adult-use legalization

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, we check in with Delaware, to see how their adult-use legislation is progressing. Then we move south to Maryland, where lawmakers are considering an adult-use market. As for the feds, the Biden administration released a budget that contains some

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: March 17, 2023

Welcome back to the Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, the big news comes out of Oklahoma, where adult-use cannabis went down to defeat. The Department of Justice is accepting applications for pardons. New York, meanwhile, is increasing the number of dispensary licenses. The Hawaii Senate passed an adult-use bill. And finally, San Francisco has a farmer’s market that’s just for cannabis.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: March 10, 2023

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

This week, the big news is that Connecticut began legal adult-use cannabis sales. And so did Detroit. We have an update on the Minnesota legalization bill. And finally, we found a story about a Michigan dispensary that got into the holiday spirit of giving with a “Jackets for Joints” program.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: January 13, 2023

Welcome back to The Year In Weed, our annual roundup of cannabis-related stories.  As usual, we’ll adopt Dave Barry’s Year in Review format and look at stories month by month.  Last year, I hoped 2022 would provide some answers to the questions of 2021 and predicted we’d spend much of the year discussing ballot initiatives. Was I right? Well, you tell me…

Continue Reading The Year in Weed: 2022 Edition

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

Circle K convenience stores might get into the medical cannabis business in Florida. Tourists in Washington, DC can self-certify to obtain medical marijuana in the city’s dispensaries. Germany considers cannabis legalization. And finally, hemp may be the future of Arizona houses.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 28, 2022

On May 25, 2022, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed “The Rhode Island Cannabis Act,” which grants adults aged 21 and older the right to possess and grow certain amounts of cannabis for recreational use. Retail sales are expected to begin as early as December 1, 2022. The new law, which is effective immediately, joins the growing number of states restricting the ability of employers to conduct pre-employment cannabis testing and act based on their employees’ lawful off-duty use, most recently in District of Columbia and New York.

The Cannabis Act allows employers to maintain and enforce a drug-free workplace policy that prohibits employees from using or possessing cannabis in the workplace and from being under the influence of cannabis while they are performing work, including remote work. The law also does not require employers to accommodate the medical use of cannabis in any workplace. Of course, employers still must be mindful of the employment protections included in the state’s separate medical marijuana law.

Continue Reading Rhode Island Legalizes Cannabis for Recreational Use

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 the First Circuit’s decision on state cannabis regulation.  Then, we have a couple of state ballot initiatives to check in on.  We turn our gaze to Costa Rica, where cannabis legislation is on the agenda. And finally, would you buy CBD from a vending machine?

first circuit decision

Remember that old chestnut, the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment?  It prevents the Department of Justice from using its funds to prosecute state-legal medical cannabis businesses.  But apparently, that’s not all it does!  According to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, it also means that Congress has officially recognized that the medical marijuana industry exists.  And that means the Dormant Commerce Clause applies.  Without getting too far into the weeds (pun intended), this means that states can’t limit their markets to in-state companies.  Might it prohibit social equity programs as well?  Time will tell.

Continue Reading The Week in Weed: August 26, 2022

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

Things don’t look good for medical marijuana in South Carolina.  Missouri advocates turn in signatures for their ballot initiative. Delaware gets closer to legalizing cannabis.  We have an update on federal legislation.  And finally, Senate candidates smoking week in ads is
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: May 13, 2022

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

South Carolina moves a step forward on medical marijuana.  What’s the situation on that issue in Kentucky?  We have an update on Maryland’s ballot question.  Speaking of ballots, North Dakota voters may be voting on adult-use as well.  And finally, we
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: April 15, 2022

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

The ban on cannabis sales in DC remains in effect.  The Delaware House voted against adult-use marijuana.  New York is offering opportunities in the cannabis industry to those with marijuana convictions.  The NCAA is relaxing its drug testing policy.  And finally,
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: March 18, 2022