Legislative & Licensing Update: January 26, 2022
Will we finally see approval of medical marijuana in Mississippi?
Plus, lawmakers in Rhode Island are “close to a deal.” New York’s final list of municipal opt-outs is released and Delaware lawmakers are angling for a supermajority vote. Ohio lottery winners to be announced, and, in Kansas, it’s one step forward, one step back.
Photo credit: JP Valery on Upslpash
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee again included marijuana legalization in his annual budget proposal—but this time with new automatic expungements provisions. Lawmakers say they’re close to a legal cannabis deal that could be unveiled soon.
Nearby Vermont saw regulators posting cannabis rules for public comment and issued a report to lawmakers for review.
A lot of news from neighboring New York as doctors in the state can now recommend medical cannabis to patients for any condition they see fit. And, New York regulators also discussed a marijuana social and economic equity fund and other issues on Tuesday, January 25.
A full list of New York municipalities that opted out of allowing recreational marijuana retailers or social consumption areas was released by state regulators. Data shows 10% of Cities and 34% of All Localities Opted-Out of All Sales.
Heading a bit south, we saw Delaware lawmakers introduce a newly revised marijuana legalization bill that includes key changes to equity provisions meant to help ensure it gets the supermajority level of support needed to pass.
Before we head to the south, don’t forget, Ohio regulators will be holding a lottery for new medical cannabis dispensary licenses on January 27.
A Georgia lawsuit over medical cannabis license awards started on Friday
Some big news out of Mississippi (where my background photo is from actually) lawmakers reached an agreement to send a medical cannabis bill to Governor Tate Reeves’ (R) desk this week. A bicameral conference committee will tweak newly amended zoning provisions, with final passage expected quickly.
And crossing the Mississippi and Missouri River’s over to Kansas, we saw the state House-passed medical cannabis bill encounter a major hurdle as the Senate president rerouted it to a committee he controls and canceled hearings that were scheduled for this week in a separate panel.
South Dakota has issued their first medical cannabis business licenses.
And finally reaching the Pacific, Eaze, the nation’s largest cannabis delivery service, opened its first dispensary storefronts in San Diego and Santa Ana, California.