally Eat Marijuana Candy At School
At least 14 Algodones elementary students went to the hospital Monday after a classmate shared THC candies with them. School representatives didn’t give their exact ages, but they’re all ten or younger. "I'm not surprised by a lot of things anymore because there's so much accessibility to so much but in this case I'm a little bit dumbfounded by how quickly it came about,” said Bernalillo Public School Superintendent Matt Montaño. (Frendak, 4/4)
New York Post: Gov. Hochul Has A Few Words Of Warning For NY's Legal Marijuana Customers
New York State launched its first ads in anticipation of legally selling marijuana later this year with the warning: “Don’t drive high.” Customers will be able to buy cannabis products in licensed retail stores by year’s end, according to the state Office of Cannabis Management. Gov. Kathy Hochul and OCM unveiled 15 second and 30 second public TV services ads and billboards as part of the state’s “Cannabis Conversations” campaign. (Campanile, 4/4)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Workers At St. Louis Medical Marijuana Dispensary Vote To Form A Union
Workers at a St. Louis medical marijuana dispensary have voted to unionize, becoming the first cannabis workers in Missouri to do so, a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers announced on Monday. All eight workers in the bargaining unit at the Root 66 dispensary on South Grand voted in favor of the UFCW representing them in contract negotiations with management, a news release from the union said. (Suntrup, 4/4)
The Washington Post: Maryland Legislators Take Aim At Legacy Of War On Drugs
Maryland legislators drew criticism for the rollout of the state’s medical marijuana industry, which awarded no licenses to Black business owners. So as they undertook plans this year for legalizing recreational marijuana, they struggled — not just with expanding opportunities for those shut out of the lucrative industry but with the responsibility many felt to begin unwinding decades of failed U.S. drug policies. (Wiggins, 4/4)
And in news about the opioid crisis —
AP: Trial Begins In West Virginia Lawsuit Against Opioid Makers
Drug manufacturers misrepresented the risks and benefits of opioids in West Virginia and contributed to the state’s opioid crisis, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in opening arguments at a trial that began Monday. Morrisey asked a judge to hold Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., along with Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc., AbbVie Inc.’s Allergan and their family of companies accountable for their “unlawful, unreasonable, callous and destructive conduct.” (Raby, 4/4)
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Aaron Ford Discusses Opioid Settlement Initial Payment
As Nevada’s opioid epidemic worsens, state and local officials are hoping an influx of funds from recent settlements with drug companies will help blunt the blow. Nevada is set to receive the first tranche of funds from $285.2 million awarded through multistate settlements with opioid distributors and manufacturers, with $50.7 million million of it expected as early as this week. “With this money, Nevada can and will establish programs and services that are needed right now,” Attorney General Aaron Ford said during a press conference Monday. “Every day without these services is a day the problem continues to get worse.” (Lochhead, 4/4)
KCUR: Why Missouri's Fentanyl Crisis Is Worsening
High school sophomore Ethan Everly died of an overdose last week in Kansas City after taking a pill laced with the potent and dangerous opioid fentanyl. Everly's death is only the latest warning that the drug epidemic is spreading quickly in Missouri. A decade ago, the state's opioid crisis was fueled by prescription pills, and largely affected rural, mostly-white communities. But in the last five years, the crisis entered a new phase — one dominated by fentanyl, and focused in urban areas. (Smith, 4/5)
