Latest Cannabis News: June 15, 2021
Latest Cannabis News: June 15, 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.
Medical
Connecticut: This week, state lawmakers will return to the Capitol in Hartford for a special session on legalizing recreational marijuana. Democrats said they have enough votes to make marijuana legal, but Republicans have several concerns including how it will affect teens. The Special Session gets underway on Wednesday. The bill had already passed in the Senate with a vote of 19-17. The Senate will have to revote now that it has gone into a Special Session. The House will also need to vote, but it will most likely be done after hours of debate.
Delaware: There wasn’t be a vote on marijuana legalization Thursday in the General Assembly. The latest bill aiming to legalize recreational cannabis in Delaware was pulled from the House agenda by its sponsor Ed Osienski (D-Newark). In a statement, Osienski says lawmakers need more time to review the large number of recently filed amendments before bringing the bill to a House vote. So far, 10 amendments have been filed by Osienski himself and some Republican lawmakers. Some make major changes to the legislation, such as removing the social equity fund, removing protections for marijuana users at work and improving child safety. Osienski hasn’t laid out a timeline for seeking a vote, but time is running out with just 8 days remaining in this year’s session to get it through the House and Senate.
Source: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/recreational-marijuana-bill-delayed-house
Mississippi: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says he wants legislators to put a medical marijuana program into state law after the state Supreme Court recently overturned one that voters approved. A majority of justices ruled May 14 that a medical marijuana proposal, Initiative 65, was not properly on the November ballot because Mississippi’s initiative process is outdated and unworkable. The ruling overturned voters’ approval of Initiative 65 and took away citizens’ process to put issues on the statewide ballot. The Senate Public Health Committee met last week to start discussing what could go into a medical marijuana law.
Source: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2021/06/09/617968.htm
Ohio: The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy approved petitions to make three new conditions eligible for patients to receive medical marijuana. Huntington’s disease, terminal illness and spasticity were added to the list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The board voted to reject petitions to add autism spectrum disorder, restless leg syndrome, panic disorder with agoraphobia and spasms to the list.
Pennsylvania: The state House on Monday approved a set of revisions to Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law, seeking to make permanent some of the changes put in place temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives voted 164 to 38 for the bill, which would permit dispensing a three-month supply at a time, up from one month’s supply. Patients will be able to continue to pick up their medicine outside a dispensary, rather than coming inside the building. State Health Department communications director Barry Ciccocioppo said the agency was concerned about provisions of the bill he said threaten product quality and patient safety.
Source: https://www.wkbn.com/news/pennsylvania/medical-marijuana-law-changes-get-through-pennsylvania-house/
Rhode Island: A Rhode Island Senate committee on Monday approved a marijuana legalization bill that’s being championed by leadership in the chamber. It’s the first time a bill to legalize cannabis for recreational use has ever advanced in the state. The Judiciary Committee—which previously held an April hearing on the reform legislation, as well as a competing proposal from the governor—passed the Senate bill in substitute form in a 6-2 vote. A third legalization measure was also recently filed on the House side by Rep. Scott Slater (D) and several cosponsors. Curiously, the Senate panel’s action comes just days after House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi (D) signaled that legalization wouldn’t be taken up until the summer or fall. The Senate, however appears to have different plans, and is expected to take up its bill for a floor vote as soon as next week.
Recreational
Colorado: Proposed new restrictions on medical marijuana, aimed at reducing the use of high-potency products by young people, are on their way to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk. The Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 21-1317 with amendments, and the House approved the Senate’s amendments on Tuesday — the final major step in the bill’s long journey before Polis could sign it into law. HB-1317 is led by House Speaker Alec Garnett, a Denver Democrat, and Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Thornton Democrat, along with Sens. Chris Hansen, a Democrat from Denver, and Paul Lundeen, a Republican from Monument. The bill grew out of bipartisan concerns about children’s use of high-potency marijuana products, also known as concentrates, such as shatter, wax and oil. Parents of children who depend on medical cannabis for conditions like epilepsy had initially worried it would create barriers to care. The final version of the legislation would require doctors recommending medical marijuana for 18-to-20-year-olds to do so through an in-person appointment. Doctors recommending marijuana for 18-to-20-year-olds would need to review patients’ mental health history along with their medical history, which is already required, before recommending the substance. The bill would require all physician authorizations for medical marijuana to include the maximum THC potency level, daily quantity and directions for use.
Source: https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/colorado-legislature-passes-new-medical-marijuana-restrictions/
Illinois: Recently filed legislation by state Rep. La Shawn Ford proposes to help fix issues within the craft marijuana cultivation application process and help get answers to more than 800 applicants. A craft grower is a facility operated by a business that is licensed by the Department of Agriculture and the state to cultivate, dry, and package cannabis for dispensing organizations. To apply for a craft license, growers need a $5,000 deposit and a place of business to operate from. The majority of applicants who have paid the application fee and secured a place of business have been let down because the state of Illinois not holding up its end of the agreement, Ford said. “These applicants have had to acquire places of business, hire team members and all of this has come at a cost to applicants, and the state to this date still hasn’t lived up to its end of the agreement and approved more licenses ,” Ford said. Another section of the bill requires each adult-use cultivation center or Early Approval Adult Use Cultivation Center License holder that produces THC oil extract to set aside a portion of its total monthly production of THC oil extract to sell to infuser organizations to provide infuser organizations with an adequate supply for their infusion processes.
Source: https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/bill-aims-fix-issues-craft-cannabis-application-process
Massachusetts: When COVID-19 changed daily life last year, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission started allowing curbside pickup and telehealth appointments for medical patients to help increase safety. Even though the State of Emergency declared by Gov. Charlie Baker is ending Tuesday, those measures will be allowed to continue for a few months, the CCC said. The use of curbside operations, telehealth visits and virtual community outreach meetings will be extended until Sept. 1 or the date the commission rescinds or amends administrative orders, whichever occurs first, the agency said. Shawn Collins, the CCC executive director, issued final administrative orders on the topics on Monday.
Montana: Montana is about to decriminalize the adult use of cannabis. The state has had a very stable medical marijuana program for a while now. And with this new development, the state’s revenue department seems prepared to take over the medical marijuana scheme to develop an efficient adult-use industry as stated in House Bill 701. Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 701 on May 18, following the legislature’s approval last month. Existing medical marijuana dispensaries are about to make a lot of money from now till the end of the year. As the bill authorizes only these existing stores to sell recreational drugs to the public until the official sales of adult-use cannabis begin in 2022. They have an 18-month head start. Therefore, newly licensed stores will begin their sales in the third quarter of 2023. This would also give the state’s revenue department enough time to lay down regulations.
New Jersey: Lawmakers are working to ease the high costs of medical cannabis for New Jerseyans enrolled in financial assistance programs for children, seniors and crime victims. The Senate Health Committee approved the new bill (S3799) Thursday afternoon. It cleared an Assembly committee last week. New Jersey has some of the highest medical cannabis costs in the country, with an ounce averaging $350 to $500. That’s largely due to a slow expansion of the program that has kept competition to a minimum as demand skyrocketed. Health insurance does not cover the costs because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. The bill, introduced last month, would require the following funds to cover medical cannabis costs:
- Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
- Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program
- Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program
- Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO)
Each fund would assist with cannabis costs but not necessarily cover them entirely. The PAAD and senior programs would reimburse dispensaries for medical costs after a person has paid a copay or hit an out-of-pocket max. The bill also makes medical cannabis a cost eligible for compensation as a crime victim. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission and human services commissioner could set a 30-day limit on the amount of cannabis eligible for the PAAD and Senior Gold programs benefits under the bill.
South Dakota: The governor of South Dakota is looking to strike a deal with the legislature over plans to implement a medical marijuana program in the state, but advocates feel a reform proposal she’s floating doesn’t go far enough. South Dakota voters approved separate ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use in November, despite Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R) opposition to the policy change. The adult-use measure was struck down by a judge last month following challenges over its constitutionality, with a state Supreme Court appeal pending, but the medical marijuana initiative is set to go into effect on July 1. Noem tried to get the legislature to approve a bill to delay implementation for an additional year, but while it cleared the House, negotiators were unable to reach an agreement with the Senate in conference, delivering a defeat to the governor. Now she’s seeking a compromise, and one proposal out of her administration that’s being considered would decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, limit the number of plants that patients could cultivate to three and prohibit people under 21 from qualifying for medical marijuana.
Vermont: Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law to establish a fund to help people of color and others impacted by the war on drugs to open licensed cannabis companies. According to Montpelier-based VTDigger, Senate Bill 25 sets aside $500,000 from the state coffers to establish a marijuana business-development fund that is slated to provide financial assistance, loans, grants and outreach to social equity business applicants. The exact wording of the fund is still under development. The new law also: Establishes regulations for how marijuana retailers can market their products. Gives municipalities control over whether they allow marijuana stores. Sets aside a portion of tax revenue for substance-abuse prevention programs. Requires store owners to buy 25% of their cannabis flower from licensed small cultivators. The advertising rules and tax revenue earmarks take effect on March 1, 2022. The rest of the law goes into effect immediately. Recreational sales are not expected to begin in Vermont until October 2022.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/vermont-passes-law-to-assist-cannabis-social-equity-applicants/
Virginia: A years-long effort to legalize marijuana in the state of Virginia hits a major milestone in less than a month. Beginning July 1, Virginians over the age of 21 can legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana without fear of criminal or civil penalties. Virginia’s General Assembly passed legislation to legalize sales by the year 2024, and Gov. Ralph Northam soon after expedited the process to allow for legal possession before the year’s end. With the hopes of educating the public on what exactly to expect come July, the state launched a new resource tool to help citizens better understand the new law. The new website, cannabis.virginia.gov, is an information hub to answer any questions civilians might have about what is or isn’t going into effect. It also outlines what aspects of the drug still need to be addressed in the coming years, and how people interested in getting in on the business-side of things can get involved.
Contact Info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com for more information on how to apply for a cannabis business license.
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