Cannabis Legalization News

A recent UN report noted an uptick in cannabis consumption tied to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as legalization policies around the world.

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina’s House of Representatives during a closed-door meeting decided not to advance the state’s Senate-approved medical cannabis reforms bill.

According to a recent poll, 84% of cannabis consumers and 81% of Americans believe cannabis businesses should meet consistent environmental standards.

A recent MarketsandMarkets report suggests that the global cannabis marketplace will reach $90.4 billion by 2026.

The number of registered medical cannabis patients in the U.S. has quadrupled from 2016 to 2020 and the current total is just over 2.97 million patients, according to a recent study.

More than 58% of Thai citizens are supportive of the government’s recent cannabis reforms which involved removing the plant from the country’s narcotics list and legalizing cannabis cultivation and trade.

The American Medical Association is calling on states that have legalized or decriminalized cannabis to expunge criminal records due to the overbearing impacts on potential physicians’ lives.  

Germany started holding expert hearings this week related to its cannabis legalization plan, which lawmakers expect to finalize by the end of the year.

Thailand has initiated its plan to give one million cannabis plants to its citizens, distributing the first 100 seedlings just one day after legalizing cannabis cultivation and trade.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R) said the state’s medical cannabis bill probably won’t reach the chamber floor for a vote, effectively killing it for the year.

A new survey revealed that 83% of Nebraskans supported the legalization of medical cannabis in 2021 and 2022. 

Thailand has officially legalized the trade and cultivation of cannabis and approved the sale of cannabis-derived products containing under 0.2% THC.

Delaware lawmakers this week failed to override Gov. John Carney’s recent veto of the state’s cannabis legalization bill.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has signed a bill to effectively legalize up to 5mg of THC — including both delta-8 and delta-9 THC — in consumable products.

Ukraine Health Minister Viktor Liashko announced government support for legalizing medical cannabis with a bill that includes more than 50 qualifying conditions.

Bernie Sanders called the U.S. criminal justice system “racist” and “unjust,” and called out the Justice Department for focusing on cannabis instead of white-collar crimes and business offenses.

The North Carolina state Senate approved a bill on Thursday to legalize medical cannabis; the measure moves next to the House of Representatives.

The North Carolina Senate voted to permanently legalize hemp on Tuesday and some lawmakers are set to discuss the legalization of medical cannabis today.

In Indiana, where cannabis use remains illegal even for medical purposes, the legislature has added cannabis policy to its summer study committee agenda.

Virginia lawmakers are looking to create stricter cannabis possession rules despite the state having passed a legalization bill in April 2021.

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws’ campaign to get cannabis legalization on midterm ballots was successful and voters will get to decide on the issue this November.

Georgia Democrats supported the state’s non-binding adult-use question on the midterm primary ballots with 80% in favor and 20% opposed.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) has signed the state’s adult-use legalization bill, making Rhode Island the 19th state in the union to legalize recreational cannabis.

Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) has vetoed his state’s cannabis legalization bill stating he doesn’t believe in “promoting or expanding the use of recreational marijuana.”