Jan 10 2023

Legal Marijuana Sales Begin Today in Connecticut

Starting at 10am today (January 10) it’s legal for licensed retail outlets to sell marijuana and marijuana products to anyone 21 and older.

Although the legalization of marijuana was approved in 2021, today marks the first day of legal sales with nine licensed outlets planning to open their doors to everyone 21 and older, with more outlets to open in the coming days and weeks.

Under the new law consumers will be authorized to purchase up to a quarter of an ounce of dried flower, or up to seven 1-gram joints. Consumers will also be authorized to purchase up to 2 mL of vape cartridges, and edibles with up to 5mg of THC.
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Jan 09 2023

Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Minnesota, Has Governor’s Support

Legislation to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older has been filed in the Minnesota Legislature.

House Bill 100 “would set up a regulatory framework and permit cannabis use for any reason for people 21 and older”. It was filed by Representative Zack Stephenson along with 27 cosponsors, all Democrats. It has been referred to the House Commerce Finance & Policy Committee.

“Cannabis should not be illegal in Minnesota,” says Rep. Stephenson. “Minnesotans deserve the freedom and respect to make responsible decisions about cannabis themselves. Our current laws are doing more harm than good. State and local governments are spending millions enforcing laws that aren’t helping anyone.”
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Jan 09 2023

The Top 10 Most Popular Marijuana Strains at the Start of 2023

There are hundreds of marijuana strains on the market, but some are considerably more popular than others.

With 2023 now underway there are over 20 states in the U.S. that have legalized recreational marijuana and 39 that have legalized medical marijuana, and the majority of these states have licensed retail outlets selling cannabis and cannabis products. Although the popularity of cannabis continues to rise, and the variety of strains grows on a regular basis, there are 10 strains that standout in terms of their popularity, and for many of them, their sheer staying power.

With that in mind, using data compiled by Leafly and regulatory agencies for multiple legal marijuana states, below is the list of the top 10 most popular marijuana strains to start 2023.
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Jan 08 2023

Cannabigerol Demonstrates Anti-Inflammatory Effects in New Study

The cannabis compound cannabigerol (CBG) showed “broad anti-inflammatory effects” in a new study published by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Conducted by researchers at the University Hospital Duesseldorf and the University of Regensburg, both in Germany, the full text of the study can be found by clicking here.

“Since its medical legalization, cannabis preparations containing the major phytocannabinoids (cannabidiol (CBD) and δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) have been used by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to alleviate pain and inflammation”, states the study’s abstract. “However, minor cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG) also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, but due to the lack of studies, they are not widely used.”
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Jan 06 2023

Illinois: $1.5 Billion in Marijuana Sold in 2022, Over $440 Million in Taxes

2022 set adult use cannabis sales records “in all categories it tracks”, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

In total there was $1,552,324,820 in marijuana and marijuana products legally sold in Illinois in 2022, a 12% increase from 2021 and a 131% increase from 2020.

“When I signed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act into law in 2019, we set out on an ambitious goal: to create the most equitable and economically prosperous cannabis industry in the nation,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker in a press release. “Our data from 2022 shows that we are well on our way towards making that idea a reality.”
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Jan 05 2023

Over $200 Million in Recreational Marijuana Sold in First Year of Legal Sales in Montana

In Montana there was over $200 million in recreational marijuana sold in the first year of legal sales, garnering over $40 million in new taxes for the state.

In total $202,947,328 in recreational marijuana and marijuana products were legally sold in Montana in 2022, the first year such sales were legal. This is according to the Montana Cannabis Control Division, and does not include the $93,616,551 in medical marijuana sold during the same period.

In this first year of sales Montana garnered $41,989,466 in new taxes from recreational marijuana sales, plus an additional $3,744,662 in medical marijuana taxes.
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Jan 04 2023

Ohio Governor Signs Bill That Includes Marijuana Expungement Provisions

A comprehensive sentencing reform bill which includes a couple positive marijuana provisions has been signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.

Among many other changes, Senate Bill 288 would make it so that the possession of marijuana paraphernalia does “not constitute a criminal record”. The measure also establishes a process that allows marijuana possession charges to be sealed from public view after six months and expunged entirely after three years. It was passed by the Senate 29 to 2, and passed by the House of Representatives 86 to 8.

“The adoption of this law will make it so that tens of thousands of Ohioans are no longer stigmatized and disenfranchised by the collateral consequences resulting from a minor marijuana violation,” says Jax James, NORML’s State Policy Manager. “People should not have their lives derailed for behaviors that most Americans no longer even believe ought to be a crime.”
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Jan 04 2023

Campaign to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Florida Submits Nearly 150,000 Signatures

A Florida group working to legalize marijuana have submitted nearly 150,000 signatures on their initiative that would do just that.

In total the the Safe & Smart Florida political committee have submitted 148,418 signatures for their marijuana legalization initiative, a nearly 100,000 signature increase from the 49,692 submitted at the end of November. This is according to information released by the Florida Division of Elections

Nearly 150,000 valid petition signatures have been submitted to the state as part of an initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.
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Jan 03 2023

Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Kentucky

At a press conference Representative Nima Kulkarni of Louisville announced that she has filed legislation that would legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

House Bill 47 is a constitutional amendment that would make it legal for those 21+ to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for any use they deem appropriate. It would also allow them to grow up to five marijuana plants.

If it were to be passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, it would be placed on the 2024 general election ballot in order to give voters the final say on the matter.
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Jan 03 2023

New York Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Certain Psychedelics Including Magic Mushrooms

Lawmakers in New York have filed legislation to legalize certain psychedelics such as magic mushrooms.

Bill A00114 would legalize the “possession, use, cultivation, production, creation, analysis, gifting, exchange, or sharing by or between natural persons of twenty-one years of age or older of a natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogen.” The measure has been -prefiled for the 2023-2024 session, which begins tomorrow, and is co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal, Jo Anne Simon, and Karines Reyes

According to the text of the measure, “natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogen” refers to DMT, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin, and psilocin. These same substances became legal just days ago in Colorado due to voters passing a citizen’s initiative the month before.
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