May 15 2023

Study: Recreational Marijuana Laws Reduce Cigarette and Electronic Nicotine Consumption

According to a study being published in the July issue of the Journal of Health Economics, states that have legalized recreational marijuana have seen a reduction in cigarette and electronic cigarette use.

The study, titled Have recreational marijuana laws undermined public health progress on adult tobacco use?, was conducted by researchers at Bentley University, San Diego State University and Georgia State University.

“Public health experts caution that legalization of recreational marijuana may normalize smoking and undermine the decades-long achievements of tobacco control policy”, states the study’s abstract. “However, very little is known about the impact of recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) on adult tobacco use.”
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May 14 2023

Vermont Medical Marijuana Reform Bill Sent to Governor

Legislation that would alter Vermont’s medical marijuana law has been passed by the state’s full legislature and sent to Governor Phil Scott.

The House of Representatives concurred Friday with amendments the Senate made to House Bill 270. This allows it to be sent to Governor Phil Scott, having passed with both chambers coalesced around one specific bill. Governor Scott now has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

As passed by the legislature, House Bill 270 would double the maximum amount of THC allowed in packaged marijuana products from 50 mg to 100 mg. The law would also alter the number of plants a medical marijuana 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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May 13 2023

Missouri Bill Would Require Public Colleges and Universities to Allow Medical Marijuana Use

Legislation filed in Missouri would require colleges and universities that receive public funding to allow medical marijuana use on campus grounds.

House Bill 687 was filed by State Representative Adrian Plank in January. Yesterday it finally received a committee assignment: it’s been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.

“Each public institution of higher education supported by state funds shall allow students to use marijuana or marijuana-infused products for medicalvuse as authorized by state law on each campus of such institution”, states the official text of the bill.
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May 13 2023

$8.4 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in April in Rhode Island

There was $8.4 million in legal marijuana sold in Rhode Island in April.

According to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations there was a total of $8,421,924.28 in marijuana and marijuana products (such as edibles, topicals and concentrates) sold in April.

In April there was $5,392,693.68 in recreational marijuana sold, which is in addition to the $2,959,442.26  worth of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products sold.
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May 12 2023

Michigan: $245 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in April, Sales to Date Top $6 Billion

In Michigan there was $245 million in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in April.

The $246,054,243 sold in April is a slight decrease from the $249 million sold in March, which remains the monthly record. Of the $246 million sold, just $7,842,858 was medical marijuana, with the remaining $238,211,384 coming from the legal distribution of recreational marijuana. All of this data was released by Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

Legal recreational marijuana sales to date for Michigan now stand at $4,824,354,219, with medical marijuana sales at $4,824,354,219. The combined total is $6,385,680,665
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May 11 2023

Ohio Bill Would Amend DUI Laws for Marijuana

A legislative proposal filed by Ohio Senator Nathan Manning would remove the per se marijuana limit on those operating motor vehicles and would replace it with an evidentiary standard.

Under Ohio’s current per se driving laws, a person is automatically found guilty of operating a vehicle impaired if they have even a trace amount of THC in their blood or THC metabolites in their urine when driving. This is despite the fact that THC can stay in the system for days or even weeks after last use.

According to its official summary, Senate Bill 26 “removes the per se prohibited concentration limits for marijuana and marijuana metabolites as measured via a chemical test of a person’s urine, whole blood, or blood serum or plasma for purposes of determining an automatic violation”. This would apply to both vehicles and watercrafts.
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May 11 2023

Vermont Senate Passes House-Approved Medical Marijuana Reform Bill

A Vermont bill that would make several changes to the state’s medical marijuana law has been passed by the state’s full Senate.

House Bill 270 passed the full Senate today, having already been approved by the full House of Representatives. However, amendments made in the Senate will require the House to take one final vote of concurrence before the proposal can be sent to Governor Phil Scott for consideration.

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 medical marijuana patient can grow for personal use from a total of nine to a total of 18, six of which can be mature. The bill would also change the renewal period to once every five years for all patients except those who qualify for chronic pain, who would still have to renew every year.
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May 11 2023

Connecticut House Approves Bill to Decriminalize Psilocybin

Connecticut’s House of Representatives has approved legislation that would decriminalize the personal possession of psilocybin (the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms).

Psilocybin mushrooms (also called “magic mushrooms”).

Connecticut’s House of Representatives voted 86 to 64 to pass House Bill 6734, which would remove the criminal penalties associated with possessing up to a half ounce of psilocybin or magic mushrooms.

Under the proposed law those caught possessing magic mushrooms could still face a fine of up to $150 with subsequent fines jumping to $200 and $500, but there would be no possibility of a criminal charge or jail time. Under current Connecticut law possessing even a single gram of psilocybin is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
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May 10 2023

Newly Filed New York Bill Would Repeal the Excise Tax on Medical Cannabis

Legislation filed today in the New York Legislature would repeal the state’s excise tax on medical marijuana sales.

Assembly Bill 7014 was filed today by Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes, a longtime proponent of reforming marijuana laws. The measure has been assigned directly to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Under current New York tax code, medical marijuana dispensaries must pay a 7% excise tax on gross receipts from all medical cannabis sold.

The one-page bill states:
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May 10 2023

In Connecticut Over $21 Million in Legal Marijuana Was Sold in April

In April legal marijuana sales in Connecticut surpassed $21 million.

Connecticut

In April, the third month of legal recreational marijuana sales, there was $21,626,987 in marijuana and marijuana products sold in Connecticut. $11.4 million of this amount came from the legal distribution of medical marijuana, with the remaining $10.2 million coming from recreational marijuana sales. The year-to-date total for legal marijuana in Connecticut is now $75,405,927.

In April patients purchased 314,985 different medical marijuana products. In terms of recreational marijuana products, consumers purchased 259,499 different products. The 314k medical marijuana products sold is a decrease from the 339k sold in March. However, the number of recreational marijuana products sold saw an over 10% increase, up from 234,974.
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