Justice

LOS ANGELES– Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez recently unveiled a detailed proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, marking a significant step forward in the state's cannabis policy reform. This initiative comes eight months after a similar bill failed to secure approval in the state legislature. In 2000, Hawaii joined the ranks of states legalizing medical cannabis, ...

LOS ANGELES- A lawsuit challenging Mississippi's restrictive advertising rules for cannabis companies was filed on Thursday in federal court. The litigation, initiated by Clarence Cocroft II, owner of Tru Source Medical Cannabis, directly confronts the state-imposed limitations that bar cannabis companies from advertising in various media outlets. Cocroft's legal action names the heads of the ...

NEW YORK- New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a transformative law, the Clean Slate Act, enabling the sealing of eligible misdemeanor and felony convictions, a move poised to reshape the landscape of criminal justice in the state. The bill, which was signed on Thursday, stipulates that eligible misdemeanor convictions can be sealed after three ...

LOS ANGELES— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called on state lawmakers to revise the recently approved cannabis legalization measure before its enactment on December 7. Despite his respect for the democratic process, as reported by the Ohio Capital Journal, DeWine emphasized the need to balance the new rights of cannabis users with the rights of ...

LOS ANGELES- Missouri has made significant strides in criminal justice reform related to cannabis, as reported by KMBC 9. Following the approval of an adult-use cannabis constitutional amendment by voters last year, the state has expunged nearly 100,000 convictions, marking a considerable advance in its legal approach to cannabis offenses. Under the new law, most ...

MIAMI--In a pivotal legal confrontation within Florida's capital, advocates and critics of recreational cannabis found themselves before the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee on Wednesday. Tasked with evaluating a proposal to include the legalization of recreational cannabis on the 2024 ballot, the court discussed a measure that seeks to grant citizens the option to authorize ...

LOS ANGELES- The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) recently published a comprehensive report mandated by the General Assembly on the state of consumable hemp products. The report highlights the surging popularity of these products, attributing it to their easy accessibility and potential to produce intoxicating effects similar to those experienced from cannabis. The CCA expressed ...

LOS ANGELES- A significant legal challenge has emerged in Alaska against a new regulation by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that restricts intoxicating hemp products. This lawsuit, filed by hemp growers and manufacturers, claims that the regulation, which prohibits the DNR from approving industrial hemp products containing delta-9 THC, is unconstitutional. The regulation, which ...

LOS ANGELES- The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has made a definitive clarification this week, stating that the National Agricultural Workers Union (NAWU) does not qualify as a bona fide labor organization. This announcement comes amid ongoing investigations and reports that the NAWU is one of several "fake" unions in the cannabis industry. The ...

Washington D.C. - President Joe Biden, a figure once notorious for his stringent anti-drug stance, has evolved into an unlikely catalyst for the most substantial overhaul of federal cannabis policy since the Controlled Substances Act was enacted in 1970. This shift could mark another surprising twist in his extensive political narrative. The Genesis of Change ...

NEW YORK — Sanctuary Cannabis, a player in Florida's medical cannabis industry, has initiated legal proceedings against the state, challenging a dramatic rise in biennial licensing fees. Under Governor Ron DeSantis' administration, the fees escalated from $60,000 to a staggering $1.33 million in December. The suit criticizes the fee increase as "exponential" and contends it ...

LOS ANGELES- Ohio’s medical cannabis industry is looking toward the upcoming ballot with a mix of hope and caution as Issue 2, which would legalize adult-use cannabis, approaches a statewide vote. Operators in the sector anticipate a positive outcome, yet remain wary of potential legislative hurdles post-election. Issue 2, a statutory measure awaiting a simple ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill that, among other directives, authorizes Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians to recommend cannabis to veterans for medical purposes. This legislation, part of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) appropriations bill, was approved by a vote of ...

NEW YORK— A consortium of Massachusetts-based cannabis companies have taken the unprecedented step of suing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over the federal prohibition of cannabis. The plaintiffs argue that these laws not only infringe upon state rights but also detrimentally impact their businesses due to obligatory cash-only operations, stemming from federal restrictions. The companies ...

NEW YORK — With the Canadian government anticipated to greenlight MDMA-assisted therapy in 2024, two pioneering Alberta-based companies are proactively paving the way for a broader acceptance of psychedelic therapies. ATMA Journey Centers and Cena Life have publicly disclosed their "strategic partnership", a union of their resources aimed at connecting an increased number of patients ...

NEW YORK - Atlanta-based multistate operator Parallel's subsidiary, Goodblend Pennsylvania LLC, a medical cannabis grower, has been directed by an Allegheny County Court to vacate its Pittsburgh facility and pay $15.5 million. The decision comes after Goodblend reportedly accrued $5.8 million in unpaid rent since October 2022. The verdict, sanctioned by Judge Christine Ward, responded ...

LOS ANGELES— As the drive for medical cannabis intensifies nationwide, Idaho finds itself as an island of resistance in a sea of relaxed cannabis regulations. Kind Idaho, a determined advocacy group, is fervently seeking to change that dynamic by ensuring medical cannabis becomes accessible to Idahoans. They are currently gathering signatures to position their proposal ...

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico regulatory authorities have dealt a significant blow to Albuquerque's cannabis industry, revoking the license of local firm Golden Roots and imposing a nearly $300,000 fine. This punitive action is the result of allegations that the company, operating under the name Cannabis Revolution Dispensary, had both unlawfully procured and improperly transported cannabis ...

LOS ANGELES- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has reintroduced federal cannabis reform to the forefront, two years after she became a prominent Republican voice on the matter. On October 24, Mace unveiled a new cannabis legalization bill, echoing her previous attempt with the States Reform Act filed in November 2021. This earlier effort sought to deregulate ...

LOS ANGELES- The New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue announced an enforcement drive on Wednesday, highlighting that over 100 cannabis license holders in the state have failed to meet their tax obligations. According to a recent news release by the agency, 80 cannabis businesses settled their tax dues when contacted by the department over ...

LOS ANGELES- A legal battle between Tilray Brands Inc. and Docklight Brands concerning an agreement to market Bob Marley-branded cannabis products in Canada has come to a close. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin, located in Washington state, has ruled the case be dismissed. Neither party is required to bear the other's legal costs, as per ...

LOS ANGELES- October 17 marks a momentous occasion for Canada, as it celebrates the fifth anniversary of cannabis legalization, a pioneering move for an industrialized nation and one that has seen cannabis contributing roughly 0.5% to the nation's total economy. The Path to Legalization It was the Cannabis Act (C-45) that sowed the seeds of ...

LOS ANGELES-The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) finds itself amidst legal turbulence due to challenges related to its medical cannabis licensing process. Background: Verano Holdings Corp. recently took legal action against the AMCC, criticizing the commission's convoluted licensing procedure. This lawsuit is among several others filed against the AMCC. The tiff between Verano and AMCC ...

COLUMBUS– The Buckeye State stands on the precipice of a transformational decision. As early voting gets underway, Ohio residents are faced with a potential shift in their state's stance on cannabis. Public sentiment, shaped by intensive campaigning from both sides, tilts favorably toward legalization, but opposition tactics are intensifying the debate. Recent surveys present an ...

WASHINGTON D.C. — Recent optimism surrounding potential U.S. cannabis banking reform has encountered obstacles, with unrelated political issues clouding prospects for legislative passage. While there is hope for the U.S. Senate to pass the SAFER Banking Act, which would protect financial institutions serving state-legal marijuana businesses from federal prosecution, the political tumult in the House ...