Author: Marijuana Moment

[ad_1] “You have to ask yourself—if it’s that competitive on the microbusiness licenses, then really what’s going on?” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Veterans John and Kara Grady received a Facebook message last week from a man who was “looking for a female veteran to be part of our dispensary license.” Being a veteran is one of the seven categories that makes people eligible to win one of the state’s social-equity marijuana licenses, called “microbusiness licenses.” The other categories range from having a lower income or living in an area considered impoverished to having past arrests or incarcerations related to…

[ad_1] “The legal cannabis cultivation industry is relatively new in the United States, and it is different from all previously analyzed agricultural industries.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent A push by workers in a St. Louis marijuana facility to form a union could have national ramifications on labor law, with the company hoping to block their effort by asking the federal government to intervene. At issue is a group of “post-harvest workers” at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse cultivation facility in St. Louis. They have been trying to form a union since September but have thus far been blocked by their employer’s…

[ad_1] “You still have a large group that still looks at cannabis as the gateway drug where there’s no medicinal benefits.” By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix As the campaign to get recreational cannabis legalized in Florida moves into its next phase, opponents and advocates of the proposal are operating under the same premise: The measure is likely to receive at least majority support by the voters in November. But that’s not good enough in the Sunshine State, which requires more than 60 percent to pass a constitutional ballot measure. Only three states in the country have passed ballot measures on…

[ad_1] “The state cannot be thwarted in its effort to enforce public policy and protect the public interest.” By Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that state marijuana regulators were within their authority to deny a cultivation business license to a company that failed to include proper paperwork with its application. Mo Cann Do Inc. applied for a cultivation license to grow marijuana in 2019. The company was denied when the state said it didn’t include a certification of good standing from the Missouri secretary of state’s office in its application. However, the company argues…

[ad_1] “The medical cannabidiol program actually puts an individual with a doctor to get these products, that’s the biggest distinction.” By Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) a bill Tuesday that tightens Iowa’s laws and regulations on consumable hemp products as the products become more widely available. Senators also passed a bill doubling the maximum number of licenses available for medical cannabis dispensaries. House File 2605, passed on a 31-18 vote, would put a limit of four milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving in consumable hemp products, as well as a 10 mg…

[ad_1] “The commission has awarded licenses three times now, and they’re still in court.” By Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector An Alabama Senate bill filed Tuesday would significantly increase the number of medical marijuana production licenses amid a months-long legal dispute over the process of awarding existing licenses. SB 276, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions (R), would increase the maximum number of dispensary licenses from four to seven; require the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to issue 15 licenses for integrated facilities, or businesses that can grow, process and distribute medical cannabis; and increase the maximum number of processor licenses from…

[ad_1] “Such a conclusion in this case would mean that a state could also legalize other controlled substances such as heroin…in disregard of federal law.” By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor A federal judge could decide soon whether to dismiss a lawsuit Jersey City filed against the state over claims that state officials are forcing the city to violate federal law by allowing police officers to use cannabis off duty. The city has been fighting the state in federal court since the state Civil Service Commission ordered the city to reinstate two officers it had fired for using cannabis. Though the city lost…

[ad_1] “Success of this policy framework hinges on the ability of implementing partners to commit to deep coordination at all levels.” By Ben Botkin, Oregon Capital Chronicle Gov. Tina Kotek (D) on Monday signed into law the sweeping measure the Oregon Legislature passed to combat the state’s fentanyl drug addiction and overdose crisis. Kotek previously had said she would sign House Bill 4002, which was a centerpiece proposal of the short session. The law puts in place a new misdemeanor penalty for possession of small amounts of hard drugs, with opportunities for defendants to avoid jail if they enroll in programs…

[ad_1] “We’re just in complete amazement that this stuff just can be out there without any of these checks and balances.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high. It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids. But much has changed since hemp was taken off the controlled substance list in 2018 by the last U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act, more commonly known as the farm bill. Now state regulators can barely keep up with…

[ad_1] “The social equity excise fee is more than just a financial measure. It’s a step towards rectifying the injustices inflicted by the war on drugs.” By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor As the state mulls how to spend the revenue generated from a social equity tax on cannabis, marijuana advocates say they want more funding for business programs, investments in communities hurt by the war on drugs and access to legal counsel, both for entrepreneurs and people leaving prison. The fee, required by the state’s marijuana legalization law, is imposed on cannabis cultivators and fluctuates based on sales. It…

[ad_1] “I think considering the fact that these individuals should never have been prosecuted were it not for these unjust laws in the first place, I think that taking care of that automatically is the least we can do.” By Emma Davis, Maine Morning Star With marijuana legal in Maine for several years now, lawmakers are in favor of allowing people to have marijuana-related criminal records sealed, though it would be something they would have to apply for. On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted in favor of LD 2236, which would add convictions for marijuana possession and cultivation to…

[ad_1] “We have not been provided with specific reasons or justifications for the revocation, leaving us in a position where we must take appropriate action.” By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri cannabis regulators have revoked nine of the 48 social-equity cannabis licenses issued in October, after finding the companies that obtained them didn’t meet eligibility requirements. Eight were dispensaries linked to out-of-state groups and one was a wholesale facility. Among them is Canna Zoned, a Michigan company that secured two of the 16 dispensary cannabis licenses—in Columbia and Arnold. Both licenses were revoked. State records show Canna Zoned was connected…