Justice

LOS ANGELES- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has drawn attention for using opioid settlement funds to finance an anti-cannabis campaign. The Florida Department of Children and Families reportedly allocated $4 million for advertisements discouraging cannabis and other drug use, coinciding with a broader push against Amendment 3—a ballot initiative aiming to legalize recreational cannabis for ...

LOS ANGELES- Green Dragon, a multi-state cannabis operator with facilities in Colorado and Florida, is set to cease operations by the end of 2024. This move will affect all 17 of its dispensaries in Colorado and 39 in Florida, alongside layoffs impacting 59 workers in Colorado and 113 in Florida. The shutdown follows Green Dragon's ...

LOS ANGELES- Massachusetts voters are set to decide on a significant measure this November with Question 4, a ballot initiative to legalize certain plant-based psychedelics, including psilocybin, mescaline, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). If approved, Massachusetts would follow Oregon and Colorado in creating a regulated framework for adult psychedelic use, focusing on mental health applications. Proponents argue ...

LOS ANGELES- Voters in several U.S. states will soon weigh in on significant cannabis-related ballot initiatives, potentially leading to broader legalization nationwide. On November 5, 2024, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oregon will vote on measures addressing either recreational or medical cannabis, adding momentum to the movement for reform across state legislatures. ...

LOS ANGELES- A New York Supreme Court judgment has ordered George West, owner of Jaydega 7.0 in Canandaigua, to pay $9.5 million after findings that his business sold cannabis products without the required state license. This penalty includes $1 million in profit disgorgement and $8.4 million in daily fines imposed due to ongoing sales following ...

LOS ANGELES- The European Commission has launched an investigation into the Italian government’s proposed ban on CBD and hemp flowers, following concerns that the move may violate EU regulations. Italy's far-right government, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has adopted a two-pronged approach aimed at curbing the legal market for hemp flowers, which are primarily used ...

LOS ANGELES- Cannabis legalization advocates in South Dakota are facing an uphill battle ahead of the 2024 election. According to a recent Emerson College Poll, conducted in partnership with KELO-TV and *The Hill*, 50% of likely voters are opposed to *Initiated Measure 29*, the proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis, while 45% are in support, and ...

LOS ANGELES- A judge in Alabama has appointed a mediator to help resolve the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the state's medical cannabis licensing process. Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson selected retired Judge Eugene Reese to mediate between the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) and several companies that have challenged the commission’s decisions. These companies argue ...

LOS ANGELES- Tennessee regulators have introduced significant new rules for the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) products, which are set to take full effect on December 26, 2024. These regulations, overseen by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, establish stricter guidelines for businesses involved in the production, distribution, and retail of hemp products, including Delta-8, Delta-10, ...

LOS ANGELES- The 2024 presidential election is showcasing a diverse range of positions on cannabis and psychedelics reform, reflecting the evolving landscape of U.S. drug policy. Prominent candidates across both parties have taken varying stances, focusing on issues such as medical access, criminal justice reform, and veterans' care. Former President Donald Trump has shifted his ...

LOS ANGELES- The November 5, 2024 election is set to be a critical moment for cannabis law reform, with several states considering ballot initiatives that could reshape marijuana policies across the U.S. Key states include Florida, where Amendment 3 could legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older, allowing the purchase of up to three ...

LOS ANGELES- A California judge has recently upheld emergency regulations that restrict the sale of hemp products containing any detectable levels of THC. The decision came after hemp companies challenged the state's new rules, arguing that the regulations would devastate their industry. However, the court sided with Governor Gavin Newsom's administration, which argued that the ...

LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case involving Douglas Horn, a trucker who claims he was wrongfully fired after testing positive for THC, which he attributes to using a hemp-derived CBD product marketed as containing no THC. Horn filed a lawsuit against Medical Marijuana, Inc. in 2015, arguing that ...

LOS ANGELES- New Hampshire lawmakers have failed to override Governor Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill that would have allowed medical cannabis producers to cultivate cannabis in greenhouses. The House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly, 270-55, to override the veto, but the Senate blocked the effort with a 14-9 vote. The bill, HB 1581, aimed ...

LOS ANGELES- Two Arkansas Supreme Court justices have recused themselves from a key case involving a cannabis ballot measure, without providing any explanation for their decisions. Chief Justice John Kemp and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson will be replaced by temporary appointees, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Don Curdie, chairman of the Arkansas State Board ...

LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered Secretary of State John Thurston to continue counting approximately 18,000 signatures for a proposed medical cannabis expansion initiative, despite his earlier decision to invalidate them due to a paperwork issue. This decision comes as advocates from Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) challenge the state's rejection of their ...

LOS ANGELES- The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which introduces new age restrictions and regulations for hemp products, took effect on October 1. The law prohibits the sale, purchase, and possession of consumable hemp products for individuals under 21, and mandates licensing for hemp retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. These regulations are intended to enhance public safety ...

LOS ANGELES- California has implemented a ban on hemp-derived THC products following the approval of emergency regulations proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Effective September 23, 2024, the new rules prohibit any hemp-based products containing detectable amounts of THC from being sold in the state, marking a significant shift in the hemp industry. The regulations, designed ...

LOS ANGELES- Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, a bill aimed at establishing a federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoids. The proposed legislation would empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate products like CBD while allowing states to maintain their own rules. This bill comes at a ...

LOS ANGELES- Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted emergency regulations in California, significantly impacting the hemp industry by banning hemp-derived THC products. This move, approved by the Office of Administrative Law and effective as of September 23, 2023, has sparked controversy among businesses and consumers alike. The regulation sets stricter rules, such as prohibiting any detectable ...

LOS ANGELES- Amendment 3, a measure to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over, is on Florida's ballot this November. The campaign, led by Smart & Safe Florida, has become the most expensive cannabis legalization effort in U.S. history, drawing more than $105 million in contributions. Notably, the state's largest medical cannabis company, Trulieve, ...

LOS ANGELES- In a significant ruling, the Illinois Supreme Court declared on Thursday that the smell of burnt cannabis alone does not justify a warrantless vehicle search. The unanimous decision stems from a 2020 case where an officer searched a car based solely on the odor of burnt cannabis, discovering a small amount of cannabis. ...

LOS ANGELES- A bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill last week to legalize recreational cannabis for adults. The legislation, known as House Bill 2500, was sponsored by Republican Rep. Aaron Kaufer and Democratic Rep. Emily Kinkead, with 15 additional cosponsors. If passed, it would legalize cannabis for adults over the age of 21 ...