Vermont Makes Menstruation Products Tax-Exempt

Burlington Free Press: Vermont Removes 'Tampon Tax,' Making Menstruation Products Tax-Exempt
Menstruation products will become tax-exempt in the state of Vermont starting July 1. The House and Senate approved the change as part of a tax bill, H.436, on May 21, and Gov. Phil Scott signed it into law on June 8.Tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins and other menstrual products are included in the tax exemption, according to the bill. Vermont's Legislative Joint Fiscal Office estimates that the sales tax exemption on these products will result in a $685,000 reduction in tax revenues in the Education Fund. (Ruehsen, 6/28)

North Carolina Health News: As A Blood Shortage Unfolds In NC, Many Gay And Bisexual Men Are Still Barred From Donating
Lee Storrow was a proud regular platelet donor for years, a service to the community he began after a representative spoke to his biology class at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about the importance of donating. But Storrow became instantly ineligible when he had sex with a man. (Thompson, 6/29)

In news from California —

AP: California Governor To Weigh Budget That Nixes Pandemic Cuts
In some ways, the new spending plan approved by the California Legislature on Monday is about going backward: Back to a time before the pandemic, when California’s roaring economy fueled budget surpluses. The $262.6 billion proposal now on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk would restore spending cuts to public schools, colleges and universities, the courts, child support services and state worker salaries — all things that were cut last year when state officials thought they were facing a record budget deficit because of the coronavirus. (Beam, 6/29)

Los Angeles Times: California Bans Government Travel To States With Laws Deemed Discriminatory To LGBTQ People
California is expanding to 17 the number of states to which it is restricting government-financed travel because of laws deemed to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the state attorney general said Monday. The states added to the sanctions list are Florida, Montana, West Virginia, Arkansas and North Dakota, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said. Bonta said new laws in those states are part of a recent wave of bills harmful to LGBTQ people, including a Florida law that he criticized for preventing transgender women and girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. (McGreevy, 6/28)

AP: GOP's Cox: California Should Force Homeless Into Treatment
John Cox, a Republican candidate for California governor, said Monday that he would force homeless people into mental health or addiction treatment before providing them with housing as part of his effort to cut homelessness in half in five years. In his second bid for governor, Cox also said he would step up enforcement against people living on the streets and work to speed housing construction. If elected, he would likely face resistance to many of his proposals in the Democratic-controlled state Legislature. (Ronayne, 6/28)

Capital & Main: Street Medics Battle Bureaucracy To Bring Health Care To The Homeless 
Circling the streets of East Los Angeles in their red family minivan, physician assistants Brett and Corinne Feldman find their patient where they thought he would be: crumpled on a bus stop bench in Monterey Park. The Feldmans, who lead the street medicine team at the University of Southern California, kneel in front of Johnny in “servant’s pose,” placing him in control of the interaction as they examine a burn that seared his cheeks and knuckles the color of summer strawberries. Johnny’s gout medicine makes his skin light sensitive, and he lives outside, with little respite from the Los Angeles sun. “The new skin coming in, it’s like baby skin,” Corinne Feldman says. “It’s going to burn really easily. That’s why we wrap it.” (Ross, 6/28)

In news about drug use in Michigan, Mississippi, West Virginia and Montana —

Detroit Free Press: Michiganweed Market Reaches $3.2 Billion, New Study Finds
Michigan's market for cannabis has exploded since legalization, totaling $3.2 billion in 2020, according to a new industry study. The study by the Anderson Economic Group — and commissioned by the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association (MCMA) —  also found that the state is home to nearly 400 licensed medical provisioning centers and 300 licensed adult-use retail stores. “The Anderson Economic Group study reflects a vibrant regulated marketplace with unlimited economic potential,”  Shelly Edgerton, MCMA board chair, said in a  news release. (Fogel, 6/28)

AP: Mississippi Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Medical Marijuana
Two prominent Mississippi physicians urged lawmakers Monday to put “guardrails” in place if medical marijuana is legalized in the state, warning that officials should be careful about making a product available that has not been thoroughly tested by the FDA — especially when it comes to children. Meanwhile, a patient advocate told the stories of three Mississippi children who experience seizures and want to be able to access medical marijuana as a treatment. The advocate said they have tried FDA-approved pharmaceutical drugs, and none have helped. (Willingham, 6/28)

AP: Needle Exchange Law In West Virginia Halted Amid Lawsuit
A judge in West Virginia has granted a group’s request to stop a law tightening requirements on needle exchange programs from being implemented next month. The American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter filed a federal lawsuit last week. A judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday and scheduled a July 8 hearing on the issue. The law was set to take effect July 9. (Raby, 6/28)

Billings Gazette: Fentanyl-Related Deaths Up In Montana
Fentanyl-related deaths in Montana doubled from 2019 to 2020 and this year's deaths have already outpaced the tally from two years ago. There were 41 fentanyl-related deaths last year, a dramatic jump from 19 in 2019. This year there have been 22 fentanyl-related fatalities confirmed by the state crime lab, according to a press release Monday. Eleven of those deaths were in April, the release from the state health department and Department of Justice said. (Michels, 6/28)