In just 10 days the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open the doors of their marijuana superstore to the general public, allowing access to everyone 21 and older..

(Photo credit: WLOS Staff).

On Saturday, September 7, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company will be accessible to everyone 21 and older, regardless of tribal status. The marijuana megastore is situated on tribal land in Cherokee, North Carolina, which about three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh.

This massive store, located at a refurbished bingo hall, initially opened on April 20, catering exclusively to tribal members who were medical marijuana patients. On July 4, the store expanded its services to include recreational sales, but access was still limited to tribal members.
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California’s Senate has now passed legislation to legalize marijuana cafés through its third and final reading, just a day after it was approved through its second reading.

Assembly Bill 1775 successfully completed its third reading in the Senate yesterday by a vote of 30 to 7. The bill had previously cleared the full Assembly in May with a 58 to 6 vote. However, due to amendments made in committee, it will return to the Assembly for one final vote of concurrence before it can be sent to Governor Newsom.

The legislation would “authorize a local jurisdiction, if specified conditions are met, to allow for the preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products, as specified, by a licensed retailer or microbusiness in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed, and to allow, and to sell tickets for, live musical or other performances on the premises of a licensed retailer or microbusiness in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed.”
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In a little over two weeks, New Hampshire’s legislature will hold a public hearing on House Bill 544, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

The proposal is set for “full committee work session” on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Rooms 302-304. The hearing will come three months after the New Hampshire House narrowly rejected a similar legalization measure (House Bill 1633) by a vote of 178 to 173. House Bill 1633 has already passed the full Senate when it was rejected by the House, which was seen as a crushing blow to many legalization proponents.

Despite this setback, lawmakers in support of legalization continue to press the issue in hopes of coming to a coconscious on specific bill text that can pass both the House and Senate, while retaining support of Governor Chris Sununu who said he would have signed  HB 1633 if it had made it to his desk.
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Home Depot is set to overhaul its drug testing policies by removing cannabis “from all drug testing panels” and halting pre-employment drug tests for the majority of its workforce.

These updates, which will take effect on September 1, were outlined in a human resources memo circulated this week among employees. The Marijuana Herald was sent a copy of the memo this afternoon. The memo specifies that marijuana will no longer be included in any drug tests nationwide, including those conducted after workplace incidents or when there is a suspicion of impairment. The shift in policy was confirmed via a social media post made by a Home Depot employee.

“Marijuana will be removed from all drug testing panels”, states the memo. “Applies to all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam”.
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According to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), there was $32.9 million worth of recreational marijuana sold during the first 17 days of legal sales.

Based on DCC data, licensed marijuana dispensaries in Ohio sold $32,967,100 worth of marijuana and marijuana products between August 6 and August 24. During this period there was 3,664 pounds of plant material sold, and 502,049 “units of manufactured product”.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana flower as of August 24 was $9.14, a $0.28 decrease from the average the week prior.
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A legislative panel in North Dakota has released a report which shows that if the state legalizes recreational marijuana this November, the state could bring in over $10 million in revenue over the first two years.

“Last Friday, North Dakota lawmakers discussed the financial impact of legalizing adult-use cannabis”, said New Economic Frontier, the group behind Measure 5, said in a social media post yesterday. “The state’s top tax official estimates that legalization could bring in at least $10.3 million in revenue over two years, though we believe this is just the minimum!”

The group says that “While the discussion covered potential costs and social impacts, this is a huge win for our cause. As we approach the November ballot, it’s clear that legalizing adult-use could provide significant revenue for our state.” They finish by saying “Let’s make history together this November 5th. Your vote can help North Dakota join the 24 states that have already legalized!”

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