Cannabis Legalization News

Recently introduced legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Delaware contains much of the same language as the state’s failed attempt from last year — this time, however, the proposal lacks home-grow provisions, which may make it easier to accept for certain lawmakers.

With lawmakers having failed to establish adult-use cannabis legislation this session, Senate President Steve Sweeney says he’s planning to put the question to voters via a ballot initiative in the 2020 general election.

Nebraska state senators have tabled medical cannabis legislation, effectively killing it, after hours of debate on the Senate floor and even after the bill’s sponsor agreed to suggested amendments limiting the program’s available products and delivery methods.

Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries announced they will reintroduce the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, which would legalize cannabis nationwide and authorize spending for cannabis crime expungement.

Illinois’ adult-use legalization legislation has been unveiled by state lawmakers; according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the bill will “right historic wrongs” of cannabis prohibition.

A bill to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis has passed the Connecticut Finance Committee and is expected to advance next to the full House floor for consideration.

Florida is the latest state to pass industrial hemp legislation after the 2018 Farm Bill removed federal restrictions on the crop; the bill now moves to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature, though it’s unknown if he intends to sign.

Illinois lawmakers are expected to unveil legislation this week that would legalize and regulate cannabis sales for adults aged 21 or older; Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker already supports the move.

By 2028, the U.S. cannabis market could be worth $41 billion pre-tax, according to analysts at Barclays.

Connecticut lawmakers are hoping for a 20 percent overall tax on adult-use cannabis products with an optional 3 percent tax for local municipalities; the tax plan would keep Connecticut’s cannabis tax on par with neighboring Massachusetts.

The survey also found that 84% of Americans favored cannabis legalization of some form.

California Senator and 2020 presidential hopeful Kamala Harris said during a live-streamed interview on Wednesday that convicted cannabis dealers should be pardoned and given the opportunity to participate in the industry they pioneered.

Canadian LP Canopy Growth has agreed to purchase the multi-state cannabis operator Acreage Holdings for a whopping $3.4 billion — but not until cannabis is federally legalized in the U.S.

A strong majority of British Columbia residents say they are so far satisfied with the federal legalization of cannabis.

Home prices in cities with easy access to adult-use cannabis dispensaries have risen on average by 8.4 percent since 2014.

A Florida House proposal to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis will be refused a hearing, debate, and vote by legislative leaders.

Georgia lawmakers have approved a bill establishing comprehensive medical cannabis reforms; the governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

Legislative leaders had packaged the medical cannabis and recreational bills together hoping to garner more ‘yes’ votes for legalization, but may need to take separate action to benefit medical patients if the adult-use bill continues to flounder.

At least one New York village has announced plans to sue the state government if lawmakers approve statewide legalization legislation.

Guam lawmakers narrowly passed a legalization bill on Wednesday; the bill now goes to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero for her final decision on legalizing cannabis in the U.S. territory.

A vote was expected after the legalization bill passed two legislative committees last week, but a number of dissenting Democratic senators means the vote would fail — for now.

A hemp bill has passed unanimously from the Idaho state House of Representatives to the Senate; lawmakers are anxious for a change in the face of hemp’s recent federal legalization.

New York’s governor has pulled his cannabis legalization plan from the state’s budget, planning instead to let lawmakers address the issue in the next legislative session this summer.

After it passed several key legislative hurdles, New Jersey lawmakers are set to vote on the state’s pending legalization bill as early as next week.