Oct 11 2023

Study: During COVID-19 Pandemic, “Marijuana Smokers Had Better Outcomes and Mortality”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “Marijuana smokers had better outcomes and mortality compared to non-users”, according to a new study.

Researchers introduced the study this week at The American College of Chest Physicians’ (CHEST) annual conference, and it was published in the October issue of the Chest Journal.

“Marijuana use is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, yet the full spectrum of its effects largely remains unknown”, states the study’s “purpose” section. “Although cannabinoids have immunomodulatory properties, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the potential impact of marijuana use on COVID-19 outcomes.”
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Oct 11 2023

Ukraine Medical Marijuana Bill Advances, One Step Away From Reaching President Zelenskyy

Legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Ukraine has been passed by a key legislative committee in Ukraine, putting it just one step away from reaching the desk of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance Committee yesterday passed the legislation with overwhelming support. The committee’s vote comes nearly three months after the country’s parliament voted 268 to 137 to pass the bill through its first reading.

The proposal will now need to receive just one more vote by the full parliament before it can be sent to the president. It’s expected the body will approve the bill in the coming days.
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Oct 11 2023

U.S. Census Bureau: Marijuana Sales Resulted in $5.7 Billion in Tax Revenue Since Q3 2021

A new report published by the U.S. Census Bureau gives details on tax revenue made from legal marijuana sales since the third quarter of 2021.

The U.S. Census Bureau has released “a new experimental data product featuring quarterly tax collections at the state level for cannabis sales”. The Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue report provides quarterly estimates of state and local government tax revenue at a national level, as well as detailed tax revenue data for individual states. The information contained in this survey “is the most current information available on a nationwide basis for government tax collections”, according to the Bureau.

The report found that California garnered the most marijuana taxes in the nation at $1.4 billion. This was followed by Washington and Colorado with $818.5 million and $648.1 million. Washington and Colorado were simultaneously the first states to legalize marijuana in November, 2012, while California legalized marijuana in 2016.
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Oct 11 2023

Federal Marijuana Banking Act Gains Tripartisan Support in US Senate

Federal legislation to allow banks and other financial institutes to work with marijuana businesses has garnered tripartisan support in the United States Senate.

The SAFER Banking Act (S.2860), which was recently given approval by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has garnered tripartisan support in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to put it to a vote of the full Senate “very soon”.

As of the time of publication, the proposal is sponsored by Democrats, Republicans and independents, a rarity in today’s political landscape.
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Oct 11 2023

Colorado: Nearly $140 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in September, $1.2 Billion Year-to-Date

In Colorado there was about $140 million worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in September.

According to data released by the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state garnered $21,770,274 in tax revenue from the legal distribution of around $140 million in marijuana sales. This includes the sale of dried marijuana flower as well as a plethora of other marijuana products including edibles, concentrates, topicals and vaping products.

The $21.7 million in taxes garnered is a slightly decrease from the $22.8 million made in August and the $22.1 million made in June. The high mark for the year came in April, with $24.3 million in taxes made.
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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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