From Our Writers

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.

With multiple EU members looking to legalize cannabis at the national level, the influence of Europe’s cannabis social clubs as the region’s earliest legal retailers is more important than ever.

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.

The California Senate voted last week to decriminalize the possession of psychedelic substances including psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline by individuals aged 21 or older.

The New York Cannabis Control Board voted to settle a lawsuit brought by a Michigan company that has for seven months prevented any new licenses from being awarded in five state regions.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the state’s adult-use legalization bill into law today, making cannabis possession and home cultivation legal starting on August 1 with retail licenses expected sometime next summer.

Hemp building materials like hempcrete, hemp blocks, and hemp-based insulation will be showcased on the National Mall in Washington D.C. as part of the annual Innovative Housing Showcase in June.

Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have received a five-year, $11.6 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to investigate the effects of cannabis on the brains of people who are living with HIV.

New York regulators announced the state will allow cannabis farmers’ markets this summer in an effort to help state cultivators offload their glut of cannabis products.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill last week to implement medical psilocybin legalization and decriminalize the personal use and cultivation of other natural psychedelics; the proposal marks lawmakers’ response to last year’s successful psychedelics legalization voter initiative.