Sep 10 2024

Florida: Scientology’s Biggest Donor Gives $1 Million to DeSantis’ PAC to Fight Marijuana Legalization and Abortion

A political committee tied to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has received a $1 million donation from Trish Duggan, a prominent Scientologist, as part of its efforts to block marijuana legalization and abortion rights.

Trish Duggan.

The Florida Freedom Fund, chaired by DeSantis’ Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, raised $1.11 million from August 24 to 30, with Duggan’s contribution making up the bulk of the funds. According to state election records, the committee now holds nearly $3.49 million. This is less than 5% of the $82.6 million raised by Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind Amendment 3, as of the end of August

Duggan, a resident of Belleair Shores, is known as the largest donor to the Church of Scientology. Along with her ex-husband, billionaire Bob Duggan, she has donated over $360 million to the church and was a key financial backer in its secretive land acquisitions in Clearwater.
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Sep 10 2024

Missouri Governor and Attorney General Announce Task Force to “Combat Spread of Dangerous Unregulated Cannabis Products”

Today, during a press conference, Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced a joint task force between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) to combat the spread of unregulated psychoactive cannabis products in Missouri.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) at today’s press conference.

This latest action comes after Governor Parson announced Executive Order 24-10 and subsequent emergency rules by ATC were refused.

Governor Parson and Attorney General Bailey were joined by Senate President Pro Tempore Caleb Rowden, House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Patterson, Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Paula Nickelson, Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Kevin Bond, ATC State Supervisor Michael Leara, and Missouri Poison Center Director Julie Weber.
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Sep 10 2024

Six Ohio Marijuana Stores Fined a Combined $430,000 by the State

Six marijuana dispensaries in Ohio were fined by the state for violating advertising regulations during the early stages of recreational marijuana sales, which launched on August 6.

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) imposed fines on the stores for not adhering to strict advertising guidelines, with penalties totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“All operators are currently operating via medical rules,” explained Tom Brockman, deputy chief communications officer for the Ohio Department of Commerce and DCC. “As such, they need to seek pre-approval on any advertising, this includes the use of the term ‘recreational marijuana.’ Those particular entities that agreed to civil penalties did not seek pre-approval, and that was the basis of their violation.”
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Sep 10 2024

Florida Young Republicans Endorse Amendment 3 to Legalize Marijuana

Today, the Florida Young Republicans on officially endorsed Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana.

“As champions of individual freedom, supporting Amendment 3 is the obvious choice for Florida Young Republicans”. said said Megan Echtenkamp, Communications Director for the Florida Young Republicans in a press release. “We’re ready to move past the outdated stigma surrounding marijuana consumption and give Floridians the same freedom to consume marijuana that more than half the country already enjoys.”

Echtenkamp says that “By legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, we can empower Floridians with the freedom to make their own choices, while also generating significant revenue for essential public services and creating new job opportunities.”
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Sep 10 2024

North Carolina’s First Marijuana Store Attracts Over 4,000 Customers in First Two Days

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company had over 4,000 patrons in its first weekend.

Located on the tribal land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee (91 Bingo Loop Rd), the marijuana superstore opened its doors to everyone 21 and older at 10am on Saturday, September 7. Between Saturday and Sunday, the store had over 4,000 customers purchase over 10,000 units of marijuana and marijuana products.

During their opening, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company offered over 300 different marijuana products, including dried flower, prerolls, topicals, tinctures, concentrates and a variety of edibles such as cookies, brownies and gummies. The store says they plan to increase their offering to over 500 products by January.
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Sep 10 2024

Connecticut: In August, Monthly Marijuana Sales Passed $25 Million for First Time in 2024

In Connecticut, there was over $25 million worth of marijuana sold legally, the first time the market has crossed the $25 million mark since December 2023.

The $25,664,059 in legal marijuana is a little over $1 million more than the $24,653,219 sold in July, and is an uptick from the $24.8 million sold in August 2023.

Roughly two-thirds of these sales, $17,989,385, were purchased for recreational use, with $7,674,674 purchased by licensed medical marijuana patients.
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Sep 10 2024

Ohio Now Has 127 Recreational Marijuana Stores: Here’s Where They’re Located

There’s now 127 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries that have received dual-use licenses to sell recreational marijuana to everyone 21 and older.

When recreational marijuana sales began on August 6, there was nearly 100 dispensaries selling recreational marijuana. That number has since increased to 127. According to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), there’s also been 14 provisional licenses issued. A provisional license is a conditional approval given to a dispensary, allowing them to operate while they work towards meeting all the regulatory requirements needed for a full license.

Last week the DCC approved 121 more licenses for recreational marijuana sales, which will bring the number of outlets to nearly 250.
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Sep 10 2024

$343 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in California During August, $2.8 Billion Year-to-Date

In California, more than $340 million worth of legal marijuana and related products (including edibles, concentrates, and more) were sold in August.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

According to data released by the research firm Headset, licensed marijuana stores in California recorded $343.1 million in sales in August.

So far this year, marijuana sales in California have reached approximately $2.8 billion. Last week the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported that the state garnered $263.1 million in marijuana tax revenue in the second quarter of this year.
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Sep 10 2024

Illinois: Cannabis Research Institute Opens in Chicago

The Cannabis Research Institute in Chicago is now open, with the goal of exploring how cannabis may help or harm those who use it.

The institute, first announced around 18 months ago, is focusing on marijuana’s medical applications, including the potential use of cannabis for cancer treatment. Additionally, the institute will assist in developing a state reference lab to verify the accuracy of commercial cannabis testing and investigate a virus threatening marijuana crops, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Reggie Gaudino, director of the institute, is leading the charge with a $7 million grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Gaudino, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and biochemistry, previously worked with companies like Charlotte’s Web, known for its CBD products. He hopes to bring similar success to his current research, which aims to determine if certain cannabis strains can treat various medical conditions.
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Sep 09 2024

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair Fired for “Gross Misconduct”

Today, Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chair Shannon O’Brien, who was responsible for overseeing the state’s legal marijuana market.

Goldberg said she fired O’Brien after carefully considering more than 20 hours of meetings held earlier this year as well as various documents, case law and policies. Goldberg said she fired O’Brien because she “committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner.”

Late last month we reported that the website for the CCC went down for several days, and sales data has not been updated since June.
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