Justice

LOS ANGELES— The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of cannabis companies challenging a large business fee increase that took effect in June. The companies argue that the fee increase, authorized by House Bill 2179 and approved by the Oklahoma Legislature last year, is equivalent to a tax ...

LOS ANGELES— The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently issued an updated directive reiterating its doctors' prohibition from issuing medical cannabis recommendations to military veterans. The revised Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidance aligns closely with a previous version from 2017, which was updated at the end of 2022 to encourage VA doctors to ...

NEW YORK-- New York state authorities carried out a crackdown on what they deemed as seven unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in the western region on Monday. The establishments, known as the "I'm Stuck" shops, located in Cayuga, Oswego, and Wayne counties, were accused of operating without proper approval, selling cannabis products to minors, and organizing controversial ...

LOS ANGELES--Illinois has taken a significant step towards facilitating the reintegration of individuals who have been released from prison into society. Senate Bill 423, signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) on Friday, aims to lower the possibility of recidivism and enhance public safety by supporting the successful reentry of former inmates into their ...

WASHINGTON — Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) has reintroduced a bill that seeks to pave the way for federal marijuana legalization. Titled the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act (PREPARE) Act, the legislation, unveiled on Thursday, proposes the establishment of a commission by the attorney general to provide recommendations on a regulatory ...

MINNEAPOLIS — On Tuesday, Minnesota officially enacted its cannabis legalization law, granting adults aged 21 and older the right to possess and grow cannabis for personal use. This legalization, passed by lawmakers earlier this year and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz in May, marks a significant milestone in the state's approach to marijuana ...

LOS ANGELES-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU) has thrown its support behind a citizens' initiative seeking to legalize recreational cannabis in the state. In a recent brief filed on Monday, the ACLU also criticized the Florida Supreme Court's handling of proposed amendments and claimed that the court is not fulfilling its duty ...

LOS ANGELES-- Effective August 1, a new law in Arkansas will prohibit the sale of THC products derived from hemp, as reported by 40/29 News. This measure comes amid the state's projected record-breaking medical cannabis sales, anticipated to reach $300 million this year. The banned products include hemp-derived delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC, and delta-10 THC, ...

ALBUQUERQUE, In a groundbreaking move, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department took decisive action last week by revoking the license of Paradise Distro LLC, a cannabis retailer based in Albuquerque. The license was rescinded due to the company's sale of cannabis products originating from California, in violation of state regulations. This marks the first ...

LOS ANGELES-- Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth has revealed its intention to seek approval for the consolidation of its shares after receiving a notification from the Nasdaq indicating its failure to meet the stock exchange's listing standards. Among the requirements set by Nasdaq is the maintenance of a minimum bid price of at least $1 ...

In a nod to the historic Boston Tea Party of 1773, cannabis company MariMed recently held the 'Boston 280E THC Party' in Boston Harbor, a unique event designed to protest Tax Code 280E. CEO and President Jon Levine, donning colonial attire alongside other MariMed team members, symbolically threw cargo boxes labeled "WEED" overboard as a ...

LOS ANGELES-- In a unanimous decision, the Michigan Civil Service Commission has voted to eliminate the prohibition on hiring most state employees who fail pre-employment drug tests for cannabis, as reported by MLive. This move marks a significant shift in the state's employment policies, aligning them with the evolving attitudes towards cannabis use. Under the ...

LOS ANGELES-- The cannabis and hemp markets in Virginia are facing significant turmoil due to regulatory uncertainty perpetuated by the state's Republican leadership. The previously anticipated launch of recreational cannabis sales in January 2024 is now shrouded in even more doubt. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has avoided taking a firm stance on cannabis, has ...

HARRISBURG-- The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee has taken a significant step forward by approving a proposal that would grant physicians the authority to certify patients for the state's medical cannabis program based on their professional judgment, regardless of the specific condition. The measure, which garnered support from the committee, will now proceed to ...

LOS ANGELES-- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has expressed confidence that a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing banking issues in the cannabis industry will successfully pass in Congress during this session. The reassurance came from Wanda James, CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado-based cannabis company, who recently spoke with Schumer and other Democratic senators ...

NEW YORK-- The New York City Council Committee on Public Safety has given its approval to a bill that will hold landlords responsible for knowingly renting commercial properties to tenants engaged in the sale of cannabis or tobacco products without a license, as reported by City Land. The legislation aims to address the proliferation of ...

LOS ANGELES -California-based cannabis distribution giant Herbl is embroiled in a legal dispute as it seeks to recover approximately $10 million in unpaid debts from retailers. The company, which fell into receivership in June, has become the center of a contentious struggle that reflects the larger financial challenges facing California's cannabis industry. In a significant ...

LOS ANGELES-- Starting July 1, Maryland will join the growing list of states in the United States to legalize adult-use cannabis sales. This milestone comes less than eight months after the state's voters approved a constitutional amendment proposed by the state Legislature. With a population of 6.2 million residents, Maryland's move means that 45% of ...

LOS ANGELES-- In a recent development, Florida's attorney general, Ashley Moody, has filed a request with the state Supreme Court to reject a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at legalizing cannabis for adult use in the Sunshine State. Citing concerns over potential voter deception, Moody argued that the ballot summary would be misleading in key aspects, ...

LOS ANGELES-- California-based Glass House Brands Inc. has taken legal action against Catalyst Cannabis and its leadership, filing a defamation lawsuit in response to allegations made by Catalyst that Glass House is the "biggest black marketeer" of cannabis in American history. Glass House Brands filed the lawsuit, which also accuses Catalyst of violations of California's ...

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill into law that aims to address longstanding inequities in the state's medical cannabis industry. The legislation provides medical cannabis cultivation licenses specifically to Black farmers who had previously qualified for the permits but were excluded from the final issuance. Additionally, the law expands telehealth services ...

NASHVILLE-- Tennessee residents purchasing products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, and delta-10 THC, will soon face an additional 6% "privilege" sales tax starting July 1. The state's Department of Revenue has announced this tax, which will be levied on top of the existing standard state sales tax rate of 7%. Tennessee ...