Welcome back to The Year In Weed, The Blunt Truth’s annual roundup of cannabis-related stories. As usual, I’ll adopt Dave Barry’s Year in Review (sadly, no longer available for free) format and look at stories month by month. Last year, I hoped that the feds, New York and Alabama would get their acts together, as I was running out of metaphors to describe their respective situations. Did that holiday dream come true? Well…Continue Reading The Year in Weed: 2024 Edition
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, the House Appropriations committee weighed in on protecting state legal markets and rescheduling. A attempt to establish a retail market in Pennsylvania went down to defeat. We have an update on Congressional discussions around hemp. We nominate a piece of legislation for best cannabis-themed acronym. And finally, we note that Snoop Dogg has opened his own dispensary.Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 18, 2024
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, North Carolina considers a medical marijuana bill. Pennsylvania makes noises about legalizing adult-use. Several Attorneys General and former DEA heads request an administrative hearing on rescheduling. And finally, the Portland Pickles are selling THC seltzer.Continue Reading The Week in Weed: June 28, 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 Texas’ attorney general opposing local decriminalization laws. We note the Pennsylvania governor’s frustration over seeing cannabis business travel to neighboring states. We have a list of New York lawsuits, because at this point, you need a scorecard. And finally, you can enjoy tea with a little something extra in the nation’s Capital. Continue Reading The Week in Weed: February 9, 2024
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 check in on Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia – each state is in a different place and heading in a different direction as regards cannabis. On the federal level, we have yet another update on the SAFE Banking Act. Maybe it will pass this term? Or maybe not. In international news, Germany released a draft law that would legalize adult-use cannabis. And finally, the New York Media Softball League took on a CBD sponsor.Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 14, 2023
Proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would allow the sale of cannabis through the Commonwealth’s existing alcohol store system. This could make it easier for consumers of both substances to stock up for their next get-together. But it could also lead to confusion in the aisles of Pennsylvania’s liquor stores. Continue Reading Booze and Buds – The Potential for Confusion if Cannabis is Sold in Liquor Stores
On March 17, 2023, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a decision regarding employee use of medical marijuana in the workers’ compensation context. The decision in Fegley v. Firestone Tire & Rubber (Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.) addresses an issue of first impression. The court held that an employer’s failure to reimburse an employee’s out-of-pocket costs for medical marijuana to treat his work-related injury was a violation of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act (“WC Act”). The decision is significant for Pennsylvania employers. Given this decision, Pennsylvania employers could be subject to penalties under the WC Act if they do not reimburse employees for medical marijuana use—even though marijuana is illegal under federal law and cannot be prescribed by any doctors.Continue Reading Pennsylvania Court Holds that It Is “High Time” Employers Reimburse Employees Who Use Medical Marijuana to Treat Work Related Injuries
Welcome back to the Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
This week, the action is all in the states. So many ballot initiatives, so many challenges to those initiatives. But we start out in Pennsylvania, where pardons are the big news. Then we have an update on the Nebraska situation, followed by additional info on Missouri and Arkansas. And finally, that stoner stereotype just doesn’t hold up.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) supports legalizing cannabis in the state. The Republican-controlled state legislature does not. So the governor decided to take action on his own. Late last week, Wolf announced pardons for those convicted of low-level, non-violent cannabis offenses. The Board of Pardons is accepting applications through the end of the month. In other Pennsylvania news, Lt. Governor/Senate candidate John Fetterman (D) met with President Biden during Labor Day festivities, and the two discussed marijuana policy.Continue Reading The Week in Weed: September 9, 2022
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
This week, we report on some unhappiness with the Biden administration. We have an update on the signature count for a Nebraska ballot initiative. And we have a similar piece on a ballot initiative in North Dakota. We note the signing
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 15, 2022