Today, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram announced the release of the 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA). In it the agency warns about the shift away from plant-based drugs to synthetic drugs. The NDTA is the DEA’s “comprehensive strategic assessment of illicit drug threats and trafficking trends endangering the United States.” In a press release announcing …
Vermont Legislature Overwhelmingly Passes Overdose Prevention Center Bill, Governor Says He’ll Veto
Vermont’s Legislature has given final approval to House Bill 72, which “proposes several provisions relating to harm-reduction and criminal justice responses to drug use.” The proposal was given approval by the Senate on May 2 by a vote of 21 to 8, with the House of Representatives voting on Tuesday to give the measure final …
Colorado Legislature Approves Bill to Streamline Marijuana Licensing and Regulations, Sending it to Governor Polis
The Colorado Legislature has overwhelmingly approved a bill designed to “address efficiency in the regulation of existing marijuana licensees.” Senate Bill 76 was approved by the Senate on April 29 with a 33 to 1 vote. On May 7, the House of Representatives passed the bill 52 to 9, incorporating minor amendments. Following this, the …
US Congress: Lawmakers From 30 States Now Sponsoring Federal Legislation to Deschedule Marijuana
Last week, a coalition of US Senators introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which aims to deschedule marijuana. A similar bill is also currently active in the House of Representatives. Below is a complete list of sponsors for these measures, and the states they represent. The CAOA would mandate that the US Attorney …
Vice President Kamala Harris to Advocate for Marijuana Legalization Following Rescheduling
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to strongly advocate for the legalization of recreational marijuana once the rescheduling process is complete, according to a campaign official. On April 29, it was reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be rescheduling marijuana, following an over eight-month review prompted by a Department of Health and Human Services recommendation. …
US Congress: The 5 Federal Marijuana Bills With the Most Support
The DEA is moving marijuana to Schedule III, but that’s not stopping some lawmakers from fighting for further marijuana reform. Here’s an overview of the five most popular marijuana-related bills currently active in the US Congress. Recently the Department of Justice confirmed that the process to move marijuana to Schedule III is underway. Although this …
New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee Approves House-Backed Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
New Hampshire’s Senate Judiciary Committee has given approval to a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, which has already been passed through the full House of Representatives. The Judiciary Committee’s passage of House Bill 1633 —by a vote of 3 to 2— marks the first time a Senate committee in New Hampshire has ever given approval …
Vermont House Unanimously Approves Bill to Establish Psychedelic Working Group
Legislation that would establish the “Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group” has been passed through Vermont’s full House of Representatives. Senate Bill 114 was given approval today by the state’s House in a unanimous voice vote. The measure has already been passed through the Senate, but will need to go back for another vote before it …
Legislation to Facilitate Marijuana Expungements Filed in U.S. Senate
Legislation offering grants to states and localities to ease the expungement of nonviolent marijuana offenses has been filed in the United States Senate. Senate Bill 4161 —the HOPE Act of 2024— was filed recently by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The proposal is a companion bill to House Bill 2677, also referred to as the HOPE …
Report: Legal Marijuana States Garnered $4 Billion in Tax Revenue in 2023, Over $20 Billion Since 2014
On Wednesday, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) released a new report on tax revenue generated from state-legal, adult-use marijuana sales. The report found that through the first quarter of 2024, states have reported a combined total of more than $20 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales. In 2023 alone, legalization states generated …
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