Dec 01 2023

South Carolina Bill Prefiled to Tax and Regulate Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids, Limit Them to Those 21+

Legislation prefiled in the South Carolina Legislature would both tax and regulate products containing delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids.

(Photo credit: Plants for Persephone/Unsplash)

House Bill 4628 was prefiled recently by State Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers (D), preparing it for consideration in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. The measure has been assigned to the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.

The proposed law would limit the purchase of cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC to those who are 21 and older, while establishing a 5% tax on products containing it. Outlets wanting to sell delta-8 THC would be required to receive a license from the state, and all products must be tested for things such as pesticides.
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Nov 30 2023

Study: Most Cancer Patients Say Marijuana “Significantly Improves Their Ability to Cope With Their Illness”

According to a new study published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, the majority of cancer patients suffering from refractory pain say medical marijuana helps them cope with their illness.

For the study researchers from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, both in Israel, as well as the Hospital Quirónsalud de Tenerife in Spain, examined 252 cancer patients. Of these, 126 are authorized to use medical cannabis in Israel.

“Medical cannabis [MC] was mainly started for pain relief, sleep difficulties and anorexia”, states the study. “About 70% of patients reported subjective improvement from MC, with almost 40% reporting a significant improvement in coping with their illness.”

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Nov 30 2023

Arizona: In October Marijuana Tax Revenue Passes $25 Million For Just the Third Time

October marked just the third month since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2020 where marijuana tax revenue surpassed $25 million in Arizona.

There was $25,409,775 in taxes made from legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in October throughout Arizona, according to data released by the state’s Department of Revenue. This is a roughly $3 million increase over the taxes for September, and it’s the second highest marijuana taxes made in a given month in the state’s history.

The largest amount of marijuana taxes made in a given month remains the $28,423,424 sold in May of this year. The only other month where taxes were over $25 million was January of this year with $25.1 million sold.
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Nov 30 2023

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Sales Pass $1 Billion

Since Arkansas legalized medical marijuana in 2019, sales have surpassed $1 billion.

According to data released by the Arkansas  Department of Finance and Administration, medical marijuana sales were at $988 million as of the end of October. Although November sales totals have not been released, there has been well more than enough medical marijuana sold this month to surpass the $1 billion mark.

“We’re totally confident we’ve surpassed that,” says Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the department.
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Nov 30 2023

Poll: 67% of Florida Voters Support Initiative to Legalize Marijuana

According to new polling 67% of voters in Florida want the state to legalize recreational marijuana.

The University of North Florida’s  Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL)  poll found support for legalizing marijuana is well above the 60% threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment into law.

“Respondents were asked if they would vote yes or no on another proposed state constitutional amendment to that would allow adults in Florida to purchase and possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use”, states the poll. “Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they would vote yes, with 28% indicating a vote of no. In Spring of 2023, 70% of respondents said they would support recreational marijuana in Florida, either strongly or somewhat, and 76% said they supported it in Spring of 2022.”
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Nov 29 2023

Florida Judge Rules in Favor of $1.3 Million Renewal Fee for Medical Marijuana Licenses

An administrative law judge in Florida has ruled that the state’s drastic increase in the cost of renewing medical marijuana licenses is legal and valid.

Late last year the Florida Department of Health increased the state’s $60,000 biennial renewal fee for those running medical marijuana businesses to $1.33 million, an increase of over 2,000%.

Judge William Horgan ruled that the fee is representative of the “plain language” that was intending by lawmakers, saying that it “carries out to the letter” a legislative mandate that states the department must adopt rules establish procedures for “the issuance and biennial renewal of licenses… including initial application and biennial renewal fees sufficient to cover the costs of implementing and administering [the state’s medical marijuana program]”.
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Nov 29 2023

Study Finds Cannabis Associated With Weight Loss and Lower BMI, May Be Useful in Obesity Treatment

According to a meta-analysis of clinical trials, those who consume cannabis or cannabis products often experience weight loss and reduced BMIs, indicating that they may be useful in treating obesity.

The study was published in the recent issue of the International Journal of Obesity, with its abstract published online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine.

“Obesity poses a significant public health challenge”, states the study’s abstract. “Research has examined the impact of cannabis and subproducts on health but varying results have hindered a consensus.”
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Nov 29 2023

“Stop Pot Act” to Withhold Funds from Legal Marijuana States “Has No Chance”, Says Democratic House Leader

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) says a Republican-led bill to punish states that legalize marijuana “has no chance” of being passed into law.

The Stop Pot Act was filed in September in the House of Representatives by North Carolina Representative Chuck Edwards, and it now has five sponsors, all Republican. The proposal would withhold federal funding from states and tribes that have legalized marijuana.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he opposes the measure, and believes “it has no chance” of becoming law.
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Nov 29 2023

US Supreme Court Considers Whether Hemp Legalization Impacts Mandatory Minimum Gun Charges

The United States Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a case where the defendant is arguing that the legalization of hemp nationwide means that he should not face a mandatory minimum sentence for a gun possession charge due to his past marijuana convictions.

In the case, Brown v. U.S., the defendant was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, based on charges established under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA).

The 1984 law established a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for those with violent felonies and past drug charges who are caught possessing guns. After two charges, the third offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
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Nov 28 2023

California Garnered $270 Million in Marijuana Taxes in Q3, 2023, From Over $1 Billion in Sales

California made over a quarter of a billion dollars in marijuana taxes in the third quarter of this year.

According to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California garnered $269.3 million in taxes from the legal distribution of marijuana in the third quarter, which covers July, August and September. During that period there was around $1.1 billion in marijuana and marijuana products purchased. Purchases include dried marijuana flower and shake as well as marijuana products including concentrates, edibles and topicals.

$156.9 million of the taxes the state brought in came from the state’s marijuana excise tax, while $112.4 came from the state’s sales tax.
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