Fast Czar

Trump appointee signals change.

Daily Recap

President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that he’s appointing a person whose sentence for a drug-related conviction he commuted to a new role as the nation’s “pardon czar” responsible for facilitating future clemency actions.

Trump is creating a role for Alice Johnson to serve as a designated pardon official at the White House. While the specific responsibilities remain unclear, Johnson herself received a presidential commutation from Trump during his last term while serving a life sentence related to cocaine charges.

In addition to moving The First Step Act through a Mitch McConnell-led Senate in his first term—the last major criminal justice reform we’ve seen—President Trump issued Johnson, Weldon Angelos, and others a full pardon in 2020.

Billy Ball

There was over $2 billion in legal cannabis sales across the United States in January, according to an analysis by The Marijuana Herald. The analysis used data from various state regulatory agencies and was supplemented with figures from data firm Headset.

Sunshine Daydream

While a Florida marijuana legalization initiative failed at the ballot last year, a new poll shows overwhelming bipartisan voter support for the reform, a positive sign ahead of a new version of the cannabis reform proposal for next year’s election.

The survey released found that 67% of Florida voters back legalization, including 82% of Democrats, 66% of independents and 55% of Republicans. A 60% threshold will be needed to pass the constitutional amendment under Florida state law.

Surrounded

New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has narrowly approved a Republican-led bill that would legalize personal use and possession of marijuana among adults 21 and older, though sales would remain illegal.

“An overwhelming majority of Granite Staters implore us to end the criminalization of cannabis, to end the fear of unnecessary disruption to people’s lives in the event they find cannabis to be their nighttime sleep aid, their mood enhancer or their morning pick-me-up.” Rep. Jodi Newell (D)

Stocks & Stuff

It was another quiet session through mid-afternoon, which is when I quietly exited to taxi our daughter to a far-off field hockey tournament. Industry earnings kick off next week with Green Thumb on Wednesday, which reminds me to bring my DogWalkers.

Below, we’ll top-line today, read between the lines on recent appointments, weigh the fundamental malaise against the potential for forward progress, flag a “research” faux pas, preview earnings and compare cannabis tax rates across the U.S. of A.

All that and more, just scroll down.

SPY 0.00%↑ QQQ 0.00%↑ IWM 0.00%↑ MSOS 0.00%↑

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