Justice

LOS ANGELES-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a noteworthy move that underscores the recognition of hemp as a valuable commodity. The agency will include hemp in the title of one of its Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs), highlighting the crop's importance within the agricultural industry. According to a notice of intent issued ...

WASHINGTON — A crucial piece of legislation concerning cannabis banking reform may finally be gaining traction in the U.S. Senate, according to statements made by a prominent Democratic senator. The SAFE Banking Act, which aims to address the financial challenges faced by the cannabis industry, has previously passed the House of Representatives on multiple occasions, ...

LOS ANGELES-- In response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) call for congressional regulation of cannabidiol (CBD), two bipartisan measures have been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.). These measures aim to establish clear regulatory frameworks for CBD, utilizing existing guidelines. The first ...

LOS ANGELES-- C21 Investments Inc., a prominent vertically integrated company operating in the cannabis sector, has encountered a significant setback as the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) issued a Cease Trade Order against the company's securities. The order comes in response to C21 Investments' failure to file its audited annual financial statements and management discussion ...

NEW YORK-- In a bid to address the surplus of cannabis products and support local cultivators, regulators in New York have announced plans to introduce cannabis farmers' markets this summer. The move, spearheaded by the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), aims to provide an avenue for conditionally licensed growers and retailers to sell ...

AUSTIN-- As the Texas legislative session draws to a close this Memorial Day, the future of medical cannabis expansion in the state remains uncertain. Crucial legislation aimed at broadening access to low-THC medical cannabis products for chronic pain sufferers hangs in the balance, awaiting approval from a Texas Senate committee before the session ends. House ...

LOS ANGELES-- The Minnesota legislature has passed a comprehensive health policy bill that includes provisions to establish a psychedelics task force in preparation for potential legalization. The bill, which had previously passed the House and recently cleared the Senate, is now headed to the desk of Governor Tim Walz for final approval. The legislation creates ...

In a legal battle that could have significant implications for the cannabis industry in Illinois, a coalition of 13 licensed cannabis transporters has filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Agriculture, accusing regulators of allowing illegal cannabis delivery operations to thrive unchecked. The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in Sangamon County Circuit Court, ...

LOS ANGELES-- Illinois-based cannabis company, Green Thumb Industries is navigating stormy waters as it continues to negotiate employment terms with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This follows a nearly two-week-long strike at several of Green Thumb's facilities, involving unionized workers. The company is also bracing for potential financial implications from ten federal complaints lodged by ...

OKLAHOMA-- Despite concerns over a potential crackdown on Oklahoma's medical cannabis market following the failure of a recreational marijuana legalization ballot question in March, the state's cannabis industry has managed to avoid a disastrous outcome during the recent legislative session. Lobbyists representing the cannabis sector have been working diligently to mitigate the impact of several ...

WASHINGTON-- In a progressive move to foster diversity within Washington's cannabis sector, Governor Jay Inslee approved a law amendment on Monday, enabling the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to assign 46 forfeited or unutilized cannabis licenses to social equity candidates this year. Seattle State Senator Rebecca Saldaña spearheaded the initiative to combat the industry's ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a major win for hemp farmers and CBD product manufacturers, the Florida Senate has passed a bill that eliminates THC caps on hemp. The legislation, which was approved on Monday, will allow for the cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products without any restrictions on THC content. This is ...

LOS ANGELES-- The Colorado Senate has approved a bill aimed at regulating psychedelic substances, following a voter-endorsed initiative. The proposed legislation would establish guidelines for the legal use of psilocybin and psilocyn in authorized therapeutic centers under the supervision of trained professionals. The bill also outlines licensing standards for businesses involved in producing, testing, storing, ...

DOVER, DELAWARE - In a historic move, Delaware has become the 22nd state to legalize recreational use of cannabis, joining a growing number of states that have taken steps to decriminalize and regulate the drug. The legislation, which passed the Delaware Senate on Thursday and the House on Friday, allows adults aged 21 and over ...

ALABAMA -- Alabama is gearing up to launch its medical cannabis industry later this year, with up to 17 companies expected to be granted licenses to cultivate and process cannabis for patients in the state. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has announced that it will issue licenses to companies to grow plants in enclosed facilities ...

LOS ANGELES-- Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson and three others have been charged with federal corruption charges related to the state's legal cannabis industry. The charges are likely to signal just the beginning of a much broader investigation. All four defendants have accepted plea deals, which highlight the early challenges of launching Michigan's legal ...

LOS ANGELES-- On April 20, a group of cannabis advocates will gather at the Capitol Visitors Center of the Congressional Auditorium for a policy forum. The event, which is symbolically scheduled on the unofficial cannabis holiday, will bring together activists and leaders from government, business, healthcare, veterans groups, and civil rights organizations to discuss the ...

LOS ANGELES-- Cannabis industry trade groups are pushing for a Senate hearing on the upcoming SAFE Banking Act, even though it hasn't been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives yet. The bill is designed to give state-legal cannabis companies access to the wider U.S. banking system. A letter from five marijuana industry ...

LOS ANGELES--In response to persistent corruption concerns in California's cannabis industry, the state government is launching a new crackdown in several jurisdictions that have not yet been identified. This move follows allegations of bribery, pay-to-play schemes, and other wrongdoing at the city and county level. State Auditor Grant Parks informed California lawmakers on Wednesday that ...

LOS ANGELES-- Clinical research firm Reunion Neuroscience Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Mindset Pharma Inc. in federal court, alleging that the latter copied its psychedelic formula and presented it as its own invention while applying for a patent. Reunion is seeking to have its Chief Scientific Officer, Nathan Bryson, added as an inventor of ...

MICHIGAN-- Skymint, the brand name for Green Peak Innovations Inc., has been placed into receivership by a Michigan judge after the company failed to pay back loans provided by SunStream’s affiliate Tropics LP since March last year. Skymint owes investors at least $135 million, and several investors have sued the company, alleging that it had ...

LOS ANGELES-- Three US states are making progress in legalizing cannabis possession for people aged 21 and above, as the debate on cannabis legalization continues across the country. In Hawaii, lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 669, which seeks to legalize the use, production, and retail sales of cannabis for adults. However, the future of the ...