Apr 11 2024

U.S. Congress: Lawmakers From 39 States Are Sponsoring Federal Marijuana Banking Act

Bicameral and bipartisan legislation to allow marijuana banking is now sponsored by lawmakers from 39 states.

The SAFE Banking Act in the House (filed last April) and SAFER Banking Act in the Senate (filed in September) would both allow banks and other financial institutions to provide banking services to marijuana businesses that are legal under state law. It would also allow licensed marijuana businesses to take standard IRS tax deductions.

In the House, the measure has 114 sponsors, more than any marijuana-related bill in US history. In the Senate, the measure has 36 sponsors, representing over a third of the full chamber.
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Apr 10 2024

Maine: $19 Million Worth of Marijuana Sold in March, 15% Increase From Previous Year

Licensed marijuana stores in Maine sold over $19 million worth of product in March.

The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy has released updated marijuana sales data showing that there was $19,144,646 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in March, a modest increase over the $18,014,488 sold in February and an increase of roughly $2.5 million from the sales total for March of 2023.

Marijuana sales in March were spread across 351,096 different transactions, bringing the yearly total to 99,506 transactions. The yearly sales total is $54,720,331.
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Apr 10 2024

Report Finds US Marijuana Industry Supports Over 440,000 Full-Time Jobs

According to a new report, the number of full-time jobs in the legal marijuana industry has risen above 440,000 in the United States, despite recreational marijuana remaining illegal in the majority of states.

According to the report commissioned by Vangst and conducted by the analytics firm Whitney Economics, there was an increase of 22,952 marijuana-related jobs in the past year. The increase in full-time equivalent jobs “is supported by the $28.8 billion worth of legal cannabis products sold in 2023, an increase of $2.7 billion over the previous year.”

The 2024 Vangst Jobs Report found there are now 440,445 full-time jobs supported by legal cannabis in the US, a 5.4% increase over 2023. The report calls this “a positive sign that the industry is finding its footing after a rough couple of years.”
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Apr 10 2024

Bipartisan Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Pennsylvania House

A legislative proposal that would make recreational marijuana legal for everyone 21 and older has been filed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Representative Amen Brown (D) filed House Bill 2210 yesterday with a bipartisan group of five cosponsors. The measure was filed just two days before the Health Subcommittee on Health Care is set to hold a hearing to discuss marijuana legalization.

Under the proposed law, those 21+ would be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, which they could purchase from a licensed marijuana retail outlet. The law would allow medical marijuana patients to grow up to five plants, but it would not allow home cultivation for recreational users.
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Apr 10 2024

US House: Legislation to Allow Banks to Service State-Legal Marijuana Businesses Gains 114th Sponsor

The SAFE Banking Act, which already had more sponsors than any marijuana-related bill in US history, just gained another.

Congressmember Deborah Ross (D-NC) yesterday became the 114th sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act, a measure to allow banks and other financial institutions such as credit unions to provide banking services to marijuana businesses that are legally licensed under their state’s laws. This would include the recreational marijuana businesses in the 23 states that allow them, as well as medical marijuana businesses in the 38 legal marijuana states.

The SAFER Banking Act, the Senate version of the bill, has 36 sponsors. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said recently that the chamber will work to pass marijuana banking in the “weeks and months ahead”.
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Apr 09 2024

Call of Duty Launching 4/20-Themed Events and Items Across Three Games, Including Cheech and Chong DLC

Call of Duty will be holding special events and launching special items in celebration of 4/20, including having Cheech and Chong as downloadable playable characters.

On 4/20 Cheech and Chong will be launching as DLC playable characters for the trio of Call of Duty games; Warzone, Modern Warfare III, and Warzone Mobile. The two players will be voiced by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong themselves.

According to Gamespot, the duo be available to buy in a tracer pack that also comes with three weapon blueprints, a sticker, a large decal, a loading screen, and the “Secondhand Smoke” finishing move.
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Apr 09 2024

Ohio Recreational Marijuana Sales Will Begin Before July 4th Weekend, Much Sooner Than Expected

The chair of the rulemaking committee for Ohio’s Department of Cannabis Control says that recreational marijuana sales may begin as soon as June, and will happen “certainly before July 4th weekend”.

Due to voters approving Issue 2 in November, those 21 and older are legally allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. However, there is currently no legal method to obtain marijuana, with licensed marijuana sales initially expected to begin sometime in the fall. Now, it appears recreational marijuana sales will begin much sooner, potentially in June.

According to State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord), Chair of the Joint Committee On Agency Rule Review (JCARR), the committee plans to accept proposed regulations that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling recreational marijuana in just a couple months.
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Apr 09 2024

4/20 Has Gone Mainstream

More than any year prior, 2024 exemplifies how mainstream 4/20, the unofficial marijuana holiday, has become.

Marijuana for decades was relegated to various countercultures, primarily due to the harsh laws and propaganda surrounding it. It’s undeniable that in recent years, marijuana has become increasing mainstream. 24 of 50 states have legalized recreational marijuana, 38 states have legalized medical marijuana, and polling shows that 88% oppose the federal government’s current stance of keeping both recreational and medical marijuana entirely illegal.

As marijuana gains popularity and becomes more mainstream, so does April 20, the day long celebrated by cannabis consumers and supporters. This year, it’s more mainstream then ever.
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Apr 09 2024

21 US Senators Introduce Resolution Calling for Immediate Release of American Jailed 14 Years in Russia for Medical Marijuana

A coalition of 21 members of the US Senate have introduced a resolution calling for the immediate release of several American citizens currently jailed in Russia, including one jailed 14 years simply for possessing medical marijuana.

Marc Fogel, an American citizen jailed in Russia for 14 years for possessing 17 grams of medical marijuana.

US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), introduced a resolution today condemning the Russian government for their arrests of several American citizens and calling for their immediate and unconditioned release.

The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
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Apr 09 2024

Maine Legislature Gives Approval to Psilocybin Bill

Maine’s full legislature has now given approval to legislation to establish a psilocybin task force, with one final technical vote required in the Senate before it can be sent to Governor Janet Mills.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Senate Bill 1914 would establish a “Commission To Study Pathways For Creating a Psilocybin Services Program in Maine”. As filed, the bill would have legalized the medical use of psilocybin for all qualified patients, but it was amended during the Senate committee process to instead establish a task force.

Earlier this month the state’s Senate voted 23 to 6 to pass SB 1914, sending it to the House of Representatives. Today, the House gave approval to the measure. Given it was amended slightly in the House, the Senate will need to give the bill one final vote of concurrence before it can be sent to Governor Janet Mills.
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