Connecticut Bill Seeks to Cap THC Levels in Recreational Marijuana at 15%

State Representative Mark DeCaprio (R) introduced House Bill 6325 today, aiming to limit the maximum allowable THC content in marijuana sold in Connecticut’s recreational market.

House Bill 6325, fittingly titled An Act Reducing the Maximum Allowable THC Content of Cannabis and Cannabis Products Sold to Consumers in the Recreational Cannabis Market, would amend Connecticut law to prohibit cannabis establishments from selling products with THC concentrations exceeding 15%, measured on a dry-weight basis. The legislation applies to cannabis flower, plant material, and other cannabis products.

Earlier this month, a similar bill was filed in New York by State Representatives Phil Steck (D) and Keith Brown (R). Their proposal also seeks to establish a 15% THC cap on dried flower, citing potential health risks associated with high-potency cannabis. That bill would allow marijuana concentrates to have a THC content of up to 25%.
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Legislation to Decriminalize Psilocybin Filed in Connecticut

A legislative proposal that would decriminalize the personal possession of psilocybin has been filed in Connecticut.

Today, State Representative Joshua Elliott (D) filed House Bill 6380, which has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Judiciary.

The measure states: “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: That title 21a of the general statutes be amended to decriminalize the possession of psilocybin.”
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CA$452 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in Canada in November, Year-to-Date Total Now CA$4.8 Billion

In Canada, there was CA$452 million in legal marijuana sold in November, bringing the year-to-date total to almost $5 billion.

There was CA$452.8 million in marijuana sold via legal outlets in Canada in November, a slight increase from the $450 million sold in October, according to data released by Statistics Canada.

The year-to-date total for marijuana sales in Canada is now around $4.8 billion.
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Ohio: $414 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold Between August 7 and January 15

Between August 7 and January 15, marijuana sales in Ohio totaled $414,671,359.

This includes $147,862,618 in medical marijuana purchases and $266,808,741 in recreational marijuana sales. During this period, there were 3,573,632 recreational transactions and 1,565,444 medical transactions.

The average price per gram as of January 15 is $6.89, considerably lower than the $9.40 average as of August 10. This is according to data released by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC).
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Maryland Governor Appoints Former New York Official as New Cannabis Director

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has appointed Tabatha Robinson, a cannabis official from New York, as the new director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing the state’s recreational and medical marijuana markets.

Tabatha Robinson.

Robinson, currently the executive deputy director of economic development and acting chief equity officer for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, will begin her new role on February 19. She will replace Will Tilburg, who announced his departure from the agency late last year. Robinson will serve as acting director until confirmed by the state Senate during the ongoing 90-day legislative session.

“Maryland’s cannabis industry is a national model, and its success is a testament to prioritizing product safety for consumers and promoting social equity market-wide,” Robinson said in a statement released by Moore’s office.

Before her work in New York, Robinson served as a corporate attorney and as a special assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. She entered the cannabis industry in 2018, conducting research on how legacy markets adjusted pricing and distribution strategies in newly legalized states, according to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

Maryland legalized recreational marijuana through a ballot measure approved in November 2022, with licensed sales beginning on July 1, 2023. The law allows those 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana. In 2024 alone, licensed marijuana stores generated over $1.1 billion in sales.

Florida: Green Thumb Industries Appeals Ruling Against Selling Marijuana at Convenience Stores

Green Thumb Industries (GTI), which operates Rise dispensaries in Florida, is continuing its effort to sell marijuana alongside convenience stores by filing an appeal with the 1st District Court of Appeal.

The appeal follows a January 7 ruling by Administrative Law Judge Joshua Pratt, who sided with state health regulators in rejecting the company’s proposal.

GTI initially announced plans in October 2022 to launch a pilot program with 10 dispensaries located adjacent to Circle K convenience stores in Florida, beginning in January 2023. However, Christopher Kimball, director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, denied requests for dispensary locations in St. Petersburg, Orlando, and Ocala. Kimball cited noncompliance with state laws as the reason for the rejection.
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Connecticut Lawmaker Files Bill to Legalize Cannabis Cafés and Restaurants

State Representative Aundre Bumgardner (D) filed House Bill 6056 today, introducing legislation that would allow for the creation of cannabis cafes and restaurants in Connecticut.

The bill, titled “An Act Concerning The Establishment Of Cannabis Cafes And Restaurants Offering Cannabis-infused Food Items, Beverages And Other Products,” has been referred to the Joint Committee on General Law for further consideration.

The proposed bill would amend the state’s general statutes to allow businesses to serve cannabis-infused food, beverages, and other products in designated cafes and restaurants. If passed, Connecticut would join a growing number of states exploring cannabis consumption venues as part of their broader legalization frameworks, including California whose marijuana café law took effect recently.
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Washington Committee Approves Bill Establishing Collective Bargaining Rights for Marijuana Workers

Legislation to establish collective bargaining rights for marijuana workers was given approval today by the Washington State House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

Introduced by State Representatives Lillian Ortiz-Self and Mary Fossee on December 30, House Bill 1141 would grant workers in marijuana cultivation and processing the right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. Proponents of the bill say that its a stepping stone to eventually allowing collective bargaining for all cannabis employees.

The measure, which was approved by the committee 6 to 3, includes provisions for organizing labor unions, resolving disputes, and protecting employees’ rights to negotiate with employers. It specifies that workers involved in growing, harvesting, drying, and trimming marijuana on licensed farms are covered under the bill, while excluding managers and supervisors with decision-making authority.
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Mike Tyson and Weldon Angelos Optimistic Trump Will Reform Marijuana Laws

Mike Tyson, renowned boxing champion and cannabis entrepreneur, and Weldon Angelos, who received a full presidential pardon for marijuana offenses, say they’re optimistic about President Donald Trump’s recent support for marijuana reforms.

Weldon Angelos (left) and Mike Tyson (right).

Both Tyson and Angelos have seen firsthand how the cannabis industry can transform lives and believe Trump’s commitments to reschedule marijuana, expand banking access, and grant clemency could mark a turning point for justice and economic opportunity. They say they’re “optimistic” that change will happen under Trump’s second term.

For years, cannabis reform has been a broken promise in Washington. While President Joe Biden campaigned on decriminalization and expunging records, his actions have largely fallen short. His widely publicized misdemeanor pardons left thousands in federal prison, with Biden choosing not to commute their sentences despite a strong push from advocates in the final weeks of his term. He was the first president since Jimmy Carter to support decriminalizing marijuana, but he did little to push the issue and didn’t endorse any specific legislation that would accomplish it.
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Former Verano Executive and Three Others Indicted for Insider Trading in Cannabis Industry

A former cannabis executive used insider information obtained from his employment to purchase shares of a rival cannabis company that was privately the target of an acquisition, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago.

The indictment accuses Anthony Marisco of obtaining material, non-public information about his company’s agreement to purchase the rival company, according to a press release sent by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the North District of Illinois.

Prior to the public announcement of the agreement, and while the two companies were privately negotiating the proposed acquisition, Marsico allegedly used the information to purchase more than 900,000 shares in the rival company’s stock, resulting in illegal profits of approximately $607,338, the indictment states.  Marsico later sold all of the stock before it was publicly announced that the potential acquisition was canceled, the indictment states.
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