Justice

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 ...

LOS ANGELES- California regulators have intensified efforts to address illegal pesticide use in the hemp industry, underscored by a recent case involving Northern California hemp grower Bin Zheng. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) found Zheng using banned pesticides, leading to a settlement requiring the destruction of hemp crops across 22 greenhouses. This enforcement ...

LOS ANGELES- A Montgomery County judge signaled Tuesday that he may consider easing some restrictions on the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to allow limited vetting of cannabis license awards, potentially advancing the state’s delayed medical cannabis program. Judge James Anderson indicated that he may amend a temporary restraining order to permit some investigative actions ...

LOS ANGELES- The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has declared that prosecuting a cannabis user for gun ownership under federal law is unconstitutional, marking a significant ruling that challenges longstanding federal restrictions. The decision stems from the case of Paola Connelly, a Texas resident who admitted to occasional cannabis use and was subsequently charged ...

LOS ANGELES- The Nebraska Secretary of State has officially certified two ballot measures aimed at legalizing medical cannabis and establishing a regulated cannabis industry in the state. The measures, which will appear on the November election ballot, represent the third attempt by advocates to bring medical cannabis reform to Nebraska voters. The campaign, led by ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has delayed the decision to reschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) until after the 2024 presidential election, creating significant uncertainty in the ongoing cannabis reform debate. Cannabis has remained a Schedule I drug for over 50 years, a classification indicating high abuse potential and no accepted ...

LOS ANGELES- In a rare show of bipartisanship, 80 members of Congress have united to urge President Joe Biden and the FDA to prioritize research on MDMA-assisted therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The initiative, which seeks to fast-track access to new treatment options, is driven by a rising veteran suicide crisis and the ...

LOS ANGELES- Maine's Public Utilities Commission has rejected a proposal that would have allowed electric utilities to report high electricity usage to law enforcement as a possible indicator of illegal cannabis cultivation. The measure, proposed by Versant Power, aimed to assist law enforcement by flagging unusual electricity consumption patterns that could be linked to illicit ...

LOS ANGELES- The Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) announced this month that it has seized over $120 million worth of illegal cannabis since the beginning of 2024. The task force’s operations also led to the eradication of nearly 123,000 illegal cannabis plants and the destruction of more than 37 tons of unlicensed cannabis, ...

LOS ANGELES- North Dakota voters will have another opportunity to legalize adult-use cannabis this November after Secretary of State Michael Howe announced on August 12 that the necessary signatures had been validated for the measure to appear on the ballot. This marks the third attempt to pass such a measure following unsuccessful efforts in 2018 ...

LOS ANGELES- Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz have made history by becoming the first major party presidential ticket to endorse the federal legalization of cannabis. This move aligns with the growing national support for cannabis reform, with polls indicating a significant majority of voters favoring legalization. Harris, who has evolved her stance ...

LOS ANGELES- The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) announced a recall on Tuesday for 2,649 cannabis products sold by NGWMO, LLC to dispensary facilities. The recall was issued because the products did not undergo the required final stage testing. According to the DCR, the products, which include flower, pre-rolls, and kief sold under the ...

LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed rescheduling cannabis under federal drug law, moving it from Schedule I to Schedule III. This shift reflects changing perceptions about cannabis, which is currently classified alongside drugs deemed to have "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," such as heroin and ecstasy. ...

LOS ANGELES- Missouri Governor Mike Parson has signed an executive order banning the sale of intoxicating, hemp-derived products in the state, effective September 1. The order prohibits the sale of hemp-derived products containing delta-8 and delta-10 THC, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-O), tetrahydrocannabiphoral (THCP), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) unless sourced from an approved provider. The governor cited ...

LOS ANGELES- The Philippines is making another attempt to legalize medical cannabis, with the House of Representatives approving a new bill on Tuesday. The measure, passed by a vote of 177-9, seeks to establish a medical cannabis office under the Department of Health. This office would be responsible for formulating regulations regarding the medical use ...

LOS ANGELES-  Activists in several Texas cities are pushing for cannabis decriminalization, with measures set to appear on the November ballot in Lockhart, Dallas, and potentially Bastrop. These initiatives aim to reduce penalties for possession of cannabis, reflecting a broader trend in the state towards relaxing enforcement despite Texas' strict regulations. In Lockhart, the city ...

LOS ANGELES- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed concerns over the state's cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, during a Florida Sheriffs' Association conference. DeSantis argued that the ballot summary for the amendment does not fully represent its content and that the Florida Supreme Court should have prevented it from appearing on the ballot. The ...