Law Enforcement

Police data from Albany, New York shows that 97 percent of cannabis arrests and tickets targeted Black people — mostly young men — despite Black people representing just under 30 percent of the city’s population.

Due to a recent ruling, the smell of cannabis alone will no longer be grounds for arrest in Maryland. The ruling does not prevent officers from searching a vehicle based on the smell of cannabis, however.

Federal investigators with the FBI and DEA have partnered with Maine State Police to investigate two companies operating in the cannabis space.

The ACLU has uncovered data showing that Latinx people in Maricopa County, Arizona receive on average harsher punishments for simple cannabis possession than Black or white people.

California officials have started issuing tax warrants against unlicensed cannabis retailers throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

After years of encountering garbage and chemicals at unlicensed cannabis cultivation sites, the United States Forest Service has entered a contract with NES Hazmat as part of its cannabis eradication program.

California cannabis operators have accused Border Patrol agents of confiscating cash and legal cannabis products at certain border checkpoints throughout the state.

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility Director and Chief Counsel Jeffrey Ragsdale issued a memo defending the agency’s cannabis investigations by the Antitrust Division, which a whistleblower said were akin to industry “harassment.”

A Justice Department whistleblower is testifying today that AG William Barr’s personal distaste for legalized cannabis has led to nearly one-third of the agency’s Antitrust Division merger investigations.

Portland, Oregon officials are redirecting $12 million from the police department toward helping communities of color; at least $2 million of the funds are derived from local cannabis taxes and fees.

Louisville, Kentucky city officials have permanently banned the use of no-knock police raids. The ordinance is called “Breonna’s Law,” named after 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police in her home during a no-knock narcotics raid.

“Cops,” the long-running reality TV show that glorified U.S. police and reinforced criminal stigmas, has been canceled indefinitely amid growing calls for police reform and heightened accountability.

Congressional Democrats have put forward legislation aimed at addressing systemic racial discrimination by police that includes a ban on no-knock warrants for drug-related crimes.

The Law Enforcement Action Partnership has released recommendations for Congress, local authorities, and the Trump administration for enacting sensible police reforms.

The DEA has requested and received permission to investigate and police people taking part in the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd.

Oregonized Hemp Co. is suing two different sheriffs’ offices claiming that they unlawfully seized and destroyed $2 million worth of the company’s industrial hemp crop.

A Florida judge has ruled in favor of a doctor accused by state investigators of rubber-stamping cannabis patients and of having improper ties to a medical cannabis dispensary.

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

Police in Edmonton, Alberta have targeted more than 100 websites accused of selling unregulated cannabis products.

A former licensed cannabis cultivator in Salinas, California has agreed to a $1.1 million settlement for growing with an expired license and for exceeding their license’s maximum canopy size.

The DEA admitted in a recent report to Congress that state-wide cannabis legalization policies have overall reduced demand in the illicit cannabis market.

Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed records from Weedmaps including information about its listed businesses in California, as well as the company’s ordering service, staff, investors, and accounting.

The Texas Department of Public Safety told law enforcement that state labs won’t be conducting cannabis lab tests for misdemeanor possession cases.