In California, more than $340 million worth of legal marijuana and related products (including edibles, concentrates, and more) were sold in August.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

According to data released by the research firm Headset, licensed marijuana stores in California recorded $343.1 million in sales in August.

So far this year, marijuana sales in California have reached approximately $2.8 billion. Last week the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported that the state garnered $263.1 million in marijuana tax revenue in the second quarter of this year.
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The Cannabis Research Institute in Chicago is now open, with the goal of exploring how cannabis may help or harm those who use it.

The institute, first announced around 18 months ago, is focusing on marijuana’s medical applications, including the potential use of cannabis for cancer treatment. Additionally, the institute will assist in developing a state reference lab to verify the accuracy of commercial cannabis testing and investigate a virus threatening marijuana crops, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Reggie Gaudino, director of the institute, is leading the charge with a $7 million grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Gaudino, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and biochemistry, previously worked with companies like Charlotte’s Web, known for its CBD products. He hopes to bring similar success to his current research, which aims to determine if certain cannabis strains can treat various medical conditions.
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Today, Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chair Shannon O’Brien, who was responsible for overseeing the state’s legal marijuana market.

Goldberg said she fired O’Brien after carefully considering more than 20 hours of meetings held earlier this year as well as various documents, case law and policies. Goldberg said she fired O’Brien because she “committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner.”

Late last month we reported that the website for the CCC went down for several days, and sales data has not been updated since June.
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In Montana, there was most legal marijuana sales in August than any previous month.

Data released by the Montana Department of Revenue shows that there was $25,851,878 worth of recreational marijuana sold in August via licensed retail outlets. This is in addition to the $3,865,003 worth of medical marijuana purchased by patients, combining for a total of $29,716,881.

The sales total for August breaks the monthly record of $28,717,104 set just last month. The previous previous record was $28,697,312 in August 2023.
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Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a multi-state cannabis company, has officially opened its 27th Florida dispensary, which is located in Ocala.

The location, which is now open, marks the company’s 27th dispensary in the state and 31st nationwide. Located at 8750 SW 200th St., Suite 101, Planet 13 Ocala is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

The dispensary is situated on State Road 200, a busy thoroughfare with over 35,000 cars passing daily, and is near the On Top of the World retirement community.
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This November, Arkansas voters will consider an initiative that would significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program, in addition to establishing a federal trigger for recreational marijuana legalization.

The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024, put forth by Arkansans for Patient Access (APA), will appear on the November 5 ballot. The initiative would expand the state’s medical marijuana law to allow patients to grow up to seven mature marijuana plants, and seven immature marijuana pants, at a private residence. Importantly, the proposed law would also remove the retail prohibition on smokeable marijuana products like pre-rolls.

In addition, the initiative would:
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Rhode Island is moving forward with plans to allocate 24 new cannabis retail licenses through a hybrid process that combines a merit-based screening and a lottery system.

(Photo credit: Vicente LLP).

The state’s Cannabis Control Commission unanimously approved the approach on Friday, which seeks to balance fairness with efficiency as Rhode Island’s recreational cannabis market continues to develop.

Under the proposed system, applicants will first undergo a screening to evaluate their qualifications, including their readiness for licensure and ability to operate a retail outlet. Those who pass this initial phase will then enter a lottery, but only in regions where demand for licenses exceeds supply. Rhode Island’s cannabis laws divide the state into six geographic zones, with a maximum of four stores permitted in each. Two of the four licenses in each zone will be reserved for social equity applicants and worker cooperatives.
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The Stop Pot Act, introduced by Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC) last September, is the most prominent piece of anti-marijuana legislation currently in the U.S. Congress, despite having only five sponsors from three states.

The Stop Pot Act seeks to penalize states and tribes that have legalized recreational marijuana by withholding federal highway funds. Despite having more support than any other marijuana-related bill in US Congress, the measure has only managed to attract five co-sponsors, all from Republican representatives—David Rouzer (R-NC), Gregory Murphy (R-NC), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and John W. Rose (R-TN).

The lack of support for the Stop Pot Act speaks volumes about the waning opposition to marijuana reform in U.S. politics. While a decade ago such legislation might have garnered broader backing, the political landscape has shifted dramatically. This bill’s stagnation in the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, where it has been stuck since its introduction, further underscores this point. Despite a push from Edwards to gain more co-sponsors earlier in the summer, the measure has seen no new endorsements since October, and it faces expiration if not passed by the end of the year.
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Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has responded to former President Trump’s recent remarks, where he expressed support for legalizing marijuana in Florida, federal rescheduling, and passing marijuana banking legislation.

“As president, Trump cracked down on nonviolent marijuana offenses, undermining state legalization laws, opposed safe banking legislation, and even tried to remove protections for medical marijuana,” Harris spokesperson Joseph Costello said on Monday in an interview with NBC. “Donald Trump does not actually believe in marijuana reform, but the American people are smart enough to see through his campaign lies.”

Costello’s comments follow Trump’s recent statement that Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, would be “very good” for Florida. Shortly after, Trump endorsed the Biden administration’s plan to reschedule marijuana and voiced his support for the SAFE Banking Act to enable nationwide marijuana banking. Continue reading

Marijuana prohibition in the United States began nearly a century ago with the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937. Its end appears near.

The 1937 law marked the beginning of a widespread crackdown on cannabis, making it increasingly difficult to cultivate, sell, or use the plant legally. The government’s stance on marijuana hardened with the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which classified it as a Schedule I drug, making it one of the most restricted substances, prohibiting its use for any purpose, including medical research.

Today, however, momentum for reform has reached new heights. For the first time in U.S. history, both major presidential candidates—Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump—are on record supporting the legalization of marijuana. This represents a seismic shift in national politics, given that marijuana policy has long been a deeply divisive issue, at least among politicians (the majority of US adults have supported the move for at least a decade).
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