Cannabis Policy

Washington cannabis regulators have updated their guidelines for medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the state after the governor issued a statewide shelter-in-place order.

Ohio officials rejected a petition to place a cannabis legalization initiative on the November ballot due to invalid signatures: only 271 of the 1,248 submitted signatures were deemed valid.

The DEA has unveiled a new rule proposal that would finally open up the licensing of new research-grade cannabis cultivators.

Kentucky lawmakers have advanced two pieces of hemp legislation: one would establish CBD label requirements and the other would legalize smokeable hemp products.

The Alabama state Senate has approved a bill to legalize limited access to medical cannabis; the bill now heads to the House, where it faces an uncertain future.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a drug reform bill that will re-classify nearly all drug possession charges from a felony to a misdemeanor.

A recent Iowa poll found for the first time ever that a majority of Iowans, 53 percent, would support the statewide legalization of adult-use cannabis.

The Health and Human Services Committee in Maine has given its approval to new cannabis caregiver regulations that would require potency testing and product labeling.

Two bills aiming to improve veterans’ access to medical cannabis have passed through the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee this week.

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee has blocked a bill to legalize hemp production in the state, likely killing the proposal and ending any hope for passing hemp legalization in 2020.

Lawmakers in South Dakota have reached a hemp legalization deal with Gov. Kristi Noem, who had promised to veto hemp reforms without having funds set aside for costs associated with the plan.

Medical cannabis caregivers in Michigan will lose the ability to transfer or sell products to licensed cannabis growers and/or processors on September 30.

A recent Veterans Affairs memo confirmed that employees of the agency can still be fired for cannabis use, even if they live in states where it has been legalized for personal use.

The launch of Maine’s adult-use cannabis marketplace has been delayed for likely several months, with some officials predicting the first shop will open its doors in June.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday that the IRS faces “significant problems” due to the cash-only nature of the cannabis industry and urged lawmakers to address the issue “one way or another.”

Kentucky state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would not give a pending medical cannabis bill its hearing until he is “OK with it.”

Lawmakers in Florida’s House of Representatives have proposed capping THC at 10% for pediatric medical cannabis patients.

Nebraska activists including state Sen. Anna Wishart (D) are pushing again this year to put a medical cannabis legalization question on the November ballot.

Cannabis activists in Ohio have submitted summary language to officials for a petition that would legalize adult-use language in the state.

A hearing in Connecticut yesterday gave state officials, agencies, and stakeholders a chance to weigh in about the state’s governor-backed legalization bill.

Oregon activists have launched a campaign to decriminalize all drug possession in an effort to reduce unfairly harsh prison sentences and increase addiction treatment possibilities.

Lebanese lawmakers are poised to legalize cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes.

West Virginia lawmakers have approved medical cannabis reforms that would grant access to cannabis flower and edible products to registered patients.

Vermont lawmakers in the House have approved a Senate plan to legalize adult-use cannabis sales; some final deliberations remain, however, before the bill can head to the governor’s desk.