© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

US (NY): Gov. Kathy Hochul sets up $5M loan program to open licensed cannabis shops

Under fire for a slow rollout of the cannabis program, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration is offering new $100,000 low-interest loans to licensed cannabis operators who find their own locations to open shop. Previously, such loans were only available for sites secured by the state Dormitory Authority of…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US (CT): Cannabis businesses can deduct business expenses after state budget changes

The state’s cannabis angel investor tax credit program will be repealed through the state’s new biennial budget, ending a short-lived initiative that resulted in $3.1 million in investments to qualified marijuana companies. The repeal, proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont in January and included in the full…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US: Senator says ‘patchwork’ of cannabis laws allows big business to exploit industry

The “patchwork” of state cannabis laws being enacted across the country while federal prohibition remains unchanged is enabling large corporations to dominate the industry, harming communities that have been “decimated” by the drug war and underscoring the need for federal reform, a Democratic senator…

© Viktar Lameika | Dreamstime.com

US (CA): San Francisco lawmakers unanimously pass cannabis shop moratorium

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to prohibit new cannabis businesses citywide for the next four years. Existing stores and applicants in the pipeline won't be impacted by the ban. All 10 attending supervisors voted yes in a unanimous vote. Supervisor Hillary Ronen was…

© Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com

As cannabis businesses close in Colorado, licensing fees are likely to increase

Colorado's cannabis businesses could soon see higher licensing fees as state regulators deal with their first cannabis cash shortage. Created to oversee and regulate the state's medical and recreational cannabis industries, the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) does receive some operational…

© Kyrylo Vasyliev | Dreamstime.com

US (OH): With product oversupply, industry balks at proposal to increase grow space

Ohio’s licensed medical cannabis growers say there’s too much green.They say patient numbers in the state’s program appear to have almost peaked. But with new grow space that has come online in the last two years, there’s now an oversupply of cannabis, industry groups say. One grower has said his unsold…

© Anton Medvedev Dreamstime.com

Colombia: Adult-use cannabis bill saved in Senate

The first commission of the Senate has approved on Tuesday afternoon a constitutional reform that legalizes the recreational cannabis market in Colombia. With 15 votes in favor, including some of the opposition congressmen, and only 4 against, the bill led by House representative Juan Carlos Losada will…

US: Black farmer cannabis bill passed in Florida

Black farmers in Florida stand to benefit from a medical cannabis bill passed in the waning days of the state legislature’s 2023 session. HB 837 would give a second chance to…

© Pornsawan Baipakdee | Dreamstime.com

Lawmakers scramble to fix NY's struggling rollout of retail cannabis

Some New York lawmakers are scrambling as they enter the final week of the legislative session to implement measures to aid the state’s struggling retail cannabis market, including a proposal to allow growers to sell last year’s crops at concert venues, fairs, farmers markets, and other events. The Times…

© Viktar Lameika | Dreamstime.com

US (MN): Governor says indigenous tribes can sell cannabis before license approval

The governor of Minnesota says that tribal government could possibly get a head start selling cannabis for the adult-use market within the state’s borders before private businesses are approved by regulators. While it’s expected to take more than a year for the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM)…

© Viktar Lameika | Dreamstime.com

US (CO): Governor signs bill to allow online cannabis sales

The governor of Colorado has signed a bill into law that would allow online cannabis sales. About a month after the measure from Reps. William Lindstedt (D), Said Sharbini (D), and Robert Rodriguez (D) cleared the legislature, and Gov. Jared Polis (D) gave it final approval on Thursday. It strikes…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

Antigua and Barbuda: Rastafari granted license to grow cannabis

For decades, members of the Rastafari community have been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic cannabis use. "I (was) born within the Rastafari community. My mother and father are Rastafari," says Ras Kiyode Erasto, a priest with the Ras Freeman Foundation for the Unification of Rastafari.…

US (NJ): Cannabis agency to give priority to social equity businesses for some licenses

The agency overseeing New Jersey’s cannabis market made a move Thursday that aims to increase the number of cannabis businesses run by people with prior convictions for cannabis offenses or who live in economically disadvantaged parts of the state. For one year starting Sept. 27, the Cannabis Regulatory…

© imaginariumphoto | Dreamstime.com

US (MA): Judge reverses media ban on remaining testing lab hearings

A Michigan administrative law judge on Wednesday, May 31, lifted a media ban prohibiting reporters and the public from attending contested court hearings between a cannabis testing lab and state licensors. The case involves Viridis, a licensed cannabis testing lab with locations in Bay City and Lansing.…

Attorney asks for disqualification of Arkansas Attorney General’s Office from MMJ license lawsuit

An attorney for a rejected medical cannabis cultivator asked the judge in its lawsuit to disqualify the Arkansas attorney general's office from the case in a motion filed Tuesday. The motion is the latest filing in a lawsuit between 2600 Holdings, LLC and the Arkansas Department of Finance and…

Zina Seletskaya | Dreamstime.com

US (NY): State lawmakers pass bill to avoid breakdown of cannabis industry supply chain

State lawmakers in Albany on Wednesday, May 31, passed a bill to extend cannabis cultivator licenses for one year, avoiding a potential disruption of the state’s fledgling cannabis industry. When the cannabis industry first started, the state issued one-year conditional licenses to cannabis cultivators,…

© | Dreamstime.com

US: New rules stir fear that Black Missourians will once again lose out in cannabis licensing

When a cannabis legalization amendment was being criticized last year over concerns it would calcify the lack of Black participation in the burgeoning industry, Adolphus Pruitt was one of its most vociferous defenders. Pruitt, the president of the St. Louis City NAACP, and other local NAACP leaders…

© Dreamstime.com

German Health Minister discussed legalization with Canadian counterpart

Arguably the most popular person in the international cannabis scene right now, for better or worse, is German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. Minister Lauterbach made international headlines in October 2022 when he presented a plan to Germany’s federal cabinet and has served as a primary focus of…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

US: Maryland releases draft cannabis regulations in preparation for legalization

Last week the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MSA) released its draft emergency regulations for the state’s adult-use marijuana market, which is set to come online on July 1. The draft regulations are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR)…

© Darren4155 | Dreamstime.com

US: Minnesota becomes 23rd state to legalize recreational cannabis

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota signed a bill into law on Tuesday legalizing recreational cannabis use in the state. With Walz’s signature, Minnesota becomes the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis and the third Midwestern state to do so. “What we know right now is prohibition does not work.…

CAN: Delta cannabis grower responds to proposed rule changes

It’s a good start, but more is needed to help the viability of the legal cannabis industry in Canada. That’s the reaction from Pure Sunfarms, a large-scale cannabis greenhouse operation in Delta, regarding last week’s release of recommendations from the Competition Bureau to Health Canada. Tasked with…

© Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com

US (IL): Lawmakers approve bill to allow cannabis business to claim State tax deductions

Illinois lawmakers have approved a budget bill that includes provisions that would allow licensed marijuana businesses to take state tax deductions that they’re currently prohibited from utilizing at the federal level due to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E. The legislation—which also…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (SD): Petition to remove most of Butte County Commission over MMJ rules fails

A petition circulated by a group called ‘Concerned Citizens of Butte County’ (CCBC) has failed in its goal to remove 4/5ths of the Butte County Commission from office. According to a record of the complaint submitted to Butte County State’s Attorney LeEllen McCartney, the group accused commissioners Stan…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US (TX): Fluent issues statement on failed cannabis bills

Cansortium operating under the FLUENT™ brand, issued a statement on the two failed cannabis bills in Texas. Commenting on the recent failed legislation, Kristopher Kem, Fluent Cannabis Care Texas President said: "While we are ultimately disappointed in the Texas Senate's failure to take action to…

© Darren4155 | Dreamstime.com

US (OR): Oregon Cannabis Association president calls for updated laws

Cannabis is nearly a $1 billion industry in Oregon, but after years of upward trajectory, the industry has hit a wall. Last year marked the first time that annual sales of cannabis products declined from over $1 billion in 2021 to $994 million in 2022. This comes as Oregon’s third-largest dispensary…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

Ghana: Supreme Court strikes out cannabis cultivation bill

The Supreme Court has in a majority 5-4 decision affirmed its view that the law allowing cultivation of weed in Ghana was unconstitutionally passed by Parliament. Presiding Judge Justice Dotse stated that the threshold a party ought to meet to enable it to review its own judgment has not been met. The…

© Roxana Gonzalez | Dreamstime.com

CAN: Competition bureau recommends to ease packaging rules, lift THC limits for edibles

Canada’s competition watchdog is putting its weight behind some longtime cannabis industry asks including easing restrictions on cannabis packaging and adjusting limits on how much of cannabis' psychoactive component can be in edible products. In a submission to Health Canada and a panel reviewing…

Dreamstime

US (NV): Legislature tells congress to legalize cannabis through newly passed resolution

The Nevada Senate has approved a resolution urging Congress to federally legalize cannabis. About a month after the Assembly passed the legislation from Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva (D), the Senate advanced it in a vote of 18-3 on Wednesday.  It states that cannabis has “many well documented medical uses,” yet…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

US: Cannabis finance company updates testimony on banking bill following criticism

A cannabis financial services company has revised its testimony on a congressional cannabis banking bill following pushback over remarks made at a Senate committee hearing this month where a compliance officer suggested a “pause” to further amend the legislation. Advocates and stakeholders were taken…

© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

US (MI): Regulators propose to strip licenses from cannabis companies that don’t pay vendors

Michigan regulators are looking to remove businesses that don't pay their bills from the state's cannabis industry. In proposed rules released this month, the Cannabis Regulatory Agency is seeking authority to deny licenses to businesses found in court to have not paid vendors. It's a move that would set…

© Roxana Gonzalez Dreamstime.com

CAN (BC): New change allows cannabis licensees to improve store visibility

The lack of visibility into some licensed or authorized cannabis stores is putting cannabis store operators, staff, and patrons at risk. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is repealing the visibility requirements from the Cannabis Licensing Regulation (CLR). Removing the requirement in s. 5…

© John Critchley Dreamstime.com

Health Minister assures that Spain is moving towards early regulation of medical cannabis

Spain's Minister of Health, José Manuel Miñones, announced that he will present before the end of May a report that will allow the regulation of the use of medical cannabis in the National Health System (SNS). The news came after some parliamentarians have claimed the delay in the analysis of the Spanish…

© Zerbor Dreamstime.com

US (CA): Cannabis enforcement taskforce seizes over $52M worth of unlicensed products in Q1

Building upon the $32 million seized by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) during the first quarter of their operation, the taskforce announced that it seized over $52 million in unlicensed cannabis and cannabis products in Q1 2023. Additional highlights from the period January 1, 2023,…

© Darren4155 | Dreamstime.com

Here's what lawmakers are saying about new cannabis legislation

Federal lawmakers have a lot on their plate when it comes to cannabis — from financial rules to cannabis' rising potency. In the near term, the industry isn't expecting much. But that doesn't mean legislators have forgotten about cannabis, with discussions on a number of initiatives and topics…

© Alena A Dreamstime.com

Minnesota senate approves cannabis legalization bill, sending it to the governor

The Minnesota Senate has sent a bill to legalize cannabis to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Senators passed the legislation from Sen. Lindsey Port (D) and Rep. Zack Stephenson (D) in a 34-32 vote early on Saturday morning.“The best way that we can protect our kids from access to cannabis is…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

India: Committee gets feedback on legalizing cannabis cultivation in Himachal

Horticulture and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the committee would submit its findings on whether to legalize cannabis cultivation in Himachal or not to the government soon. A committee was led by Jagat Singh Negi, which visited a cannabis cultivation farm in Doiwala, Uttarakhand. They…

© Openrangestock Dreamstime.com

US (OK): Cannabis business owner says OMMA is denying due process in emergency shutdown

After a Delaware County cannabis-testing facility’s license was suspended due to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority’s citing a possible public health emergency, its owner says the state has denied due process for the lab to defend itself. Genesis Testing Labs in Grove was making efforts to expand…

© | Dreamstime.com

US (CA): Santa Barbara County supervisors increase cannabis business licensing fees

Santa Barbara County wants its cannabis program fees to fully cover the cost of staff review – and increasing fees will help do that, according to the County Executive Office. On Tuesday, May 16, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported increasing business licensing fees for…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

Malta: Seven cannabis association applications submitted

Seven applications by associations who wish to acquire a license to cultivate and distribute cannabis have been submitted to the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) since 28 February, with 11 names reserved for the associations and several others preparing their applications,…

© Larisa Shpineva Dreamstime.com

US (MN): Adult-use cannabis bill emerges from reconciliation

On April 25, 2023, the Minnesota House passed House File 100 (HF100), a bill authorizing adult-use cannabis, by a vote of 71-59. Three days later, the Minnesota Senate passed Senate File 73 (SF73), a companion bill to HF100, on a strict party-line vote of 34-33. Following the Senate vote, HF100 and SF73…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

"We're advocating for better, stronger standards across the industry"

Green Compass headed to Washington D.C. to lobby in support of legislation to advance regulation within the hemp industry. Founders Meredith and Sterling Cook joined the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), a bipartisan coalition of leading companies and organizations that advocates for science-driven,…

© Nehru Dreamstime.com

US (MI): City of Kalamazoo seeking more social equity in the local cannabis industry

Social equity was one of the items promised when Michigan voters were asked to make recreational cannabis legal, but little has been done to realize that promise. Kalamazoo has one of the best programs, but officials say even it has a lot of room for improvement. City Planning Director Antonio Mitchell…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US: Two Oregon senators seek federal investigation into campaign contributions

Two state senators want Oregon U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight’s office to investigate cash donations from cannabis company owners to state politicians. Sens. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, and Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, sent the letter to the U.S. Attorney’s office on Friday. They made the request after…

© Andrey Metelev Dreamstime.com

US (VA): Culpeper Hemp Co. nursery launches, licensed to sell cannabis seeds & plants

Amodern-day cannabis entrepreneur has brought his craft to the Virginia Piedmont and hopes to help grow the emerging market locally. Culpeper Hemp Company is a state-licensed hemp facility currently growing cannabis in Culpeper County, according to an email from founder Maxwell Cranford. “When I moved to…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang | Dreamstime.com

Switzerland cannabis pilot programs set to expand

Switzerland is home to a cannabis commerce public policy experiment that is based on a concept which is seemingly growing in popularity in policy and regulatory circles. The concept, limited regional cannabis commerce pilot projects, is already in operation in Basel, Switzerland, where 374 people between…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

Costa Rica issued first license for medical cannabis cultivation

As part of the celebration of Día del Agricultor (Farmer’s Day) this May 15, the government of Costa Rica issued the first license for the use of psychoactive cannabis, that is, that used for medicinal purposes. The resolution was signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Víctor…

© Viktar Lameika | Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Cannabis businesses improve access to banks under bill heading to governor

Missouri’s cannabis businesses would have fewer obstacles when it comes to accessing banking under recently approved legislation. Few banks nationwide serve cannabis businesses and their owners — or even their auxiliary partners  — because most want nothing to do with a business that sells a product the federal…

© Pornsawan Baipakdee | Dreamstime.com

US (MT): End-of-session cannabis bills add mix of complications and relief for the industry

In the waning days of the 2023 Legislature, lawmakers passed a handful of bills that — if signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte — will have large impacts on the adult-use recreational cannabis industry in the state. Some new policies — like an extended moratorium to prohibit new businesses until 2025…

© Kirill Vasilev Dreamstime.com

US (NH): "I am supportive of legalizing cannabis in the right way"

Governor Chris Sununu issued the following statement on the future of cannabis legalization in New Hampshire: During my years as Governor, a bill to legalize cannabis in New Hampshire has never garnered enough bipartisan support to reach my desk. I have never vetoed legislation to legalize recreational…

© Chimpinski Dreamstime.com

US (GA): Medical cannabis program finally taking off

When the state agency overseeing Georgia’s medical cannabis program issued the first dispensary licenses late last month, it gave the two licensees four months to get them up and running. Trulieve Georgia and Botanical Sciences LLC won’t need nearly that long. Trulieve opened dispensaries in Marietta and…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

Legalization efforts in Europe get pushbacks at EU level

Calls to legalize cannabis are mounting across Europe as a growing number of countries seek to replicate progressive moves by Canada and parts of the U.S. to greenlight the drug. From improving public health to increasing tax revenues and reducing taboos around medical marijuana, the merits of a legal…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

US (CT): State's first cannabis workers union forms

Connecticut’s first cannabis workers union has been formed by workers at a West Haven cultivation facility. Forty-eight workers at Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven voted to unionize, with a focus on wages, benefits, and workplace protections, according to a release.  “We are so inspired by the team at Advanced…

© Jeremynathan Dreamstime.com

US: States that legalize cannabis see reduced tobacco use, study finds

While some public health experts have expressed concerns that the legalization of cannabis could fuel a rise in the use of tobacco products, a new study instead concludes that state-level cannabis reforms are mostly associated with “small, occasionally significant longer-run declines in adult tobacco…

© Dreamstime.com

Germany: Lower Saxony's Minister of Agriculture wants to use empty pigsties for cannabis cultivation

Will livestock farmers soon be using empty pigsties for cannabis cultivation? In the view of Lower Saxony's Minister of Agriculture, Miriam Staudte (Greens), that would be a good alternative. Lower Saxony's Green Minister of Agriculture Miriam Staudte proposes to farmers who have stopped their pig…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

Great change in the Dutch medicinal cannabis policy

The Netherlands will change its medicinal cannabis policy drastically. Among the expected changes is the removal of the current export cap that limits Bedrocan’s products’ availability abroad. With the cap gone, the Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC) can meet more international requests for…

© Andrii Iarygin Dreamstime.com

US (CO): MMJ recalled from Colorado Springs dispensary

Cannabis sold at a medical dispensary in Colorado Springs has been recalled by state regulatory agencies for potentially unsafe mold levels. According to a May 10 recall from the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, cannabis grown and sold by Big Medicine Cannabissary at 2909 North El Paso Street in…

© Openrangestock Dreamstime.com

BZAM receives EU GMP certification approval

BZAM subsidiary, The Green Organic Dutchman Ltd, has received EU GMP certification for the Company's facility located in Ancaster, Ontario. This certification permits the Company to export certain medicinal cannabis products to numerous global markets. The certification is valid for a three-year period…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

"Senate banking hearing highlights broad bipartisan support to move SAFE banking forward"

The National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) is applauding the leadership of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and SAFE Banking Act (S.1323) sponsors Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) as the Committee concluded its bipartisan hearing on cannabis banking. The hearing…

© Dreamstime.com

What is in Germany's leaked cannabis legalization plan?

In the future, German adults should be able to legally grow, buy and consume cannabis themselves - at least within a narrowly defined legal framework. A first draft for a cannabis law shows where the journey is headed. Of particular interest to pharmacies is the fact that - at least in the first stage -…

© Pornsawan Baipakdee | Dreamstime.com

US (NH): Senate rejects House-passed legalization bill

The New Hampshire Senate has rejected a House-passed bill to legalize cannabis. Just two days after receiving an unfavorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the full chamber defeated the measure in a 14-10 vote on Thursday. Following the committee vote on Tuesday, Senate Majority…

© Eric Limon Dreamstime.com

US (OK): New Oklahoma law cracks down on illegal farms

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed House Bill 2095 into law, another effort to crack down on illegal cannabis farms in Oklahoma. The law bans undocumented workers from working on legal cannabis farms, punishes growers who employ undocumented workers and implements stricter licensing reform. "If there is a…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (FL): 74 operators applied for MMJ licenses

Seventy-four prospective operators applied for 22 medical cannabis licenses during a five-day application cycle that ended on April 28. The applications were a step toward doubling the number of businesses operating in the state’s legal cannabis industry. In February, Florida Department of Health…

US (WI): Cannabis policy in Wisconsin debated

The topic of legalizing cannabis in Wisconsin has been debated for years. On Wednesday, May 10, the Grass Routes Tour held a town hall in Wauwatosa. Wisconsin State Senator…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

Why lawmakers want to review how New York's cannabis business banks

New York lawmakers will hold a public hearing on the myriad banking issues facing the state's cannabis industry on Thursday, May 11, the state Assembly announced.  The hearing, to be led by Assembly Banks Committee Chair Pamela Hunter and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce, and Industry Committee…

© Igor Shapovalov Dreamstime.com

US (FL): Lawmakers approve bill that could help people of color to obtain growing licenses

Black farmers who didn’t make the cut last year could have another opportunity to vie for medical-cannabis licenses under a bill approved by lawmakers in the final days of the 2023 legislative session. The bill, which awaits a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is part of years-long efforts aimed at giving…

© Igor Shapovalov Dreamstime.com

California task force recommends $228 billion in drug war reparations for Black Americans

A California task force is officially recommending that the legislature pass reparations legislation to compensate about two million Black Americans with a total of nearly $228 billion for racially disproportionate harms that resulted from the war on drugs in the state over the course of a half-century.…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

American Bankers Association calls for swift passage of cannabis banking bill

The American Bankers Association (ABA) is renewing its call for the passage of a bipartisan cannabis banking bill that was refiled last month. Days before the Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to discuss the issue at a cannabis-focused hearing, ABA sent a letter to congressional leadership voicing…

© Eric Limon | Dreamstime.com

US (NH): Senators reject cannabis legalization bills in Committee, but floor votes still planned

A New Hampshire Senate committee has rejected two House-passed bills to legalize cannabis—as well as a measure to allow medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants—though they will still move to the floor despite the procedural defeat. The House Republican sponsor of the legalization legislation,…

© Sasinparaksa | Dreamstime.com

US: "High cannabis tax in Pennsylvania may repeat California's mistakes"

 A revenue analysis estimates that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal for adult-use cannabis could bring in more than $250 million annually — but legalization advocates aren’t so enthusiastic. The concern is not about legalizing and regulating cannabis. Instead, it’s a worry that Pennsylvania will repeat…

© Laurence Agron | Dreamstime.com

US: Schumer says cannabis banking bill will go to senate floor

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke at a cannabis rally in New York City on Saturday, vowing again to pass federal cannabis banking reform legislation as Congress works to end prohibition. Schumer was among a variety of lawmakers, officials, advocates, and entrepreneurs to reflect on the…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US (ME): Lawmakers reject interstate commerce bill in Committee

A Maine legislative committee has rejected a bill that would have authorized the governor to enter into agreements with other legal cannabis states to allow interstate cannabis commerce once federal policy changes. The legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs took up the…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

Cannabusiness tax liabilities and how to navigate filing

Thinking that only dispensaries have to worry about taxes for their cannabusiness? Think again. Entrepreneurs, processors, and cultivators in the cannabis industry may be subject to taxation, and it’s important for them to understand the complexities around their tax implications. That’s because the…

© Zorandim | Dreamstime.com

US (MD): Hemp businesses 'feel left out' as cannabis legalization gets closer

The dreary day matched the uneasy mood inside Andrea Grant's Bethesda Health and Wellness store as she opens for business one Wednesday morning, awaiting the customers of the day while also awaiting news on what could come next for her store. While sharing her store, Gov. Wes Moore signed Maryland's…

© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

US (NV): To fight inflation and declining sales, proposed law could allow customers to buy more cannabis

You could buy more cannabis in Nevada if a proposed law gets passed. According to FOX5's Jaclyn Schultz, cannabis businesses are calling for more purchasing power at the register in response to a slump in sales.   

© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

Argentina presents knowledge platform for MMJ and industrial hemp

INTA, together with INTI, the organization Cannabis Medicinal Argentina (Cameda), and with the support of the National Technological Linkage Program of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, presented the Platform for Technological Surveillance and Strategic Intelligence of Medicinal…

© Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com

US (MT): Lawmaker pushes to override Governor’s cannabis tax revenue veto

The sponsor of a popular initiative seeking to divvy up more than $50 million of cannabis tax revenue is requesting that lawmakers be given an opportunity to override a veto Gov. Greg Gianforte issued in the final hours of the 2023 legislative session. At issue is Senate Bill 442, which proposes to…

© Peter Kim Dreamstime.com

US (MA): Seeds and clippings can now be sold across state

The sale of cannabis seeds and plant clippings has been legal in Massachusetts since Tuesday, and by Thursday, they were sold out at Yamba Market in Cambridge. The company is now managing a wait list. Although Yamba Market's initial inventory was small, the quick selling may indicate a consumer demand to…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (OK): MMJ Authority releases statement regarding recent emergency actions

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is committed to promoting public health and safety through proper medical cannabis practices by patients and businesses. Marijuana is only legal within the framework set by state law and regulations. OMMA has recently taken action against businesses with…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

US: Tennessee set to pass cannabis regulatory legislation

The landlocked, country music capital is set to pass the most significant cannabis regulatory law in its history to ensure Tennesseans feel comfortable with the safety and efficacy of hemp-derived products, according to Hemp, Inc. House Bill 0403/Senate Bill 0378 creates critical regulations on…

© Eric Limon Dreamstime.com

US (PA): Lawmakers file bill to legalize sales through state-run stores

Pennsylvania lawmakers have filed new bills to legalize cannabis sales through state-run stores and to provide permits for farmers and small agriculture businesses to cultivate cannabis once adult-use sales are allowed. About two months after circulating a co-sponsorship memo for the legalization…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

Discussing the growing likelihood and practical considerations of state-regulated interstate cannabis commerce

Allowing states to opt-in to interstate commerce would be the biggest economic shift in cannabis since the first states legalized. And a robust, regulated interstate cannabis market is closer than you think. With the passage of Washington State’s SB5069 on April 14th, 2020, all three west coast states…

US (NY): Governor Hochul signs legislation to curb illlicit cannabis market

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation to increase civil and tax penalties for the unlicensed and illicit sale of cannabis in New York as part of the FY 2024 Budget. The legislation, first proposed by the Governor in March, provides additional enforcement power to the Office of Cannabis…

US (MD): Governor signs cannabis regulation bill into law

Maryland’s governor has signed a bill to regulate cannabis sales, setting the stage for statewide legalization. House and Senate lawmakers reached an agreement on the cannabis legislation last month, sending it to the desk of Gov. Wes Moore (D), who signed it into law on Wednesday.  The governor said at a signing…

© Peter Kim Dreamstime.com

US: Metrc launches enhanced integration experience for third-party partners

Metrc has launched Metrc Connect, an improved integration experience for the company’s valued third-party partners, offering enhanced API functionality and new features to create more robust and efficient interactions with the Metrc system. Metrc Connect’s capabilities go above that of a standard API…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

US (WI): Republicans kill legalized cannabis proposals

Wisconsin Republicans voted Tuesday to kill proposals to legalize cannabis, pay for renovations at the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium and create a paid family leave program, moves that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers derided as “foolish.” Democrats accused Republicans of acting against the wishes of voters on…

© Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com

Luxembourg wants complete control of its cannabis market

Last week, officials in Luxembourg presented a plan to legalise the recreational use of cannabis in the country. The announcement came after Germany’s decision to try a non-profit private club approach to the issue with a decision from mid April. According to an official statement, the policy proposal in…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

US (MA): "Hemp industry may not survive without regulatory changes"

Lawmakers and advocates are pushing bills this session that would ease restrictions on hemp and marijuana products, pitching it as a way to keep Massachusetts competitive with neighboring states and help local growers. A Sen. Jo Comerford of Northampton bill (S 40) and a similar bill from Rep. Mark…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

US: Senators celebrate reintroduction of bipartisan cannabis banking bill

Senators are urging action on a cannabis banking bill that was reintroduced last week, taking to Twitter to call for bipartisan work to enact the reform this session. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was filed with much fanfare, earning the early applause of top legislators like Senate…

Glastonbury Town Council

UK: Glastonbury officials vote to ban cannabis establishments

The Glastonbury Town Council voted to ban all cannabis establishments following a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Tuesday night, April 25, council members, residents, and local activists raised alarms about the potential for cannabis establishments to pose a risk to the health and…

Feelgoodsk / Dreamstime.com

US: State and Tribes consider tax agreement for sharing cannabis revenue

Several state representatives, including Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, were in Polson on Wednesday, April 26, for a public hearing on a proposed agreement between the Tribes and the State of Montana regarding marijuana taxation. Only one member of the public attended. The hearing, held at KwaTaqNuq Resort,…

Getty Images

US: North Carolina legislators file bills to legalize adult-use cannabis

Two measures that would end cannabis prohibition for adult use are pending in the North Carolina state legislature as lawmakers work to make the drug finally legal in their state. The first bill, HB 626, was introduced by four Democratic members of the House on Monday. If approved, the bill would make it…

Bryan Vermont

US (IL): Applicants for new cannabis licenses nearly triple thanks to rules overhaul

Nearly 3,000 applicants will be competing in next month's lottery for 55 new licenses to sell cannabis in Illinois. That's almost three times the number of applicants that competed for the 185 licenses that were up for grabs in lotteries held two years ago. The state recently overhauled the original…

© Prathan Chorruangsak | Dreamstime.com

US: "New Mexico needs a cannabis director who isn’t in the industry"

The constant turnover at the helm of the New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD), which has cycled through three leaders over its short history, signals dysfunction and undermines public trust. Now, with a new director opening, we have the opportunity to get this right. The state government should…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

US (MD): Cannabis commission holds what is likely its last meeting

A commission that has guided the state through its first wobbly steps into legalized access to marijuana had what is likely its final meeting. Members of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission said their goodbyes Wednesday. The panel, which has changed over the last five years, goes away as the state…

© Pavlo Vakhrushev Dreamstime.com

US (MN): Hemp deadline extended

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has provided additional time for those wanting to grow and process hemp in the state this year to apply for a license. In Minnesota, hemp licences expire on December 31 of the year issued. Each year, licensees must reapply to be included in the program. The reason provided by the…

Eric Limon / Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Cannabis micro-business licenses will be available in July, earlier than planned

The Department of Health and Senior Services announced recently that it will begin accepting applications early for the state's marijuana microbusiness program. The application window for the first round of applications is July 27 through April 10. Application forms and instructions will be available…

Minnesota House of Representatives

US: Minnesota House passes adult-use of cannabis bill in vote of 71-59

The Minnesota House on Tuesday, April 25, passed a 300-page bill that would allow adults 21 and older to buy, sell and use cannabis, joining nearly two dozen other states that have legalized the cannabis plant for adult use. It passed Tuesday afternoon on a 71-59 vote, with two Republicans joining all…

US: SAFE Banking Act reintroduced in House and Senate

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers reintroduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in the U.S. House and Senate Wednesday. Originating sponsors include Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Reps. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. The bills would…

US (CO): New cannabis licenses on hold

A year-long halt to new cannabis businesses in Commerce City's southern wards will trigger a broader look at the city's licensing procedures, councilors agreed. Councilors…

US: Deadline extended for Minnesota growers and processors to apply for 2023 license

Those wanting to grow and process hemp in Minnesota in 2023 have additional time to apply for a license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The deadline to…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

U.S. hemp leaders unite on plan of action as deliberations over 2023 Farm Bill approach

As the 2023 Farm Bill deliberations approach, U.S. hemp leaders are united behind a plan of action. And this unprecedented alliance among 31 nonprofit hemp organizations portends promise for congressional enactment of the industry's agenda. This winter, three of the nation's hemp organizations – Hemp…

© Michael Turner Dreamstime.com

US (ME): Lawmaker files bill to allow interstate commerce

A lawmaker has filed a bill to allow Maine to enter into interstate cannabis commerce agreements with other legalized states. The legislation from Rep. Joseph Perry (D) would make Maine one of a small but growing number of states to allow for cannabis imports and exports, pending a federal policy change.…

© Igor Shapovalov Dreamstime.com

US (LA): Lawmakers kill bill to legalize recreational cannabis

Louisiana lawmakers killed an effort to legalize recreational cannabis, leaving the state's medical cannabis program as the only legal way to secure the drug. The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-4 to scuttle Democratic New Orleans Rep. Candace Newell's House Bill 24 to create a legal…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

US (GA): Commission approves licenses for first two medical cannabis oil distributors

In a unanimous virtual vote, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission approved dispensary licenses to two companies so they may begin distributing medical cannabis oil to the more than 27,000 Georgians currently on the official registry. The vote comes after nearly 10 years of legislative…

© Psisaa Dreamstime.com

US (CT): Hemp farmers want to grow cannabis, but it may not happen

A bill that would allow existing hemp growers in Connecticut to cultivate THC-laden cannabis is likely dead in the water, according to legislators.  "The likelihood of the bill being raised? It's not probable," said Deputy House Speaker Juan Candelaria, D-New Haven. "There's a bunch of us that will make that…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US: Sen. Booker says lawmakers will ‘resurrect’ cannabis banking bill

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) says that lawmakers are working to “resurrect” a package of cannabis reform legislation from the last session, acknowledging that failure to advance a banking fix for the industry “literally means that hundreds of businesses go out of business.” Advocates with the non-profit…

© Peter Kim Dreamstime.com

US (DE): Governor John Carney comments on cannabis legislation

“In the coming days, I will allow House Bill 1 and House Bill 2 to be enacted into Delaware law without my signature. These two pieces of legislation remove all state-level civil and criminal penalties from simple cannabis possession and create a highly regulated industry to conduct recreational cannabis…

© Tomas Hajek Dreamstime.com

US (AR): Lawsuit renews claim that MMJ testing labs are inflating potency

An Arkansas lawsuit in federal court claims that testing labs are inflating the potency numbers of MMJ, making it more expensive. The lawsuit was brought by the same plaintiffs and law firms that had filed a suit in July alleging cannabis testing potency inflation and violation of the Racketeer…

© Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com

Luxembourg: New cannabis legislation hoped to be passed before the Chamber elections

Minister of Health Paulette Lenert recently showed herself confident that a concept for the legalization of cannabis in Luxembourg will soon be presented to the government. According to Minister Lenert, the government council will soon receive details from the pilot project on cannabis legalization. The…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

"Cannabis companies can save millions with one tax code section"

The burgeoning cannabis sector can reap significant tax advantages by using the qualified small business stock rules in Section 1202 of the tax code, which allows investors to exclude the greater of $10 million or 10 times their basis in the stock. But cannabis investors must navigate several…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US: Craft growers head to the Capitol to ask lawmakers to relax regulations

The cannabis industry in Illinois is expanding, with more dispensaries set to open, but some workers are asking lawmakers to fix some of the rules. Representatives of Illinois’s small craft cannabis growers industry came to the Capitol Tuesday, asking for lawmakers to loosen some regulations previously…

© Roxana Gonzalez Dreamstime.com

US (OR): "New test required by Oregon for a common fungus could crush the pre-roll and flower industries"

In HBO’s series The Last of Us, a fungus triggers the end of the world. In real life, it’s testing for a fungus that has Oregon business owners fearing doomsday. On March 1, the Oregon Health Authority implemented new testing rules for cannabis. One of those new tests looks for a mold called aspergillus,…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

US (NJ): State to open applications for $250,000 cannabis equity grant program

On April 20, 2023, in recognition of National Cannabis Awareness Month, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for its Cannabis Equity Grant Program. This marks the first phase of the $10 million dollar program, the Joint Ventures Grant, which is set to provide…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

US (CO): Desert Hot Springs is temporarily cutting its cannabis cultivation tax in half

Desert Hot Springs is giving local cannabis cultivators a tax reduction for the first six months of the year. The Desert Hot Springs City Council approved an ordinance that temporarily lowers cultivation taxes by 50% with a 4-1 vote on Tuesday. Councilmember Jan Pye was the dissenting vote. The council…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US (CA): Humboldt County supervisors OK indoor cultivation petition

On Tuesday, April 18, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors unanimously initiated a step in the direction of modifying the county’s cannabis land use ordinance to allow indoor cultivation within a business district in Southern Humboldt. The board also directed county staff to evaluate business park…

© Psisaa Dreamstime.com

US (VA): Changes coming to hemp industry with newly approved amendments

Virginia’s General Assembly has approved new hemp regulations, with revisions to identical bills from the House and Senate by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, addressing the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) permitted for cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products. Amendments to HB 2294 and SB 903 were approved on…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US (OR): Blumenauer introduces tax reform to remedy “grotesquely unfair treatment” of state-legal cannabis businesses

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, introduced the Small Business Tax Equity Act, which creates an exception to Internal Revenue Code Section 280E to allow marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law to take deductions associated with…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz | Dreamstime.com

US: Cannabis regulators association urges federal action to address hemp-derived product regulation

CANNRA urges federal action to provide a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. These products currently lack federal manufacturing, testing, and labeling requirements, and they pose consumer safety and public health risks. In the absence of federal regulation, state government…

© Igor Shapovalov Dreamstime.com

South Africa: Government seeking public input on cannabis reform

In late 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a historic ruling. In a case involving three cannabis consumers facing cannabis charges, South Africa’s top Court determined that cannabis prohibition “intrudes unjustifiably into their private spheres.” “It will not be a criminal offense for an…

© Pornsawan Baipakdee | Dreamstime.com

New cannabis laws 'could be stopped outside of Guernsey'

Government departments in Guernsey are looking at the possible legalization of cannabis, but any planned laws could be stopped outside of the bailiwick, a senior politician has said. Policy & Resources Committee member Deputy Bob Murray said several departments were examining the issue. But he added any…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

Taiwan: Government openly opposes cannabis decriminalization

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on Saturday reaffirmed the government's strong opposition to legalizing cannabis after activists took to the streets calling for the drug to be decriminalized. Wave Green, a group pushing for the decriminalization of cannabis in Taiwan, staged a demonstration on Ketagalan…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

Zimbabwe: Cannabis growers underestimated costs involved

Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT) founder and chief executive officer Zorodzai Maroveke says cannabis returns can only be determined after a cost analysis because many licensees underestimated the expense of growing the green leaf. In an effort to capitalize on the economic opportunity created by the…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Banks remain wary of cannabis industry

Jason Nelson just wants to get as close to "fairly normalized business banking" as possible. But as the owner of Swade dispensaries and Sinse Cannabis cultivation, that's much harder than it sounds. He's a customer at Triad Bank in St. Louis, one of the few banks in Missouri willing to work with cannabis…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US (WA): Lawmakers set to enact interstate cannabis sales bill

Lawmakers in Washington State are on the cusp of passing legislation that would set the stage for licensed cannabis businesses to be able to engage in cross-border commerce with cannabis companies in other legal states. The state’s House of Representatives approved the bill, SB 5069, in a 71–26 vote on…

© Volodymyrbondarenkosound Dreamstime.com

US (NJ): Regulatory Commission approves 71 licenses

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) approved 71 cannabis licenses and failed to renew Curaleaf’s adult-use cannabis license due to labor and social equity issues. NJCRC Executive Director Jeff Brown said it’s five years since they began expanding the medical cannabis program under Governor Phil…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

US (AK): House bill aims to provide tax relief to Alaska growers

A bill working its way through the Alaska legislature is seeking to provide tax relief to cannabis cultivators in the state. House Bill 119, sponsored by the House Rules Committee, would reduce the tax on raw cannabis from $50 per ounce to $12.50 per ounce for up to five years. The current $50 amount is…

© Ondrej Hajek Dreamstime.com

US: Study suggests retail cannabis often less potent than advertised

The potency of some cannabis products sold by legal retailers may be lower than what is reported on the label, according to a study released Wednesday, as researchers say a discrepancy in labeling could negatively affect the multi-billion-dollar industry. Researchers from the University of Northern…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (PA): Allowing MMJ patients to purchase edible medicine

With over 400,000 Pennsylvanians having an active patient certification to use medical marijuana, ensuring this population has as many options as possible to find relief from their conditions should be a top priority. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) will soon be introducing legislation to expand those options…