federal legalization

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Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see Senate Democrats introduce a bill to legalize cannabis at the federal level. Florida Republicans, on the other hand, are opposing the state legalization initiative on the November ballot. Speaking of ballots, South Dakota legalization advocates are trying (yet again) to put an initiative on their ballot. As we predicted, there’s already talk of a lawsuit to prevent cannabis re-scheduling. And finally, Minnesota’s first “cannabakery” is open in Minneapolis.Continue Reading The Week in Weed: May 10, 2024

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. 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

The SAFE Banking Act is no longer in the National Defense Authorization Act and therefore will not pass in this Congress. For weeks, both industry sources and Congressional sources have been predicting that SAFE would pass in the lame duck session.  As late as this past Friday, we heard from two different sources who attended a meeting with Democratic Senate…

Continue Reading SAFE Banking Is Not Safe

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

We’ve got several updates to share, starting with Senator Chuck Schumer’s plans to legalize cannabis at the federal level.  Then, we look at the latest news from Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio.  To round out our “serious” news coverage, there’s more…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: February 18, 2022

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

Senator Chuck Schumer introduced a federal marijuana legalization bill.  Members of Congress exchanged views with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency over cannabis and the Olympics. Tennessee took a first step towards legalization.  Cannabis research could be protected in new legislation.  And finally,…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 16, 2021

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

Federal legislation to legalize cannabis is under consideration.  In state news, Virginia moved up its timeline to legalize possession and home grow.  New York launched a cannabis control website.  We take a look at what’s happening in Montana.  South Carolina probably…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: April 9, 2021

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

We bring you an update on Virginia and New Jersey.  New bills appear in New Mexico and Minnesota.  Lawsuits hover over the rollout of legalized marijuana in South Dakota and Mississippi.  Will an amendment banning future legalization succeed in Idaho? Democratic…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: February 5, 2021

This is Washington, and we do like to speak in initials.  A plain English translation of the title of this piece would read “FDA ‘places FDA-approved drugs that contain CBD derived from cannabis and no more than 0.1 percent tetrahydrocannabinols in Schedule V.’”  DEA Final Order, Docket No. DEA-486 Schedule V drugs include cough medicine with codeine and many pain relievers that still require a prescription.  So, really what this order does is allow doctors in the US legally to prescribe the recently approved epilepsy drug, Epidiolex, and allows pharmacies, rather than marijuana dispensaries, legally to sell the drug.
Continue Reading FDA: .1% CBD OK

On June 25, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol), the first marijuana derived drug for use in the United States, to treat two rare forms of epilepsy. This decision for the FDA could have sweeping effects for the marijuana industry. While the FDA has previously approved drugs comprising synthetic (manufactured) cannabinoids, this is the first FDA approved drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana. Even with FDA approval, further action is required before Epidiolex can enter the market in the United States.

Continue Reading FDA Approves First Marijuana-Based Drug to Treat Epilepsy