Cannabis Legalization News

Mexico health officials have published rules for the country’s medical cannabis industry and President Andres Manuel López Obrador approved regulations letting pharmaceutical companies conduct medical cannabis research.

New Jersey’s cannabis deal appears to have fallen flat after lawmakers pulled a piece of compromise legislation that was requested by Gov. Phil Murphy before signing into law the state’s legalization plan.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has once again stated the state will legalize cannabis in the coming legislative session.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued an executive order on Friday contending that the cannabis legalization initiative passed by voters in November violated the state’s constitution.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Montana’s commissioner of political practices is ordering the North Fund, a group who donated millions to the state’s cannabis legalization efforts, to reveal the source of their funding.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s office has submitted court arguments slamming a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s massively successful bid to legalize medical cannabis.

Rhode Island’s medical cannabis applications are in and the license lottery is set for sometime in 2021. Only six applicants will be selected.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is delaying his signature on the state’s pending legalization and decriminalization bills due to a technical issue that shields minors from cannabis-related penalties.

U.S. cannabis sales increased 67 percent in 2020 to $17.9 billion, which is $7.2 billion more than last year’s total.

Experts predict that cannabis legalization in Virginia could generate up to $1.2 billion in annual economic activity for the state.

New Jersey lawmakers have approved legislation for the legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis, sending the bill to the governor’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law.

Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried is calling for cannabis legalization in the state and fielding donations based on advancing the legalization issue.

Lawmakers in South Carolina have pre-filed multiple bills aimed at reforming the state’s cannabis laws including two medical cannabis legalization proposals, a decriminalization proposal, and others.

Arizona regulators released the first draft rules for the state’s adult-use cannabis marketplace. The license application period is set to open on January 19.

Mexican lawmakers are requesting an extension to their December 15 deadline to pass a cannabis legalization law. The bill as it stands would allow for possession up to 28 grams, home cultivation, a legal market, and the expungement of some prior cannabis crimes.