Dec 15 2023

Maryland: Over 1,700 Apply for a Social Equity Cannabis Business License

Maryland regulators received over 1,700 applications during a 30-day window from those seeking to receive a social equity marijuana business license.

Maryland legalized marijuana earlier this year, with sales beginning July 1. Up until now, only outlets that were already serving medical marijuana patients are authorized to sell recreational marijuana, but that’s expected to change soon as the state begins the licensing process for new marijuana retail outlets and the growers and processors that will supply them.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) opened a 30-day window from November 12 to December 12 seeking applicants for social equity cannabis business licenses (the first batch of marijuana licenses are going to “social equity” applicants who have been harmed by the war on drugs). MCA received 1,708 completed applications.
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Dec 15 2023

Delaware Bill Would Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Marijuana for Any Condition, Allow Those 65+ to Self-Certify

Bipartisan legislation that would greatly expand the number of people eligible to become medical marijuana patients in Delaware has been filed in the state’s House of Representatives.

Delaware House Bill 285 was filed yesterday by State Representative Edward Osienski along with a bipartisan coalition of eight cosponsors. The measure has been assigned to the House Health & Human Development Committee.

The proposed law would amend the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act by removing the requirement that a patient have a debilitating medical condition to qualify for a registry identification card, instead allowing health-care providers to make the determination of whether a patient has a diagnosed medical condition for which the patient would receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the use of medical marijuana.
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Dec 15 2023

Coalition of Former Federal Prosecutors Urges Biden Administration to Keep Marijuana Schedule I

A group of 29 former federal prosecutors have sent a letter to the leaders of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging them to retain marijuana as a schedule I drug.

The letter from the former prosecutors comes in response to a letter sent in August by the Department of Health to the DEA, officially requesting marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (this would legalize it for prescription use across the country). A report released in September by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) states that it’s “likely” the DEA will reschedule marijuana to reschedule III, which will have “broad implications for federal policy”.

The letter from the former prosecutors, directed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, states that “Almost no one has benefitted from legal weed, but there is one group coming out on top – drug cartels. Many states have enacted home-grow marijuana laws, which led to cartels growing marijuana in the United States to cut trafficking costs.”
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Dec 15 2023

US House Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana Nationwide Now Has 79 Sponsors, 37% of All Democrats

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act gained three new sponsors yesterday, bringing the total number to 79.

The MORE Act (H.R. 5601) is now sponsored by 37% of all Democrats in the House of Representatives. The measure was filed in September by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D) along with four cosponsors. The legislation has steadily gained new sponsors since being filed, with Representatives Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) signing on just yesterday.

The MORE Act is described by Rep. Nadler as “one of the most comprehensive marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress”. The measure would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and remove it entirely as a controlled substance, while establishing a federal marijuana tax that would apply to legal marijuana states.
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Dec 14 2023

National Cannabis Roundtable Releases Inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Today, the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) announced the release of its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report for 2022-2023, titled: “Better Tomorrow Than Today.”

This comprehensive report highlights the collective efforts of NCR and its member companies “to create positive impact in the cannabis industry and the communities they serve in the areas of criminal justice reform, equity in business opportunity, workforce utilization, and health disparities”, according to a press release.

“We named this report ‘Better Tomorrow Than Today’ to not only celebrate the great work of our members, but to serve as an acknowledgment of the existing gaps within the U.S. cannabis market and our concentrated efforts to address these challenges,” said Saphira Galoob, Executive Director of the National Cannabis Roundtable. “Looking ahead, we will continue to create initiatives and programs to contribute to the overall growth of the industry. We remain steadfast in setting new benchmarks for corporate social responsibility and call for others to join us on this transformative journey.”
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Dec 14 2023

US House Version of Federal Marijuana Banking Bill Now Sponsored by 96 Lawmakers

Legislation in the US House of Representatives to allow marijuana banking has nearly 100 sponsors.

H.R. 2891, the SAFE Banking Act of 2023, was filed in the House of Representatives in April with eight sponsors. Despite an updated version of the bill – the SAFER Banking Act – advancing in the Senate, the original SAFE Banking Act continues to garner new sponsors.

Just last month Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Shri Thanedar (D-MI) and Max Miller (R-OH) signed on as cosponsors to the bill, the most recent on November 29.
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Dec 14 2023

Ohio Names Top Alcohol Regulator to Lead Division of Cannabis Control

Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield announced today the appointment of James V. Canepa as the first Superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control.

James V. Canepa.

The Division is “poised to ensure safety and regulation of both medical and non-medical cannabis, which is now legal for consumers to possess in Ohio”, according to a press release.

“Jim’s proven leadership and innovative approach make him the perfect choice to navigate this new area of retail and regulatory responsibility,” said Maxfield. “His diverse experience and impressive regulatory credentials will be instrumental in developing a non-medical cannabis program that aligns with the expectations of Ohioans.”
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Dec 14 2023

US Congress Passes Bill to Fund Psychedelics Research, Sends it to President Biden

The entire United States Congress has given approval to legislation that includes provisions to fund psychedelic studies.

Congress approved the psychedelic provisions as part of a larger defense bill (the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act). The provisions would put millions of dollars into funding the potential medical and therapeutic use of psychedelic substances including magic mushrooms (psilocybin) and MDMA (often referred to as ecstasy). The studies would be conducted on military service members, especially those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The psychedelic provisions, introduced by Representative Morgan Littrell (R), would require the Department of Defense to establish a process for military members who have PTSD or traumatic brain injury could take part in clinical psychedelic trials. In addition to psilocybin and MDMA, the trials could include ibogaine and/or DMT.
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Dec 13 2023

Federal Bill to Allow Veterans Affairs Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana Gains 29th Sponsor

The Veterans Equal Access Act (H.R. 2431) has gained its 29th sponsor.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

H.R. 2431 was filed in April by US Representatives Brian Mast (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), along with a coalition of 15 bipartisan cosponsors. The proposal would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize providers to discuss medical marijuana with veterans and complete forms reflecting their best recommendations.

Under current law, physicians at the VA are prohibited from discussing marijuana with their patients, and veterans who receive care from VA facilities cannot receive the forms required to participate in medical marijuana programs – regardless of whether the state they reside in has legalized it for medical use. H.R. 2431 would change this by providing federal protection to VA doctors who discuss and recommend medical cannabis.
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Dec 13 2023

Rhode Island: $9.4 Million in Marijuana Sold in October, $88 Million Year-to-Date

For the fifth straight month marijuana sales in Rhode Island were between $9 million and $9.7 million.

Licensed marijuana retail outlets sold $9,430,642 worth of product in October, according to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations. $2,381,005  of this was purchased by medical marijuana patients, with the remaining $7,049,637 sold to recreational consumers.

The average sales receipt per marijuana-related transaction was $25.64, a $0.47 decrease from the $26.11 average in September.
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