Legislative and Licensing Update: Week of June 7, 2021
mCannabis legislative and licensing news from 13 states + Greece this week
Photo by Elaine Brewer on Unsplash
Connecticut lawmakers released an updated marijuana legalization bill following negotiations with Gov. Ned Lamont (D). Votes on this version, which equity advocates say is a major improvement, are expected Monday or Tuesday and the session ends on Wednesday.
New Jersey‘s 19th medical marijuana dispensary opened Friday in Lawrence Township.
Minnesota’s Governor signed a bill legalizing smokable medical marijuana — a significant expansion to the state’s current cannabis program.
The Louisiana Senate approved a House-passed bill to legalize smokable medical marijuana flower. Because the senate added some technical amendments, the legislation goes back to the House before going to the Governor, but it looks good for passage.
Nevada lawmakers sent a bill to legalize marijuana social consumption lounges to the desk of the Governor for signature.
Arizona regulators published their final social equity rules for licensing. The application window is set for later this year, from December 1 to December 14.
Illinois lawmakers passed a bill aimed at increasing equity in marijuana licensing and restructuring the dispensary license lottery.
In Florida, the state supreme court upheld medical marijuana vertical licensing and caps last week, which leaves the state’s current, and poorly regulated, medical marijuana licensing system intact.
Ohio: The Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting on June 17, 2021 (possibly with news on the upcoming dispensary licensing round?).
Massachusetts Social Equity Applicants can now apply for a second delivery license type—the Marijuana Delivery Operator license, which after robust public comment, can now wholesale and label products along with delivery.
New Mexico regulators published draft marijuana producer rules with a licensing application window set to open for producers in September.
Rhode Island regulators are again delaying their lottery to award new medical cannabis dispensary licenses.
Missouri lawmakers passed a bill to let medical marijuana businesses take tax deductions under state law. Although sadly, there’s nothing the state can do about the ongoing federal 280E provision’s application to the industry.
Internationally, Greece’s Parliament voted to legalize medical marijuana!
Photo by Lauren Lorincz on Unsplash