Jun 10 2024

New York Legislature Sends Governor Bill to Permanently Legalize Marijuana Farmers Markets

Legislation to permanently legalize marijuana farmers markets in New York has been passed by the state’s legislature and sent to Governor Kathy Hochul.

(Photo credit: Ganjapreneur).

The legislation, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey (D) in the Senate and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (D) in the Assembly, would establish a permanent licensing process for cannabis showcase event permits. A cannabis showcase event “shall mean an event where licensee authorized to conduct retail sales of adult-use cannabis, cannabis products, and cannabis merchandise engages in the sale and showcase of such products away from the licensed premises in demonstrated partnership with a licensed New York state adult-use cannabis cultivator or processor, at showcase events located at farmers’ markets and public markets as defined in section two hundred sixty of the agriculture and markets law or similar such locations, as authorized by the office.

According to its official summary, the measure “provide the NYS Office of Cannabis Management with the authority to draft new regulations that will update and improve upon the regulatory structure of the successful Cannabis Growers Showcase program, which automatically sunset on January 1, 2024.”
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Jun 10 2024

Marijuana Rescheduling: Over 15,000 Comments Submitted on DEA’s Proposal

It’s been three weeks since the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed its plan in the Federal Register to reschedule marijuana. In that time, over 15,000 people have submitted comments.

Since the DEA’s proposal was filed on May 21, launching a 60-day public comment period that ends on July 22, there have been over 15,000 comments submitted.

A little over half of these comments are urging the DEA to go even further than rescheduling marijuana by descheduling it altogether. This would remove marijuana as a controlled substance, effectively decriminalizing it nationwide. Legislation deschedule marijuana currently has 89 sponsors in the US House of Representatives and 18 sponsors in the Senate.
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Jun 10 2024

DEA Cancels Hearing on Psychedelics Ban Amid Legal Challenge

The DEA has cancelled a hearing scheduled for today that would have discussed the agency’s proposed plan to prohibit two different psychedelic compounds that scientists are urging them to keep legal.

“As the matter before DEA is currently stayed, no hearing will commence on June 10, 2024,” states a notice by the DEA on the Federal Register, announcing the cancellation of today’s hearing. The agency says the meeting has been postponed indefinitely, and it comes a month after Panacea Plant Sciences (PPS) filed a lawsuit against the DEA in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington seeking to stop the ban.

The proposed rule would place 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC) as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), making them illegal for all purposes including for research and as a medicine. The DEA made a similar attempt to ban these two substances last year, but eventually revoked the effort after a large outcry from from scientists and researchers, many who feel the substances could have medical value.
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Jun 09 2024

These 3 States Are Vying to Become the 26th Legal Marijuana State

New Hampshire is set to become the 25th legal marijuana state, marking the halfway point for the entire country. Meanwhile, three other states are competing to become the 26th, raising the possibility that we could end the year with 28 states having legalized recreational marijuana.

Many state legislatures have already adjourned for the year, with a handful having sessions that last throughout the entire year. With that in mind, it seems likely that any state nearing legalization via the legislative process —Hawaii, for example— won’t take action until 2025. However, three states are set to vote this November on initiatives that would legalize recreational marijuana.

Below is a breakdown of these three states:
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Jun 09 2024

The 5 Most Popular Sativa-Dominant Marijuana Strains in the US

In the legal marijuana market, there are hundreds of active marijuana strains (there’s 644 in Massachusetts alone), with many being sativa-dominant. Among the numerous options, a few stand out due to their widespread popularity.

Blue Dream (photo credit: Ry Prichard, The Cannabist).

Today, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, while 38 states permit medical marijuana use. These states generally feature flourishing legal markets with numerous licensed stores and dispensaries. Some marijuana strains have risen to national prominence, showcasing their lasting appeal.

Based on data from Leafly and multiple state regulatory agencies, here are the top 5 most popular marijuana strains across the U.S.:
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Jun 08 2024

Connecticut Board of Physicians Unanimously Approves Female Orgasmic Disorder and Autism as Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana

A board of physicians in Connecticut has voted to add both female orgasmic disorder (FOD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as qualifying medical marijuana conditions.

Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians has unanimously approved two separate petitions to expand the state’s list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions to include FOD and ASD. Although recreational marijuana is legal in Connecticut, medical marijuana patients are allowed to possess twice as much (three ounces compared to1.5), and they can purchase marijuana and marijuana products tax-free.

The board’s recommendations will now be sent to Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli, who has final say on whether or not to officially add the two conditions to the medical marijuana program.
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Jun 08 2024

Maine: Over $20 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in May, Nearly $100 Million for the Year

Maine marijuana sales topped $20 million in May for the first time this year.

According to data from the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy, marijuana sales reached $20,280,736 in May, marking a $1 million increase over the roughly $19 million sold in both March and April. May sales occurred across 381,148 transactions.

The average price per gram of dried marijuana in May increased slightly from last month’s all-time low of $7.18 to $7.41.
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Jun 08 2024

These 5 States Will Vote on Marijuana Initiatives in Just 5 Months

The November 2024 presidential election is just five months away. Here’s a look at the state’s that will be voting on marijuana legalization initiatives.

New Hampshire is set to become the 25th legal marijuana state, marking the halfway point for the entire country. This November, several states will be vying to tip the scale and make legal marijuana states the majority.

With that in mind, here are the five states that are either guaranteed to vote on marijuana legalization initiatives this November or are highly likely to do so.
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Jun 07 2024

Florida Governor Vetoes Bill to Ban Delta-8 THC and Other Hemp Compounds

Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed legislation that would have banned hemp compounds such as Delta-8 THC.

Delta-8 THC gummies (photo credit: FloraCBD).

Governor DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 1698 today, following sources last week that reported he would.  The proposed law would have limited the sale of hemp products containing Delta-9 THC while placing a complete ban on the production and sale of products containing Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC. Those in the hemp industry argued that if the bill passed, it would have devastated the industry and lead to thousands of job losses.

Florida’s Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1698 in a unanimous 39 to 0 vote, meaning they have well more than the two-thirds required to override a governor’s veto. However, the measure’s passage was much closer in the House of Representatives, with the final vote being 64 to 48. This means that it’s unlikely the legislature will override Governor DeSantis’ veto.
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Jun 07 2024

Dallas Lawmakers to File Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance This Month

Dallas City Council member Chad West says he will soon file an ordinance that would decriminalize the personal possession of marijuana throughout the city.

Councilmember West’s ordinance, which will officially be filed during the June 26 meeting of the Dallas City Council, is being cosponsored by Councilmembers Adam Bazaldua, Jaime Resendez and Zarin Gracey. If the ordinance is approved by the council, it will be put to a vote of the people this November.

“Voters in our city and across the country want to decriminalize marijuana. Our already burdened police should focus their attention on serious crime, not arresting people with small amounts of marijuana”, said Councilmember West in a press release. “Bringing this to voters through a City Council-proposed Charter amendment instead of a petition will save the city time and resources.”
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