Blunts: No Timeline On Cannabis Review

The top official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the agency will not be completing its cannabis review before 4/20.

Last year, President Joe Biden directed HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to begin reviewing cannabis for its potential rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.

During an interview with CBS News, Becerra was asked if the agency’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will complete the review before April 20. He laughed before answering, “I know we’re going to try to move quickly. It’s got to go through a number of hoops. And again, safety and efficacy are what will drive this determination, so stay tuned.”

Becerra also pointed out that the assessment will take into account public comments on the matter. “It will be based on safety for Americans and whether or not we can show that there's been a change since the early 1990s on what cannabis means for America,” he said.

Earlier this month, more than a dozen lawmakers sent a letter to Becerra and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on the administration to be more transparent with its scheduling review process. It’s unclear if the letter received a response.

Banking Regulators Look For Pot Solutions

As lawmakers rev up for another attempt to pass SAFE Banking legislation to protect banks that wish to do business with cannabis companies, the head of the U.S. Treasury Department says regulators are attempting to address the issue.

During a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “In the case of marijuana, it is against federal law, and that’s a barrier, unfortunately, to appropriate banking services for the industry. It’s something the regulators have been looking for solutions to.”

Meanwhile, the lead GOP Senate sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) called to “unleash an army” of banking lobbyists on lawmakers to push for the bill during a speech at the American Bankers Association (ABA) Washington Summit.

High Times Comes to NM

For the first time ever, High Times is looking for a few good strains at the High Times Cannabis Cup New Mexico: People’s Choice Edition 2023.

New Mexican cannabis consumers are invited to pick up one of the competition judge kits from participating retail partners, including Pecos Valley Productions and more to be announced soon. The kits will be made available from June 17 through Aug. 20. Judges are expected to comment on products’ packaging, scent, flavor and effects.

For those looking to enter the competition, products can be submitted to Pecos Valley Productions between June 5 and 7.

There are 11 categories available for this cup: Indica flower, sativa flower, hybrid flower, pre-rolls, infused pre-rolls, solvent concentrates, non-solvent concentrates, vape pens and cartridges, gummy and fruit chew edibles, non-gummy edibles and a category for sublinguals, capsules and tinctures.