Latest Cannabis News: January 25, 2022
Latest Cannabis News: January 25, 2022
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
Georgia: The launch of Georgia’s limited medical cannabis market will apparently have to wait even longer because of an ongoing lawsuit over the state’s licensing process. The delay comes even though six medical marijuana cultivation licenses were awarded last year and a bill was passed to allow up to 30 dispensaries to sell MMJ oils.
There’s no launch date in sight at the moment, in large part because of the lawsuit filed by Georgia Atlas, one of the losing applicants for a cultivation license, Atlanta TV station CBS46 reported. The company filed suit against the state after the winners were announced last summer, alleging the process was “lacking in transparency, objectivity, and fairness” and was influenced by “backroom deals.”
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/lawsuit-further-stalls-georgia-medical-cannabis-market/
Iowa: Two Democratic lawmakers in Iowa are calling for a special legislative session to override last week’s veto of a medical marijuana expansion bill by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. On Friday, Reynolds vetoed a bill (House File 732) that would make more patients eligible to use medical cannabis products and increase the allowable THC dosage for therapeutic cannabis products. The bill was passed with bipartisan support in both the Iowa House of Representatives and Senate but was rejected by Reynolds last week. On Tuesday, Sen. Joe Bolkcom and Rep. John Forbes, both Democrats, said they plan to ask for a special session of the legislature to override Reynolds’ veto.
“By doing that, we hope the governor will know that we are serious, and we really think that this legislation is necessary to enhance the lives of Iowans through better care,” Forbes said.
Source: https://hightimes.com/news/iowa-lawmakers-plan-attempt-override-veto-medical-marijuana-expansion/
South Carolina: Next week state senators are set to talk about a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina. The ‘South Carolina Compassionate Care Act,’ S. 150 in the Senate and House companion bill H. 3361, would create a system to recommend and sell medical cannabis. After Gov. Henry McMaster’s State of the State address Wednesday, the Democratic response called for action. “Let’s also pass the medical marijuana bill,” said Rep. Spencer Wetmore, D-Charleston, “To help ease the suffering of South Carolina families living with chronic illnesses.”
Source: https://www.wyff4.com/article/medical-marijuana-bill-may-see-vote-in-sc-senate/38848510#
Tennessee: Two marijuana decriminalization bills have been introduced by lawmakers in the Tennessee legislature, according to media reports. One would decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of pot, while the other would protect holders of medical marijuana identification cards from other states. Both bills were sponsored in the Tennessee Senate by Democratic Sen. Sara Kyle and in the House of Representatives by fellow Democrat Rep. Gloria Johnson.
Source: https://hightimes.com/news/two-marijuana-decriminalization-bills-introduced-in-tennessee/
Wisconsin: The governor of Wisconsin announced on Tuesday that he granted 30 pardons, primarily to people convicted of non-violent marijuana or other drug offenses.
This raises the total number of pardons issued so far by Gov. Tony Evers (D) to 337 during his first three years in office, the most granted by a governor in the state’s history at this point into a first term. Advocates have been urging state and federal executives to exercise this type of authority, particularly for cannabis cases as more jurisdictions enact legalization.
Medical
Mississippi: The Mississippi House of Representatives passed an amended medical marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday on a 104–14 vote, making changes aimed at addressing concerns raised by Gov. Tate Reeves (R). If the Senate approves the changes and the Reeves indeed signs the bill, a system to regulate and sell cannabis to registered patients could launch later this year. Mississippi’s full Senate passed a version of the legalization measure last week, rejecting amendments from liberals and conservatives alike. And although the governor has remained skeptical of the bill—threatening a veto of a draft version circulated late last year—he said earlier this week that it’s getting “better” with every revision.
Rep. Lee Yancey (R), who chairs the House Drug Policy Committee, and who’s been working with the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R), said before the House floor vote that he never imagined he’d be in the position to legalize cannabis. But he said a voter-passed legalization initiative in 2020 showed strong support for compassionate use.
Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/mississippi-house-approves-medical-marijuana-bill-with-amendments/
Missouri: A Missouri lawmaker on Tuesday filed a bill to decriminalize a range of drugs including marijuana, psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and cocaine. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Peter Merideth (D), would amend state statute by making low-level possession of various drugs punishable by a maximum $100 fine or “participation in a treatment program” if approved by a court, or both.
Currently, possessing any amount of controlled substances except marijuana is considered a class D felony that carries up to seven years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.
Oklahoma: Some Oklahoma marijuana processors are expressing concern that the state’s cannabis supply is often not up to par. One processor in Choctaw said a few months ago, 90 percent of their product was failing inspection. 1440 Processing explains that a lot of the marijuana coming to them from marijuana growers fails to meet industry standards due to high levels of pesticides, heavy metals, and other dangerous chemicals.
Late last year, they said 90 percent of cannabis they bought failed lab tests.
They report spending tens of thousands of dollars testing products on their own dime to ensure quality.
Source: https://kfor.com/news/local/processor-oklahoma-marijuana-failing-inspections/
South Dakota: The Health and Human Services Committee made several revisions to medicinal marijuana laws that will now be sent to the Senate floor, but revisions to the medical purpose defense failed to advance for now.
After a contentious debate during Friday’s hearing, the committee decided to table Senate Bill 20 for later consideration after a majority was not received to kill the bill entirely. The bill would amend the current medical purpose defense in place states that those accused of possessing marijuana can claim that they could be prescribed medical marijuana by a physician, but at the time of possessing marijuana, they do not have a registered identification card on their person.
Recreational
Connecticut: Next month, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection will start accepting applications for certain adult-use cannabis businesses, kicking off the year sales are scheduled to begin in the state. The application period is open for 90 days, according to an announcement from the state Department of Consumer Protection. The first licenses that will open are for cultivators in areas disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, which includes most of Norwich. That license will be available starting Feb. 3.
The other license types that will open in February include retailers, micro-cultivators, delivery services, and hybrid retailers. Of those, only a limited number of licenses are available, half split between social equity and nonsocial equity applicants, including 12 retail, four micro-cultivator, 10 delivery, and four hybrid-retailer.
Maine: Maine is considering a bill that would allow recreational marijuana stores to deliver to residents across the state even if a town prohibits recreational marijuana stores. During a hearing Wednesday, a legislative committee heard from the bill’s supporters and sponsor, Democratic Rep. Joe Perry, The Portland Press Herald reported.
Perry said that since most Maine towns have not opted in to the state’s recreational program, the bill would make marijuana accessible, which would keep people from buying from the illegal market.
Source: https://www.necn.com/news/local/maine-considers-bill-to-allow-recreational-weed-delivery/2656363/
Massachusetts: Excise taxes for marijuana sold for adult recreational use exceeded alcohol excise taxes for the first time in Massachusetts, reflecting growing marijuana sales that reached $2.54 billion, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. Massachusetts collected $74.2 million in marijuana excise tax through December 2021 — halfway through the fiscal year — compared to $51.3 million in alcohol excise taxes, WCVB-TV reported.
The excise tax of 10.75% on recreational cannabis is part of the total tax revenue. There is also a 6.25% state sales tax, plus a local tax of up to 3%. It all added up to $208 million in total tax revenue last fiscal year.
New Jersey: The legal right to grow marijuana at home apparently will not apply to cannabis consumers in New Jersey once the state’s adult-use market launches. Incoming state Senate President Nick Scutari said he “did not see (home grow) happening right now” because permitting home cultivation would only further the illicit cannabis market. Under New Jersey law, recreational marijuana sales are supposed to begin by mid-February. But the launch is running behind schedule.
The question of home cultivation is quickly turning into a dividing line between marijuana businesses and activists, with legal operators often more interested in protecting market share and minimizing home grows.
Cannabis activists, meanwhile, argue in favor of the right of medical marijuana patients to cultivate their own medicine.
Washington: Roughly 10 years after the passage of I-502, state lawmakers will consider a series of bills aimed at modernizing Washington’s legal recreational marijuana industry. 10 years later, the industry says Washington’s legal marijuana needs an update. Among those bills is a push to revamp the make-up of the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
“SB 5671 is a proposal to modernize the Liquor and Cannabis Board, which since 2012 — when liquor was privatized in Washington state and cannabis was legalized — the board structure has remained the same since then, even though the scope of their regulatory responsibilities have changed dramatically in the past 10 years,” said Aaron Pickus, spokesperson for the Washington CannaBusiness Association.
Source: https://mynorthwest.com/3316631/state-mulls-changes-washington-legal-marijuana-industry/
The Cannabis Business Advisors have more than thirty years of combined industry experience, spanning across the U.S. and around the globe. CB Advisors offers a comprehensive suite of services, including application and licensing preparation, operational analysis, merger and acquisition support, policy and procedures, exit strategy guidance, and business development planning.
Contact Info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com for more information on how to apply for a cannabis business license.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
