A Maine law requiring medical marijuana dispensaries to be owned by Maine residents has been struck down by the First Circuit Court of Appeals.NPG and High Street Capital argued the residency requirement violates the federal Dormant Commerce Clause because it expressly privileges Maine residents over residents of other states by allowing them to invest in Maine’s marijuana industry.Anything in … [Read more...] about How Maine’s Legal Woes May Impact Your Cannabis Business
Policy & Legal
New York Approved Rules for Recreational Cannabis Applications
Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License (CAURD) licensees will be the first retail dispensaries to open for legal adult-use cannabis sales in the state.Applicants can choose to apply under the qualifying business criteria or the qualifying non profit criteria.Having a significant presence in New York just means that at least 30 percent of the owner must have residency (live in), assets … [Read more...] about New York Approved Rules for Recreational Cannabis Applications
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act One Step Closer to Passing
A much-anticipated Senate bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity has finally been introduced. Just over a year after first unveiling a draft version of the cannabis reform legislation, Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden, and Cory Booker formally filed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) in late July. Favorable Progress Towards Legalization The … [Read more...] about The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act One Step Closer to Passing
New D.C. Legislation Offers Easier Access to Marijuana
The mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser, signed emergency legislation on July 6 that will allow residents to self-certify as medical cannabis patients and access dispensaries without a doctor’s recommendation. This comes a week after the measure was unanimously approved by the District Council. The now-enacted legislation from Councilmembers Kenyan McDuffie and Mary Cheh effectively … [Read more...] about New D.C. Legislation Offers Easier Access to Marijuana
The Latest State Developments
Cannabis laws and regulations change almost every day. With no federal legality or guidance, states are left to determine their own laws, which can be increasingly difficult for marijuana businesses selling to different states. Rhode IslandNorth CarolinaOklahomaSouth DakotaMarylandArkansas & NebraskaMORE Act Passes Which States Have Legalized Marijuana? As of July 2022, 38 states … [Read more...] about The Latest State Developments
Supreme Court Denies Two Medical Marijuana Cases
In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal weighing whether the Controlled Substances Act preempts a state workers' compensation law requiring employers to reimburse an injured worker for medical cannabis expenses. Two Minnesota residents raised their separate challenges after being hurt while working on the job and were denied their case. “Technically, the only … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Denies Two Medical Marijuana Cases
Dispensary Opportunities in Arizona
by Sara Gullickson In January of 2022, Arizona celebrated its one-year anniversary of adult-use cannabis sales, emerging as a top market for industry investors due to its rapid implementation of adult-use sales, which is a three-month timeline versus four years in other markets. The state also saw increased mergers and acquisitions activity, including a $211 Million Acquisition by an … [Read more...] about Dispensary Opportunities in Arizona
SAFE Act Needs Senate Push
On May 12, nearly a quarter of the U.S. Senate signed onto a letter to Congressional leaders, urging them to attach The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Act to a large-scale manufacturing bill that is expected to pass the Senate in the coming months, according to Worcester Magazine. While it was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 19, 2021, it has not been passed in the U.S. … [Read more...] about SAFE Act Needs Senate Push
Why Legal Cannabis is Not Killing the Illegal Market
While there are many added benefits to legalizing marijuana, one of the biggest perks is to eliminate the black market — or, at least that was the plan. A new survey that was taken in Canada and the U.S. found that some cannabis users continue to buy the drug from illegal sources, even years after it is possible to purchase from regulated, legal shops. This is due mainly in part to the fact that … [Read more...] about Why Legal Cannabis is Not Killing the Illegal Market
Delta 8 THC Ruled Generally Legal Under Federal Law
Back in May, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in an opinion that products containing delta-8 THC are generally legal because federal law defines hemp as “any part of” the cannabis plant. This includes all derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids that contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by weight. Depending on who you are in the cannabis industry, this can either be good news or quite … [Read more...] about Delta 8 THC Ruled Generally Legal Under Federal Law