Cannabis Legalization News

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health announced the launch of its Cannabis Research Center, which will assess the impact of adult-use legalization and help inform future cannabis policies.

The Florida Supreme Court seems poised to allow an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal to be put to voters next year, seemingly rejecting arguments by the state Attorney General Ashley Moody that the initiative violates the state’s single-subject rule on ballot questions.

South African lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill to legalize the personal use of cannabis. The measure does not legalize cannabis sales, meaning if individuals want to consume it legally, they have to grow it.

The Australian Medical Association says that while it supports certain cannabis decriminalization policies, it is opposing a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis due to the potential for increased “health and social-related harms.”

The latest Gallup poll found record-high support for the federal legalization of adult-use cannabis, with 70% of U.S. adults supporting the reforms.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has called upon the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to make changes to the state’s voter-approved cannabis legalization measure before it takes effect on December 7.

Ohio voters opted to legalize adult-use cannabis during Tuesday’s election. Under the new law, adults aged 21+ can purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and grow plants at home.

The Pennsylvania House Subcommittee on Health Care heard arguments from citizens and medical experts relating to the legalization of adult-use cannabis. The issue could see a House vote sometime next year.

Recent research suggests that legalizing adult-use cannabis in Ohio would likely generate about $260 million in “net benefits for society,” ranging from between $200 million in net costs and $1.9 billion in net benefits.

Recent research suggests that home values in states with adult-use cannabis laws have outpaced home values in other states by nearly $49,000 from 2014 to 2023.

Recent polling found that nearly 70% of Kansans support the legalization of adult-use cannabis, including 60% of Republican voters, 72.7% of Democratic voters, and 76.1% of independents.

Republican lawmakers in Ohio have approved a resolution opposing the cannabis legalization question going to state voters next month, urging citizens to vote “no” on the proposal.

Cannabis multistate operator Trulieve has contributed another $500,000 to Smart & Safe Florida — which is leading the campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida — increasing the company’s total contributions to the campaign to $39.55 million.

The U.S. Census Bureau has released an interactive map outlining the quarterly revenue in cannabis taxes earned by states with cannabis legalization policies in place.

A nearly two-thirds majority of U.S. truck drivers and carriers support changing the federal cannabis testing regulations, according to an American Transportation Research Institute report.

Wyoming cannabis advocates are preparing a push to put adult-use and medical cannabis legalization questions on the 2024 ballot.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has issued a legal analysis on the state’s proposed cannabis legalization ballot initiative in an effort to provide “vital clarity and transparency” ahead of the November 7 vote.

The Florida Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month on the state’s proposed cannabis legalization ballot initiative. Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading the challenge against the initiative, claiming the measure “misleads” voters.

Two Wisconsin Democrats last week introduced an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal, noting that “69% of Wisconsinites” support the reforms.

Fourteen Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, urging the agency to reject the recent Department of Health and Human Services recommendation to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law.

Cannabis advocates in Nebraska are making the state’s third attempt to legalize medical cannabis via a voter ballot initiative.

A recent poll found that 60% of Floridians support legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state, while 83% said they supported the state’s current medical cannabis program.

Missouri’s combined medical and adult-use cannabis sales totals last week topped the $1 billion mark, according to state data.

Josh Kesselman is the founder and CEO of RAW®, the globally popular and successful rolling paper brand.