Jul 12 2024

Marijuana Rescheduling Nears the Endgame, Public Comment Period Almost Over

The long-anticipated rescheduling of marijuana is approaching a crucial milestone and is close to being finalized.

The legally required 60-day public comment period, a critical phase in the process of rescheduling any drug under the Controlled Substances Act, is set to close in just 10 days. Approximately 30,000 comments have been submitted so far, the vast majority in support of either rescheduling marijuana, or going further and descheduling it altogether.

The impending closure of the public comment period signifies the approaching endgame in the rescheduling process. Once the period concludes, the DEA and HHS will review the comments and make a recommendation on whether to reclassify marijuana, potentially holding a public hearing before making a final recommendation. This recommendation will then be forwarded to the Attorney General, who will make the final decision.
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Jul 12 2024

Five Statewide Marijuana Initiatives Being Considered This November

In less than four months, voters in five states will decide on marijuana initiatives.

The November 5 election will be monumental for several reasons, including the fact that five states will vote on marijuana law reforms. Three of these states may legalize recreational marijuana, potentially joining the 24 others that have already done so.

With that said, here is a breakdown of the five statewide initiatives being considered this November.
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Jul 12 2024

June Marijuana Sales Top $20 Million in Maine, $115 Million Year-to-Date

Marijuana sales in Maine topped $20 million for the second month in a row.

Data released by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy shows that there was $20,692,942 in marijuana sales in June, an increase from the $20,280,736 sold in May, but roughly $1 million less than the monthly record set in September 2023. June sales occurred across 387,247 transactions.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana in June dropped from $7.41 to $7.25. This is slightly above the all-time low of $7.18 in April.
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Jul 12 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris: “Rescheduling Marijuana is Great. Legalization is Better”

In a recent interaction with a supporter, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated her stance on marijuana legalization.

When asked by supporter Ashley R. (last name withheld by request, for privacy reasons) whether the DEA’s initiative to move marijuana to Schedule III is sufficient change, Harris responded, “Rescheduling is great. Legalization is better. We’ve got to get it done.”

Ashley spoke to Harris privately following her speech at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 2024 Biennial National Convention in Dallas, Texas. Ashley shared details of the conversation exclusively with The Marijuana Herald.
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Jul 12 2024

US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Sponsors SAFER Banking Act, Bringing Total Sponsors to 37

The US Senate’s SAFER Banking Act, which would allow marijuana banking, now has 37 sponsors.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) officially signed on as a cosponsor of the SAFER Banking Act (S.2860) yesterday. This measure would provide federal protections to banks and other financial institutions, such as credit unions, that offer services to marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. Murkowski is the 37th sponsor of the measure, the fifth Republican, and the first new sponsor since February.

The SAFER Banking Act was passed through the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with bipartisan support in September, just a week after it was filed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to bring the measure to a vote in the full chamber but has not yet set a date or timeframe for this to occur.
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Jul 12 2024

Federal Legislation to Allow Marijuana Banking Gains Three New Sponsors, Now Has 128

Legislation in the US House of Representatives that would allow nationwide marijuana banking now has 128 sponsors

Congressmembers Ted Lieu (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Haley Stevens (D-MI) have joined as cosponsors to the SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891), bringing the total number of sponsors to 128. No other marijuana-related bill in the US Congress has more sponsors.

The SAFE Banking Act would provide explicit federal protections for banks and credit unions that provide financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses. These businesses include medical marijuana dispensaries in the 38 states where they are legal, and recreational marijuana stores in the 23 states where they are authorized.
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Jul 11 2024

Montana Marijuana Sales Top $26 Million in June, All-Time Sales Surpass $750 Million Resulting in $127 Million in Taxes

In June, Montana’s marijuana sales were the highest since September 2023, with all-time sales now exceeding $775 million.

According to data from the Montana Department of Revenue, licensed marijuana stores sold $26,945,439 worth of product in June, the highest amount since the $28,159,456 sold in September last year. August 2023 remains the month with the highest marijuana sales at $28,697,312.

In June, the vast majority of legal marijuana was purchased by recreational consumers ($23,157,228), while medical marijuana patients purchased $3,788,211.
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Jul 11 2024

North Carolina Tribe to Begin Marijuana Sales for Everyone 21+ Soon, Lawmakers Push Federal Stop Pot Act in Response

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will open its marijuana megastore to everyone 21+ either next month or in September, regardless of whether they are a tribal member or a medical marijuana patient.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company —located in a former bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish— opened for medical marijuana sales in April. On July 4, it began recreational marijuana sales, with sales exclusive to tribal members. Now, the store is preparing to open to everyone 21 and older, with sales beginning sometime in August or September.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company is located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, roughly three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council voted last month to legalize recreational marijuana. The vote followed a September ordinance approved by tribal members, requesting the council to develop legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.
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Jul 11 2024

US Congress: 25 GOP Lawmakers Condemn Marijuana Rescheduling in Letter to DOJ

Today, Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released a bicameral letter with 23 other Members of Congress “strongly opposing the Biden administration’s recent decision to move marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance.”

According to a press release sent from Rep. Sessions office, the letter “emphasizes that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made the recommendation to reschedule based on politics, not science.” The group of Republicans says that rescheduling “ignores the increasing danger of high-potency marijuana, creating a high risk for public health threats such as youth overdoses, schizophrenia, and psychosis.”

Rep. Sessions says “The decision to disregard public safety and medical concerns to reclassify marijuana is strictly political. This egregious proposed rule fails to provide sufficient science and data in support. Senator Lankford and I are leading the charge in raising the alarm from Congress”
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Jul 11 2024

U.S. Senate Committee Approves Bill Allowing VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

Under current law, VA doctors are prohibited from recommending medical marijuana to their patients, even if those patients reside in states where medical marijuana is legal. A provision that would end this prohibition is included in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 2025 budget, approved today by the Senate Appropriations Committee in a unanimous voice vote.

Last month, the full House of Representatives voted 290 to 116 to pass their version of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies budget, which also included a provision allowing veterans access to medical marijuana.
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