Aug 12 2024

FDA Withdraws Proposal to Research the Risks of Kratom and Psychedelics, Advocates Applaud Decision

The FDA has retracted its request to study the risks associated with kratom and psychedelics, a move that’s being celebrated by advocates who had criticized the initial proposal, viewing it as a continuation of what they perceive as FDA bias against these substances.

Kratom products.

On August 2, the FDA announced plans in the Federal Register to open a 60-day public comment period on the proposed study, pending clearance from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, the agency unexpectedly withdrew the notice on Monday.

The American Kratom Association (AKA) applauded the announcement of the FDA’s decision to withdraw its proposal.
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Aug 12 2024

Recreational Marijuana: North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida Will Vote on Legalization Initiatives This November

Today, North Dakota officials certified a marijuana legalization initiative for the November ballot, placing the state alongside South Dakota and Florida in voting on legalization measures this fall.

With just 12 weeks until the November 5 presidential election, it’s set to be a pivotal day for marijuana law reform. North Dakota’s Secretary of State has confirmed the addition of a marijuana legalization initiative to the ballot, joining two other states.

Below is an overview of the three states voting on recreational marijuana initiatives this November.
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Aug 12 2024

North Dakota Marijuana Legalization Initiative Officially Placed on November Ballot

Today, Secretary of State Michael Howe announced that a marijuana legalization initiative has officially qualified for the November ballot as Measure 5.

The New Economic Frontier, the organization behind the measure, submitted over 22,000 signatures, far more than the minimum requirement of 15,582 to secure a spot on the ballot.

The initiative, if passed, would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, four grams of marijuana concentrates, and 1,500 milligrams of adult-use cannabinoid products for adults aged 21 and older. It would also allow residents to grow up to three marijuana plants for personal use and establish a regulated market where marijuana products can be purchased from licensed retailers.
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Aug 11 2024

Delaware to Open Application Process for Recreational Marijuana Licenses on August 19

The Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner will begin accepting license applications on August 19 for those interested in joining the state’s recreational marijuana market.

The opening of the license process comes nearly a year after Delaware legalized adult-use recreational marijuana. The state will be accepting applications for cultivation, manufacturing, retail stores, and testing facilities. Eligible applications will be entered into a lottery, overseen by the marijuana commissioner, set for late October 2024.

Applicants are required to submit a detailed business plan along with safety and security protocols, operational, training, and staffing plans, and disclose any criminal, civil, or regulatory history. Delaware has set a limit of 60 cultivation licenses, 30 manufacturing licenses, 30 retail licenses, and 5 testing facility licenses.
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Aug 11 2024

The Top 10 Legal Marijuana States in Terms of Total Sales From January to July

The legal marijuana market in the United States has grown significantly in recent years, with numerous states reporting record-breaking sales figures.

As more states legalize and regulate the sale of marijuana, the industry continues to expand, contributing billions of dollars in revenue and tax benefits each year. In the first half of 2024 alone, the industry had over $10 billion in sales across approximately 20 states with licensed marijuana retail outlets. Many states experienced strong, and in some cases, record-breaking sales in July, continuing the growth trend.

This article highlights the top 10 states in terms of total marijuana sales from January to July 2024, using data from state regulatory agencies and the research firm Headset We’ll explore each state’s total sales, their peak sales month within this period, and the dates when each state legalized marijuana and opened their first retail outlet.
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Aug 11 2024

Federal Legislation to Decriminalize Marijuana, Allow Expungements, Now Has 113 Bicameral Sponsors

Legislation that would deschedule marijuana and allow for the expungement of past offenses now has 113 sponsors in the US House of Representatives and Senate.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) would deschedule marijuana, allow the expungement of past marijuana convictions, establish a federal marijuana excise tax, and create regulatory and safety standards for legal marijuana sales. Filed in May, the measure has 18 sponsors in the US Senate, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

In the House, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act would also deschedule marijuana (effectively decriminalizing it nationwide), allow expungements and establish a federal excise tax on marijuana sales. However, the MORE Act would not create federal safety standards.
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Aug 11 2024

The Top 5 Most Popular Marijuana Strains in the US

As the popularity of marijuana continues to grow across the United States, and as more states legalize the plant, certain strains have emerged as consistent favorites among consumers.

Blue Dream.

The marijuana landscape in the United States is vast and varied, with certain strains consistently rising to the top in terms of popularity. Based on data from state regulatory agencies, Leafly and WeedMaps, here are the top five most sought-after strains in the country, along with three honorable mentions that deserve recognition.
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Aug 10 2024

Colorado Marijuana Tax Revenue Reaches $150 Million in 2024, All-Time Taxes Surpass $2.76 Billion

Colorado’s tax revenue from legal marijuana sales has exceeded $150 million in the first seven months of the year.

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state has collected $150,904,366 in tax revenue from legal marijuana sales so far in 2024. This brings the cumulative total to $2,769,062,068.

The $150 million in taxes was generated from approximately $770 million in marijuana sales, including $100 million in July alone. All-time sales have now exceeded $16 billion.
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Aug 10 2024

Federal Legislation to Protect Marijuana Users in Public Housing Gains Five Bicameral Sponsors

Federal legislation that would allow those in public housing to use state-legal marijuana without fear of eviction has five sponsors in the in the US House of Representatives and Senate.

The Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act was earlier this year in the US House of Representatives by Congressmember Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), with a companion bill filed in the Senate by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Since being filed, Congressmember Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have joined as sponsors.

The proposed law would allow the use of marijuana in federally assisted housing, including public housing and Section 8 housing, if the consumer is in compliance with state marijuana laws. This would include medical marijuana in medical marijuana states, as well as recreational marijuana consumers in the 24 states where it’s legal.
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Aug 10 2024

Marijuana Descheduling Bill Reaches 95 Sponsors in US House

Federal legislation to deschedule marijuana and allow the expungement of past convictions has gained its 95th sponsor in the US House of Representatives.

Congressmember Jason Crow (D-CO) joined as an official cosponsor of the MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act yesterday, bringing the bill’s total sponsors to 95.

The MORE Act, supported by Vice President Kamala Harris, would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, effectively decriminalizing it nationwide. The bill also establishes a federal excise tax on state-legal marijuana sales, starting at 5% and eventually increasing to a maximum of 8%. Additionally, it includes measures to expunge past marijuana convictions and protect users from being denied public benefits.
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