Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Jersey Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
Politico: New Jersey Legalizes Cannabis After Years Of Failed Efforts And Toxic Negotiations
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy finally delivered on a 2017 campaign promise when he signed legislation Monday that legalizes cannabis for adults, decriminalizes the possession of up to six ounces of the drug and codifies criminal justice reforms that will upend how police officers interact with underage offenders. Despite New Jersey's deep-blue political backdrop and strong tailwinds in support of loosening Reagan-era drug policies, Murphy, a progressive Democrat, came close to rejecting the measures. (Sutton, 2/22)
The Hill: Arkansas State Senate Approves Bill Banning All Abortions Unless Mother's Life Is Threatened
Arkansas state senators on Monday voted to pass a new measure that would ban nearly all abortions. According to The Associated Press, the majority-Republican Senate approved the ban in a 27-7 vote. The bill must be approved by the House and signed by the governor to become law. (Seipel, 2/22)
Louisville Courier Journal: Rep. Andy Barr Introduces Heart Health Bill In Memory Of Late Wife
Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr has introduced a bill to increase awareness of and fund research on heart conditions that often affect young women in memory of his late wife, Carol Leavell Barr. On Monday, the Kentucky Republican filed the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy, or CAROL, Act to address diseases like the one his wife had. Leavell Barr, 39, died in June after going into cardiac arrest. The Fayette County Coroner's Office said in a preliminary autopsy report at the time her death was likely connected to an underlying heart condition known as mitral valve prolapse. (Ramsey, 2/22)
The New York Times: Gender-Reveal Device Explodes, Killing Man in Upstate New York
A man who was expecting his first child was killed on Sunday and his brother was injured when a device they were preparing for a gender-reveal party exploded in a garage in the Catskills in New York, the authorities said. The New York State Police said troopers responded to a report of an explosion at a home in the town of Liberty, N.Y., just before noon. Christopher Pekny, 28, died and his brother Michael Pekny, 27, was hurt, officials said. (Mele, 2/22)
And in pandemic-related developments —
Los Angeles Times: California Legislators Approve COVID-19 Plan, Including $600 Checks
Californians who qualify for a $600 state stimulus payment could see the money arrive as soon as a month after filing their tax returns under a $7.6-billion COVID-19 economic relief package approved Monday by the state Legislature. Crafted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders last week, the pandemic assistance plan also includes more than $2.1 billion in grants and fee waivers for small businesses. Those companies can soon apply for the grants, followed by an approval process that state officials estimate would take 45 days. (McGreevy, 2/22)
Bloomberg: New York City Can Re-Open Movie Theaters At 25% Capacity On March 15
Movie theaters will be allowed to open at 25% capacity with no more than 50 people per screening, Cuomo said at a Monday briefing. There will be mandatory masks, assigned seating and enhanced ventilation and air filtration. Theaters are the latest businesses the governor has allowed to reopen as Covid-19 cases have dropped from post-holiday highs and the state’s vaccination campaign ramps up. Over the weekend, New York’s positivity rate dropped below 3% for the first time since Nov. 23. More than 12% of state residents have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. (Clukey, 2/22)
The Hill: North Dakota House Passes Bill Forbidding Mandatory Mask Wearing
The North Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday that would make future mask mandates illegal. The Grand Forks Herald reported that the bill passed 50-44. It next heads to the state Senate. The bill comes three months after North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) imposed a statewide mask mandate, though the governor himself had previously expressed skepticism over such a move. (Choi, 2/22)
The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Inmate Tests Positive For UK Variant Of COVID-19, Department Of Corrections Says
A Maryland inmate living in the Maryland Correctional Institution of Jessup tested positive for the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 last week, according to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This is the first inmate in the state known to test positive for the variant, which first emerged in the United Kingdom in late 2020. (Jackson, 2/22)
