Anthony Martinelli is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Marijuana Herald, a daily marijuana news and information website that launched in 2018. You can reach Anthony at [email protected].
Anthony Martinelli
Author's posts
May 17 2023
Washington Governor Signs Bill Making Drug Possession a Misdemeanor
During a special session called by Governor Jay Inslee the Washington Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill to make drug possession a gross misdemeanor while boosting substance-use treatment programs. The bill was quickly signed into law by Governor Inslee, who said that it “is not designed to fill our jails, it’s designed to fill our …
May 16 2023
Maine Senate Passes Bill to Exempt Medical Marijuana From Taxes
Maine’s Senate has given approval to a measure that would exempt medical marijuana sales from being taxed. According to its official summary, House Bill 541 “includes medical cannabis in the sales tax exemption that applies to medicines sold on a doctor’s prescription.” The bipartisan bill was filed by State Representative Ann Fredericks with cosponsors Representatives …
May 16 2023
New Mexico Officials Vote to Add Insomnia as Qualifying Medical Marijuana Condition
Officials in New Mexico have voted in favor of adding insomnia to the state’s medical marijuana program. The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted today to approve a petition calling for insomnia to join the state’s list of medical ailments that qualify an individual to become a medical marijuana patient. The list now includes …
May 16 2023
Michigan Committee Votes to Allow 19 and 20 Year Olds to Work at Marijuana Stores
Michigan legislation to lower the age requirement for working or volunteering at licensed marijuana retail outlets has been passed by a key House committee. House Bill 4322 has been passed by the House Regulatory Reform committee, and has been sent to the full House of Representative to be considered on second reading. If passed through …
May 16 2023
Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Extending Mortarium on Marijuana Businesses to 2026
An Oklahoma moratorium (temporary ban) on new marijuana businesses has been extended to at least 2026. Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2095 into law earlier this month, officially extending the state’s ban on the establishment of any new medical marijuana businesses. Last year Oklahoma lawmakers enacted a moratorium that explicitly prohibits regulators from issuing …
May 16 2023
Arizona Committee Unanimously Votes to Add PTSD and Autism to Medical Marijuana Program
Arizona legislation to expand the state’s medical marijuana program has been passed unanimously by the House Rules Committee. Senate Bill 1466, filed by Senator Thomas Shope, was passed yesterday 7 to 0 through the House Rules Committee. It’s now able to be considered by the full House of Representatives. Given it’s already been passed by …
May 16 2023
Minnesota Conference Committee Reaches Agreement on Marijuana Legalization Bill
A conference committee made up of five senators and five state representatives has reached a deal on a specific framework for a bill to legalize marijuana. Both the House and Senate have already voted to pass their version of HF 100 to legalize marijuana for those 21 and older. However, differences in amendments required a …
May 16 2023
North Carolina Committee Approves Psilocybin and MDMA Research Bill
A key committee in the North Carolina House of Representatives has voted to approve legislation that would spend millions to research psilocybin and MDMA. The House Health Committee voted today to pass House Bill 727, filed by Representative Edward Goodwin. The proposal would establish a $5 million grant program designed specifically to research the medical …
May 15 2023
Springfield, Missouri City Council Likely to Put Marijuana Tax Ordinance On August Ballot
Following several Missouri cities approving local marijuana taxes in the April election, Springfield may be poised to do the same. Today the Springfield City Council held a special meeting to discuss the possibility of imposing a local 3% tax on marijuana sales, similar to what voters approved last month in St Louis, Columbia and Kansas …
May 15 2023
Arizona Governor Signs Bill Allocating Millions for Psilocybin Research
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed into law legislation that allocates millions of dollars for the research of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. Governor Hobbs signed the measure into law a mere hours after the legislature gave it approval. Specifically, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will distribute $5 million in fiscal …
