Licensing

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) this week introduced two non-negotiables to any adult-use cannabis rules in the state: a 15-store cap statewide and a ban on lobbying and political contributions by cannabis licensees.

The New York Cannabis Control Board this week approved a settlement in a lawsuit brought by military veterans that has prevented more than 400 adult-use cannabis dispensaries from moving forward in the state.

Following a recent Georgia Court of Appeals ruling, state cannabis regulators are finally issuing medical cannabis licenses after a more than two-year legal fight.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission this week reached a settlement with license applicants to address most of the issues highlighted by the multiple lawsuits against the agency.

Oklahoma has extended its moratorium on new medical cannabis licenses until 2026, or until “all pending licensing reviews, inspections or investigations are complete.”

Missouri cannabis regulators have revoked the license of cannabis company Delta Extractions, which in August was the subject of a near-63,000 product recall.

The first round of Maryland’s adult-use cannabis licensing process is open; state law requires the first round of licenses to be set aside for social equity applicants.

Oklahoma cannabis regulators are seeking to revoke the licenses of 165 medical cannabis cultivators for failing to post signage on their property as required under a bill from last year.

Washington D.C. regulators have kicked off the third licensing round for the District’s medical cannabis program expansions; the licensing round aims to address the issue of unlicensed operators, including those that operate on the “weed-gifting” business model.

Following a summer of starts and stops — and many lawsuits — the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is now aiming to get industry licenses awarded by December 12, with products available in the spring.

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management has stopped the administrative trial process for businesses accused of retailing cannabis without a license.

New Mexico regulators revoked the license of Albuquerque-based cannabis business Golden Roots — which does business as Cannabis Revolution Dispensary — after finding that the company illegally obtained and transported its cannabis products.

Alabama cannabis regulators are resetting the cannabis license application process for the third time; under the new rules, applications will be reconsidered by state officials but applicants will also be able to give a presentation explaining why they should receive a license.

The general cannabis licensing window in New York opens today amid an ongoing injunction on the state’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail program. The 60-day licensing window is available for hopeful cannabis cultivators, processors, distributors, retailers, and micro operators.

The New York Office of Cannabis Management has removed a video from its YouTube channel that contained heated criticisms of the state’s adult-use cannabis program roll-out. Regulators said they are planning to re-upload the video.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit that challenges medical cannabis business fee hikes in the state, arguing that the licensing fees — despite the lawsuit’s claims — are not considered an illegal tax.

Chicago, Illinois City Council members are considering a proposal to only allow businesses that hold a state-issued cannabis license to sell products containing hemp-derived THC, including delta-8, delta-10, and THC-O.

In the third lawsuit brought against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission over its handling of the medical cannabis application process, Medella LLC is accusing the agency of wrongfully implying that one of the company’s owners or senior directors had a criminal record.

New York officials are planning to open general cannabis industry applications starting October 4; the official licensing window will follow a lawsuit-ridden and largely unsuccessful social equity licensing process.

Maryland officials have released the state’s social equity applicant criteria, including an interactive map to define what qualifies as Disproportionately Impacted Areas.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission on Thursday issued an administrative stay on its medical cannabis licensing process. The move comes after the state has already twice bungled the cannabis licensing process.

A New York Supreme Court Judge on Tuesday reversed their decision to partly lift an injunction that would have let 30 cannabis businesses move forward with their opening plans, reimposing a hold on all cannabis licensing activity.

Alabama cannabis regulators said they will “start back at square one” in the medical cannabis licensing process after a lawsuit claimed the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission had violated the state’s Open Meetings Act.

A New York judge partly lifted the injunction against state regulators issuing new cannabis licenses, allowing 30 licensees who have been deemed ready by the Cannabis Control Board to move forward; however, 400 cannabis licenses remain in limbo.