Justice

Vice President Harris Critiques Federal Cannabis Classification as “Absurd,” Awaits DEA Decision

NEW YORK- In a recent statement at the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris has labeled the federal classification of cannabis as “absurd,” emphasizing the administration's anticipation for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reconsider its categorization. The comments were made during a roundtable discussion on cannabis policy, which included Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, individuals ...

March 18th, 2024|

Wyoming Enacts Ban on Delta-8 THC

LOS ANGELES- Wyoming's hemp-derived cannabinoid market faces significant disruption following the recent enactment of a law banning delta-8 THC products. Republican Governor Mark Gordon's decision to sign Senate File 32 into law marks a decisive move in the state's approach to regulating intoxicating cannabinoids, as reported by MJBizDaily. Effective from July 1, the law introduces ...

March 18th, 2024|

Virginia’s Path to Adult-Use Cannabis Market Faces Political Hurdles

LOS ANGELES- The journey toward establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis market in Virginia is encountering significant political barriers, despite initial progress in cannabis legislation. The Commonwealth, which took initial steps towards a more progressive stance on cannabis by decriminalizing small amounts and acknowledging its medicinal use in 2021, finds itself at a legislative standstill. Governor ...

March 14th, 2024|

Washington to Eliminate 37% Tax on Medical Cannabis

NEW YORK- In a significant legislative move, Washington State has taken steps to alleviate the financial strain on medical cannabis patients by abolishing the 37% excise tax previously levied on their medicine. This decision follows the recent passing of a bill aimed at exempting medical cannabis patients and designated providers from the hefty tax, marking ...

March 13th, 2024|

NYC Councilwoman Accuses Landlord of Aiding Illegal Cannabis Shop

NEW YORK- In a conflict highlighting the challenges of regulating the burgeoning cannabis market in New York City, Gale Brewer, an Upper West Side Councilwoman, has accused a local landlord of facilitating the operation of an illegal cannabis store. The store, situated in a bustling Manhattan neighborhood, has become the center of a controversy involving ...

March 11th, 2024|

Florida Senate Approves Stringent Hemp Regulation Bill

LOS ANGELES- In a decisive move that could reshape the landscape of the hemp industry in Florida, the state legislature has passed a bill aimed at regulating hemp-derived products, including the prohibition of certain natural cannabinoids such as Delta-8 THC. Senate Bill 1698, which now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis's approval or veto, proposes stringent controls ...

March 11th, 2024|
  • Cannabis Cultivation Market

Florida’s Cannabis Legislation: A Delicate Balance Between Reform and Regulation

LOS ANGELES- In Florida, a state on the cusp of major cannabis reform, recent legislative endeavors have sparked a complex dialogue about the future of cannabis regulation. Proposals for stringent THC potency caps, even before the legalization of adult-use cannabis, have ignited discussions that underscore the intricate balance between public health concerns and the burgeoning ...

March 3rd, 2024|

Pennsylvania Borough Advances Towards Cannabis Decriminalization

LOS ANGELES- In a notable move within the state's evolving stance on cannabis, North York borough in York, Pennsylvania, is on the brink of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis. This initiative positions the borough among a growing list of Pennsylvania counties adopting more lenient policies towards cannabis use. Despite North York's modest population ...

February 28th, 2024|

Maryland Supreme Court Sidesteps Hemp THC Case

The Maryland Supreme Court has decided against reviewing a case that challenges a provision of the state's adult-use cannabis legislation, effectively allowing the continued sale of hemp-derived THC products by unlicensed retailers across the state. This decision follows a lawsuit initiated by the Maryland Hemp Coalition and other hemp-related businesses against a specific prohibition within ...

February 27th, 2024|

Idaho Proposes Harsher Penalties for Cannabis Possession Amid Regional Shifts Toward Legalization

LOS ANGELES- As neighboring states progressively embrace cannabis reform, Idaho is taking a contrary path with a legislative proposal aimed at intensifying penalties for cannabis possession. The proposed bill, which introduces a mandatory minimum fine of $420 for possessing less than three ounces of cannabis, underscores Idaho's steadfast stance against the wave of legalization sweeping ...

February 26th, 2024|

Veterans and Law Enforcement Leaders Call on Biden to Reschedule Cannabis

NEW YORK- In a significant push for cannabis reform, leading veterans organizations and U.S. law enforcement officials have rallied together, urging the Biden Administration to consider the rescheduling of cannabis under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This collective call to action underscores the growing consensus on the potential benefits of cannabis, particularly for veterans, ...

February 26th, 2024|

Oklahoma Introduces Bill to Ban Foreign Land Ownership

LOS ANGELES- In an effort to combat illegal cannabis cultivation, Oklahoma legislators have proposed a bill aimed at prohibiting foreign land ownership within the state. House Bill 3125, introduced to the Oklahoma House of Representatives earlier this month and recently advanced to the full Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee on February 19, represents a ...

February 22nd, 2024|

Arkansas AG Greenlights Medical Cannabis Ballot Initiative with Path to Adult-Use Legalization

NEW YORK- In a significant development for cannabis reform, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin approved a revised ballot initiative aimed at enhancing medical cannabis access in the state. This initiative, now set for a potential spot on the 2024 ballot, also includes a groundbreaking provision that would pave the way for the legalization of adult-use ...

February 22nd, 2024|

Rhode Island Governor Proposes Tax Relief for Cannabis Industry to Counteract IRS Code 280E

LOS ANGELES- In a significant move aimed at supporting the cannabis industry, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has unveiled a proposal to decouple state tax codes from federal tax regulations, specifically targeting the financial strains caused by IRS code 280E. This code currently prevents cannabis businesses from deducting typical business expenses due to cannabis's status ...

February 21st, 2024|

DEA Misses Deadline to Respond to Senators on Cannabis Rescheduling

NEW YORK- In a notable lapse, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Attorney General Merrick Garland did not meet the February 12 deadline to answer critical inquiries from a group of 12 U.S. senators concerning the process of cannabis rescheduling. The missed deadline underscores the complexities and bureaucratic hurdles in the ongoing dialogue about cannabis ...

February 21st, 2024|

Illinois Takes Bold Step Towards Psilocybin Therapy Legalization with the CURE Act

LOS ANGELES- In an ambitious move to address the growing mental health crisis, Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura has introduced the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens (CURE) Act, a legislative proposal aimed at legalizing the supervised therapeutic use of psilocybin. This initiative represents a significant step towards incorporating psychedelic substances into mainstream mental health ...

February 20th, 2024|

New Mexico Senate Endorses Study on Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin

LOS ANGELES- In a remarkable show of bipartisan unity, the New Mexico Senate has unanimously passed a non-binding resolution urging the state's Department of Health to consider the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms. The move underscores an increasing interest among lawmakers in the medicinal prospects of psychedelic substances, traditionally sidelined from mainstream medical discourse. ...

February 19th, 2024|

New York Cannabis Control Board Awards 109 New Licenses Amidst Regulatory Debates

NEW YORK — The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) took a significant step forward in the state's cannabis industry development by formally awarding 109 new cannabis business licenses on Friday. This move, unanimous and comprehensive, encompasses a broad spectrum of the cannabis market, including 24 cultivators, 9 distributors, 12 processors, 26 microbusinesses, and 38 ...

February 18th, 2024|

Georgia Seeks $150 Million in Damages in Federal Lawsuit Against Cannabis Brands

NEW YORK- In a significant legal challenge within the cannabis industry, the state of Georgia has initiated a federal lawsuit against prominent California-based cannabis brands STIIIZY and Cookies, along with several other entities. The suit alleges racketeering activities centered around the sale of marijuana products falsely marketed as legal hemp, with claims for damages amounting ...

February 15th, 2024|

U.S. Navy and Air Force Adapt Recruitment Policies to Reflect Societal Changes on Cannabis Use

LOS ANGELES- In a landmark shift reflecting broader societal and legal changes, the U.S. Navy has announced a significant adjustment to its recruitment policies regarding cannabis use. This policy modification, aimed at recruits who initially test positive for THC—the main psychoactive component in cannabis—marks a departure from the strict disqualification stance traditionally held by the ...

February 15th, 2024|
  • Cannabis in Food and Beverage Market

South Carolina Implements Strict Regulations on Hemp in Food and Beverages

LOS ANGELES- In a significant regulatory move, South Carolina has announced stringent restrictions on the inclusion of hemp-derived ingredients in food and beverage products, permitting only hemp seeds and their derivatives. This decision marks a notable stance within the ongoing national discourse surrounding hemp and its byproducts, some of which are known for their intoxicating ...

February 15th, 2024|

Ohio Legislators Grapple with Implementing Changes to Adult-Use Cannabis Law

LOS ANGELES- In Ohio, the journey to fully implement adult-use cannabis legislation continues to encounter hurdles, despite the state's voters approving Issue 2 in November 2023. This initiative, which legalized recreational cannabis, came into effect on December 7, 2023, but lawmakers are still working to refine and add changes to the voter-endorsed law. House Speaker ...

February 13th, 2024|

Massachusetts Lawmakers Advance Therapeutic Psilocybin Proposal

LOS ANGELES- In an effort to uphold its stringent stance against cannabis, Idaho legislators are deliberating on a new bill aimed at prohibiting advertisements for cannabis products, especially those coming from out-of-state businesses. This legislative move comes in response to the growing visibility of cannabis advertisements, which, despite being legal in several neighboring states, remains ...

February 12th, 2024|

DEA Reinstates License for Pharma Giant Implicated in Opioid Crisis

LOS ANGELES- In a controversial decision, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reinstated the operational license of Morris & Dickson, a pharmaceutical company previously implicated in the opioid crisis. This move comes less than a year after the company's license was revoked due to its role in distributing suspicious shipments of opioids, marking a significant ...

February 11th, 2024|
  • Hemp Environmental Control System Market

Virginia Navigates the Complex Path to Cannabis Legalization with New Legislation

NEW YORK- In the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization, Virginia has emerged as a pivotal battleground, illustrating the multifaceted journey towards establishing a regulated market. The state's House of Representatives has recently passed a bill indicating significant strides towards the introduction of retail cannabis stores by January 2025, marking a critical step forward in the ...

February 11th, 2024|
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