Weekly Legislative & Licensing Update: February 23, 2022
Cannabis legislative and licensing updates from the East Coast to Hawaii.
Get the latest from 12 states and D.C. plus Italy and Mexico.
New York approved Medical Marijuana Rules and Governor Hochul (D) signed a bill to grant temporary marijuana business licenses to hemp growers and processors to help the state improve the supply of cannabis. There are equity, labor, and sustainability requirements for participating businesses.
New Jersey regulators will hold a public meeting on marijuana issues on February 24, at 1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
A Georgia representative filed a bill to grant 16 additional medical cannabis business licenses to companies that are protesting their rejection in the first round of awards.
Rhode Island’s House speaker said a negotiated marijuana legalization bill will be presented on March 1.
Hawaii’s Senate Health Committee approved a bill to effectively legalize marijuana for people over age 65.
In a similar move, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a bill to allow senior citizens access to medical cannabis without a doctor’s recommendation. There is also a marijuana tax holiday to take place during the week of 4/20.
Missouri Representative Ron Hicks filed the Cannabis Freedom Act, a comprehensive, 74-page marijuana legalization bill.
The Maryland House Judiciary Committee approved bills to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot and begin setting up details for the program if voters approve. Floor votes are expected this week.
The Delaware House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill to legalize marijuana and a House floor vote is the next course of action.
Kentucky Democratic lawmakers, as well as the Senate minority floor leader, filed new bills to legalize marijuana.
The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a bill to legalize marijuana and conduct sales exclusively through state-run stores. Advocates have concerns it could be preempted under federal law.
The Utah Senate approved a bill to allow medical cannabis for acute pain post-surgery, let students receive cannabis medications at school from a nurse, and make other changes to the program.
California’s Senate majority leader filed a bill to discontinue the cannabis cultivation tax.
Italy’s Constitutional Court blocked voters from being able to decide on a marijuana and psilocybin referendum despite the fact that activists collected more than half a million valid signatures.
Mexico’s Senate majority leader said that a draft marijuana legalization bill that’s circulating is not the final version. ArcView also held a Town Hall and the big takeaway from the meeting is it is likely to be at least a year before we see any likelihood of a bill being passed by the senate.