Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, New York finalized a settlement that will allow dispensaries to open. In other settlement news, Alabama agreed to throw out a scoring process that had led to lawsuits, and heard presentations from applicants. We see some interest in legalizing in Pennsylvania, as yet another neighbor allows adult-use. The news from New Hampshire is grim for proponents of legalization. And finally, add Green Wednesday to your list of holiday shopping opportunities.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: December 1, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we look at what officials in Ohio are saying about the ballot initiative. We check in on the Alabama licensing situation. We note that there’s been a settlement in the New York licensing lawsuit. We have some information on a nationwide poll of public sentiment on cannabis. And finally, we see Wisconsin has something to say to Ohio.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: November 17, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. Ohio legalized adult-use marijuana. Could Virginia’s elections mean a retail market? What’s happening with the Florida ballot initiative? And finally, edibles play a role in some election trash talking.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: November 10, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see cannabis companies filing a lawsuit over the federal marijuana ban. We check in on the situation in Alabama. We prepare to bid farewell to Capitol Hill’s longest-serving cannabis advocate. We note the new House Speaker’s opposition to marijuana legalization. And finally, we find a solution to your cannabis baking woes.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: November 3, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see there’s a controversy over cannabis use and gun ownership by police officers in Jersey City, New Jersey. We provide an update on the Alabama medical marijuana licensing situation. We note that New Hampshire’s proposal for cannabis sales may run afoul of federal law. And finally, it’s Snoop Dogg’s birthday.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 27, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we note the likely end of two Wyoming ballot initiatives. Then, we have an update on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. We report on Trulieve’s tax situation. We see there’s litigation over hemp in Maryland. And finally, we remind everyone that Old Bay is seasoning, not pot.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 20, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see Georgia pharmacies selling medical marijuana. We have an update on the Ohio legalization ballot initiative. We note that Hawai’i is allowing inter-island transport of cannabis. And finally, weed is now available at the Weed Museum.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 13, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we have an update on the SAFER Banking Act. We note that New York took a step towards issuing licenses for their retail market. We look in on the status of two other states that could legalize in the future. And finally, we see our neighbors to the north thinking of changing their rules around cannabis use.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 6, 2023

On September 20, 2023, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (“Court”) confirmed a plan for a cannabis-related business (“Debtor”) to sell its equity interests in a Canadian cannabis company, Lowell Farms, and distribute the proceeds to its creditors.  In contrast with bankruptcy courts that routinely dismiss cannabis-related business filings primarily due to alleged Controlled Substance Act (“CSA”) violations, the court found that any CSA violations occurred before the bankruptcy, and that the “Debtor’s orderly liquidation of its stock in Lowell Farms, and distribution of the proceeds to creditors is entirely consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Code.” (In re The Hacienda Company, LLC, __ B.R. __, 2023 WL 6143216 (Bankr. C.D.Cal., September 20, 2023))  The court’s ruling may open a new path for  cannabis-related businesses to utilize the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. 

Continue Reading Bankruptcy Court Approves Cannabis Debtor’s Chapter 11 Plan

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. The big news this week is that, for the first time ever, a cannabis bill, the SAFER Banking Act, got a markup in the Senate. The MORE Act has been re-introduced and it’s possible the HOPE Act will become part of SAFER. Not everyone on Capitol Hill is in favor of federal cannabis legalization; there’s also a new bill that would give Congress the opportunity to prevent the rescheduling of cannabis. There’s a state story as well: the new head of cannabis regulation in Minnesota resigned the day after she was appointed. And finally, a cautionary tale about sheep and marijuana. Spoiler alert: the two don’t mix.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: September 29, 2023