Sep 19 2024

Georgia: Despite DEA Threats, Augusta Pharmacy Begins Selling State-Approved Medical Marijuana Products

A pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia, is now selling medical marijuana products to qualified patients.

Marijuana capsules.

Living Well Pharmacy, operated by pharmacist Vic Johnson, now offers a range of medical marijuana products to patients. Under Georgia’s medical marijuana law, individuals with a qualifying medical condition and a physician’s recommendation can legally purchase, possess, and use marijuana-derived products, including tinctures and capsules, which contain CBD and up to 5% THC. Georgia’s law stands out because it permits the sale of marijuana products through pharmacies—something no other state currently allows.

In October, Georgia became the first state in the U.S. to sell medical marijuana products through licensed pharmacies, with 130 pharmacies participating. However, in December, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) issued threats to these pharmacies, causing the program to be suspended.
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Sep 19 2024

Illinois Supreme Court Rules That Marijuana Odor Alone Cannot Justify Warrantless Searches

The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that the smell of marijuana alone, whether burnt or not, cannot justify a warrantless vehicle search by police.

In a decision published Thursday, the court addressed two consolidated cases where officers conducted vehicle searches based on the odor of burnt cannabis (People v. Redmond and People v. Molina). In both cases, small amounts of marijuana were found, and the defendants were charged with improper storage, as state law mandates that cannabis be transported in odor-proof containers.

The justices upheld lower court rulings that suppressed the cannabis as evidence, stating that “the odor of burnt cannabis, by itself, is not enough to establish probable cause for a warrantless vehicle search.”
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Sep 19 2024

Idaho Group Files Initiative to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession and Cultivation

The nonprofit political committee Kind Idaho has submitted a new initiative with the state aimed at decriminalizing the personal use and home cultivation of marijuana.

(Photo credit: KindIdaho.org).

“We are pursuing personal use and home cultivation decriminalization,” says Kind Idaho. Although the group has spent the last several years working to legalize medical marijuana, the new measure would not require a medical condition in order to possess or grow marijuana.

“You should not need permission from the state for basic self-care. You shouldn’t get in trouble over a plant”, says Kind Idaho.
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Sep 19 2024

West Virginia Governor’s Candidate Announces Support for Legalizing Marijuana

Steve Williams, the Democratic candidate for Governor of West Virginia, has officially expressed his support for legalizing recreational marijuana in the state.

Steve Williams, the Democratic nominee for West Virginia Governor.

“Adults in our state deserve the right to make their own choices about cannabis, just as they do with alcohol and tobacco,” Williams said in a statement. “One avenue to move forward is to put legalization on the ballot and let voters decide.”

Earlier this year a legislative proposal that would make recreational marijuana legal for everyone 21 and older was filed in the state’s House of Representatives. It remains alive, but thus far has failed to advance out of committee.
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Sep 19 2024

Michigan Senate Committee Approves Bill Allowing 19- and 20-Year-Olds to Work in Marijuana Businesses

A Michigan Senate committee has given approval to legislation allowing 19- and 20-year-olds to work or volunteer at state-licensed or tribal marijuana retail outlets.

Senator Sean McCann filed Senate Bill 807 in April, with it quickly assigned to the Committee On Regulatory Affairs. Today, the committee gave approval to the measure, sending it to the Committee Of The Whole . Approval through that committee will allow a vote by the full Senate.

The bill “would amend the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act to allow an individual who was 19 years old or older to work or volunteer for a marihuana establishment or tribal marihuana business if the individual were supervised by an agent of the establishment or business who was 21 years old or older.”
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Sep 18 2024

Pittsburgh City Council Advances Bill to Establish Medical Marijuana Protections in the Workplace

The Pittsburgh City Council has given initial approval to an ordinance that would strengthen protections for medical marijuana patients in the workplace.

Introduced by Councilor Barb Warwick, the measure would classify medical marijuana users as a protected group, barring routine drug tests for marijuana as a condition of employment in most fields. Warwick stressed that current testing policies unfairly target medical marijuana patients and that these practices should be considered discriminatory.

Before passing the measure, the council approved an amendment that creates an exemption for the construction industry, filed by Councilmember Anthony Coghill.
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Sep 18 2024

Arizona Generates $20 Million in August Marijuana Taxes, All-Time Total Nears $1 Billion

Arizona’s total tax revenue from legal marijuana sales is nearing $1 billion, with over $20 million generated in August.

According to data from the Arizona Department of Revenue, the state generated $20,778,911 in tax revenue from the licensed sale of nearly $90 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products. Of this, $12,799,070 came from the 16% recreational marijuana excise tax, $6,292,234 from the 5.6% transaction privilege tax on recreational marijuana, and $1,490,447 from the same 5.6% tax applied to medical marijuana sales, which are exempt from the 16% excise tax.

Arizona’s year-to-date total for marijuana taxes is now approximately $190 million. The all-time total is $948,116,657.
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Sep 18 2024

Here’s the Most Popular Marijuana Strains in the United States as of September 2024

As marijuana continues to gain traction across the United States, with it legal for recreational use in 24 states and legal for medical use in 38 states, certain strains have emerged as perennial favorites among consumers.

With more states legalizing cannabis and an ever-expanding market, some strains consistently stand out from the rest.

Drawing from data provided by state regulatory agencies, as well as insights from platforms like Leafly and WeedMaps, here are the most popular strains in the United States.
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Sep 18 2024

South Carolina Attorney General Confirms Legality of Hemp-Derived THC Beverages

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office has confirmed that non-alcoholic beverages infused with hemp-derived delta-9 THC are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Despite this, Wilson says the state cannot issue a blanket determination on the legality of all THC-infused beverages, meaning each drink must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

State Solicitor General Robert Cook, in a letter to South Carolina House Speaker D. Murrell Smith Jr., noted that after reviewing federal and state laws, as well as relevant case law, he concluded that beverages meeting the standards of the 2018 Farm Bill are legal. This was first reported by Cannabis Business Times.
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Sep 18 2024

Flora Growth Partners with Blossom Genetics to Supply Medical Cannabis in Germany

Flora Growth Corp. announced on Wednesday a new agreement with Blossom Genetics, a London-based company, to supply medical cannabis to the German market.

As part of the deal, two cannabis flower strains—Chemmy Jones and Northern Lights—will be introduced to Germany. The country implemented a significant recreational cannabis law on April 1, which decriminalized cannabis, allowed home cultivation, and established nonprofit “cultivation social clubs” for adult use.

Clifford Starke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “This supply agreement with Blossom Genetics is a pivotal step in our efforts to expand Flora’s global presence and provide top-tier cannabis products to Germany. The demand for medical cannabis has surged since legalization, and we are confident that the strains we will bring to the market, will resonate with patients and healthcare providers alike.”
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