Aug 19 2024

Charleston, West Virginia City Council Approves Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance 20 to 5

The Charleston City Council has approved an ordinance to modify the city’s municipal code to reduce penalties associated with the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Today, the Charleston City Council passed Bill No. 8039, introduced by Councilmembers Chad Robinson and Frank Annie, by a vote of 20 to 5. The proposed law eliminates fines for first-time offenders possessing under 15 grams of marijuana, provided they haven’t had any drug-related convictions in the past year. For those caught a second time, a fine of $250 will be imposed, with fines rising to a maximum of $500 for third and subsequent offenses.

The path to Bill 8039’s approval included extensive discussion and revisions. It was initially discussed in a Committee on Ordinance & Rules meeting in early July and revisited in a subsequent council meeting where it caused some confusion about whether it would legalize marijuana in Charleston, leading to its return to the committee.
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Aug 19 2024

California Marijuana Stores Generated $6 Billion in Taxes From $27 Billion in Sales Between January 2018 and July 2024

Since the opening of the first recreational marijuana store in January 2018, California has collected an impressive $6 billion in tax revenue.

According to data from the research firm Headset and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, licensed marijuana stores recorded over $27 billion in “taxable sales” from 2018 through July of this year. “Taxable sales” encompass both marijuana and marijuana products, as well as related paraphernalia like pipes and rolling papers.

In California, a 15% tax is levied on marijuana sales, in addition to the state’s standard 7.25% sales tax.
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Aug 19 2024

Study of Over 700,000 Adults Finds Marijuana Use Linked to Lower BMI

A new study reveals a link between marijuana use and lower obesity rates among U.S. adults.

The study, published in the peer reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and the U.S. National Library of Medicine, was conducted by Brigham Young University researchers.

The study analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveyed 735,921 U.S. adults between 2016 and 2022. Researchers found that the prevalence of marijuana use among adults nearly doubled during this period, rising from 7.48% to 14.91%. This increase “directly corresponds with a shift toward legalization of medical and recreational marijuana.”
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Aug 19 2024

Democrats Approve 2024 Platform Calling for Marijuana Expungements, No More Arrests for Marijuana Possession

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has officially approved its 2024 Party Platform during tonight’s Convention.

The platform states that no one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana, pointing out the harmful impact these laws have had, particularly on minorities. It recognizes President Biden’s “historic action” in pardoning those with federal marijuana possession convictions, and it urges state governors to take similar steps. Additionally, the platform supports the administration’s ongoing efforts to reschedule marijuana.

“No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana”, states the party’s platform. “Sending people to prison for possession has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Those criminal records impose needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities, disproportionately affecting Black and brown people.”
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Aug 19 2024

Federal Judge: Tennessee DCS Workers Can be Held Liable for Taking Kids Due to Marijuana After Traffic Stop

A federal judge has ruled that Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) employees can be held liable for their involvement in the removal of five children from their parents following a traffic stop in February in which marijuana was discovered.

The family, originally from Georgia, was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol for what was initially described as “dark tint and traveling in the left lane while not actively passing.” Officers claimed to smell marijuana during the stop, leading to a search that uncovered less than five grams of marijuana. Although the offense is a misdemeanor that usually results in a citation and fine, police took the unusual step of removing the children from their parents.

Judge Eli Richardson’s ruling allows the parents’ civil rights lawsuit to proceed, denying DCS workers’ claims of qualified immunity. The lawsuit alleges that the children’s removal was unjustified and traumatic, and that the DCS employees involved acted without sufficient evidence of danger to the children. The parents assert that the state workers acted on racial bias and stereotypes.
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Aug 19 2024

Approved and Pending Marijuana Business Licenses in the U.S. Rise 21% in Q2 2024, Reaching Two-Year High

According to a new report, the number of pending and approved marijuana business licenses in the U.S. jumped by 21% in the second quarter of 2024, reaching 5,687—the highest total in over two years.

cheyenne marijuana

According to CRB Monitor’s latest report, New Jersey and New York were key drivers of this growth, contributing to a 17% rise in new licenses compared to 2023.

However, the total number of active marijuana business licenses across the nation fell by 2%, continuing a six-quarter downward trend. Despite this, no state saw a drop exceeding 10%, suggesting that the U.S. cannabis market is stabilizing after two years of consolidation.
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Aug 19 2024

Washington State Has Garnered Over $5 Billion in Marijuana Tax Revenue Since 2014

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington State in 2012, and the commencement of legal sales in July 2014, the state has witnessed an impressive boom in its marijuana market.

Over the past decade, this market has generated approximately $15 billion in total sales, according to the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Control Board. These sales resulted in over $5.5 billion in tax revenue for the state. This revenue has been made possible largely due to Washington’s 37% excise tax on marijuana sales—the highest in the nation.

In 2023 alone, Washington’s marijuana sales reached about $1.25 billion. As of July 2024, the state had already recorded $701.85 million in sales, with July being the most lucrative month, bringing in over $103 million. This consistent performance keeps Washington among the top states in the U.S. for legal marijuana sales.
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Aug 19 2024

DNC Releases 2024 Platform to be Voted on at Convention, Includes Multiple Marijuana Provisions

Today, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released the final 2024 Democratic Party Platform, which will be voted on by delegates at the Convention tomorrow evening.

This platform was passed by the Platform Committee on July 16, before the President stepped aside. It will receive a final vote tomorrow at the DNC Convention. A section of the platform states:

“No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to prison for possession has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Those criminal records impose needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities, disproportionately affecting Black and brown people. President Biden took historic action to end this failed approach by pardoning people convicted federally for using or possessing marijuana. He has called on governors to use their pardon power to do the same for state-level offenses. And his Administration is taking a major step to reschedule cannabis so it’s no longer classified as more dangerous than fentanyl or methamphetamine.”
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Aug 19 2024

Colorado Finalizes Legal Psilocybin Rules

Colorado has officially established the rules for psilocybin use, paving the way for the state’s upcoming therapeutic program.

Although healing centers won’t begin administering psilocybin treatments until 2025, the state took a significant step forward by finalizing the regulations last week.

Tasia Poinsatte, the Colorado director of the Healing Advocacy Fund, which played a crucial role in launching Oregon’s psilocybin program four years ago, said their now actively involved in guiding Colorado’s efforts. Unlike some other psilocybin programs, Colorado’s regulations do not permit patients to take psilocybin products at home; instead, the treatments will be administered by licensed facilitators at designated healing centers.
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Aug 19 2024

Poll Finds Large Majority of Americans Support Expunging Marijuana Charges

A recent YouGov poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans support expunging the records of those convicted of marijuana-related offenses.

The survey, conducted this month, found that 61% of respondents are in favor of clearing the records for individuals with past marijuana charges, reflecting a growing shift in public opinion on drug-related criminal justice reform.

This support crosses party lines, with 71% of Democrats and 55% of independents backing the idea, while Republicans are nearly split, with 48% in favor. The poll highlights a broader trend in American attitudes toward marijuana, as more states legalize the substance for recreational and medicinal use; at the time of publication 24 states have legalized marijuana, with three others voting on the issue this November.
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