Oct 03 2023

Florida Supreme Court Schedules Hearing on Marijuana Legalization Initiative

The Florida Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to decide whether or not an initiative to legalize marijuana will be put to a vote next year.

In June the Florida Division of Elections confirmed that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign submitted 967,528 validated signatures on their marijuana legalization initiative, well more than the 891,523 signatures required to place the measure on the November, 2024 general election ballot. However, the state’s attorney general is attempting to block the proposal from being considered, arguing that the ballot summary is “misleading”.

Now, the Florida Supreme Court has agreed to take up the issue, with oral arguments beginning on November 8 (case number: SC2023-0682). The court will decide whether or not voters can consider the measure during the 2024 election, or if the initiative language is invalid, requiring proponents to go back to the drawing board and recollect the necessary signatures.
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Oct 02 2023

D.C. Council Approves Bill to Allow 1-Year Medical Marijuana Cards for Non-Residents, Allow Patients to Submit Products for Testing

The Washington D.C. Council has given approval to an ordinance that would make several changes to the district’s medical marijuana law.

Bill 25-0368, the Medical Cannabis Clarification and Non-Resident Patient Access Temporary Amendment Act of 2023, has been passed by the council and sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser for consideration. The mayor has until October 11 to sign the ordinance into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The proposal was filed in July by Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Kenyan McDuffie.

The ordinance would allow those who live outside of Washington D.C. to obtain a temporary, one-year medical marijuana authorization. This would give them the same legal protections as medical marijuana patients who live in D.C., and it would allow them to purchase marijuana at licensed dispensaries.
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Oct 02 2023

Texas Court Upholds Ruling Allowing Delta-8 THC Sales

Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals has ruled to uphold an injunction that stopped a ban on the legal distribution of products containing delta-8 THC.

Going forward the ruling allows businesses that sell delta-8 THC to do so without fear of legal repercussions.

The ruling was based on a lawsuit brought forth by Austin-based Homestown Hero CBD. After the state tried to ban delta-8 THC distribution, the company filed an emergency motion and was swiftly granted an injunction. The initial injunction was issued in November, 2021, with it taking nearly two years for the court of appeals to rule in favor of upholding it.
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Oct 02 2023

Study: CBD is Safe for Treating Canine Osteoarthritis, May Reduce Pain

The marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) “is considered safe for treating canine osteoarthritis”, according to new research published by the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Department of Veterinary Surgery and the Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and its full text can be found by clicking here.

“Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease with chronic inflammation of internal and external joint structures in dogs”, notes the study’s researchers. “Cannabis spp. contains cannabidiol (CBD), a substance known for various potential indications, such as pain relief and anti-inflammatory in various types of animals, including dogs with OA.”
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Oct 02 2023

56% of NFL Teams Are Located in States With Legal Recreational Marijuana

The majority of teams in the National Football League (NFL) are located in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

Currently 18 of the league’s 32 teams are in legal marijuana state. This number could grow to 20 next month, as an initiative to legalize marijuana is being considered during the November 7 election in Ohio (and polling gives proponents of the initiative reason to be optimistic). Ohio is the home of the Cleveland Browns as well as the Cincinnati Bengals.

It’s worth noting that at the start of the 2012 season, the number of NFL teams located in legal marijuana states was 0. The rapid expansion of legal marijuana, mixed with the NFL’s conservative approach to the substance, has resulted in a league that has spent years playing catchup.
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Oct 02 2023

Ohio Voters Could Legalize Marijuana Next Month, Polling Shows it’s Likely to Happen

Next month Ohio voters could legalize recreational marijuana via a citizens initiative.

On November 7, Ohio voters will decide the fate of Issue 2, an initiative that would make Ohio the 24th state to legalize marijuana for all uses.

Although anything can happen and proponents of the measure argue that nothing can be taken for granted, things are looking good for Issue 2. Polling released last month by Fallon Research & Communications found that 59% of Ohio voters support legalizing marijuana with 32% opposed and just 9% undecided. A poll released last week by FM3 Research found that support for marijuana legalization among likely Ohio voters was even higher at 67%.
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Oct 02 2023

Arizona Made $24 Million in Marijuana Taxes in August, $283 Million for Fiscal Year 2023

Arizona garnered over $24 million in tax revenue in August from legal marijuana sales, and over a quarter million for FY 2023.

According to data released by the Arizona Department of Revenue, the state made $24,323,092 in tax revenue from the legal distribution of over $90 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products. This is around $1.5 million more than the marijuana tax total for July, and $500k more than the total for June.

The year-to-date revenue from marijuana sales is now over $170 million. with the total for fiscal year (FY) 2023 (starting July 1) now standing at $47,104,212.

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Oct 02 2023

Report: Global Cannabis Market Worth $57 Billion, to Grow to $444 Billion by 2030

The global cannabis market is expected to expand at a rapid and unprecedented pace in the coming years, according to a new report by Fortune Business Insights.

According to the report, the global cannabis market was worth $43 billion in 2022, which is expected to reach $57 billion by the end of 2023. Between 2023 and 2030, the market is expected to grow over 650% to reach a market valuation of $444.34 billion. This would mark a ridiculously high compound annual growth rate of 34%.

“[M]arijuana legalization is gaining momentum across the globe”, states the report. “This momentum is driven primarily by the increasing recognition that the product may have a range of legitimate medicinal benefits and therapeutic applications.”
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Oct 02 2023

Oregon: Over $80 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in September, $6 Billion Since 2016

Legal marijuana sales in Oregon topped $80 million for the fourth straight month.

There was $80,139,855 worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in September, according to data released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Although this is a slight decrease from the $81.6 million sold in August and the $81.8 million sold in July, it marks the fourth month in a row where marijuana sales were over $80 million.

Total marijuana sales since the first recreational marijuana store opened in October, 2016 is now just shy of $6 billion at $5.987 billon. Sales include dried marijuana flower and shake as well as other marijuana products such as concentrates (hash, oil, wax, etc.), edibles, tinctures and topicals.
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Oct 01 2023

New Mexico: September Breaks Monthly Marijuana Sales Record

September saw the highest single-month of marijuana sales in New Mexico history.

According to data released by the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, marijuana retail outlets sold $47,766,255.83 worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products in September. This is just $6k more than the record-breaking $47,759,256 sold in May of this year.

Of the $47.7 million in marijuana sold, $13,688,372 was purchased by medical marijuana patients and $34,077,883.07 was purchased by recreational consumers.
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