Justice

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 ...

LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom has placed a halt on the proposed move to introduce Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in California. Despite significant bipartisan backing, Assembly Bill 374, the bill that could have potentially transformed cannabis dispensaries into cafes with live performances, food, and cannabis products, met its end at the governor's desk this Friday. ...

ATLANTA- In a pioneering move, Georgia has become the first state in the U.S. to greenlight the sale of medical cannabis at independent pharmacies, with the objective of simplifying access for its registered medical cannabis clientele, reports the Associated Press. The Georgia Board of Pharmacy recently initiated the application process, and close to 120 pharmacies ...

LOS ANGELES-California Governor Gavin Newsom's recent actions on cannabis-related bills have left both proponents of cannabis reform and the cannabis industry with mixed feelings. While he signed several bills into law that will bring significant changes to the state's cannabis regulations, his veto of two crucial bills - one related to cannabis cafes and another ...

LOS ANGELES— Six decades of advocacy for psychedelic legalization in California might finally culminate with the passage of SB58, a landmark bill proposing the decriminalization of certain natural psychedelics for therapeutic use. Having cleared the state legislature on September 7, the bill now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature or veto. However, nearly a month since ...

LOS ANGELES- In a historic move, Governor Gavin Newsom has put California at the forefront of the psychedelic medicine movement. The Democratic Governor recently signed groundbreaking legislation that would allow healthcare professionals to prescribe substances like MDMA and psilocybin, currently prohibited under federal law, once they are federally decriminalized. This state legislation, a potential game-changer ...

LOS ANGELES — A contentious ballot initiative that could legalize cannabis for adult use in Florida will be debated in the state's highest court. The Florida Supreme Court has slated November 8 for oral arguments concerning the proposed measure, as reported by WFLA. State Attorney General Ashley Moody spearheads opposition to the initiative, asserting that ...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Banking Committee's anticipated markup of the SAFER Banking Act took place on Sept. 27, marking significant progress in the upper chamber for the legislation. The bill aims to streamline cannabis-related banking, and its progress in the Senate has been watched closely by many in the cannabis industry. Despite numerous passages ...

LOS ANGELES- A significant judicial ruling in Arkansas has stalled the state's efforts to reclassify and criminalize hemp-derived THC products. U.S. District Court Judge Billy Roy Wilson issued an order preventing the enforcement of a law that sought to ban the sale and use of these products in the state. The ruling, seen as a ...

LOS ANGELES- In the ever-evolving landscape of hemp regulation, Texas has encountered more than its fair share of bumps. On Thursday, a significant turn took place as a Texas appeals court upheld a temporary injunction against the state's ban on delta-8 THC, marking a victory for a conglomerate of businesses and consumers challenging the ban's ...

WASHINGTON — The Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday signaled a bipartisan move forward in the quest for federal cannabis banking reform. The committee's decision could enable financial institutions to service state-legal cannabis businesses, a monumental shift from the industry’s current reliance on cash transactions. The 23-member committee cleared the SAFER (Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation) ...

MADISON— Wisconsin Democratic representatives are bolstering their endeavors to legalize adult recreational cannabis, citing potential economic and social benefits. Senator Melissa Agard and Representative Darin Madison are advocating for legalization, asserting that it will enhance public safety through regulation, bolster state agriculture, and potentially generate billions in state revenue by bringing the industry "out of ...

LOS ANGELES- In a formal communication to Anne Milgram, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a group of 14 Republican lawmakers has voiced their concerns against a recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that seeks the reclassification of cannabis. The HHS has suggested moving cannabis from its current status as ...

SACRAMENTO, — As the California State Legislature session drew to a close on September 14, Governor Gavin Newsom received over 17 bills related to cannabis or psychedelics, all waiting for his potential signature. These bills encompass a diverse range of proposals which the Governor can sign, veto, or leave unsigned, letting them pass into law ...

CHEYENNE. — A draft bill recently introduced in Wyoming is proposing to ban products derived from hemp that contain detectable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component typically found in cannabis. This initiative, if enacted, would also outlaw the production of any hemp intended for human ingestion. The proposal stems from increasing concerns about minors ...

LOS ANGELES- In a significant development in the business world, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has brought charges against Texas-based Rapid Therapeutic Science Laboratories Inc. and its founder, Donal Schmidt Jr., accusing them of orchestrating a multi-faceted fraud scheme that sought to deceive investors and inflate stock prices. According to a lawsuit filed ...

LOS ANGELES-- In a significant bipartisan move, the House of Representatives Oversight and Accountability Committee advanced the Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act, a pivotal piece of legislation seeking to modify federal employment guidelines regarding cannabis usage. Introduced by Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the act garnered favorable votes with a 30-14 margin in the ...

LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has formally accused Texas-based company, Rapid Therapeutic Science Laboratories, and its founder, Donal Schmidt Jr., of engaging in a multi-faceted securities fraud and violations amounting to millions of dollars. The suit, lodged on September 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, ...

OKLAHOMA CITY- In a significant development, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has decided not to hear a lawsuit challenging the hike in medical cannabis business fees, maintaining that the fees instituted by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) are not to be classified as an illegal tax, but rather as a means to fund the agency's ...

CHICAGO CITY- In a bid to address what is being termed as "a public health crisis" related to the unregulated sale of hemp-derived products containing THC variants like delta-8, delta-10, and THC-O, the Chicago City Council is weighing a proposal that would significantly restrict the sales of these products. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the ...

LOS ANGELES --In a move signaling potential transformative shifts in federal drug policy, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has urged the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to revisit the categorization of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). A recent elucidation by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) underscores that this suggestion, sparked by ...

LOS ANGELES- In a move that signals a potential paradigm shift in drug policy and mental health treatment, California stands on the cusp of decriminalizing several psychedelic substances, thanks to the persistent efforts of Senator Scott Weiner. The legislative journey of Senate Bill 58, which seeks to establish a structured framework for the facilitated use ...

LOS ANGELES- Verano, a player in the cannabis industry, has launched a legal battle against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, following the revocation of its business license due to a discrepancy in the application score identified by the commission, as reported by WSFA. The company asserts that the commission overstepped its bounds, a move that ...