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.
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?
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.
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
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
State legalization bills are the topic of the week. We return to South Dakota to see how a legalization bill is progressing (or not). Maryland also has a legalization bill moving through its legislature. Virginia’s bill on adult-use sales seems to
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: March 4, 2022
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Luxembourg becomes the first place in Europe to legalize adult-use marijuana. We check in on Rhode Island and Mississippi to find out where they stand in legalizing adult-use and medical cannabis. New York’s Cannabis Control Board issued some proposed rules. And
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 29, 2021
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Could DC be allowed to open a legal cannabis market? The feds look at marijuana research. We have an update on South Dakota and Mississippi. And finally, the DEA had some visitors recently.
DC’s legal cannabis journey has
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 22, 2021
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Mississippi makes some progress towards legalizing medical marijuana. Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce an adult-use bill. There’s more news on Illinois licensing. And finally, a pro-cannabis rally in DC featured a really big joint and a really big dog.
When we last
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: October 1, 2021