Legalization

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers are sparring over cannabis revenues and the governor’s plan to legalize as part of the state budget bill.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has again included legalization tax revenues in his official budget for the year; Cuomo did the same last year, although the state ultimately failed to adopt legalization reforms.

West Virginia Del. Sammi Brown has re-proposed legislation to decriminalize cannabis possession and legalize the home growing of cannabis by adults at least 21 years old.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) called for adult-use legalization in 2020, saying it would “create 11,000 new jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.”

A Florida group collecting signatures for an adult-use legalization ballot initiative has called off its 2020 push; meanwhile, however, an adult-use legalization bill was filed in the legislature.

Different polls in New Mexico found opposite results when weighing the state’s enthusiasm for cannabis legalization. Lawmakers are meeting to discuss potential reforms next week.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his pledge to legalize cannabis during his 2020 State of the State address this week.

Labor unions have identified the cannabis industry as an opportunity to boost membership and are pushing for progressive cannabis reforms that emphasize equity and fair labor practices.

South Dakota’s Secretary of State’s office has validated a ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis for the 2020 November election season.

The Brown County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office has reportedly made the state’s first cannabis arrest since the January 1 legalization launch date.

During the first day of legal sales in Illinois, dispensaries in the state generated nearly $3.2 million from cannabis.

Illinois’ adult-use cannabis market launches today, January 1, 2020. It is the first state-legal cannabis market resulting from action by lawmakers, not the voters.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has outlined a sweeping plan to end cannabis prohibition and address issues including social equity in the future industry and keeping major corporations out of the picture.

Fearing that legalization would disrupt the existing resources that medical cannabis patients rely on, activists have withdrawn their petition for adult-use cannabis in Oklahoma.

Sensible Florida, one of Florida’s two campaigns pushing to put the cannabis legalization question on the 2020 ballot, has announced the suspension of their campaign.

New York Gov. Cuomo has hired Norman Birenbaum — who previously served as the top cannabis regulator in Rhode Island — to help oversee New York’s transition to legal cannabis, which lawmakers say is a priority for next year.

Illinois lawmakers promised that patients will be given priority access to state-legal cannabis products once the legal market comes online; the notice was made in anticipation of product shortages immediately following legalization.

New Jersey lawmakers have officially approved legislation that will allow voters to decide whether or not to legalize cannabis for adult use during the 2020 General Election.

Cannabis activists in North Dakota have submitted language for a legalization ballot initiative to the secretary of state; if approved, the group will need to collect 13,452 signatures by July 6 to put the issue on the 2020 ballot.

New Zealand citizens will get to choose next year whether or not to legalize adult-use cannabis; lawmakers there just revealed parts of their legalization plan if the vote were to pass.

Separate New Hampshire Senate committees have pushed back against cannabis reform legislation, effectively killing the state’s legalization opportunities for 2020.

Gov. Albert Bryan of the U.S. Virgin Islands is considering adult-use cannabis legalization as a means of reinforcing the Government Employees’ Retirement System with $20 million in annual tax revenue.

As the first piece of federal legislation that would end cannabis prohibition to make it through committee, the MORE Act deserves a closer look; unfortunately, the bill is expected to be dead on arrival if it ever reaches the Senate.

The Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming is pursuing a plan to legalize hemp and medical cannabis in an effort to diversify the Wind River Reservation economy and offer alternative medical treatments.