Justice

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 ...

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, ...