Apr 02 2024

Oregon Marijuana Sales Jump to $82 Million in March

Oregon marijuana sales increased considerably in March compared to January and February.

Data released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission shows that there was $82,352,507 worth of legal marijuana sold in March. This is a notable increase over the $75.6 million sold in January and the $75.9 million sold in February.

The yearly total for marijuana sales is now $234 million. The total since the start of recreational marijuana sales in late 2016 is $6.459 billion, with $950 million coming in 2023. The nearly $6.5 billion in sales has garnered over $1.1 billion in tax revenue for the state.
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Apr 02 2024

On 4/20 Hulu and Disney+ Are Debuting “High Hopes”, a Marijuana Docuseries Produced by Jimmy Kimmel

Hulu has officially released the first trailer for their new docuseries High Hopes, executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel that’s also airing on Disney+.

High Hopes will debut on April 20, the unofficial marijuana holiday. The six-part docuseries will follow the owners and employees of MMD (Medical Marijuana Dispensary), one of the oldest marijuana dispensaries in Hollywood, California. All six episodes will be released at the same time.

The show will follow brothers Slava and Mishka, and their crew, as they operate a busy marijuana dispensary that has plans to expand their brand nationwide by launching additional dispensaries and their own nationwide brand of marijuana.
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Apr 02 2024

The 3 Most Likely Outcomes of the DEA’s Marijuana Rescheduling Review

The DEA has confirmed it’s conducting a review of marijuana’s scheduling status; here’s a look at the most likely outcomes.

Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal for all purposes. After a nearly year-long review prompted by an executive order from President Biden, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in August asking them to move marijuana to Schedule III. This would put marijuana in the same class as drugs such as ketamine, testosterone and codeine, making it available for prescription use nationwide.

In recent remarks an official with the DEA confirmed that the agency is “in the process” of making a final decision on marijuana’s scheduling status, which is entirely in the hands of Administrator Anne Milgram. The official said Milgram “will make a decision on where to place it – whether to change it or whether to remove it”.
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Apr 02 2024

Massachusetts Bill to Prevent Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing Advances in Legislature

Legislation preventing employers from testing potential employees for marijuana until after they’ve been offered conditional employment, while offering extra employee protections for medical marijuana patients, is advancing in the Massachusetts Legislature.

House Bill 1955, filed last year by State Representatives Chynah Tyler and David LeBoeuf, received approval recently through the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. Currently in the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling, the measure has been scheduled for a second reading later today.

“An employer may only test a prospective employee for marijuana use after a conditional offer of employment has been extended, unless otherwise required by law”, states the bill. “Further, no employer or agent of an employer may directly or indirectly solicit or require an employee or prospective employee to submit to testing for the presence of marijuana in his or her system as a condition of employment”.
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Apr 01 2024

Connecticut Judiciary Committee Approves Bill Addressing Marijuana Sentence Reductions and Discharges

A joint legislative committee in Connecticut has given approval to a bill allowing for marijuana sentence reductions, among other changes.

Senate Bill 444 was given approval today by the Joint Committee on Judiciary, moving it closer to a vote of the full Senate. The measure allows judges, after a hearing and for good cause shown, to reduce a sentence of someone convicted of a marijuana-related offense, or to order them discharged.

The measure also states that:
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Apr 01 2024

These 10 States Are Next in Line to Legalize Marijuana

There’s currently 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana. That number could jump to above 30 in the near future.

Recent developments such as Florida’s Supreme Court ruling in favor of a marijuana legalization initiative, and Hawaii’s full Senate and multiple House committees voting to legalize marijuana, has helped set the stage on which states will be the next to make recreational marijuana legal.  Although a few are further along in the process of making marijuana legal than others, below is a list of the 10 states next in line to make marijuana legal.
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Apr 01 2024

Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana Introduced in Kansas Senate

A measure that would make medical marijuana legal in Kansas was introduced today in the state’s Senate.

Kansas is one of just 12 states that have not legalized medical marijuana. Senate Bill 558, filed by the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, would make Kansas the 39th medical marijuana state.

The “Kansas medical cannabis act” would allow for the “licensure and regulation of the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, sale and use of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products”.  Those with a qualifying medical conditions would be authorized to purchase marijuana and marijuana products from licensed dispensaries, with regulations and licensing overseen by the Department of Health and Environment.
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Apr 01 2024

Legalizing Marijuana in Pennsylvania Would Net $270 Million Annually for State General Fund, Finds New Report

According to a new report conducted by the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the state would garner hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue by FY 2028 to 2029 if marijuana is legalized for recreational use.

The IFO report is based on a proposed budget by Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D), released last week, which would see marijuana legalized for everyone 21 and older.

“The Executive Budget includes a proposal to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use and impose a 20% excise tax on the wholesale price of products sold”, states the report. “Assuming legal sales begin on January 1, 2025, the IFO projects the proposal could generate $41 million in General Fund revenue for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 and $271 million for FY 2028-29”.
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Apr 01 2024

New Mexico Sets Monthly Record With $52 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in March

In New Mexico there was over $52 million in legal marijuana sold in March, a new monthly record.

According to data released by the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, there was $52,507,206 worth of legal marijuana sod in March, just the second time monthly marijuana sales have passed $50 million (December, 2023 was the only other month). $13,042,682 of March’s sales came from medical marijuana patients, with recreational consumers purchasing $39,464,523 worth of marijuana and marijuana products.

March’s marijuana sales were distributed across 1,180,392 different transactions.
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Apr 01 2024

Florida Supreme Court Officially Rules Marijuana Initiative Will Be Voted On Later This Year

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana will be voted on during November’s election.

Last year the Florida Division of Elections verified that the nonprofit organization Smart & Safe Florida submitted 967,528 valid signatures for their initiative to legalize recreational marijuana. This is more than the 891,523 signatures required to put the measure a on the November, 2024 presidential election ballot.

If passed by voters this November, Amendment 3 would allow those 21 and older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.”
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