The Smart & Safe Florida campaign has raised over $66 million for its marijuana legalization initiative, Amendment 3, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

This amount, reported as of mid-July, is significantly higher than any previous marijuana legalization initiative in any other state. For context, California’s Proposition 64 campaign raised $25 million in 2016, and Ohio’s Issue 2 raised $7 million last year; both initiatives were successfully passed into law.

Of the $66 million raised, approximately $60 million came from the medical marijuana company Trulieve. Other major contributors include Verano Holdings LLC, Curaleaf Inc., AYR Wellness Inc., and Green Thumb Industries.
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Florida’s Amendment 3, a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, could significantly reduce the state’s criminal justice burden by ending over 60,000 marijuana-related arrests annually.

This initiative, spearheaded by the nonprofit political committee Smart & Safe Florida and being voted on this November 5, aims to legalize the possession, purchase, and use of marijuana products for adults aged 21 and older. Amendment 3 allows individuals to possess up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates.

Amendment 3 also provides for the establishment of licensed retail outlets, which would sell these products to consumers. Medical marijuana dispensaries in Florida would have the option to obtain a dual license, allowing them to participate in the recreational market​.
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a grant of approximately $6.2 million to the Nashville-based nonprofit Hemp Building Institute.

Hempcrete (photo credit: TaoClimate).

The grant will support the development of hempcrete, a sustainable building material made from hemp. This funding is part of the EPA’s broader $160 million initiative to promote environmentally friendly technologies across various industries.

Hempcrete, a sustainable construction material, combines hemp hurds with a lime binder, resulting in a lightweight, concrete-like substance. It is valued for its insulating qualities and environmental benefits, making it an increasingly popular alternative to conventional building materials. The grant from the EPA is intended to promote the use of biogenic materials, such as hemp, soy, and straw bale, by developing environmental product declarations (EPDs) and life cycle assessments (LCAs) that measure the environmental impact throughout their life cycle.
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A new report from Human Rights Watch and the Drug Policy Alliance reveals that nearly 50,000 non-citizens have been deported over the past two decades for marijuana possession.

The report, covering federal deportation data from 2002 to 2021, indicates that approximately 156,000 non-citizens were deported during this period for drug possession, with nearly one-third (47,000) of these cases involving marijuana.

The report, titled Disrupt and Vilify: The War on Immigrants Inside the US War on Drugs, highlights that some deportations are for activities related to marijuana that are no longer illegal under state and local laws. The authors noted that federal immigration laws have not been updated to reflect changing public attitudes toward marijuana.
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Minnesota has opened the initial application period for recreational marijuana licenses, 14 months after legalizing the substance.

The initial applications focus on social equity businesses, allowing some to start growing cannabis plants as early as this fall, although retail sales are expected to commence in the spring.

The application process, initiated by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), began on Wednesday with the opening of a preapproval license window for businesses verified as involving social equity applicants, reports MinnPost. This initial application window closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 12.
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The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a new policy paper advocating for the decriminalization of marijuana possession. The paper also emphasizes the need for an evidence-based approach to medical education regarding cannabis and its health impacts.

A public health approach is necessary to address the legal, medical, and social complexities of cannabis use, says the American College of Physicians (ACP) in a new policy paper released today.

“Regulatory Framework for Cannabis: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians,” published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, issues recommendations to policymakers on adopting a public health approach to prevent and control adverse cannabis-related health outcomes.
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As the November election draws near, there is a significant possibility of a major shift in marijuana policy.

If the Democrats retain the presidency, secure control of the U.S. House of Representatives and maintain or strengthen their positions in the Senate, several pivotal federal marijuana bills are poised for serious consideration and potential enactment. This scenario, though far from certain, is also not out of the question. Recent polling shows Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump, and Democrats have a good chance of keeping the Senate. Additionally, they have a reasonable chance of gaining the four seats needed to regain control of the House of Representatives.

With that said, here are five bills that could transform federal marijuana laws if the Democrats gain control:

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A new study reveals that marijuana use among U.S. youth has remained steady over the past decade, even as overall adult consumption has increased and more than 20 states have legalized recreational marijuana.

The study, titled “Prevalence of and trends in current cannabis use among US youth and adults, 2013–2022,” was conducted by researchers from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and the American Heart Association Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science. It was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports and hosted online by the National Library of Medicine.

The research utilized data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, analyzing responses from 543,195 participants between 2013 and 2022. The study aimed to assess trends in marijuana use across various sociodemographic groups, including age, gender, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, and total annual family income.
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