Cannabis Legalization News

Maryland dispensaries sold nearly $85 million worth of cannabis products in July, which was the state’s first month of legal adult-use sales.

Minnesota’s cannabis legalization law took effect today, August 1, making it the 23rd state in the U.S. to legalize cannabis for adults.

The St. Louis Community College is now offering three in-person, for-credit cannabis education courses, while Missouri’s Metropolitan Communication College has launched three not-for-credit online classes in partnership with cannabis education company Green Flower.

The Florida Supreme Court has given state Attorney General Ashley Moody extra time — until August 2 — to challenge a proposed ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis in the Sunshine State.

Ohio cannabis advocates who are seeking to put a legalization question to voters in 2024 came up 679 valid signatures short of their goal. The campaign was given until August 4 to gather the rest of the signatures.

A recent poll found that just 50% of Pennsylvanians support legalizing adult-use cannabis, down from 56% in a survey from last year.

The Ukraine Parliament gave initial approval this week to a medical cannabis legalization proposal. The law still could see additional amendments and must pass a second reading before heading to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature.

During the first week of sales after the July 1 launch of Maryland’s adult-use cannabis market, dispensaries in the state sold nearly $21 million worth of product.

A proposal to legalize medical cannabis in North Carolina is likely dead for the session, according to the state’s Republican House Speaker Tim Moore.

The draft bill for Germany’s upcoming adult-use cannabis legalization bill was revealed last week by the Ministry of Health.

Under a bipartisan cannabis legalization proposal unveiled in Pennsylvania last week, adults 21+ would be allowed to possess and purchase cannabis products. The proposal also contains expungement provisions for nonviolent cannabis criminal convictions.

Ohio cannabis advocates with the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol say they have collected enough signatures to put a legalization question before voters.

Adult-use cannabis sales took effect in Maryland over the weekend on July 1, about eight months after voters passed the state’s cannabis legalization initiative.

Luxembourg this week became the second European Union member nation to legalize adult-use cannabis. Under the new law, adults can home-grow up to four cannabis plants and publicly possess up to three grams of cannabis flower.

Florida’s attorney general asked the state Supreme Court to disqualify a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, arguing the ballot summary is “misleading to voters.”

Adults aged 21 and older in Connecticut can grow their own cannabis plants for personal use starting Saturday, July 1. Under state law, individuals will be allowed to grow up to three mature and three immature plants with a maximum of 12 plants per household.

A 64% majority of adult Californians remain supportive of the state’s cannabis legalization policy, according to a recent Public Policy Institute of California survey.

Anti-cannabis advocates including the Cannabis Impact Prevention Coalition, the Cannabis Industry Victims Seeking Justice, and eight individuals associated with the groups this week filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court seeking to overturn the state’s cannabis legalization law.

Colombian lawmakers voted 47-43 in favor of federally allowing adult-use cannabis sales but, per Colombia’s constitution, the proposal requires more than a simple majority, and it ultimately failed to pass the chamber.

Antigua and Barbuda has authorized Rastafari to grow and consume cannabis as their faith considers the plant sacred. PM Gaston Browne said the reforms would prevent further religious discrimination.

A Pennsylvania proposal would urge the federal government to remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, noting that medical cannabis reforms have been enacted in 38 U.S. states and four territories while 21 states, two territories, and Washington D.C. have passed adult-use laws.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives clarified after Minnesota’s recent legalization of adult-use cannabis that cannabis consumers are considered “unlawful users” of a controlled substance, and are therefore banned from owning or possessing firearms.

The campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida via a voter initiative has secured enough signatures to put the issue on the state ballot.

The Florida Supreme Court signaled it will review the legal challenge brought against the state’s upcoming adult-use cannabis ballot proposal by state Attorney General Ashley Moody.