Apr 12 2025

Washington House Approves Bill to Limit Financial Agreements Between Marijuana Retailers, Sending it Back to Senate

The Washington House of Representatives has passed legislation to restrict financial interest agreements among marijuana retail businesses, a move supporters say will curb vertical integration and increase market fairness.

Approved on a 57 to 37 vote, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5403 would bar individuals or entities with ownership in a licensed marijuana retail business from entering into financial agreements that span more than five retail licenses. The bill had already passed the Senate in March with a 41 to 7 vote but now heads back for a concurrence vote due to amendments made in the House.

The bill, sponsored by Senators Rebecca Saldaña (D), Noel Krishnadasan (D), and T’wina Nobles (D), clarifies what constitutes a prohibited financial interest. This includes shared marketing, coordinated purchasing, revenue sharing, or operational control between businesses beyond the license limit.
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Apr 11 2025

Delaware Senate Committee Approves Bill Limiting County Restrictions on Marijuana Businesses

Senate Bill 75, which would limit the power of Delaware counties to restrict marijuana businesses, has been approved by the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee in a 3 to 1 vote.

The legislation would ensure that marijuana retail and cultivation operations can function more freely in certain zones while still preserving local control for municipalities.

If passed into law, SB 75 would prohibit counties from banning marijuana retail stores in commercial or industrial zones, with limited exceptions. Restrictions could only be applied if a store is within a half mile of another marijuana retailer or within 500 feet of specific locations such as schools, parks, libraries, licensed child care centers, or residential treatment facilities.
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Apr 11 2025

New Hampshire Senate Committee Schedules Public Hearing on House-Backed Psilocybin Decrim Bill

Legislation to decriminalize psilocybin in New Hampshire is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 15 at 1:50 p.m. in Room 100 of the State House.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

House Bill 528, filed by State Representative Kevin Verville (R), was approved by the full House last month with strong bipartisan support. Originally written to fully legalize the personal use and possession of psilocybin, the bill was amended in committee to instead decriminalize it.

As passed by the House, the revised measure would treat a first offense for possession by those 18 and older as a civil violation with a fine of up to $100.
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Apr 11 2025

Israel Proposes Tariffs Up to 165% on Canadian Medical Marijuana Imports

Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry has proposed steep new tariffs on medical marijuana imported from Canada, with rates as high as 165%, according to MJBizDaily.

Cannabis tincture.

The move is part of an effort to shield Israel’s domestic cannabis producers from what officials describe as unfair pricing practices. Economy Minister Nir Barkat is calling for the so-called “dumping tax” to remain in effect for four years. The proposal must receive approval from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich within two weeks and then gain support from the Knesset Finance Committee.

The proposed tariff rates would vary by company: Tilray Brands would face a 70% tax, Organigram Global 53%, Village Farms International 28%, and Decibel Cannabis Co. 12%. All other Canadian suppliers would be hit with the full 165% duty.
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Apr 11 2025

U.S. Congress: Legislation to Block Tax Deductions Even if Marijuana is Rescheduled Gains 13th Sponsor

A federal proposal that would prevent marijuana businesses from claiming standard tax deductions—regardless of whether marijuana is rescheduled—has gained its 13th congressional sponsor.

Representative Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) signed on to the House version of the bill on Thursday, joining ten other lawmakers. Known as House Bill 1447, the measure was introduced last month by Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX). It would amend the Internal Revenue Code so that marijuana businesses would remain ineligible for common deductions like rent, utilities, and employee wages, even if marijuana is moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law.

Currently, Section 280E of the tax code blocks such deductions for businesses associated with Schedule I or II drugs. Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III—as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—would normally lift that restriction. However, HB 1447 would override this change, keeping those tax penalties in place.
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Apr 11 2025

Florida Senate Unanimously Approves Bill to Ban Delta-8 and Delta-10, Restrict Hemp THC Beverages

The Florida Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill that would outlaw delta-8 and delta-10 products and impose new restrictions on hemp-derived THC beverages.

Gummies made with hemp-derived Delta-8 THC.

Senate Bill 438, approved Wednesday, caps delta-9 THC in hemp beverages to under 5 milligrams per serving or 50 milligrams per container. It also includes a series of restrictions backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, such as prohibiting hemp retailers from operating within 500 feet of gas stations, schools, and day care centers.

The proposal mirrors a measure DeSantis vetoed last June that would have banned most intoxicating hemp products. However, SB 438 reintroduces those provisions and adds further limits, signaling a renewed push to regulate the state’s hemp industry.
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Apr 11 2025

THC Companies Seek 2,000 Participants to Receive Free Cannabis Drinks for “World’s First Infused Beverage Study”

A coalition of leading THC beverage companies is partnering with data firm MoreBetter to recruit 2,000 participants for what they’re calling the world’s first infused beverage study, offering free cannabis drinks in exchange for consumer feedback.

Participants will receive samples from brands such as Cycling Frog, Happi, Keef, Leisuretown, Mary Jones, and Pabst Labs. The goal is to gather large-scale, real-world data on how consumers use THC drinks and how they compare to alcohol across metrics like relaxation, anxiety relief, sleep support, and overall wellness.

According to preliminary insights from earlier phases of the study, 72% of respondents said they’d prefer THC drinks over alcohol in the future, while 96% reported a positive experience. Many participants also noted fewer negative side effects, such as hangovers or irritability, when using THC beverages.
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Apr 11 2025

Illinois Senate Approves Bill Banning Vehicle Searches Based on Marijuana Smell

The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that would prohibit law enforcement from using the smell of cannabis as the sole reason to search a vehicle, sending it to the House for consideration.

The Senate voted 33 to 20 in favor of Senate Bill 42, sending the measure to the House Rules Committee.

Under the proposal, officers would no longer be allowed to stop, search, or detain a vehicle or its occupants based solely on the smell of burnt or raw cannabis, so long as the individuals are 21 or older. The bill also removes a current requirement that marijuana must be stored in an odor-proof container while in a motor vehicle.
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Apr 10 2025

Montana Legislature Approves Bill to Tighten Restrictions on Marijuana Flower and Edibles

The Montana Legislature has approved House Bill 636, a sweeping measure that imposes new regulations on marijuana products. The Senate passed the bill today in a 37 to 12 vote, following House approval last month by a vote of 84 to 15.

The legislation, sponsored by State Representative Josh Etchart and backed by a group of Republican lawmakers, would restrict  the THC content in marijuana products, including placing a 35% THC limit on cannabis flower.

The measure would reduce the maximum THC content in a single serving of an edible from 10 milligrams to 5 milligrams, while maintaining an 800-milligram limit per package for most product types.
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Apr 10 2025

Ohio Marijuana Sales Pass $648 Million Since August Launch, Resulting in $80.6 Million in Tax Revenue, State Reports

Licensed marijuana dispensaries and retail outlets in Ohio have sold more than $648 million worth of marijuana products since the state’s recreational market opened on August 7.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

According to new data released by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, which covers marijuana sales through April 5, total sales reached $648,111,114, with $434,248,741 from adult-use purchases and $213,862,373 from medical transactions. These sales were split across 7,675,864 different transactions in the state.

In total, the state has had 24,534,938 legal marijuana transactions contributing to an all-time sales total of $2,566,120,925 when including medical marijuana sales that began years earlier.
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