Cannabis Legalization News

South Africa Cabinet officials have advanced a bill legalizing the adult use of cannabis; the measure comes three years after a High Court ruling declared that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional.

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith has proposed a federal legalization bill that would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and grant regulatory authority of the plant to the Food and Drug Administration.

Arizona Gov. Doug Rucey said the state’s ballot initiative to legalize cannabis is “a bad idea based on false promises” and that he will vote against the measure.

Despite overwhelming public support, the Democratic Party will not include federal cannabis legalization as a part of its platform in the 2020 election.

A poll of New Jersey voters found that 68% of respondents plan to vote in favor of legalizing cannabis for adult use this November.

Anti-cannabis activists in Arizona are suing to prevent the state’s voter initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis from appearing on the November ballot, arguing that the petition summary didn’t give voters the full picture.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana have submitted over 182,000 signatures in support of a statewide legalization ballot initiative; the campaign only needs 121,000 of those signatures to be validated to secure the initiative’s spot on the ballot.

Arizona cannabis advocates have submitted 420,000 petition signatures for putting a cannabis legalization initiative on the November ballot; the campaign only needs 237,645 valid signatures to qualify.

The latest Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans consider smoking cannabis to be “morally acceptable.”

Unlicensed cannabis producers in British Columbia earned about $1.24 billion last year, while licensed B.C. companies earned just $765 million.

Israeli lawmakers have advanced two cannabis legalization bills to the country’s top legislative body.

Multiple pro-cannabis candidates in Minnesota appear to be Republicans running on progressive legalization platforms in an effort to siphon Democrat votes in the coming election.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has legalized hemp; the island U.S. territory must next submit its hemp regulations plan to the USDA for final approval.

The Bermuda government wants public feedback on its cannabis legalization proposal, which includes new business licenses and the creation of a regulatory body dedicated to the new industry.

Israeli lawmakers say they will advance legislation for broad cannabis legalization; the proposal would allow for cannabis use, purchases, and possession by people aged 21+.

Cannabis supporters in Arkansas can now accept electronic signatures in their campaign to put the legalization question on November’s ballot.

The Red Lake Nation in Minnesota has approved sweeping medical cannabis reforms are much more lenient and inclusive than the state program.

The Red Lake Nation tribe in Minnesota will vote on medical cannabis legalization this Wednesday; if approved, it would be the state’s only program that includes access to cannabis flower.

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama said that lawmakers there are prepared to federally legalize medical cannabis this session.

A Pennsylvania poll shows that only 9 percent of GOP voters would vote against a lawmaker who supported cannabis legalization; one-third of Republicans “would enthusiastically support” a pro-cannabis candidate.

Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler has introduced an unlikely cannabis legalization proposal that would allow for eight-plant home grows, social use, and the expungement of most cannabis convictions.

Andi Novick and Brian Farmer are board members for New York Small Farma, a cannabis community group lobbying for regenerative and sustainable cannabis farming in the state of New York.

The Dr. Bronners soap company announced it has contributed $1 million to the psilocybin therapy legalization campaign in Oregon.

New Zealand has unveiled the cannabis legalization plan that voters will decide on later this year; the proposal would set the legal consumption age at 20, would allow for so-called ‘coffee shops,’ and would permit home grows.