From Our Writers

Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema has officially introduced her plan to ban cannabis sales to tourists and foreigners in the city.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has requested $5 million to help boost the state’s cannabis entrepreneurs and social equity businesses.

Cannabis regulators in Oregon issued an immediate recall after an extract product failed pesticide testing. The contaminated cannabis originated from a medical grower whose product was transferred to the adult-use industry.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced during his State of the State address on Wednesday that he will work to legalize cannabis during the 2021 legislative session.

A Nebraska state senator has proposed a measure that would let voters decide whether or not to legalize cannabis via a constitutional amendment in 2022.

Anticipating accelerated cannabis reforms around the country, Curaleaf Holdings yesterday announced an offering of 16.5 million subordinate voting shares at C$16.70 per share.

Following narrow victories by Georgia’s two Democratic candidates for the Senate during this week’s runoff election, Democrats are expected to take control of the U.S. Senate in 2021, opening up the MORE Act and other federal cannabis bills to a vote.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has renewed his call for legalizing cannabis in the state and announced a proposal for creating an Office of Cannabis Management.

Cannabis activists and lobbyists in Washington state are predicting a busy legislative session this year. Already, bills are planned to address the state’s lack of cannabis homegrows, undo the excise tax on medical cannabis, and more.

Montana lawmakers have rejected a $1.35 million budget proposal for implementing the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis industry; the move could spell delays for the program’s implementation.

The State Bar of South Dakota said in its latest newsletter that attorneys in the state are not allowed to provide legal services to cannabis industry clients.

Heeding the requests of Gov. Phil Murphy — who said he would not sign the state’s legalization law without it — lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced a bill containing penalties for underage cannabis possession.

Veterinarians in Michigan are now allowed to discuss the use of cannabis and industrial hemp products with clients under a bill that was signed into law last week.

Combined adult-use and medical cannabis sales in Illinois surpassed $1 billion during 2020. The state’s adult-use market launched last January.

The UFCW California chapter and Have-a-Heart dispensaries in Oakland and Santa Cruz have reached a back pay settlement of $75,000 for workers who missed out on union raises.

Republican Missouri State Rep. Shamed Dogan has proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize and regulate cannabis; the proposal would leave the legalization question up to voters during the 2022 election.

A New Mexico district court judge has ruled in favor of a cannabis patient who argued he should be allowed to use his doctor-recommended medical cannabis while in state custody.

The Illinois State Police and Gov. J.B. Pritzker together cleared over 500,000 cannabis-related criminal records on New Year’s Eve.

Activists with Montco NORML have started using old newspaper bins to distribute pardon applications for cannabis convictions throughout Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Between multiple state legalization wins and the election of a hesitantly pro-reform presidential candidate, the 2020 election solidified a stronger future for the US cannabis industry.

K-12 students at next year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show will learn about plastics made from sustainable materials including hemp. The “Cultivating Tomorrow”-themed show will be held virtually from January 9-16.

An Illinois judge has ruled against an effort by the Illinois Craft Cannabis Association to force the licensing of craft cannabis businesses in the state after many months of delay from the coronavirus pandemic.

Pennsylvania has awarded a $2 million grant to Pure Penn, a cannabis brand owned by Florida’s Trulieve, to expand its facility in McKeesport.

Adult-use cannabis sales could commence in Arizona by March with existing medical cannabis dispensaries getting the first licenses, followed by 26 social equity licenses.