Feb 22 2024

Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Passed by New Hampshire House of Representatives 239 to 141

New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has approved a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, with 62% voting in favor.

House Bill 1633 was passed through the House today by a vote of 239 to 141, sending it to the state’s Senate. The measure would allow those 21 and older to possess up to four ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of marijuana concentrates and edibles with up to 2,000 mg of THC.

The measure would establish a system of licensed, regulated and state-operate marijuana stores. The law would retain criminal penalties for those caught smoking marijuana in public three or more times, with the first two times being a civil infraction.
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Feb 21 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris Said Biden Administration “Changed Federal Marijuana Policy”, Sticks With Claim

On February 9 President Kamala Harris posted a campaign video stating that the Biden/Harris Administration has “changed federal marijuana policy”. Despite this not being true (at least not yet), Vice President Harris has chosen to keep the video live on the social media platform X.

In the video appealing to “young voters”, VP Harris said “We changed federal marijuana policy, because nobody should have to go to jail just for smoking weed.” The video at the time of publication has over 434,000 views.

As we noted on February 10, Harris’ video may have been posted prematurely, given that at the time of publication the Biden Administration has not made any changes to federal marijuana policy. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently considering a request from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, which would legalize the plant nationwide for prescription use. Congressional researchers call the change “likely“.
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Feb 21 2024

Arkansas Attorney General Approves Ballot Language for Initiative to Expand Medical Marijuana Access

Arkansans Attorney General Tim Griffin has given approval to the ballot language of an initiative submitted by  Arkansans for Patient Access.

AG Griffin’s approval of the ballot language allows the group to immediately begin gathering signatures on their initiative to expand access to medical marijuana. They must collect 90,704 signatures by July 5 in order for the measure to appear on the November, 2024 general election ballot.

The initiative would expand the state’s medical marijuana law, passed in 2016, to allow patients to grow their own marijuana at a private residence, with the limit set at seven mature plants and seven immature plants. It would also remove the retail prohibition on certain smokeable marijuana products such as pre-rolls.
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Feb 21 2024

South Dakota House Unanimously Passes Bill to Ban Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC

South Dakota’s full House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban the production and distribution of THC derived from hemp, including delta-8 and delta-10 THC.

Delta-8 THC gummies (photo credit: FloraCBD).

The House recently voted 69 to 0 to pass House Bill 1125, which is scheduled for a public hearing today in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. If the measure makes its way through the Senate committee process and is passed by the full chamber, it will be sent to Governor Kristi Noem who is expected to sign it into law if given the opportunity.

The measure states that no person or entity may:
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Feb 21 2024

Arizona House Passes Bill to Alter Marijuana Advertising Law

The Arizona House of Representatives has passed a bill to establish stricter marijuana advertising laws.

The House Committee of the Whole voted yesterday to give approval to House Bill 2451, sending it to the state’s Senate.

The proposed legislation “would impose additional advertising restrictions to prohibit marijuana establishments and nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries from advertising products to individuals under 21, including advertising products resembling food and drink brands marketed to children; advertising with likenesses of toys and cartoons that appeal to children; advertising in a way that primarily appeals to children; advertising at or on public transportation; and advertising via social media or a website unless at least 71.6% of the audience is projected to be over 21.”
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Feb 20 2024

Washington House Committee Passes Bill to Allow Larger Marijuana Signs and Billboards

Washington’s House Committee on Regulated Substances and Gaming has passed a bill that would allow larger marijuana signs and billboards.

The committee voted 7 to 3 today in favor of Senate Bill 5363, sending it to the House Ways and Means Committee. The proposal has already passed the full Senate in a 48 to 1 vote.

According to an official summary of the bill, the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (LCB) “may not regulate the size of retail signs, whether indoor or outdoor, and billboards for licensed cannabis retailers.”
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Feb 20 2024

Every Federal Marijuana Bill Currently Active in US Congress

There’s over a dozen marijuana-related bills currently active in the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

In December, 2022, President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act into law, making it the first standalone piece of marijuana legislation to ever be signed by a US president.

Since then, lawmakers have filed multiple marijuana-related bills seeking to bring further reforms to America’s marijuana laws.
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Feb 20 2024

Arizona Made Over a Quarter of a Billion Dollars in Marijuana Tax Revenue in 2023

Arizona made over $250 million in tax revenue from the legal distribution of marijuana in 2023.

According to data released by the Arizona Department of Revenue, the state made $23,737,758 in taxes from legal marijuana sales in December. This brings the total for 2023 to $252,872,787.

The total amount of marijuana taxes made since the start of legal marijuana sales in 2021 now stands at $757,471,288.
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Feb 20 2024

Maryland Senate Passes Measure Establishing Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Patients

Legislation providing gun rights to medical marijuana patients has been approved by Maryland’s full Senate.

In an overwhelming 43 to 2 vote, the Maryland Senate voted today to pass Senate Bill 348, sending it to the House of Representatives. The measure was filed last month by Senator Mike McKay (R).

The legislation states that “a person may not be denied the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely on the basis that the person is authorized to use medical cannabis”.
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Feb 20 2024

Second Arizona Committee Votes to to Legalize Psilocybin Therapy Centers, Full Senate Expected to Vote Soon

A bill to legalize psilocybin therapy centers where the substance can be legally consumed has been passed by a second Senate committee, and is expected to soon be considered by the full Senate.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Senate Bill 1570 has been given approval by the Senate Rules Committee in a 5 to 2 vote. Passage through the committee comes six days after it was passed unanimously by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

The proposed law would legalize psilocybin therapy centers where individuals can come and legally consume psilocybin in a medical, supervised setting, with trained staff constantly available. Licensing for these centers would be handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
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