President Biden’s nominee for attorney general, Merrick Garland, says the Justice Department would take a hands-off approach when it comes to cannabis enforcement, adding that it’s not “useful” for states with legal marijuana to pursue prosecutions. Speaking during his nomination hearings, Garland also noted that marijuana enforcement as practiced now is a perfect example of how the criminal justice system is racially biased and disproportionately impacts communities of color. Garland’s hearing is the first indication of what the Biden administration’s policies would be concerning marijuana, and comes at a time when there is growing congressional support for federal-level legalization of the drug—a move that President Biden has so far resisted.
Meanwhile, New Jersey becomes the 14th state nationwide to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana, and a major player in the Northeast market where several neighboring states—including New York and Connecticut—are also pushing for cannabis reform. Sales in New Jersey are legal for adults 21 and older, but penalties for underage possession were watered down amid opposition from pro-pot advocates. Northeast governors say legalization will help boost economies hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, although marijuana sales forecasts suggest revenue will not be significant for many years.
And finally, a preliminary study by Brown University finds that the use of telemedicine improved the therapeutic relationship with patients being treated for opioid use disorder. The small study, in Rhode Island, shows that both patients and counselors were satisfied with telephone counseling and wanted to continue it after the pandemic. On-site drug treatment has been severely curtailed during coronavirus lockdowns, forcing providers to use remote methods that are regarded as helpful for many with substance use disorder but should not be a replacement for in-person treatment.