Cannabis Legalization News

Lawmakers in South Dakota are still considering rules and regulations for a legal cannabis market in case the recent court decision blocking the state’s voter-backed legalization bid is successfully appealed.

A South Dakota judge has ruled in favor of nullifying a cannabis legalization constitutional amendment approved by voters last November. The dispute moves next to the state’s Supreme Court.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) revealed his anticipation of cannabis legalization in the state after including revenue from legal cannabis taxes in his 2021-2022 budget proposal.

The Idaho Senate approved a measure to constitutionally ban any statewide legalization of non-pharmaceutical psychoactive drugs (including cannabis). The proposal still has to pass the House in a two-thirds vote and would then move to voters via a ballot initiative next year.

A bill to legalize medical cannabis in Alabama has advanced from the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee.

Minnesota Democrats are cranking up their efforts to enact sensible cannabis reforms with Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler calling adult-use legalization a “mainstream, bipartisan, broadly supported issue.”

New Mexico lawmakers have pre-filed two cannabis legalization bills for the coming session. Each measure would essentially do the same thing but differ on operational and enforcement details.

Kansas Gov. Kelly Chambers (D) has proposed adopting medical cannabis legalization in the state and using funds from the program to pay for expansions to Medicaid.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Cory Booker and Ron Wyden have announced the forming of a Senate coalition dedicated to legalizing cannabis at the federal level.

Lawmakers in Idaho are set to consider a bipartisan bill to legalize medical cannabis even after a proposal to constitutionally ban all psychoactive drugs (including cannabis) was advanced from the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Lawmakers in the New Jersey Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee have approved a piece of so-called “clean-up” legislation aimed at getting Gov. Phil Murphy to approve the state’s voter-backed legalization plan.

Cannabis industry analytics firm Headset released a new report estimating the annual value of Mexico’s legalized cannabis market at about $843.7 million.

New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in her State of the State address on Tuesday.

Minnesota Sen. Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R) said he has no plans to work toward cannabis legalization this year and that such reforms aren’t “right for the state.”

A recent state auditor report found that Delaware could net up to $43 million in annual cannabis tax revenue if the state were to legalize cannabis.

Adult-use cannabis sales have started in Arizona, making it the quickest state so far to move from voter approval to a fully-fledged recreational marketplace.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is reportedly discussing the prospects of legalizing adult-use cannabis with multiple state agencies.

A bill filed by Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes seeks to allow adult-use cannabis sales in the state’s already-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries.

Cannabis dispensaries in Arizona could start serving adult-use customers within a day or two, about two months after voters there embraced full legalization.

The Compassionate Care Act in South Carolina, which aims to legalize medical cannabis in the state, has garnered new support from several powerful state Senators this year.

Idaho state Sen. Scott Grow (R) proposed legislation on Monday that would add the prohibition of cannabis and other psychoactive drugs to the state’s constitution, making legalization and other reforms more difficult.

Indiana state Sen. Karen Tallian has proposed two bills aimed at significant cannabis reforms, including the legalization of adult-use cannabis and the creation of a new “Cannabis Compliance Commission.”

The French government has launched a public consultation to ask citizens about their views on cannabis legalization and to determine which government policies the people would prefer.

A recent study found that adult-use cannabis legalization may lead to increased junk food sales.