North Dakota to Vote on Marijuana Legalization, FDA Rejects MDMA-Assisted Therapy, More… (8/12/24)

A central California county is following San Francisco’s lead in placing a welfare drug screening measure earlier than voters, Rodrigo Duterte’s son needs to drug check Filipino politicians, and extra. 

Marijuana Coverage

North Dakota Marijuana Legalization Initiative Qualifies for November Poll. Secretary of State Michael Howe (R) introduced Monday {that a} marijuana legalization initiative from New Financial Frontier has certified for the November poll. Howe mentioned the group had handed in practically 19,000 legitimate voter signatures, 1000’s greater than wanted to qualify. 

The initiative will seem as Query 5 on the poll. It might legalize the possession of as much as an oz of marijuana by folks 21 and over. The measure additionally legalizes the possession of as much as 4 grams of focus and 1500 milligrams of “cannabinoid merchandise,” and permits for the house cultivation of as much as three crops. It comprises no provision for a authorized marijuana market. 

Voters within the state have twice defeated earlier legalization efforts, in 2018 and 2022. The Republican-led Home handed a legalization invoice in 2021, however that was killed within the Senate. 

The possession of as much as a half ounce of marijuana is already decriminalized, however the state nonetheless had greater than 4,400 marijuana possession arrests final 12 months. 

Drug Testing

California County Approves Poll Measure Requiring Welfare Recipients to Bear Drug Screening. Following the lead of close by San Francisco, which carried out an identical measure earlier this 12 months, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has authorized a poll measure to go earlier than the voters that might require county support recipients to bear drug screening.

The county, whose largest metropolis is Stockton, will now vote on Measure R, often known as “Unlawful Substance Dependence Screening and Remedy for Recipients of County Public Help.” It particularly targets single adults receiving important residing bills from the county Human Service Company’s Normal Help Program. Those that refuse drug screenings and evaluations might lose their advantages. 

The measure is the brainchild of District 3 Supervisor Tom Patti, who mentioned he wished to help folks in accessing drug therapy whereas additionally imposing accountability.

“If we will immediate that particular person and save lives right here in San Joaquin County and use this as a software to assist us in interact that particular person and get their help to take part, I imagine that is price supporting,” Patti mentioned.

The Normal Help Program offers a most of $367 over 5 months to buy meals, utilities, and housing. Barely greater than 400 county residents are on this system. 

 Genevieve Valentine, director of San Joaquin County Behavioral Well being Companies (BHS), who will perform the drug testing, informed the board the county was not able to do extra drug screenings starting in January when the legislation would take impact as a result of there’s a lack of ample staffing. 

Psychedelics 

FDA Rejects MDMA-Assisted Remedy for PTSD. The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) final Friday rejected a New Drug Utility for MDMA-assisted remedy from Lykos Therapeutics, dealing a tough blow to the trouble to broaden the medical use of psychedelics. In a Full Response Letter (CRL), the FDA mentioned extra examine is required and requested a further Part 3 examine, an enormous ask for a small firm.

The choice is just not significantly stunning, particularly on condition that an FDA advisory committee weeks in the past discovered flaws within the design and conduct of the examine the applying relies on and voted overwhelmingly in opposition to approving MDMA-assisted remedy. 

In a assertion late on Friday, Lykos mentioned it plans to request a gathering with the company to ask it to rethink “and to additional focus on the company’s suggestions for a resubmission searching for regulatory approval for midomafetamine capsules.”

Lykos mentioned considerations raised by the FDA echoed these of its advisory committee in June, however added that it had considerations “across the construction and conduct of the Advisory Committee assembly, together with the restricted variety of subject material specialists on the panel and the character of the dialogue.”

“The FDA request for an additional examine is deeply disappointing, not only for all those that devoted their lives to this pioneering effort, however principally for the thousands and thousands of People with PTSD, together with their family members, who haven’t seen any new therapy choices in over 20 years,” mentioned Lykos CEO Amy Emerson.

Jennifer Mitchell, lead writer on Lykos’ Part 3 publications, mentioned the company’s determination to request one other Part 3 examine “is a serious setback for the sphere.”

Worldwide

Duterte’s Son Information Invoice to Mandate Random Drug Testing of Authorities Officers. Philippine Rep. Paolo Duterte, the eldest son of former Philippines president and drug battle felony Rodrigo Duterte, has filed a invoice requiring elected and appointed public officers to bear random hair follicle drug testing each six months. The measure is Home Invoice 10744. 

“Contemplating the initiatives in direction of the deterrence of drug use and abuse, exemptions or favors within the obligatory nature of random drug testing shall not lengthen to sure class privilege such because the elected and appointed officers, because it turns into crucial upon their very own mandate that they shall lead the lifetime of modesty and integrity,” Duterte mentioned in his explanatory word.

The invoice additionally requires institutionalizing voluntary drug testing of candidates for workplace 90 days earlier than an election.