Senate Bill 255, a measure that would have required adults to obtain a state-issued identification card before purchasing recreational marijuana, has been killed in the Montana Senate following the cancellation of a scheduled public hearing and vote.

The bill, sponsored by State Senator Greg Hertz (R), would have mandated that individuals 21 and older apply for and receive a marijuana identification card from the state Department of Revenue before being allowed to purchase recreational marijuana. The process would have involved submitting an application, paying a $200 fee, and providing proof of Montana residency along with personal information.

The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee had scheduled a public hearing on the bill for February 27, but the hearing and subsequent vote were canceled. The chair of the committee now says that there is no plans to reschedule the hearing, effectively ending the measure’s chances of advancing this session.
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The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 9 to 7 today to advance House Bill 198, legislation that would legalize the possession of marijuana for those 21 and older.

The bill, introduced in January by State Representatives Jared Sullivan, Jonah Wheeler, and Heath Howard, now moves to the full House for consideration.

If enacted, House Bill 198 would allow adults to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of concentrated marijuana, and marijuana products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. However, the legislation does not establish a regulated market for marijuana sales, nor does it allow home cultivation. Public consumption would also remain prohibited.
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Legislation to protect fire and rescue workers from employment penalties for medical marijuana use in Maryland has been scheduled for a public hearing on March 11 in the Senate Finance Committee.

Filed in February by Senator Carl Jackson (D), Senate Bill 1023 would prohibit employers from taking adverse employment actions against fire and rescue public safety employees who are certified medical marijuana patients.

If passed, SB 1023 would protect firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other fire and rescue personnel from discrimination based on their legal use of medical marijuana.
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The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has awarded $18.4 million in grants to support equitable access to California’s regulated marijuana industry.

The funding, distributed among 18 local jurisdictions, is intended to lower entry barriers and assist local applicants and licensees.

The latest round of funding includes:

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Since the launch of the state’s recreational marijuana market on August 7, the state has generated around $550 million in sales spread across 6.9 million transactions, as of March 1.

Between August and March, there were $361,994,872 in recreational marijuana sales in Ohio, in addition to $187,298,933 in medical marijuana sales, according to data released yesterday by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. Combined, total marijuana sales reached $549,293,805 over the nearly seven-month period. During this time, there were 4,906,093 recreational transactions and 1,991,352 medical transactions, for a total of 6,897,445.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana as of March 1 is $7 per gram and $19.81 per 1/10th of an ounce. Since Ohio began licensed medical marijuana sales in 2019, all-time sales are now at $2,467,303,615 across 23,227,243 transactions.
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Legislation was introduced today in the New York Senate that would expand the allowable activities within licensed cannabis consumption lounges.

Senate Bill 5826, filed today by Senator Luis Sepúlveda, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations for further consideration.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 77 of the Cannabis Law to allow these establishments to:​

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The nonprofit organization Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana held a press conference today to push back against legislative efforts that would limit access to medical marijuana, following overwhelming voter approval of its legalization last November.

At a press conference Monday morning, the group backed bills introduced by State Senators Danielle Conrad and Ben Hansen while condemning a proposal from State Senator Jared Storm.

“The people have spoken, and they have spoken resoundingly,” said Conrad, referencing the 71% of voters who approved medical marijuana. Despite overwhelming approval by voters, Storm’s bill, LB 483, would restrict marijuana to pill and liquid forms, a move NMM Executive Director Crista Eggers strongly opposed.
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