Open Air Weed Market Emerges in Manhattan's Washington Square Park, AL Fentanyl Test Strip Bill Passes, More… (3/14/22)

Congressional Democrats gathered in Philadelphia last Thursday to talk about marijuana legalization, the Washington legislature has approved $200,000 for psilocying research, and more.

Marijuana Policy

Democrats Elevate Marijuana Equity Issues at Retreat Panel Focused on Legalization. At a policy retreat in Philadelphia last Thursday, congressional Democrats heard from a panel on advancing marijuana reform with a heavy emphasis on social equity issues. The panel was chaired by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), who led the discussion on how the people most impacted by drug prohibition can benefit from legalization. "The congresswoman’s feeling is still that racial justice and restorative justice needs to be at the centerpiece of any cannabis legislation that we put forward," said a staffer at the meeting. The bill getting the most attention was Rep. Jerrold Nadler's (D-NY) Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (HR 3617), which advocates are pushing for a floor vote this month.

Open Air Weed Market Emerges in Manhattan's Washington Square Park as Legal Marijuana Sales Still Not Allowed. Regulations for legal marijuana sales in the state are still being developed, but that is not stopping weed entrepreneurs from selling it openly in what has developed into an open air marijuana market in Lower Manhattan's Washington Square Park. Of course, people have been selling weed in the park for decades, but now the scene is more open than ever, with vendors hawking pre-rolled joints and offering multiple strains. "It’s got an old hippie vibe," said one visiting customer, amidst psychedelically decorated card tables filled with product. "The designs could do with a bit of work. But you don’t really have to advertise weed."

Harm Reduction

Alabama Lawmakers Pass Bill Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips. With a final vote in the House last Thursday, the legislature has approved Senate Bill 168, which amends the state's existing drug paraphernalia law to allow people to use fentanyl test strips to test street drugs before they use them. Lawmakers cited the rising toll of fentanyl overdose deaths as they approved the bill. The bill is now on the desk of Governor Kay Ivey (R).

Psychedelics

Washington State Lawmakers Approve $200,000 in Psilocybin Research Funding. Legislators last Thursday approved a budget bill that includes $200,000 for a new workgroup to study issues around legalizing psilocybin services in the state. The Psilocybin Wellness Workgroup would be tasked with drafting a "report on psilocybin services wellness and opportunities in consultation with stakeholders." Much of the group's work would focus on analyzing and possibly amending a stalled Senate bill  that would have legalized "supported psilocybin expereinces by adults 21 and older.