Justice

LOS ANGELES- A coalition of Democratic governors from six states has formally requested President Joe Biden to ensure the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassifies cannabis before the end of 2023. The group's call to action, detailed in a letter sent on December 5, reflects a growing urgency for federal alignment with evolving state-level cannabis policies. ...

LOS ANGELES- In a recent development within the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), Chairwoman Shannon O’Brien’s hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, has been deferred following a judge's intervention. This postponement arises amid accusations of racially insensitive remarks made by O’Brien, as stated by Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. Appointed just a year ago, O’Brien’s tenure as chairwoman has ...

LOS ANGELES- In a striking development, Ohio's Republican-controlled Senate has passed a bill that significantly broadens the scope of the state’s voter-approved cannabis initiative, Issue 2. Contrary to initial fears of advocates, the amended legislation, Senate Bill 86, enhances the initiative, allowing adults to purchase cannabis from existing medical marijuana dispensaries within just 90 days. ...

LOS ANGELES-The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a stark warning to pharmacies in Georgia, stating that dispensing medical cannabis remains illegal under federal law. This warning comes nearly two months after the Georgia Board of Pharmacy permitted independent pharmacies to dispense THC oils, a move hailed as a historic milestone in the state's approach ...

LOS ANGELES- A significant development has emerged in Ohio's cannabis legislation landscape. Republican State Representative Gary Click of Vickery has introduced House Bill 341, a legislative proposal aimed at revising the voter-approved measure that recently legalized recreational cannabis in Ohio. This move potentially sets the stage for a legislative showdown regarding the future of the ...

LOS ANGELES- In a groundbreaking move, Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing for enhanced access to psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This bipartisan bill represents a significant stride in psychedelic research and veterans' mental health care, reflecting a national trend toward exploring alternative treatments. The ...

LOS ANGELES- The Maryland Supreme Court has recently opted not to review a lower court's injunction against the enforcement of the state's law aimed at banning intoxicating hemp products. This decision, as detailed in a report by the Daily Record, effectively upholds the current injunction, allowing the continued sale of delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC ...

LOS ANGELES- The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) has made significant strides this week by reaching a settlement with license applicants, a move aimed at resolving the multiple lawsuits filed against the agency. This development, as reported by WBRC, marks a pivotal moment for the cannabis industry in Alabama. The settlement, which is pending ratification ...

LOS ANGELES- In a groundbreaking move, Minnesota's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has initiated a pilot program to test a saliva-based roadside cannabis impairment test. This innovative approach is designed to enhance the state's capabilities in identifying drug-impaired drivers. The pilot, as reported by FOX 9, is a significant step towards understanding and curbing drug-impaired ...

LOS ANGELES- In a significant development for cannabis legislation, South Dakota has introduced two new adult-use cannabis legalization measures, aiming for inclusion in the 2024 general election. Both initiatives require 17,509 valid signatures from registered South Dakota voters to qualify. The second of these measures, recently detailed in an official draft by Attorney General Marty ...

NEW YORK – New York's cannabis regulators have recently established definitive rules for intoxicating hemp products, introducing a series of restrictions and standards that are expected to reshape the hemp market in the state. As reported by Syracuse.com, these rules notably include a prohibition on Delta-8 THC, THC-A, and THC-O. In a move to regulate ...

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 ...