Washington State Senator Drew MacEwen (R) has introduced Senate Bill 5206, a proposal seeking to amend the state’s marijuana retailer advertising regulations.

The legislation, which has been referred to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee for consideration, outlines significant modifications to advertising restrictions for licensed cannabis businesses.

These changes primarily address signage, advertising content, and the use of mascots. Under the proposed legislation, cannabis retailers would be permitted to display up to four trade name signs on their licensed premises, a notable shift from current limitations. Each sign must adhere to a size restriction of no more than 1,000 square inches and must be either affixed to the building or placed in a window visible to the public.
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New Mexico’s legal marijuana market generated over $48 million in sales in December, bringing the 2024 total to well above $500 million, according to data released today by the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.

In total, there was $48,721,851.36 worth of marijuana sold via licensed retail outlets and dispensaries in December, spread across 1,177,712 different transactions. This brings 2024’s total to around $540 million, with around 75% of these sales going to recreational consumers and 25% to medical marijuana patients.

The all-time total for marijuana sales in New Mexico is now $1,506,133,863.88, spread across 33,264,974 transactions.
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New York legislation to update the state’s laws around cannabis showcase events has successfully passed the Senate Rules Committee and been ordered directly to a third and final reading by the full Senate.

Senate Bill 818, filed by Senator Michelle Hinchey, introduces a framework for temporary “pop-up” events, where licensed businesses can promote their products. Under the proposed provisions, cannabis showcase events would require partnerships between licensed cultivators and processors, with sales restricted to products from these authorized entities. Additional safeguards, such as compliance with reporting requirements and adherence to state regulations, are included to ensure responsible operation.
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DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney has canceled a series of marijuana rescheduling hearings, scheduled to start January 21 and run through March 6, halting proceedings for at least three months.

This decision stems from allegations of improper conduct by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and other officials, though Mulrooney ultimately rejected calls to remove the agency from the rescheduling process entirely. The judge ordered either party to provide an update on the appeal’s status within 90 days, with additional updates required every subsequent 90 days if the issues remain unresolved.

While Mulrooney cited statutory limitations on his authority to remove the DEA as the proponent of the proposal to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, he sharply criticized the agency’s procedural actions. He argued that these missteps could delay the rulemaking indefinitely, particularly with a new administration set to take office next week.
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Florida’s 5th District Court of Appeal has ruled that law enforcement officers cannot conduct warrantless vehicle searches solely based on alerts from trained police dogs.

The decision highlights the inability of drug-sniffing dogs to differentiate between legal and illegal cannabis products, such as medical marijuana and hemp-derived products.

Judges noted that during a vehicle search prompted by a canine alert, officers could not determine whether the dog detected an illegal substance like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana, or a legal product such as hemp or properly prescribed medical marijuana. The court emphasized, “The dog’s alert did not tell them which target substance(s) had been detected. Whether the substance smelled was legal or illegal was not readily apparent, and thus his alert, alone, could not provide the probable cause needed to justify a warrantless search.”
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The global marijuana market is poised for unprecedented growth, according to a newly released report.

The report, conducted by WiseGuy Reports, highlights the industry’s projected expansion from $24.6 billion in 2024 to a staggering $73.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.68% during the forecast period. In 2023, the market was valued at $21.45 billion.

The marijuana market’s expansion is attributed to several key factors:
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Today, Chief Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II issued a scathing order criticizing the U.S. government for failing to comply with procedural directives in its submission of evidence.

The order, tied to the potential rescheduling of marijuana, was filed under DEA Docket No. 1362 and stems from the government’s submission of a compact disc (CD) containing public comments instead of providing the required hard copies, as mandated by a prehearing ruling. Judge Mulrooney emphasized that the government’s actions were “not a mistake borne of misunderstanding or inadvertence” but a deliberate defiance of clear instructions. The tribunal had explicitly denied the government’s earlier request to file electronic copies, citing a lack of good cause.
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Legislation to establish collective bargaining rights for marijuana workers is moving forward in the Washington State House of Representatives, with House Bill 1141 scheduled for a public hearing.

The hearing is set for January 15 at 8 a.m. in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards, a necessary step before the committee can vote on the measure.

Introduced by State Representatives Lillian Ortiz-Self and Mary Fossee on December 30, HB 1141 seeks to extend collective bargaining rights to workers involved in marijuana cultivation and processing. The bill outlines guidelines for organizing labor unions, resolving disputes, and safeguarding employees’ rights to collective bargaining.
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Legislation in Washington State that would shift marijuana licensing responsibilities to the Department of Agriculture has been scheduled for a public hearing.

House Bill 1067 will be discussed by the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business and members of the public on January 17 at 8 am. The bill proposes transferring licensing and regulatory authority for marijuana production, processing, and testing from the Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Department of Agriculture. This follows a previous legislative change in 2024, which moved oversight of marijuana testing labs to the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1 of that year.

The legislation outlines a comprehensive plan to shift all duties, records, and resources related to marijuana licensing to the Department of Agriculture by July 1, 2026. It ensures that existing rules, contracts, and obligations will remain valid throughout the transition.
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The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced today it has published a notice of intent to adopt expedited rules and has opened a 30-day public comment period.

Members of the public can submit formal comment starting today, January 13, on draft rules that will complete the regulatory framework for Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. A copy of the proposed rules has been published in the State Register and may be viewed by clicking here.

The public can submit comments through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) website until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Instructions on how to use the system are available on the OAH website.
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