California’s full legislature has passed legislation to legalize marijuana cafés, officially sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Yesterday the Assembly concurred with changes that the Senate made to Assembly Bill 1775 prior to its passage. Both chambers have now passed the same version of the bill, allowing it to be sent to Governor Newsom.

The final vote in the Assembly was 58 to 6, with the final vote in the Senate being 30 to 7.
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Legislation that would allow certain licensed marijuana growers in California to sell directly to consumers at farmers markets has been passed through its third and final reading in the Senate.

Last week we reported that Assembly Bill 1111 was passed through its second reading in the full Senate and was ordered to a third and final reading. Now, the measure has been passed by the Senate through its third reading by a vote of 27 to 5.

Sponsored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), AB 1111 authorizes the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to issue temporary event licenses, enabling on-site cannabis sales and consumption at approved venues within jurisdictions that explicitly allow such activities. The bill also includes specific criteria for small marijuana producers eligible for these licenses, limiting cultivation to no more than one acre or specific square footage under different types of licenses.
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According to data compiled and released by Statistics Canada, there was over $2.4 billion worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in the first half of 2024.

Between January and June of this year, licensed marijuana stores sold $2.425 billion in legal marijuana, putting the nation on track for nearly $5 billion for the year.

During this period, May saw the highest amount of marijuana sales with $413.6 million. February experienced the lowest sales with $386.8 million.
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In a campaign video posted on the social media platform X on February 9, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the Biden/Harris Administration has “changed federal marijuana policy”.

A screenshot from the X.com video post by VP Harris in February.

In the video, which now has been viewed nearly 450,000 times and shared over 2,000 times, VP Harris said “We changed federal marijuana policy, because nobody should have to go to jail just for smoking weed.”

At the time, it was thought that Harris’ video was simply posted prematurely: The Biden Administration had not made any changes to federal marijuana policy, but the DEA was considering a move to reschedule the plant to Schedule III. The Harris campaign declined to respond to media inquiries about what the VP meant by her remarks.
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In a major decision, a U.S. appeals court has ruled that a Texas resident cannot be prosecuted under a federal law that prohibits drug users from owning firearms, stating that the law is unconstitutional when applied to individuals with past drug use.

This ruling follows a recent Supreme Court decision that broadened the interpretation of the Second Amendment.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the federal ban on firearm ownership for drug users should not apply to Texas resident Paola Connelly, as it unjustly targets individuals based on their previous drug habits.
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According to a new poll of registered Florida voters, a strong majority support Amendment 3.

The Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey found support for Amendment 3 to be at 57%. Although this is below the 60% threshold for enactment (given the measure is a constitutional amendment), it’s within the +/-3.4% margin of error, and 9% of voters remain undecided. Just 34%, or roughly one in three, oppose Amendment 3.

Specifically, the survey’s participants were asked “Amendment 3, titled “Adult personal use of marijuana,” will appear on the ballot in Florida this November. It would allow adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption. If the election was today, would you vote yes or no on Amendment 3?”
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Today, New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosted what some are dubbing “a cartoonish display“, where he and members of the city’s police department oversaw the burning of four tons of marijuana products they deemed to be “illegal.”

NYC Mayor Eric Adams holding a bag of marijuana prior to its burning.

Despite recreational marijuana being legal in New York since 2021, the city burnt over 8,000 pounds of marijuana and marijuana products today, ranging from dried flower to edibles. The products were seized by over 1,000 marijuana stores throughout the city that were operating without a license.

“We’re going to destroy four tons of cannabis,” said Adams prior to the burning. “We have to stay on top of this because there are so many people who like to participate in this illegal endeavor. We’re going to destroy illegal cannabis in this city. It’s not going to go in our neighborhoods.”
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