The legal marijuana industry in Washington State generated over $100 million in sales in October, bringing the year-to-date total to above $1 billion.

There was $101.5 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products, including concentrates, edibles, tinctures and topicals, sold in October in Washington. This is according to data released by the research firm Headset.

Sales for October marked a slight increase from the $98 million sold in September, and it brings the year-to-date total to around $1.1 billion. In 2023, there was $1.25 billion in marijuana sales resulting in over $400 million in taxes. The state is on track to match, or possibly exceed this amount.
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Congressmember David P. Joyce (R-OH), who was reelected this week with 64% support, plans to refile the SAFE Banking Act in January, but is holding out hope it could still be approved this year.

In April 2023, Rep. Joyce filed the SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement) Banking Act with eight cosponsors. Now, it has 131, more than any other marijuana-related bill in the US Congress. However, the measure is set to expire at the end of the year, as with all other measures filed after January 1 2023.

When asked if Joyce plans to refile SAFE Banking next session (which begins in January), Communications Director Sara Young told us “Yes, we plan to reintroduce if we don’t get it done by the end of the year.”
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In yesterday’s election, numerous marijuana-related proposals were considered on the state and local level: Here’s a breakdown of how each of these proposal faired.

Although November 5 was not a great day for cannabis law reform, with all three recreational marijuana legalization measures being denied by voters, there were some bright spots. With that said, below is a breakdown of the 2024 election.
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Over 100 cities and counties in Kentucky have officially approved ordinances allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.

In last night’s election, 106 cities and counties approved medical marijuana initiatives. Not a single city or county rejected the proposal.

The ordinances provide guidelines for dispensaries, cultivation centers, and other medical cannabis facilities. Kentucky’s medical marijuana law, signed by Governor Andy Beshear in 2023, allows patients diagnosed with conditions like cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and multiple sclerosis to possess and use marijuana products with a doctor’s supervision. The law establishes a regulated system of medical marijuana dispensaries, with cities and counties given the option to opt out through a public vote.

State regulations prohibit smoking cannabis but allow its use in forms such as oils, edibles, and vaporizers. The Kentucky Department for Alcoholic Beverage Control oversees licensing and the regulatory framework for production, processing, and retail distribution, ensuring safe and legal access for qualifying patients.
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Voters in Oregon have given approval to the United for Cannabis Workers Act, put forth by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555.

Once Measure 119 takes effect, it will guarantee cannabis industry workers the right to organize and bargain collectively. Although joining a union would be optional, this proposal would provide legal protections for those choosing to do so.

“Workers across every industry should have the freedom to unionize if they so choose”, says Dan Clay, President, UFCW Local 555. “This ballot measure closes an age-old loophole that deprives that right to thousands of Oregon cannabis workers. Shady cannabis tycoons have taken advantage of an outdated law to strip workers’ rights that are guaranteed to nearly every other American. By passing Measure 119, voters will enshrine the freedom to unionize in the Oregon Cannabis industry.”
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Nebraska voters have made their state the 39th to legalize medical marijuana through the passage of two companion initiatives.

Nebraska voters have approved both the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act (Initiative 437) and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act (Initiative 438) with overwhelming support.

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act provides legal safeguards for patients, allowing them to possess up to five ounces of marijuana for medical use. The measure also provides legal protections for healthcare providers who recommend medical marijuana.
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South Dakota voters have chosen to keep recreational marijuana illegal, rejecting Measure 29 in Tuesday’s election.

The initiative would have allowed those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants for personal use. Measure 29 also proposed establishing licensed marijuana retail outlets to serve adults, which would have allowed the state to regulate and tax cannabis sales. With the measure’s defeat, these provisions will not take effect.

This decision marks the third time South Dakota has faced a setback in efforts to legalize recreational marijuana. Voters approved a similar measure in 2020, but it was subsequently overturned by the courts, citing procedural issues. In 2022, voters defeated a similar measure, with many analysts attributing the loss to lower voter turnout given it wasn’t a presidential election. Measure 29 was crafted to address the concerns outlined in that ruling while retaining the 2020 initiative’s core objectives. Nonetheless, a majority of voters did not support the proposal in this election.
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