Licensing

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a social equity cannabis licensing bill this week; the proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Delaware is set to double its number of licensed medical cannabis operators ahead of likely adult-use cannabis reforms.

A Missouri appeals court ruled that medical cannabis regulators in the state cannot keep secret the industry’s business license applications.

The DEA informed some companies on Friday it was prepared to approve their cannabis research cultivation applications. The move will ultimately end the University of Mississippi’s decades-long monopoly on research-grade cannabis.

Jasiel Correia, the former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, was convicted on Friday of extorting cannabis businesses and other crimes.

The city of Denver is set to license new cannabis businesses for the first time since 2016 but new applicants must meet the city’s social equity requirements, and some neighborhoods will be excluded as they are already oversaturated with cannabis businesses.

Two former city officials for Calexico, California were sentenced to two years in federal prison for accepting bribes related to cannabis licensing.

Medical cannabis proponents in Georgia are awaiting the governor’s signature on a recent bill to license new medical cannabis manufacturers and allow dispensaries to sell low-THC oils in the state.

Washington’s new cannabis social equity provisions, which will offer grant funding and expert advice for qualifying individuals, were signed into law on Monday.

New Mexico’s health department has revoked the license of cannabis company New MexiCann Natural Medicine after an accident last year left two employees seriously injured.

Ohio’s Board of Pharmacy approved raising the state’s number of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries from 60 to 130.

Oklahoma officials have revoked the license of cannabis testing lab Nationwide Engineering Testing, LLC over alleged public health and safety concerns and other violations.

A federal judge has halted Detroit’s cannabis licensing process due to a lawsuit challenging the local legacy licensing plan, which seeks to prioritize local Detroiters.

The mayor of Newport, Arkansas, and several other private entities have filed suit against Natural State Wellness Enterprises over allegations of fraud, conspiracy, and breach of contract.

Wisconsin is assigning notably fewer hemp cultivation permits this year compared to last.

The city of Detroit is now accepting cannabis industry applications from people who qualify for the “Legacy Detroiters” program, which prioritizes local Detroiters.

Green Thumb Industries is reportedly the subject of a federal investigation over possible pay-to-play violations during the licensing process. The company called the allegations baseless and said it is unaware of any such investigation.

Alaska’s licensed cannabis consumption lounges have been dramatically delayed, but not defeated, by the coronavirus pandemic.

An Illinois proposal would establish new cannabis industry licenses after leaked documents revealed that just two percent of registered Illinois cannabis business owners last year were Black or Latino.

Oklahoma lawmakers are attempting to slow the state’s rapidly growing medical cannabis industry with a two-year cap on new licenses.

Missouri officials have started to revoke the business licenses of some medical cannabis operators who failed to open their business on time.

Portland, Maine is expecting dozens of new cannabis businesses to open up in the coming weeks, about five months after the launch of adult-use sales in the state.

An Illinois proposal seeks to block former cannabis regulators and their family members from working and investing in the state’s licensed cannabis industry.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra claimed in a recent court filing that the vast majority of California cannabis companies have no right to due process because they are still operating on provisional licenses.