Latest Cannabis News: April 13, 2021
Latest Cannabis News: April 13, 2021
Stay up to date with the latest legalization and cannabis news with the CB Advisors. Every week, we will release a snippet of what’s happening with each state in the cannabis industry. Did you miss last week? No worries – click here for last week’s cannabis news.
CBD States
Georgia: Thirty (30) medical marijuana oil dispensaries could open across Georgia; Senate Bill 195 is just awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature to allow companies to start producing the drug. The bill would bring Georgia one step closer to providing a legal way for about 15,000 registered patients to buy a medicine that they are already allowed to consume. The state plans to soon award licenses to six companies to grow and manufacture medical marijuana oil. These companies will have one year to begin operations and will be allowed to open five dispensaries.
Texas: Texas is one step closer to expanding its medical marijuana program. House Bill 1535 would open up the Texas Compassionate Use Program to all cancer patients, veterans with PTSD and those with chronic pain that would usually be treated with opioids. To the surprise of some weed advocates, the bill made it out of the Texas House Committee on Public Health.
If passed, the bill would also include a significant increase in the state’s THC limit for medical marijuana products. Currently, the cap is 0.5% THC. The bill would increase this to 5%.
Medical States
Arkansas: The mayor of Newport, Arkansas, and other private entities are suing state medical marijuana regulators and Natural State Wellness Enterprises over the sale and transfer of a license awarded in November 2020. The lawsuit accuses the Marijuana Control Commission, Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Natural State Wellness Enterprises of fraud, conspiracy, and breach of contract. The lawsuit states that after Natural State Wellness Enterprises was purchased, the new owners changed their name to Good Day Farms and took over the license four days after submitting their application, but two days before they were actually an incorporated LLC.
Arkansas state officials have also shared new figures of medical marijuana sales across the state. It is reported that Arkansas patients are spending $900,000 each day on medical marijuana. Since the first dispensary opened in 2019, Arkansas patients have spent $285 million on 42,769 pound of medical marijuana. Currently there are 26 open and operational dispensaries, 12 dispensaries have already sold at least 2,000 pounds.
Source: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/arkansas-town-mayor-sues-medical-cannabis-provider/
Source:https://www.kark.com/news/state-news/arkansas-medical-marijuana-daily-sales-near-900k/
Connecticut: There are two legalization proposals for cannabis legalization currently being considered in the Connecticut legislature, including one that is backed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D). If legalizing cannabis ends up on the ballot, it is likely to pass by voters based on a poll done last month that showed 66% of Connecticut adults favor cannabis legalization and expunging prior cannabis records.
Delaware: Delaware’s bill to legalize marijuana for adult-use passed the House Health and Human Development Committee in a 10-5 vote. The bill would establish a regulated commercial cannabis system and tax sales at 15 percent. However, home cultivation for personal use will remain illegal. This house bill will not allow existing medical cannabis dispensaries to start selling marijuana during the transitional period between enactment and full implementation.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Supreme Court is set to hear an argument on April 14, 2021 in a lawsuit by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, that challenges the state initiative process and is trying to block development of the medical marijuana program. Butler disagrees with Initiative 65 because it limits a city’s ability to regulate the location of medical marijuana businesses. The state Health Department is supposed to establish a medical marijuana program by the middle of this year according to the approved initiative.
Source: https://www.dailyleader.com/2021/04/12/justices-to-hear-mississippi-marijuana-initiative-arguments/
Minnesota: A bill to legalize marijuana in Minnesota advanced, passing a fifth House committee as it moves closer to floor action. The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill in a 11-7 vote. Members adopted a number of changes to the proposal. For example, members of the cannabis advisory council cannot serve as lobbyists while on the panel and for two years after they end their service. Other provisions of the amendment state that marijuana products cannot be flavored like anything other than the plant itself. On-site consumption and cannabis delivery services would be permitted under the bill. Local municipalities would also be banned from prohibiting marijuana businesses from operating in their areas. Retail cannabis sales will be taxed at 10% and part of that revenue would fund a grant program designed to promote economic development and community stability. Cannabis retails sales would launch on December 31, 2022. The bill’s next stop is the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, which is scheduled to take up the measure on April 14, 2021.
Recreational States
Illinois: Following Illinois record-breaking cannabis sales, according to Illinois Department of Revenue, they have received more tax dollars from marijuana than alcohol for the first-time last quarter. From January to March, Illinois generated around $86,537,000 in adult-use marijuana tax revenue, compared to $72,281,000 from liquor sales.
Montana: The three major bills on how to implement legal marijuana sales in Montana are now in the hands of a special legislative committee. Montana Senate’s new Select Committee on Marijuana Law met for the first time on April 12, 2021. Over the next week, they will be tasked with hearing each of the bills, House Bills 670, 701 and 707, and possibly coming up with a single proposal to move forward to the full Senate.
Source: https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-senate-select-committee-holds-first-hearings-on-marijuana-bills
Maine: Following similar reform approved by Oregon last year, Maine lawmakers have filed a bill that would decriminalize possession of all illicit drugs. Rep. Anne Perry (D – Calais) is sponsoring a legislation that would make the possession of drugs a civil penalty, punishable by a fine of up to $100 or an alternative punishment for the court to refer the person to a licensed health care provider or drug treatment facility. The bill would also protect people who are seeking medical assistance for overdose emergencies.
Source: https://theweedblog.com/policy/maine-lawmakers-propose-to-decriminalize-possession-all-drugs
Massachusetts: In response to the vaping crisis of 2019, Massachusetts cannabis regulators launched an online catalog that is intended to help in identifying licensed products legal in the state versus those available on the illicit market. Customers will be able to verify the potency, packaging and labeling, retail locations and more about licensed cannabis products. It is said that licensed cannabis companies in Massachusetts will potentially be mandated to participate in the catalog.
New Jersey: New Jersey’s new Cannabis Regulatory Commission on Monday inched toward setting up the recreational marijuana market, holding its first meeting and picking a vice chair and logo. The five-member commission met remotely, on April 12, kicking off what Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has said could be six months until recreational marijuana hits the market.
Source: https://6abc.com/new-jersey-marijuana-cannabis-commission-legalize-weed-crime/10510479/
New Mexico: The governor of New Mexico on Monday signed a bill to legalize marijuana in the state, as well as a separate measure to expunge records for people with prior, low-level cannabis convictions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) gave final approval to the legislation, a key accomplishment for her administration after she listed legalization as a 2021 priority. Although lawmakers failed to pass a legalization bill before the regular session’s end last month, the governor convened a special session to ensure they got the job done.
South Dakota: The South Dakota Supreme Court is expected to hear the state’s voter-approved constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis in April. According to the Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, the high court will hear oral arguments in a challenge to the amendment on April 28. In February, a district judge ruled the ballot measure was unconstitutional because it contained more than a single topic.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/south-dakota-high-court-to-hear-recreational-cannabis-case-this-month/
Virginia: On Wednesday, Virginia voted to move up the legalization date of recreational marijuana in Virginia to July 1, 2021. Initially, the legalization date was set for January 1, 2024. However, Gov. Ralph Northam added amendments to existing bills to fast-track the legalization.
While as of July 1, adults in Virginia can possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to four marijuana plants per household, the sale of marijuana in the state is still delayed until 2024, according to NORML.
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