TG Branfalt

Antigua and Barbuda has authorized Rastafari to grow and consume cannabis as their faith considers the plant sacred. PM Gaston Browne said the reforms would prevent further religious discrimination.

The Rhode Island Judiciary has so far expunged 23,000 cannabis possession criminal records under the state’s adult-use cannabis legalization bill, which was signed into law over a year ago.

New Mexico officials have rolled out a new cannabis public education campaign for the state, centered around the phrase: “Yes – cannabis is legal. Know – the rules.”

The Teamsters Local 777 union in Chicago has filed additional Unfair Labor Practice charges against Green Thumb Industries, the parent company of RISE dispensaries, adding new allegations to an ongoing labor dispute.

A federal House proposal introduced on Tuesday would promote cannabis research at U.S. universities and eliminate federal barriers to cannabis research.

A Washington D.C. judge ruled this week that a medical cannabis patient who smokes in his apartment must stop following a neighbor’s complaint that the odor caused a nuisance in her apartment.

Cannabis compliance and financial services company Green Check Verified announced the acquisition of Komplyd, a compliance-focused cannabis business applications platform.

A federal judge this week ordered Republic Brands, the makers of OCB rolling papers, to pay $1.5 million to HBI International, the parent company behind RAW rolling papers, for copyright and trade dress infringement.

The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this week to enact a three-year moratorium on the awarding of new cannabis business licenses.

A Pennsylvania proposal would urge the federal government to remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, noting that medical cannabis reforms have been enacted in 38 U.S. states and four territories while 21 states, two territories, and Washington D.C. have passed adult-use laws.

The 2023 Louisiana Survey by LSU found that 70% of Louisianans support allowing adults to possess small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

Kerry Farms, an Illinois-based hemp and medical cannabis cultivator, will receive nearly $480,000 in grants from the state to build chargers for electric vehicles.

Clinton County Community College in Plattsburgh, New York announced it has partnered with Green Flower to offer three new certificate courses covering cannabis manufacturing, cultivation, and retail.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill to legalize the online sale of cannabis products. Under the new law, customers must provide proof of age and purchases must be picked up in person.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives clarified after Minnesota’s recent legalization of adult-use cannabis that cannabis consumers are considered “unlawful users” of a controlled substance, and are therefore banned from owning or possessing firearms.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill last week to extend the state’s provisional cannabis cultivation and processing licenses in response to the continued delays of New York’s adult-use marketplace.

The California Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill to allow cannabis cafes in the state.

The campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida via a voter initiative has secured enough signatures to put the issue on the state ballot.

Multistate cannabis operator Trulieve announced on Thursday it will “wind down” its Massachusetts-based operations as part of its broader plan to “preserve cash and improve financial performance.”

Cronos Group Inc. announced this week it will end its hemp-based CBD operations in the U.S. by the end of Q2 2023, aiming to improve company flash flow “in the near term” and position for entering the U.S. national THC market after the necessary reforms have taken place.

The Florida Supreme Court signaled it will review the legal challenge brought against the state’s upcoming adult-use cannabis ballot proposal by state Attorney General Ashley Moody.

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that some cannabis distribution convictions are eligible for expungement under the state’s adult-use legalization law.

New Hampshire lawmakers have dropped their efforts to legalize cannabis via a state-control model that was backed by Gov. Chris Sununu, who generally opposes legalization.

Illinois’ latest budget proposal would eliminate the state’s conformity with IRS Code 280E, allowing state-licensed cannabis companies to take some normal business deductions.