Apr 13 2023

Poll: 56% in South Carolina Want Recreational Marijuana Legalized

A strong majority of adults in South Carolina want marijuana to be legalized, and an even higher percentage support legalizing medical marijuana.

According to the newest Winthrop University Poll, 56% of adults in South Carolina support legalizing recreational marijuana, while 76% support legalizing the substance for medical use.

In terms of medical marijuana, 72% of Republicans and 80% of Democrats support legalizing it. When it comes to recreational marijuana, support from Democrats is at 62%, while Republican support is 45%.
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Apr 13 2023

Montana Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Police to Give Saliva Tests to Suspected Drugged Drivers

Montana’s full legislature has passed Senate Bill 13, amending the state’s implied consent law to give police the power to administer oral fluid tests to motorists suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Senate Bill 13 has now been sent to Governor Greg Gianforte, who has not indicated whether or not he plans to sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature or veto it.

The bill states that “A person who operates or is in actual physical control of a vehicle is considered to have given consent to a test or tests of the person’s blood or breath for the purpose of determining any measured amount or detected presence of alcohol, or blood or oral fluid for the purpose of determining any measured amount or detected presence of drugs in the person’s body.”
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Apr 13 2023

Study: Cannabis Consumers Use Fewer Prescription Opioids Following Wrist Surgery

Patients with a history of marijuana use consume fewer prescription opioids following surgery for distal radius fractures (bone wrist fractures).

This is according to a study published in the International Open Access Journal of the American Society for Plastic Surgeons. The purpose of this study “was to evaluate opioid demand after open reduction and internal fixation of distal radius fractures in patients with and without a diagnosis of cannabis use.”

Researchers from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center compared the demand for opioids among cannabis consumers (cases) and non-users (controls) following wrist surgery. They reported, “[T]here was a significant reduction in average MME [morphine milligram equivalents] for the case population’s initial opioid prescription compared with the control population.”
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Apr 12 2023

Montana Breaks Monthly Record With $27 Million in Legal Marijuana Sales in March

In Montana there was $27,098,679 in legal marijuana and marijuana products purchased in March, resulting in $4.5 million in taxes.

Of the just over $27 million in marijuana sales, $21,223,782 came from recreational marijuana, with the remaining $5,874,897 from the purchase of marijuana for medical use. The year-to-date total for 2023 is now $76,575,277.

The new sales numbers, released by the Montana Cannabis Control Division (a division of the Montana Department of Revenue), bring the January 2022-to-date total for marijuana sales to $380,139,157. Although medical marijuana was legalized in Montana in 2004, recreational marijuana wasn’t legalized until 2021, with the first store opening January the following year.
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Apr 12 2023

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers in Maine File Measure for Automatic Marijuana Expungements

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Maine have filed legislation that would lead to the automatic expungement of thousands of past marijuana convictions and would allow for those in prison to be resentenced.

House Bill 1646 was filed today in the House of Representatives with 11 sponsors led by State Representative David Boyer. It was quickly assigned to the Judiciary Committee and “Sent for concurrence”.

Under the proposed law, “All arrests, convictions and adjudications for possession of cannabis are deemed vacated and the records of those arrests, convictions and adjudications must be expunged.” Those currently serving jailtime for marijuana-related offenses would be allowed to submit a resentencing petition.
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Apr 12 2023

Report: Legal Marijuana Industry Supports 417,493 Full-Time Jobs in the US

Despite marijuana remaining illegal in much of the country, the legal marijuana industry in the United States supports over 417k full-time equivalent jobs.

According to a new report by Vangst, a leading marijuana industry jobs platform, there are now 417,493 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry in the US. This is roughly on par with the number of full-time jobs in 2022.

Key findings from the 2023 Vangst Cannabis Jobs Report include:
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Apr 12 2023

Marijuana-Infused Spirit Launches in Over 35 States

Marijuana-infused spirit Nowadays is now available in more than 35 states.

Today Nowadays launches as “the first nationally available cannabis-infused spirit”, available in Low Dose and Micro Dose THC varieties.

According to a press release, “Nowadays delivers a light and buzzy experience in a familiar format 750ml Bottle.” The brand was developed to “bridge the gap between non-alcoholic and alcoholic products, creating the perfect middle ground to achieve a social buzz without negative after-effects.” Crafted in a bottle that fits in on any bar cart, Nowadays is intended for consumption in a similar fashion to alcohol.
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Apr 12 2023

$250 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in Michigan in March, New Monthly Record

There was roughly $250 million in legal marijuana sold in Michigan in March, the highest single-month since the start of legal recreational marijuana sales in late 2019.

In total Michigan marijuana stores sold $249,674,216 worth of marijuana and marijuana products in March, according to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency Monthly Report. This marks a roughly 15% increase from the month prior, and a 62% increase from March, 2022. Sales to date for Michigan now stand at $4,584,332,783.06, and the current average cost per ounce is $86.87.

Of the roughly $250 million in legal marijuana sold in Michigan in March, $239 million was from the sale of recreational marijuana, with $9.8 million coming from medical marijuana sales.
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Apr 12 2023

City of Cleveland, Ohio Files Motion to Expunge Over 4,000 Marijuana Records

Last week Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb joined Chief Prosecutor Aqueelah Jordan and Council President Blaine Griffin to file motions to expunge 4,077 records of marijuana convictions.

The motions filed at the Justice Center wipe records dating back to 2017 for misdemeanor marijuana possession cases of 20 grams or less under Cleveland Codified Ordinance 607.02. There are also cases under Cleveland Codified Ordinance 607.03, with a weight limit of up to 200 grams, included in the requests.

“Today, we are moving forward with clearing the names of over 4,000 residents who deserve a fresh start,” said Mayor Bibb stated. “This is just one way we can make progress on criminal justice reform to balance the scales and remove barriers to employment and re-entry.”
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Apr 11 2023

Colorado Garnered $23 Million in Taxes From Legal Marijuana in March, Total Nears $2.5 Billion

Colorado made $23 million in marijuana taxes in March according to data released today by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

In total the state made $23,101,036 in taxes from the legal marijuana industry. This is roughly on par with, albeit slightly less than, the $24.7 million sold in February. However it is more than the $22.3 million in legal marijuana tax revenue for January.

Colorado’s year-to-date total for marijuana taxes is now $70.2 million. The total since the start of legal sales in 2014 now stands at $2.46 billion.
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