Plus: PA Weed is Getting a Bipartisan Push                                                                                                                                Connect with Wilfred on LinkedIn Visit NisonCo.com WILFRED'S WORLD 9/24/24 Read the Full Story Here Supreme Court Ruling Weakens DEA, Further Complicates U.S. Cannabis Laws A recent Supreme Court ruling has further muddled U.S. cannabis laws by weakening the power of agencies like the DEA. The decision nullified the Chevron doctrine, allowing courts to overrule agencies on technical regulations. A federal court recently overruled the DEA on hemp's legality, exacerbating the confusion. Dr. Peter Grinspoon from Harvard Medical School called it "a mess," emphasizing the need for clearer regulations on hemp-derived products. Why It Matters: When the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference, Justice Elana Kagan predicted it would "cause a massive shock to the legal system.”  The cannabis industry went into panic mode. Most people predicted that the end of Chevron meant an end to cannabis rescheduling. However, Shane Pennington, a partner at Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur LLP, had a more sober and measured take in a Marijuana Moment Op-Ed.  Several months later, Chevron’s death hasn’t spelled doom for rescheduling and has, in one instance at least, been a boon to the cannabis industry.  Enter Anderson v Diamondback Investment Group, a case in which the U.S. Court Of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit argued that THC-O (and by extension all cannabinoids extracted from hemp with less than 0.3% THC)  is unambiguously legal under the farm bill. This decision contradicts the DEA's opinion that THC-O does “not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and can only be obtained synthetically, and therefore do not fall under the definition of hemp.” The Chevron decision is pretty significant, especially as several states are trying to ban their hemp-derived cannabinoid industries. Unless Congress intervenes, this decision puts the DEA — and states trying to regulate the cannabinoid industry — on a collision course with the courts, fulfilling Justice Kagan’s prophecy.  Read the Full Story Here on The Guardian Bipartisan Effort Underway in PA to Push Cannabis Over the Legal Finish Line Pennsylvania lawmakers from both parties introduced a bill last week to legalize recreational cannabis. House Bill 2500 would allow adults 21 and older to possess and buy up to 30 grams of cannabis, with the Department of Agriculture regulating production and sales. Medical marijuana patients could grow up to five plants, but home cultivation of recreational cannabis is not allowed. The bill also aims to support small businesses, including those owned by veterans, women, and minorities, while regulating marketing to prevent targeting minors. Why It Matters: In further proof that cannabis is a bipartisan issue, two Pennsylvania legislators, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R) and Rep. Emily Kinkade (D), introduced a bill to task the Department of Agriculture with overseeing the production and sale of adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana, which was legalized in the Keystone State in 2016.  As I haven’t shied away from excoriating either party when they make decisions I disagree with, I will congratulate them when they make fundamentally good decisions.  This bill is a marked improvement from a previous version as it now contains criminal justice reform provisions absent in prior versions. It provides pathways for expungements, commutations and resentencing for cannabis-related convictions. It also allows incarcerated people to access medical cannabis if they are certified with a qualifying condition. This version of the bill also eliminated language that would have mandated charter agreements between social equity licensees and existing operators.  No bill is perfect, but this is a great starting point for PA, both socially and economically. Analysts expect up to $2.8 billion in adult-use marijuana sales in the first year.  To the State of Independence: Fight on! Read the Full Story Here on Forbes QUICK HIT HEADLINES Click an image to see the full article Read the Full Story Here Minnesota Public Radio: New insight into former President Richard Nixon’s views on marijuana Read the Full Story Here Cannabis Equipment News: Federal Cannabis Hiring Bill Advances in the Senate Read the Full Story Here Associated Press: How a robotic dog that fire blasts weeds could help curb pesticide use in agriculture ABOUT WILFRED  Treasured cannabis media marketing expert and PR team member Wilfred Maina Waimiri is a font of weed wisdom and the source of all nug news at NisonCo. Named a 2024 Business Insider Top Rising Star in PR, Wilfred is an impassioned cannabis advocate and a talented cannabis communications professional. Connect with him on LinkedIn here ABOUT NISONCO NisonCo has a proven track record of successful political advocacy and policy change supporting the legalization of marijuana and other causes. With over 3,400 active media contacts at over 3,000 outlets, NisonCo has an unmatched worldwide mainstream media, industry-specific media, reviewer, and thought leader relationship network. Fb Tw Ig Yt In  [email protected] 877-NISONCO 11 Bennington Court, East Brunswick Township, NJ 08816 Copyright © 2024 NisonCo Cannabis PR - Privacy Policy  Sent to: [email protected] NisonCo, 11 Bennington Court, East Brunswick Township, New Jersey 08816, United States