Kentucky House Bill 571, a measure to significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program, has been assigned to the House Health Services Committee.

Ripe bud | Marijuana flower isolated on black with glistening trichromes

HB 571 was filed earlier this month by State Representative Alan Gentry (D) and placed in the House Committee on Committees. Yesterday, the bill advanced to the Health Services Committee.

The proposed law would allow medical marijuana patients or their caregiver to cultivate up to three mature plants and three seedlings at a private residence. The law allows patients to patient any amount of cannabis grown from these plants, but it prohibits patients and caregivers from selling or giving marijuana plants or products to anyone else.
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Today, Delegate Sean Hornbuckle (D-Cabell) introduced House Joint Resolution 27 to the West Virginia Legislature, which would place a proposal to amend the state constitution to legalize cannabis on the 2026 general election ballot.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Delegates Lewis, Pushkin, Hansen, and Garcia, has been referred to the Judiciary Committee for further deliberation.

HJR 27 proposes the legalization of up to two ounces of cannabis and the personal cultivation of up to four cannabis plants. Additionally, the resolution empowers the Legislature to enact laws governing the lawful sale and manufacturing of cannabis within the state.
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has signed House Bill 1056 into law, officially establishing statewide regulations on kratom products.

Kratom products.

The bill, which passed the House of Representatives in January with a unanimous 66 to 0 vote and cleared the Senate on February 13, also unanimously (35 to 0), introduces restrictions on kratom sales and distribution while setting penalties for violations.

The new law limits the concentration of 7-hydroxymitragynine, a key kratom alkaloid, to no more than two percent. It also bans synthetic derivatives and products containing substances or additives. Additionally, kratom products must now carry detailed labeling, including alkaloid content, as well as warning labels advising against use by pregnant or nursing women.
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Arizona’s marijuana industry generated over $26 million in tax revenue in January.

There was $26,010,976 in tax revenue generated from licensed marijuana sales in January, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue. This is a notable increase over the $23.3 million garnered in December and the $23.7 million in November. January’s taxes brings the all-time total to $1,066,837,757.

In January, $16,770,312 of the taxes made came from the state’s 16% recreational marijuana excise tax, $7,696,300 from the 5.6% adult-use tax, and $1,533,049 from medical marijuana tax revenue. January marked the 38th consecutive month of marijuana tax revenue exceeding $20 million.
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Senate Bill 5206 has cleared another legislative hurdle, passing the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday after previously being approved by the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce. The bill now advances to the full Senate for a vote.

Sponsored by Senators Drew MacEwen (R), Chris Gildon (R), and Derek Stanford (D), the legislation would modify Washington’s marijuana advertising regulations by expanding signage allowances for licensed retailers.

If enacted, SB 5206 would increase the number of exterior signs marijuana retailers can display from two to four. These signs must be attached to the building or placed in windows, with each limited to 1,600 square inches. Smaller signs under 512 square inches that do not include branding, such as those indicating store hours or ATM availability, would be exempt from advertising regulations.
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Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced a proposal to reintroduce the smell of cannabis as a factor in determining reasonable cause for ordering blood tests in impaired driving cases.

New York Governor Catchy Hochul (photo credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images).

New York’s recreational marijuana law, signed in 2021, explicitly barred police from using the odor of marijuana as justification for a traffic stop or vehicle search. Hochul’s proposal would amend that provision to allow law enforcement to cite “the odor of cannabis, burnt cannabis or other drug” as a reason to compel a court-ordered blood test if a driver is suspected of being impaired or involved in a crash.

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Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 7 into law today, officially establishing a mandatory minimum fine for marijuana possession.

The measure, which previously passed the state Senate in a 27 to 8 vote after clearing the House 54 to 14, takes away judicial discretion to issue fines below a set amount.

Under Idaho’s existing law, possession of less than three ounces of marijuana is classified as a misdemeanor, carrying fines of up to $1,000. However, there has been no mandatory minimum penalty. With the governor’s signature, House Bill 7 changes that by setting a minimum fine of $300, ensuring that anyone convicted of possession will face at least that amount.

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