Legislation in North Carolina that would legalize adult-use cannabis for those 21 and older, including establishing a licensed and regulated system of marijuana businesses, now has 13 sponsors.

House Bill 413 was filed on Monday by a coalition of six Democratic lawmakers. In the two days since being filed, the measure has garnered seven additional sponsors.

Sponsors now include Representatives Jordan Lopez (D), Aisha Dew (D), Zack Forde-Hawkins (D), Mary Harrison (D), Eric Ager (D), Mary Belk (D), Tracy Clark (D), Sarah Crawford (D), Rodney Pierce (D), Lindsey Prather (D), Renee Price (D), James Roberson (D), and Brian Turner (D).
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The New Mexico House of Representatives has passed legislation to legalize medical psilocybin, sending the measure to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for consideration.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms in a bowl.

The House voted 56 to 8 today in favor of Senate Bill 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, which previously cleared the Senate with a 33 to 4 vote. The proposal was filed by Senator Jeff Steinborn (D).

If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the legislation would allow individuals with specific behavioral health conditions—such as major treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life distress—to receive psilocybin-assisted treatment. It would also create an advisory board, a treatment equity fund, and a research fund while removing psilocybin from the state’s Controlled Substances Act to protect patients, clinicians, and producers.
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Minnesota’s marijuana market is still taking shape, and state officials say a significant expansion in cultivation will be necessary to meet demand.

According to Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) interim director Eric Taubel, the state needs between 1.5 and 2 million square feet of canopy to supply the market, according to a demand study commissioned by the OCM. Currently, Minnesota has only about 60,000 square feet of active cultivation space—roughly 3% of what is required.

To bridge the gap, Taubel says the state will need to issue a large number of cultivation licenses, somewhere between 100 and 150. Some of the shortfall is expected to be covered by tribal growers, with the governor’s office negotiating agreements that would allow tribes to open cannabis businesses beyond reservation land.
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A bill to legalize and regulate marijuana in North Carolina has gained four new sponsors, bringing the total to 12.

House Bill 413, introduced yesterday by State Representative Jordan Lopez (D) along with five cosponsors, also cleared its first reading and was assigned to the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee today. The proposal is now cosponsored by State Representatives Aisha Dew (D), Zack Forde-Hawkins (D), Mary Harrison (D), Rodney Pierce (D), Lindsey Prather (D), Renee Price (D), James Roberson (D), Mary Belk (D), Tracy Clark (D), Sarah Crawford (D), and Brian Turner (D).

The Marijuana Legalization and Reinvestment Act would allow those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of cannabis and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. The personal cultivation of up to six plants would also be allowed, as would licensed marijuana retail outlets.
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The Arkansas Legislature has approved a bill to permanently extend the state’s medical marijuana special privilege tax, delivering it to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for consideration.

Senate Bill 219 passed the Senate unanimously on March 6 with a 31 to 0 vote and cleared the House yesterday by a vote of 74 to 7. It was officially delivered to the governor today.

SB 219 repeals the sunset provision of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Special Privilege Tax Act of 2017, which was set to expire on July 1, 2025.
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A bill introduced today by State Senator James Sanders (D) would increase penalties for those under 21 caught possessing cannabis in New York.

The measure, Senate Bill 6611, has been referred to the Senate Codes Committee for consideration.

Under current law, underage marijuana possession is punishable by a civil fine of up to $50, along with an informational warning about cannabis risks. If passed, SB 6611 would raise the maximum fine to $250 and allow for up to 30 hours of community service as an alternative or additional penalty. The bill also explicitly allows law enforcement to seize marijuana found in possession of individuals under 21.
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Ohio’s legal marijuana industry has surpassed $2.5 billion in total sales, according to updated data released today by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.

Since the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened in 2019, there have been 23,745,159 legal marijuana transactions, generating $2,506,831,743 in combined sales. This total includes $390,698,915 in recreational marijuana sales since the adult-use market launched on August 7, 2024.

The current average price for dried marijuana flower in Ohio is $6.91 per gram, an over 25% decrease from the average in August.
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The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), in partnership with Empire State Development (ESD), has launched the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) Grant Program, a $5 million initiative designed to help licensed dispensary owners cover critical startup costs.

The program will provide grants of up to $30,000 per awardee to assist with expenses such as commercial rent, security equipment, point-of-sale systems, inventory tracking, and regulatory compliance improvements.

“The CAURD Grant Program is a crucial step in supporting New York’s legal cannabis entrepreneurs as they establish and expand their businesses,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, in a Tuesday press release. “By providing financial assistance for essential startup costs, we are reinforcing our commitment to an equitable and thriving cannabis market.”

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