Author: News Room

A key Republican lawmaker signaled on Tuesday that he’s interested in reassessing the federal ban that has blocked Washington, D.C. from legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana sales. The comments came at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing in response to testimony from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who said that the congressional appropriations rider that has long prevented her city from implementing adult-use cannabis commerce “has a public safety impact.” “The men and women of the police department are battling gray market cannabis sales daily that, if we had a tax and regulate system, we could implement a more…

Cultivators from throughout North America will gather in one room to network and exchange knowledge on various topics such as pest management, genetic selection and breeding, and discuss solutions to the most crucial problems they face today. Read the full article here

A bill to legalize marijuana in Minnesota could receive its final vote in the House as early as Wednesday now that a conference report has been finalized and signed. Rep. Zack Stephenson (D), the measure’s House sponsor, said late on Tuesday that he signed the 320-page conference report that was processed by non-partisan legislative staff following the final meeting of bicameral negotiators on Monday. As a reminder, the conference committee report needs to sit at the front desk of the House for 12 hours before the House can bring it up for a final vote. It will then go to…

“This will help ensure that all businesses are operating under the same rules and not getting any competitive advantage if they haven’t paid their taxes.” By Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle Cannabis companies will need to prove they’ve paid their state taxes to receive licenses under new rules announced Tuesday. The new policy requested by Gov. Tina Kotek (D) will require marijuana dispensaries to provide certificates from the Department of Revenue indicating that they’ve filed and paid all state taxes or have a payment plan for existing tax debt each time they try to renew their licenses with the Oregon…

The Minnesota legislature has approved large-scale legislation that contains provisions to legalize drug paraphernalia possession, syringe services, residue and testing—a win for harm reduction advocates in the state. As part of a criminal justice and public safety omnibus bill, bicameral lawmakers agreed to a final conference report last week that includes the drug policy reform measures. The Senate passed the report on Friday and the House approved it on Monday in a 69-63 vote, sending it to the governor’s desk. The bill removes language from code that currently criminalizes the possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia. As revised, the new…

“From a health equity perspective, medical cannabis can offer a legal alternative to the expensive medications sometimes utilized by those suffering with insomnia.” By Tom Joyce, The Center Square Insomnia will soon be a qualifying condition to obtain medical marijuana in New Mexico. The state’s Department of Health’s Medical Cannabis Program announced Tuesday that the condition will qualify for enrollment starting in June. The announcement was made at the Medical Cannabis Program’s Medical Advisory Board meeting. “Even though patients may access cannabis without a medical cannabis card through the adult use program, by including insomnia in the list of qualifying…

Within the Sense grow room, Cultivation Manager Rob King slides up along the wall in order not to brush up against the buds. It’s a tight space and reminds me of cultivation facilities I visited before California’s transition to the adult-use marketplace in 2018. That’s not coincidental. This grow, centrally located downtown in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S., San Francisco, was one of the first in California to be city-licensed for cannabis cultivation back in the Proposition 215 era. With a room for plants in veg and two flowering rooms with around 100 lights, the team…

“Over and over again we’ve heard that any solution we’ve proposed needs to put treatment options in front, I believe this…amendment does that.”The Washington Legislature on Tuesday passed a new law to create a gross misdemeanor penalty for drug possession and to build out substance-use treatment programs, marking the end of a tortured two-year legislative journey to reshape how the state treats narcotics. On the first day of a special legislative session called specifically to address the issue, lawmakers passed a new, compromise version of Senate Bill 5536. By Tuesday evening, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) had signed the bill into law,…

“Many of these cash campaign or other donations exceeded $10,000 from federally illegal drug operations.” By Ben Botkin, Oregon Capital Chronicle Two state senators want Oregon U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight’s office to investigate cash donations from cannabis company owners to state politicians. Sens. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, and Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, sent the letter to the U.S. Attorney’s office on Friday. They made the request after reading a Willamette Week article about operators of the La Mota cannabis company giving thousands in cash campaign donations to prominent politicians, including Gov. Tina Kotek and Senate President Rob Wagner and former Secretary of State Shemia…

A Democratic senator says that she wants to see a bipartisan marijuana banking bill amended to include provisions that would allow cannabis businesses to access federal Small Business Administration (SBA) services. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) said on Tuesday that lawmakers “must fully support legally-operating cannabis small businesses, & that means giving them access to [SBA] loans & resources.” We must fully support legally-operating cannabis small businesses, & that means giving them access to @SBAgov loans & resources. That’s why we must include my bill to level the playing field for these small businesses in the bipartisan SAFE Banking Act.https://t.co/sc05geMNds —…