Regulations

Louisiana state representatives last week rejected an outright ban on the state’s burgeoning hemp products industry. Instead, state senators passed a House-approved proposal to increase restrictions on products containing hemp-derived THC.

Chris Alexander, the inaugural executive director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management, resigned last week following criticisms by Gov. Kathy Hochul against the agency and its roll-out of the adult-use cannabis industry.

A key Delaware House committee has advanced a proposal to allow early adult-use cannabis sales by letting medical dispensaries service adult-use customers; some industry advocates say the move would be giving certain businesses an unfair advantage.

The owner of seven unlicensed New York cannabis shops has been fined $15.2 million, including $7 million in disgorgement fines and $8.2 million in penalties for operating without a license, ignoring multiple notices by officials, and selling cannabis to underage customers.

A dispensary in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit against the state Cannabis Control Commission over rules that prohibit the transport of cannabis products by boat across the Vineyard Sound to the island.

The California State Assembly has approved legislation to let cannabis cafes serve food and non-alcoholic beverages and host live events including music and other performances. The bill moves next to the Senate.

Several dozen municipalities in Ohio have opted for at least temporary bans on adult-use cannabis companies as the state’s upcoming cannabis program prepares for a potential launch in June.

While Texas lawmakers consider banning certain hemp-derived cannabinoids, Hometown Hero — an Austin-based company retailing hemp THC and CBD products — has announced the launch of the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), a new nonprofit hemp industry trade group.

After regulations to let Ohio’s medical cannabis dispensaries begin serving adult-use customers passed a key legislative committee this week, the state’s adult-use cannabis market could potentially launch ahead-of-schedule in June.

The executive director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management will step down in September as the state looks to adjust its cannabis regulatory approach, the governor announced last week.

Vermont officials have issued a recall for all cannabis products from Holland Cannabis Co. due to potential exposure to the fungicide myclobutanil.

The largest cannabis trade association in Illinois is calling for lawmakers to ban the sale of hemp-derived delta-8 THC products as the products — which are currently unregulated — compete directly with the state’s cannabis operators.

Ohio is one step closer to launching its adult-use cannabis marketplace after state regulators last week released their latest draft rules for the industry, which cover retail-focused provisions including online sales and curbside pick-up and industry-wide mandatory waste disposal practices.

A recent court ruling in favor of cannabis technology firm Leafly found New York’s cannabis marketing and advertising regulations to be unconstitutional, striking down the regulations in the latest blow to the state’s adult-use program.

New York cannabis regulators voted last week to approve 114 new cannabis industry licenses and waive the licensing fees for all conditional cannabis cultivators for the next two years.

Nearly 72% of Canadian cannabis consumers said in a recent survey that they purchase their cannabis exclusively from legal sources, primarily citing concerns about the safety of unregulated products and the convenience of the legal market.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has ordered an extensive audit of the state’s cannabis regulations and the botched roll-out of the adult-use industry.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes ruled that hemp-derived delta-8 THC cannabis products cannot be sold by companies that do not hold an adult-use cannabis license.

Connecticut lawmakers have advanced a proposal giving the state attorney general and law enforcement officials more power to penalize and shut down shops that illegally sell THC products. The bill will be considered next on the House floor.

Canada is raising regulatory fees for cannabis operators to align with the nation’s 4.4% inflation rate, impacting various license application and annual fees to support the regulation of its legal cannabis market.

Kentucky has partnered with Metrc for its first track-and-trace contract in the medical cannabis program, aiming to ensure regulatory compliance and safeguard patient health as the state prepares for the program’s launch.