Dec 03 2024

Trump’s Pick to Head the DEA, Sheriff Chad Chronister, Withdraws From Consideration

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who was chosen by President Trump to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has withdrawn from the race.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Chronister, who has supported decriminalizing marijuana possession, was nominated by Trump on Saturday, and withdrew from the race Tuesday. Chronister was chosen to replace Anne Milgram, a Biden administration appointee and former New Jersey attorney general.

Chronister, a lifelong law enforcement officer, has served as sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, since 2018, overseeing Tampa and its surrounding areas.
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Dec 03 2024

California Reports $250.5 Million in Cannabis Tax Revenue for Third Quarter of 2024

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reported cannabis tax revenue today for the third quarter of 2024.

As of November 18, total cannabis tax revenue from third-quarter returns is $250.5 million. This figure includes $148.4 million in cannabis excise tax and $102 million from sales tax collected from cannabis businesses. These figures do not include outstanding returns or returns that still are being processed.

Reported revenue for the second quarter of 2024 returns has been revised to $269 million. This includes $157.7 million attributed to cannabis excise tax and $111.3 million to sales tax. These revisions are a result of amended and late returns, as well as other tax return adjustments.
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Dec 03 2024

Massachusetts: $151 Million in Marijuana Sold in November, Prices Drop to All-Time Low of $4.58 Per Gram and $129 Per Ounce

There was over $150 million in legal marijuana sold in Massachusetts in November, with prices continuing to drop.

According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), there was $137.2 million in recreational marijuana sold in November, nearly identical to the $138 million sold in October. When combined with the $14.6 million in medical marijuana sales, there was $151.8 million in marijuana sold legally in November.

The year-to-date total for 2024 is now nearly $1.6 billion, with the all-time total standing at $7.04 billion.
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Dec 03 2024

VA Funds First Study on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Veterans Since the 1960s

Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will fund a study on Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted, or MDMA-assisted, therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder among Veterans.

MDMA tablets, often referred to as “ecstasy”.

This is the first VA-funded study for psychedelic-assisted therapy since the 1960s.

VA researchers affiliated with Brown University and Yale University will evaluate the potential of MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment option for Veterans with both PTSD and AUD. Participants will receive psychotherapy sessions enhanced by MDMA, a psychedelic compound believed to increase emotional openness, reduce fear, and promote introspection during therapy. Some participants will be randomly chosen to receive an active placebo, which will be a lower dose of MDMA.
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Dec 02 2024

Ohio: Legal Marijuana Prices Drop to Below $7 Per Gram, Down 26% Since August

The average cost of recreational marijuana in Ohio has dropped substantially since the start of legal sales on August 7.

According to data released today by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), the average cost of recreational marijuana as of November 30 is $6.99 per gram. This is down 26% from the $9.40 average on August 7.

Between August 7 and November 30, there was $191,339,920 worth of recreational marijuana sold across 2,537,211 transactions. During the same period, there was $111.6 million in medical marijuana sold, combining for over $300 million.
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Dec 02 2024

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to Open State-Operated Testing Laboratory in February

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is set to open a state-operated marijuana testing laboratory in Oklahoma City by February 2025.

Renovations for the facility, located at Reno and Meridian avenues, began in mid-November and are expected to last 90 days. The lab, authorized by Senate Bill 813 in 2023, received $4.9 million in funding, including $3.5 million for start-up costs and $1.4 million for ongoing operations.

OMMA Chief Science Officer Lee Rhoades highlighted its importance in ensuring product safety, saying “Independent testing allows us to double-check the quality of products and protect the public”.
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Dec 02 2024

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Announce New Bill to Legalize Marijuana

Pennsylvania State Representatives Rick Krajewski (D) and Dan Frankel (D) have unveiled plans to introduce a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, with the pair emphasizing the social justice, public health, and economic benefits.

The legislation, announced via a co-sponsorship memo published earlier today, proposes the creation of a regulated marijuana marketplace that prioritizes communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. According to the lawmakers, the bill aims to raise state revenue, support social equity, and incorporate robust public health measures.

Representative Krajewski, who has previously chaired five hearings on cannabis legalization, highlighted the lessons Pennsylvania can learn from other states.
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Dec 02 2024

President-Elect Trump Names Sheriff Who Backed Marijuana Decriminalization as New DEA Chief

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Chronister, who has supported decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana in the past, was nominated Saturday. If confirmed by the Senate, Chronister will replace Anne Milgram, a Biden administration appointee and former New Jersey attorney general.

Chronister, a lifelong law enforcement officer, has served as sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, since 2018, overseeing Tampa and its surrounding areas.
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Dec 02 2024

Rhode Island Marijuana Sales Hit $10 Million in November, Year-to-Date Total Exceeds $108 Million

Rhode Island’s legal marijuana market brought in a combined $10 million in sales for November, according to the state’s Department of Business Regulation.

Adult-use marijuana dominated the market with $8.15 million, while medical marijuana sales totaled $1.85 million.

These figures contribute to a year-to-date sales total of $108,209,948, demonstrating steady growth in the state’s marijuana industry. The average transaction amount across all sales was $36.34, resulting in approximately 2,977,709 total transactions for the year.
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Dec 02 2024

Oregon: $78 Million in Marijuana Sold in November, $881 Million in 2024, Prices Drop to All-Time Low of $3.57 Per Gram

Legal marijuana sales in Oregon remained robust in November, with over $78 million in revenue, pushing the yearly total past $880 million.

Data from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission shows $78,562,441 in legal marijuana sales during November, a slight decline from October’s $79.5 million. These figures bring the year-to-date total to $881 million and the all-time total to $7.1 billion.

The average price of dried marijuana flower in November reached an all-time low of $3.57 per gram. Marijuana concentrate prices also fell, dropping from $16.21 per gram to $15.83, though they remain slightly higher than April’s average of $15.36.
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