A blog chronicling the evolution and implementation of cannabis laws in the United States
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.…
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.…
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
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
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Virginia legalized adult-use cannabis. Could marijuana sales come to D.C.? A legalization bill moved forward in New Mexico. Pennsylvania and Connecticut are also considering permitting an adult-use market. And finally, a Canadian marijuana company has created a new way to get…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: March 5, 2021
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 predicted that “…much will happen in 2020.” Little did I know in December 2019 just how true that would turn out to be. Whether you think…
Continue Reading The Year in Weed: 2020 Edition
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Pennsylvania’s governor is supporting cannabis legalization. Arizonans will have a chance to vote on legalization in November. Vermont is considering expungement and decriminalization. The DEA has a new hemp rule. Senator McConnell is promoting hemp face masks. And traffic lights go…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: August 28, 2020
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Ballot initiatives make news in several states. The Food and Drug Administration released guidance on marijuana research. Two state officials publicly support legal marijuana. We’ve got yet another report on the National Defense Authorization Act. And there’s a new ad campaign…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 24, 2020
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Let’s start off with a look at Joe Biden – what’s the campaign’s view on cannabis legalization? How is the FDA handling the mislabeling of CBD products? Will Pennsylvania legalize marijuana? Will Oklahoma enforce their medical cannabis rules? What’s the latest…
Continue Reading The Week in Weed: July 17, 2020
