Justice

LOS ANGELES- The Idaho Senate has approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would grant the legislature exclusive authority over the legalization of cannabis and other substances. This measure, known as House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4), follows its earlier passage in the House of Representatives and is now set to be presented ...

LOS ANGELES- Following the November 2024 approval of Initiatives 437 and 438, which legalized medical cannabis in Nebraska, state legislators are now working to establish a regulatory framework to implement these measures. The approved initiatives permit qualified patients to possess up to five ounces of cannabis for medical use and establish the Nebraska Medical Cannabis ...

LOS ANGELES- Governor Phil Murphy has proposed raising New Jersey's social equity excise fee on cannabis from $2.50 to $15 per ounce. This proposal aims to generate additional revenue for social service and violence intervention programs. The social equity excise fee, paid by cannabis cultivators, directs funds to programs supporting communities disproportionately affected by previous ...

LOS ANGELES- The regulatory framework governing industrial hemp is currently under extensive review, aiming to address emerging challenges and align with evolving industry practices. This initiative seeks to refine existing policies to better support the hemp sector while ensuring public safety and compliance. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the 2018 Farm ...

LOS ANGELES- In a move toward legalizing recreational cannabis, Pennsylvania legislators have introduced proposals to establish state-owned dispensaries, mirroring the state's existing model for alcohol sales. State Representatives Dan Frankel and Rick Krajewski advocate for a system where cannabis is sold through state-operated stores, akin to the Fine Wine & Good Spirits outlets. They argue ...

LOS ANGELES- The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed House Bill 75, a Republican-sponsored measure that legalizes the personal use and possession of cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The bill, introduced by Representative Kevin Verville, removes state penalties for cannabis use and possession but does not establish a regulated commercial market for cultivation ...

LOS ANGELES- In a recent interview following his confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the issue of marijuana-related incarcerations. He emphasized the need to balance concerns over high-THC cannabis products with the reality that numerous states have legalized recreational use and that many individuals have been ...

LOS ANGELES- The Idaho House of Representatives has passed House Bill 7, which mandates a minimum fine of $300 for adults convicted of possessing three ounces or less of cannabis. Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) introduced the bill, which aims to establish a consistent penalty for low-level cannabis offenses. Under the proposed legislation, individuals aged 18 ...

LOS ANGELES- A Republican lawmaker in Montana has introduced legislation that would require individuals aged 21 and older to register with the state Department of Revenue and pay a $200 annual fee to legally purchase cannabis. The proposed bill mandates that consumers obtain a registration card, which must be presented at the point of sale. ...

LOS ANGELES- New Mexico House Bill 331 was introduced, proposing that cannabis establishments with ten or more employees be required to enter into, maintain, and adhere to labor peace agreements with bona fide labor organizations. This requirement would become a material condition for licensing, with non-compliance potentially leading to license refusal, suspension, or revocation. The ...

LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Senate has approved a bill to allocate revenue from medical cannabis taxes to fund free breakfasts for students statewide. The legislation, designated as SB 59, proposes supplementing federal meal programs with a state Food Insecurity Fund, financed by cannabis tax revenue, private grants, and the state's general fund. Introduced by Senator ...

LOS ANGELES- Tennessee legislators have introduced two separate bills aimed at legalizing both recreational and medical cannabis use within the state. Recreational Use Legislation: Senate Bill 0809, known as the Tennessee Cannabis Act, was introduced by Democratic State Senator Jeff Yarbro. The bill proposes establishing regulations for the production, distribution, and sale of recreational cannabis ...

LOS ANGELES- Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has designated the prohibition of all consumable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products as a primary objective for Texas' 2025 legislative session. Senate Bill 3, introduced on January 29, 2025, aims to ban all forms of consumable THC in the state. This initiative responds to concerns that retailers have exploited existing agricultural ...

LOS ANGELES- On January 27, 2025, the Indiana House of Representatives voted down an amendment to House Bill 1056 that sought to remove cannabis from the state's list of Schedule I controlled substances. The amendment, proposed by Representative Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne), aimed to reclassify cannabis, thereby initiating discussions on its potential legalization within Indiana. ...

LOS ANGELES- The Tacoma City Council in Washington State unanimously approved a resolution to decriminalize natural psychedelics, including substances containing tryptamines, phenethylamines, and indolamines. This legislative action designates the enforcement of laws against these entheogenic substances as among the city's lowest law enforcement priorities. The resolution also advocates for decriminalization at both the state and ...

LOS ANGELES- In the 2024 elections, marijuana legalization measures faced significant challenges across multiple states. Notably, only Nebraska succeeded in relaxing restrictions by approving two ballot measures that legalized medical cannabis and established a regulatory framework for its use. Conversely, voters in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota rejected proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. In ...

LOS ANGELES- President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of approximately 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, marking a significant use of executive clemency. This action aims to address past disparities in drug-related sentencing, particularly those involving crack and powder cocaine. The White House has not released the names of those who received commutations. ...

LOS ANGELES- In a recent decision, New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle issued an injunction against the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB), the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), and the New York City Sheriff's Office, prohibiting them from conducting warrantless raids on state-licensed hemp businesses. The court found that these actions ...

LOS ANGELES- Indiana lawmakers have initiated efforts to reform the state's drug policies in the 2025 legislative session, introducing several bills aimed at legalizing cannabis and funding psilocybin research. Cannabis Legalization Proposals Senate Bill 113, sponsored by Senator Rodney Pol (D), seeks to legalize cannabis for both recreational and medical use. The bill proposes establishing ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has canceled its upcoming hearings on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney issued the cancellation following legal challenges from pro-reform witnesses, effectively delaying any potential policy changes for at least three months. The hearings, initially set to commence ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is under scrutiny following allegations of bias in its handling of the cannabis rescheduling process. Pro-cannabis advocates assert that the agency has demonstrated an "unalterably closed mind" toward reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Critics argue that the DEA has engaged ...

LOS ANGELES- Governor Josh Green of Hawaii has signed Executive Order No. 24-06 to protect caregivers who provide medical cannabis to qualified patients from undue enforcement. This action addresses legal changes that were set to take effect on January 1, 2025, which would have ended the authorization for primary caregivers to cultivate cannabis for patients. ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has postponed its public hearing on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under federal law. Initially scheduled for December 2, 2024, the hearing is now expected to occur in early 2025. The delay follows a preliminary order from Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney, who cited insufficient background information ...

LOS ANGELES- A Davidson County Chancery Court judge is expected to decide by December 24, 2024, on a request to block new state regulations affecting hemp-derived products in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has introduced rules, effective December 26, 2024, that prohibit the sale of hemp products containing more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinolic acid ...