Jan 01 2024

Two California Laws Protecting Marijuana Users Now Officially In Effect

Laws designed to protect marijuana consumers who are seeking employment and those who are already employed officially took effect today in California.

Two separate pieces of legislation designed to end workplace discrimination against those who use marijuana off-the-job both took effect today, January 1, in California.

Senate Bill 700 makes it unlawful “for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis.” The law was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October.
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Jan 01 2024

DEA Seeks Large Increase in Production of THC, Psilocybin and DMT in 2024

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that they are calling for a large increase in the production of several federally illegal substances in order to facilitate more research.

In a legally required post on the Federal Register, the DEA says it is seeking large increases in the production quotas for several substances for medical and scientific purposes.

The DEA is seeking to increase the production of marijuana-derived THC from 1,166,130 grams to 1,523,040 grams. This would be a drastic increase over the 628,460 grams of THC produced in 2023, which was already increased over the  384,460 gram THC quota at the start of 2023. The 1.5 million grams of THC would by far be the largest amount of THC ever produced by the federal government.
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Dec 29 2023

Alabama Judge Temporarily Blocks Licenses for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

A judge has placed a temporary hold preventing Alabama officials from issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order legally preventing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses medical marijuana companies. The licenses will remain on hold until the judge has a chance to thoroughly review challenges to the commission’s selection process.

Brittany Peters, a spokesperson for the commission said that the judge’s hold only applies to dispensaries, and does not effect licenses being issued to businesses that will grow, test and transport marijuana.
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Dec 29 2023

US House Bill to Protect State Marijuana Laws and Allow Interstate Commerce Gets New Committee Assignment

The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act has received a new subcommittee assignment.

Earlier this month a bipartisan group of lawmakers refiled the STATES Act, a bill that would explicitly allow states to legalize marijuana without fear of federal repercussions, while also allowing interstate commerce between legal marijuana states. The measure would amend the Controlled Substances so that those acting in compliance with state marijuana laws would no longer be committing a federal crime.

In addition, the measure would amend an IRS law (section 280E) that prohibits businesses from taking tax deductions if they run a federally illegal business, even if the business is properly following their state’s laws.
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Dec 29 2023

New York Bill Would Prohibit Some Marijuana Stores From Opening Until One Hour After Schools Start

Newly filed legislation would make it so that no marijuana store could open “until one hour after the latest beginning of a school day of any school located within one mile of such adult-use dispensing facility”.

Assembly Bill 8472 was filed today by Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, and swiftly assigned to the Economic Development Committee.

“No adult-use dispensing facility shall open until one hour after the latest beginning of a school day of any school located within one mile of such adult-use dispensing facility”, states the bill. However, “the provisions of this subdivision shall only apply on those days such school is operational.”
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Dec 29 2023

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Removes Marijuana as Banned Substance

UFC today announced details of the new UFC Anti-Doping Policy (UFC ADP), which will be in effect for all UFC athletes starting this Sunday, December 31.

As part of the new policy, marijuana and marijuana-related compounds such as CBD and THC will be removed entirely as banned substances.

“UFC’s goal for the Anti-Doping Policy is to be the best, most effective, and most progressive anti-doping program in all of professional sports,” said Hunter Campbell, UFC Chief Business Officer.  “UFC is proud of the advancements we have made with our anti-doping program over the past eight years, and we will continue to maintain an independently administered drug-testing program that ensures all UFC athletes are competing under fair and equal circumstances.  With this new iteration of the program, UFC has once again raised the bar for health and safety in combat sports.”
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Dec 28 2023

Nevada: On January 1 Marijuana Possession Limit Increases By 150%

Nevada legislation signed into law earlier this year will drastically increase the possession limit for legal marijuana and marijuana concentrates once it takes effect in just four days.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

Senate Bill 277 was signed into law in June after passing the Assembly 28 to 14, and the Senate 14 to 6. The new law, which officially takes effect on January 1, increases the possession limit for dried marijuana from one ounce, to two and a half ounces. It also doubles the limit for concentrates from one-eight of an ounce to one-fourth of an ounce.

In addition, the law allows dispensaries to obtain dual licenses to sell to both medical patients and recreational consumers.
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Dec 28 2023

NORML Announces Their 2023 Top Ten Events In Marijuana Policy

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has released their list of the top 10 events in marijuana policy for 2023.

Founded in 1970, NORML is both the oldest and one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world working towards reforming marijuana laws. Each year they release their list of the 10 most important and impactful marijuana-related events of the year. This year’s list exemplifies how big of a year 2023 was for marijuana policy reform.

Below is NORML’s 2023 Year In Review: Top Ten Events In Marijuana Policy:
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Dec 28 2023

Federal Marijuana Banking Act Now Sponsored by 35 of 100 US Senators

35% of the entire United States Senate is sponsoring the SAFER Banking Act.

The SAFER Banking Act (S.2860) would provide explicit federal protections to banks and other financial institutions that decide to provide services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law. This includes allowing banks to provide debit card services, business loans and so forth. This is particularly important given most marijuana businesses must now operate entirely as cash-only operations, putting employees and business owners at constant risk

The SAFER Banking Act was filed in September with 13 sponsors. It has since gained 22 additional cosponsors.
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Dec 27 2023

Massachusetts: $145 Million in Marijuana Sold in November, $1.5 Billion Year-to-Date

In Massachusetts there was slightly over $145 million in legal marijuana sold in November.

According to data compiled and released by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, there was $145.8 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products purchased through legal means in November. $128.5 million of this was sold to recreational consumers, with $17.3 million sold to those with a valid medical marijuana authorization.

The year-to-date total for marijuana sales is now $1.5 billion, with the total amount of marijuana sold since 2018, when recreational marijuana stores first opened, now at $5.47 billion.
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