Apr 06 2023

Missouri: $126 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in March

Despite being just the second month of legal sales, there was over $90 million in recreational marijuana and marijuana products purchased in Missouri in March, with millions more in medical marijuana sales.

According to data released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there was $93.5 million in recreational marijuana sold at licensed retail outlets in March. There was also $32.7 million in medical marijuana sold during the same period, bringing the monthly total to $126.2 million.

This is roughly in line with the numbers seen in February, the first month of legal recreational marijuana distribution, with sales reaching $102.9 million between February 3 and February 28.
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Apr 06 2023

New Hampshire House Votes 272 to 109 to Legalize Marijuana

New Hampshire’s full House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation to legalize recreational marijuana.

New Hampshire marijuana legalizationThe House’s approval of House Bill 639, sponsored by Majority Leader Jason Osborne (Republican) and Minority Leader Matthew Wilhelm (Democrat), sends it to the Senate for consideration. The proposal would legalize the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana for everyone 21 and older while establishing a licensed and regulated system of marijuana stores.

The measure was passed last month through its first reading by the House of Representatives 234 to 127. This sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee, which voted 16 to 4 last week to pass the measure with some minor amendments back to the full House. During that period the measure gained considerable support, with 38 additional representatives voting in favor to bring the total “Yes” votes to 272, and bringing the “No” votes down to 109, on its final reading.
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Apr 06 2023

Arkansas Senate Passes Resolution to Extend Medical Marijuana Authorizations, Reduce Cost for Seniors / Veterans

An Arkansas resolution that would direct state officials to extend medical marijuana authorizations to be valid for two years instead of one, while greatly reducing the cost for seniors and veterans, has been adopted by the Senate.

Senate Resolution 54 was filed by Senator Clint Penzo on April 3, and was passed by the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee the same day. Just three days later the resolution has now been “Read the third time and adopted” by the full Senate. Given it’s a resolution and not a bill, it does not need approval by the House of Representatives prior to adoption.

The resolution directs the Department of Health to “promulgate a rule to extend the annual renewal for registry identification cards for qualifying patients from one (1) year to two (2) years without increasing the annual fee.”
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Apr 06 2023

Study Finds Association Between Medical Cannabis and Improved Outcomes in Chronic Pain Patients

A new UK study “observed an association between initiation of CBMP [Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products] treatment and improved outcomes for chronic pain patients.”

Chronic PainPublished in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, and epublished by the National Library of Medicine, the study “evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, who were treated with inhaled dried flower (Adven® EMT2, Curaleaf International, Guernsey), and sublingual/oral medium-chain triglyceride-based oils (Adven, Curaleaf International, Guernsey) for chronic pain.”

The study was conducted by researchers at the Imperial College London, Sapphire Medical Clinics, St. George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, King’s College London and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, all in the UK.
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Apr 05 2023

U.S. Sentencing Commission Approves Advising Judges To Treat Past Marijuana Convictions More Leniently

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has voted in favor of a proposal that updates sentencing guidelines to advise judges to treat past offenses related to marijuana in a more lenient manner.

The commission voted in favor of the change today through a unanimous voice vote, while also voting to advise that marijuana possession warrants discretion in regards to sentencing especially given its non-violent nature. The proposed changes have been sent to Congress which has until May 1st to issue any objections. Barring an objection the changes will take effect in November.

The change clarifies that a downward departure from the defendant’s criminal history category may be warranted based on if “the defendant received criminal history points from a sentence for possession of marihuana for personal use, without an intent to sell or distribute it to another person.”

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Apr 05 2023

Colorado Bill Would Allow Marijuana Stores to Sell Marijuana Online and Deliver It

A recently filed bill in Colorado’s House of Representatives would allow licensed marijuana retail outlets to legally sell marijuana and marijuana products online, and would also allow marijuana deliveries.

In Colorado although consumers can preorder marijuana through an online menu for pickup, they cannot purchase marijuana online and have it delivered to them. House Bill 1279, filed by State Representatives William Lindstedt, Said Sharbini and Robert Rodriguez, would change that.

According to the measure’s official legislative summary:
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Apr 05 2023

Maryland Legislature Votes 170 to 12 to Redefine Child Neglect to Remove Marijuana Use by Parents/Guardians

Maryland legislation to codify that the use of marijuana by a parent or legal guardian does not by itself constitute child neglect has been passed by Maryland’s full legislature.

House Bill 232 was passed overwhelmingly by both the House of Representatives and Senate. It passed the House last month with just one of 135 votes being “No”. Yesterday it also passed the full Senate 36 to 11. The proposal now goes to Governor Wes Moore, who is expected to sign it into law. Even if Governor Moore was to issue a surprise veto, there’s well more than enough votes to override it with a 2/3rds majority.

Filed by Delegate Nicole Williams, House Bill 232 would alter state law to clarify that the legal definition of child neglect:
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Apr 05 2023

Vermont House Passes Bill Doubling THC Limit for Medical Marijuana Products, Among Other Changes

Vermont legislation to that would make several changes to the state’s medical marijuana program, including doubling the cap on THC for marijuana products, has been passed by the full House of Representatives.

The full House passed House Bill 270 last week, which was filed by State Representatives Matt Birong and Mike McCarthy. The proposal has now been sent to the Senate and assigned to the Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee.

House Bill 270 would increase the maximum amount of THC allowed in packaged marijuana products from 50 mg to 100 mg, and would alter the number of plants a patient can grow for personal use from a total of nine to a total of 18, six of which can be mature.
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Apr 04 2023

Arkansas House Votes 82 to 5 to Establish Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Patients

Legislation to codify gun rights for medical marijuana patients and caregivers has been passed by Arkansas’ full House of Representative.

The House voted 82 to 5 today to pass House Bill 1784, filed by State Representative Aaron Pilkington. The vote sends the measure to the Senate. Passage in the Senate would put it on the desk of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for consideration.

If passed into law the proposal would amend the state’s concealed carry license law to clarify that those issuing licenses “shall not consider a person’s status as a qualifying patient or designated caregiver under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 98, § 2, in determining whether an applicant is eligible to be issued a license to carry a concealed handgun under this subchapter.”
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Apr 04 2023

Oregon Committee Approves Marijuana Bill

A House committee in Oregon has voted in favor of legislation that would direct the Liquor and Cannabis Commission to make changes to the state’s recreational marijuana law.

Filed by State Representative John Lively, House Bill 2516 directs the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) “to adopt rules to allow small-scale marijuana producers to sell marijuana items directly to consumers.” It was passed today by the House Committee On Economic Development and Small Business, sending it to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The proposed law also requires the OLCC to adopt rules “to permit delivery of marijuana items by licensed marijuana retailer to consumer at hotel or inn”, and to allow licensed marijuana wholesaler “to sell or transfer marijuana items to licensed marijuana retailer at trade show or similar event.”
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