From Our Writers

The U.S. Senate’s long-awaited cannabis legalization bill was finally filed this morning by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The U.S. House passed a package of budget bills including one proposal to allow cannabis TV and radio advertisements in states where cannabis has been legalized.

Several Minnesota towns have banned or are considering bans on cannabis-infused edibles and beverages following the statewide legalization of low-potency THC products.

Medical cannabis patients in Minnesota will be allowed to purchase cannabis-infused gummies and chews starting August 1.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced four public colleges will be splitting $5 million in funding for cannabis-related courses and credential programs.

Indonesia’s highest court upheld the nation’s drug laws, reaffirming that medical cannabis is illegal in a case regarding the treatment of minors with cerebral palsy.

President Joe Biden recently reiterated that he believes nobody should be imprisoned for “the use of marijuana” and said his administration is working on a “crime bill” to address the issue.

Arkansas medical cannabis patients purchased more than $22 million worth of cannabis in June.

An executive order issued by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) last week protects workers from cannabis-related penalties amid a worker shortage.

Oregon’s price-per-pound for cannabis has dropped nearly $1,000 from $5,433 to $4,536 since July, 2021.

Members of the New York City Fire Department will no longer be subject to random drug tests as per a Uniformed Firefighters Association leaked document.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R) stated his objection to cannabis prohibition and emphasized the value of medical cannabis as evidenced by real-world data and research from similarly conservative states.

School districts in Rhode Island will have to develop protocols for providing medical cannabis to students according to a revised regulation by the state departments of Education and Health. 

For the first time in Australia, cannabis use has garnered more support than tobacco use, as reported by a recent National Drug Strategy Household Survey by the Australian Institute of Health.

Lawyers for Brittney Griner read a medical certificate showing she had been recommended medical cannabis by U.S. doctors during a court session in Russia.

The University of New Haven in Connecticut will be offering four online-only cannabis certificate programs developed by board-certified doctors and lawyers.

Some workers at province-run cannabis stores in Quebec have entered an indefinite strike over low pay. The workers are with the Syndicat Canadien de la Fonction Publique, which is affiliated with the largest trade union in the province.

Connecticut has awarded 16 recipients the state’s first social equity commercial cannabis licenses; the licensees still have to pay a $3 million fee and pass a background check before receiving their final licenses. 

Vermont’s hemp program will be operated by the USDA beginning January 1, 2023, but regulatory oversight for hemp testing and hemp-infused products will remain under the purview of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.

California’s Department of Cannabis Control may establish standardized cannabis lab testing methods to combat the prevalence of “lab shopping” within the state industry. 

The National Basketball Association Players Association has entered a multi-year partnership for branded CBD products with Harrington Wellness, a CBD brand founded by former player Al Harrington.

New York regulators, after first refusing to publicly release the letters, have posted cease-and-desist letters sent to 66 retail businesses accused of violating the state’s cannabis regulations.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed a bill to protect banks and insurers who work with medical cannabis companies from state interference.

Democratic senators from four U.S. states sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for his administration to deschedule cannabis and issue pardons to all individuals convicted of non-violent cannabis crimes.