Oct 10 2023

CA Governor Vetoes Bill to Ban Marijuana Products With Various Images Including Humans

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would gave banned the use of a large variety of images on the packaging of marijuana products.

(Photo credit: Solarisys/Shutterstock).

California Assembly Bill 1207, filed by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, was passed unanimously in the state Assembly, 63 to 0, and it passed the Senate 23 to 10. Despite the widespread support among lawmakers, Governor Newsom has vetoed the bill. The legislature could override the veto with a 2/3rds majority, but it’s uncertain at this point if that will happen.

“This bill defines the term “attractive to children” under the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (Proposition 64), and expressly prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of cannabis or cannabis-related products that are attractive to children”, said Governor Newsom in a veto message. “When the voters passed Proposition 64, they enacted robust protections shielding youth from exposure to cannabis and cannabis-related products. Among other things, voters prohibited cannabis licensees from using packaging, labeling, marketing, and advertising that is attractive to children.”
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Oct 10 2023

Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Wisconsin With 36 Cosponsors

Legislation announced last month was officially filed yesterday in the Wisconsin Legislature.

Senate Bill 486 was filed with 36 cosponsors, far more than the average. 10 of the cosponsors are senators, and 26 are state representatives. All are Democrats.

Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed to purchase, possess and use up to five ounces of dried marijuana, and they could grow up to 12 plants at a private residence. The bill would establish a system of licensed, regulated and taxed marijuana retail outlets. There would be a 15% excise tax on marijuana producers and a 10% excise tax on marijuana retailers and lounges, with 60% of tax revenue going to the general fund.
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Oct 10 2023

Connecticut: September Marijuana Sales Break Monthly Record, Year-to-Date Sales Reach $200 Million

For the second straight month marijuana sales in Connecticut have set a new monthly record.

There was $25,203,738 worth of marijuana purchased legally in September throughout Connecticut, a state with a population of around 3.6 million. This is a slight increase over the then-record breaking $24,938,642 sold in August, according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. $10,814,987 of this was purchased by authorized medical marijuana patients, with the remaining $14,388,751 purchased by recreational consumers.

In September there was 660,151 different marijuana products purchased.
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Oct 09 2023

Legislation Introduced in US Congress to Regulate Kratom Nationwide

Companion bills that would regulate kratom nationwide while restricting government agencies from prohibiting it have been filed in both the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Kratom products.

The bipartisan Kratom Consumer Protection Act is sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R) and Senator Cory Booker (D) in the Senate with the bill number S.3039. In the House of Representatives the measure is sponsored by Representstives Mark Pocan (D) and Jack Bergman (R), with the bill number H.R.5905.

The proposed law would require the FDA to study the health effects of Kratom while prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from placing restrictions on the plant that are harsher than those placed on other food and dietary supplements.
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Oct 09 2023

Bill to Legalize Marijuana Cafes Vetoed by California Governor

A bill to legalize marijuana cafes throughout California has been vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Assembly Bill 374 would have legalized Amsterdam-style marijuana cafes where marijuana could be purchased and consumed alongside other food and drink items. It has now been vetoed by Governor Newsom. However, given it was passed by the legislature with more than 2/3rds support (34 to 3 in the Senate and 66 to 9 in the Assembly), it’s unclear if lawmakers will seek to overturn the veto.

“This bill would allow local jurisdictions to permit certain cannabis retailers to prepare and sell food or drinks that do not contain cannabis, as well as host and sell tickets to live events at their licensed premises”, said Governor Newsom in a veto letter. “I appreciate the author’s intent to provide cannabis retailers with increased business opportunities and an avenue to attract new customers.”
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Oct 09 2023

California Governor Signs Bill Banning Employers From Asking About Past Marijuana Use

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 700 into law.

After being overwhelmingly approved by the state’s legislature, Governor Newsom has signed SB 700 into law. Filed by Senator Steven Bradford, the proposal “would make it unlawful for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis”.

The measure would not apply to applicants or employees hired for positions that require a federal government background investigation or security clearance in accordance with regulations “issued by the United States Department of Defense pursuant to Part 117 of Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or equivalent regulations applicable to other agencies.”
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Oct 07 2023

California Governor Vetoes Bill to Legalize Psychedelics

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a widely supported bill that would have legalized certain psychedelic substances.

“Today’s veto is a setback for the huge number of Californians – including combat veterans and first responders -who are safely using and benefiting from these non-addictive substances and who will now continue to be classified as criminals under California law”, Senator Scott Weiner, the bill’s prime sponsor, said in a public statement following the governor’s veto. “The evidence is beyond dispute that criminalizing access to these substances only serves to make people less safe and reduce access to help.”

Senator Weiner continued by stating that the veto “is a huge missed opportunity for California to follow the science and lead. This is not the end of our fight, however, and given the Governor’s commitment to work with the Legislature on legislation with a therapeutic focus – and openness to future decriminalization legislation- I look forward to introducing therapeutic-focused legislation next year.”
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Oct 06 2023

Georgia To Become First State With Medical Marijuana Products Sold At Pharmacies

Georgia will soon become the first state in the US where medical marijuana products can be purchased at independent pharmacies.

Nearly 120 pharmacies have agreed to provide medical marijuana from Botanical Sciences, one of the state’s two licensed production companies, following the Georgia Board of Pharmacy opening the application process. State officials expect it to take at least a few more weeks before any of these pharmacies will actually start carrying medical marijuana. Before the board can grant approvals inspections will need to take place.

Under Georgia’s restrictive medical marijuana law (passed in 2019), those with certain medical conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and PTSD are authorized to purchase and possess low-THC marijuana oil, if they receive a recommendation from a licensed physician.
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Oct 06 2023

Maine Marijuana Sales Top $20 Million in September, Price Per Gram Declines to New Low

After four straight months of record-breaking marijuana sales, September saw a slight dip from August, but still surpassed $20 million.

There was $20,347,890 worth of marijuana sold legally in September, according to data released by the Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy. This is a slight, albeit noticeable, decrease from the $21,648,253 sold in August. but is on par with the $20.8 million sold in July and the $20 million sold in June.

There were 357,460 different marijuana transactions in September, around 20,000 less than in August. The average price per gram of dried marijuana in September reached an all-time low of $7.71, a $0.12 decrease from the average in August.
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Oct 06 2023

Michigan Legislature Votes to Allow Marijuana Agreements With Indian Tribes, Exempt Them From Taxes

Michigan’s full legislature has passed a bill that will allow the state to enter into marijuana agreements with Indian tribes while exempting them from the state’s marijuana excise tax.

The Michigan House of Representatives voted 90 to 15 today to pass Senate Bill 180, a little less than four months after the measure passed the Senate 29 to 9. The proposed law will soon be sent to the desk of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and a spokesperson for Governor Whitmer says she plans to sign the bill into law. If Governor Whitmer were to veto the bill, there is well more than enough support to override it.

Filed by Republican Senator Roger Hauck along with six Democrat cosponsors, the proposal would “allow the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) to enter into an agreement with an Indian tribe pertaining to marijuana related business”, and would “specify that sales of marijuana by a tribal marijuana business on Indian lands would be exempt from the State’s 10% excise tax on marijuana.”
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