DOJ Urges Court to Uphold Federal Marijuana Ban, Citing Supreme Court Precedent Amid Growing State Legalization Push

The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing back against a challenge to the federal ban on marijuana, defending Congress’s authority to regulate the plant despite state-level legalization.

In a recent filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the DOJ maintained that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) remains valid law, even as marijuana reform gains momentum in many states.

The case was brought by Massachusetts-based Canna Provisions Inc., along with several other cannabis companies, seeking to overturn federal marijuana prohibition. They argue that widespread legalization at the state level undermines the need for federal restrictions. However, the DOJ pointed to the 2005 Supreme Court ruling in Gonzales v. Raich, which upheld the CSA and reaffirmed Congress’s right to regulate interstate commerce, including marijuana.
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Ohio: $157 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold During First 60 Days of Legal Recreational Sales

In Ohio, legal marijuana sales have soared to $157 million in the first 60 days of recreational sales.

Recreational marijuana sales began on August 6, and by September 7, the state’s Division of Cannabis Control reported $98,349,448 in recreational marijuana sales across 1,267,045 different transactions.

Additionally, Ohio’s medical marijuana market generated $59,248,804 in sales during the same period, bringing the total combined marijuana sales to $157,598,252 between August 6 and September 7.
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The Top Marijuana, THC and CBD Studies Released So Far in 2024

2024 has proven to be a landmark year for the research of marijuana and its compounds such as THC and CBD.

As marijuana rescheduling to Schedule III looms, the path for future research could soon become even smoother. However, even without this change, significant strides have already been made.

Below are the top marijuana, THC, and CBD studies released so far in 2024.
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The Most Popular Marijuana Strains in California Right Now

As California continues to lead the U.S. in cannabis sales, certain marijuana strains are rising to the top in popularity.

Wedding Cake.

These strains are favored for their potency, flavor, and effects, which resonate with a wide range of consumers across the state. Based on data from California’s Department of Cannabis Control and Leafly, below are the the marijuana strains making the biggest impact in California this fall.
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New Mexico Board Votes to Add Female Orgasmic Disorder as Qualifying Medical Marijuana Condition

In their recent meeting, New Mexico officials took a step toward adding female orgasmic disorder (FOD) to the list of conditions eligible for medical marijuana.

The state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted 7 to 2 this week to recommend the inclusion of FOD in the state’s medical marijuana program. The board’s recommendation will now be reviewed by the health secretary, who will assess the proposal and consult with staff before making a final decision to approve, reject, or modify it.

According to a study published in May in the journal Sexual Medicine, marijuana significantly improves the sexual experiences of women facing orgasmic disorders.
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US House Bill to Deschedule Marijuana Nationwide and Allow Expungements Gains 96th Sponsor

The MORE Act in the US House of Representatives now has 96 sponsors.

Yesterday, Congressmember Jahana Hayes (D-CT) became the newest cosponsor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, bringing the total number of sponsors to 96. Hayes is the first new sponsor on the bill since August. The only marijuana-related bill in the US Congress with more sponsors is the SAFE Banking Act.

The MORE Act, which is supported by Vice President Kamala Harris, would completely remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, effectively decriminalizing it nationwide. The bill also establishes a federal excise tax on state-legal marijuana sales, starting at 5% and eventually increasing to a maximum of 8%. Additionally, it includes provisions to expunge past marijuana convictions and protect marijuana consumers from being denied public benefits.
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Arizona: In September, Marijuana Tax Revenue Tops $20 Million for 34th Consecutive Month

In September, Arizona’s marijuana industry generated $20,090,881 in tax revenue, marking the 34th consecutive month of surpassing $20 million.

This brings the state’s year-to-date total to approximately $210 million and the all-time total to over $970 million since the state legalized marijuana.

According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, the bulk of September’s tax revenue came from the state’s 16% recreational marijuana excise tax ($12,309,439) and from the 5.6% adult-use tax ($6,276,735).
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Connecticut Marijuana Sales Reach Over $23 Million in September, Bringing 2024 Total to Above $220 Million

In Connecticut, over $23 million worth of marijuana was sold legally in September, marking another strong month for the state’s marijuana market.

A total of $23,445,921 was sold, with $16,612,316 coming from recreational marijuana and $6,833,605 from medical marijuana purchases.

This follows August’s impressive sales of $25,664,059, which marked the first time the market crossed the $25 million mark since December 2023. While September’s sales were slightly lower, they continue to demonstrate the steady demand for both recreational and medical cannabis in the state.
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New Jersey Now Has 175 Licensed Marijuana Stores: Here’s Where They’re All Located

New Jersey’s legal marijuana market has continued to expand, albeit at a relatively slow pace, with the state nearing the milestone of 200 licensed recreational retail outlets.

New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana during the November 3, 2020, election. The law allows those 21 and older to legally possess and use up to an ounce of marijuana, marijuana concentrates and marijuana-infused products such as edibles and tinctures. The state legislature followed up the voter-approved law by passing the necessary regulatory framework in early 2021, and the first legal sales of recreational marijuana began on April 21, 2022.

According to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, as of October 2024, the state has 175 open marijuana retail outlets across the state. Camden County leads with 19 marijuana stores, while Hudson and Burlington Counties both have 16. Atlantic and Union Counties each operate 15 dispensaries.
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Maine Issues Recall of Multiple Marijuana Products

The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) has announced a health and safety recall for certain marijuana products, including dried flower, pre-rolls, and blunts, due to contamination concerns involving bacteria and mold.

The affected products, produced by Nova Farms, include the strain “Frosted Cookies” and were sold at 14 adult-use retail locations across Maine, including stores in Brunswick, Columbia, Greenville Junction, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mechanic Falls, Medway, Newport, Portland, Presque Isle, South Portland, and Turner.

The recall comes roughly a month after the state issued its first-ever marijuana recall in September.
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