This week in the cannabis industry, representatives of the cannabis industry ramped up their lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to take action on taxes that affect their industry; a Florida judge ruled that the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana is unconstitutional; Michigan extended its licensing deadline for medical cannabis businesses through Sept. 15.; and we took a closer took at U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner and Elizabeth Warren’s promise to introduce the STATES Act, which would echo Cole Memo policy and exempt state-legal regulated marijuana markets from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
- Federal: Representatives of the cannabis industry ramped up their lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to take action on taxes that affect their industry. The main request in meetings with members of Congress this week is overturning a regulation—IRS Code 280E—that prevents legal cannabis companies from deducting operating expenses. Read more
- U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner and Elizabeth Warren have said that they intend to introduce the STATES Act, which would echo Cole Memo policy and exempt state-legal regulated marijuana markets from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. So far, it remains unclear when the bill will be filed, and industry observers and stakeholders are awaiting the next steps. Read more
- California: Legislation that would have reduced taxes on legal marijuana in California for three years to entice people away from the black market failed to advance this week. "Today was another big win for the black market," said Assemblyman Tom Lackey, who co-authored the measure. Read more
- California lawmakers moved May 30 to create a state-backed bank to handle the billions of dollars flowing from the newly legal recreational marijuana market. The bill, approved by a bipartisan 29-6 state Senate vote, is designed to help cannabis entrepreneurs who usually deal in cash because most banks won’t accept money from a product that remains illegal under federal law. Read more
- New Hampshire: A bill heading to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk aims to address issues of access within the state’s medical marijuana program by allowing an additional two dispensaries. There are now centers in Dover, Lebanon, Merrimack and Plymouth; Sen. John Reagan, a prime sponsor of the bill, says four dispensaries are not enough. Read more
- Florida: A Florida judge has ruled that the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana is unconstitutional. Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers wrote in her ruling that residents “have the right to use the form of medical marijuana for treatment of their debilitating medical conditions as recommended by their certified physicians.” Read more
- Ohio: A Dayton resident has asked the city to pass “sanctuary” policies to allow patients prescribed medical marijuana to possess the drug without fear of criminal charges since the medical cannabis industry is slow to set up shop in Ohio. At this week’s city commission meeting, Latasha Rountree said the establishment of the state’s marijuana dispensaries in the state has been delayed, and some patients have been arrested and cited for possessing a drug they need for medical reasons. Read more
- Michigan: The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) on May 30 extended the deadline under which existing cannabis businesses could operate without a license from June 15 to Sept. 15. “Extending the deadline to Sept. 15th will make sure that this law is implemented correctly and assure that potential licensees are thoroughly reviewed,” LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said in a statement. “It is important that we ensure that medical marijuana patients have continued access to their medicine.” Read more
- Oregon: Oregon regulators have announced that they will stop processing new applications for marijuana licenses in two weeks, and they want state lawmakers to take up the issue next year. When lawmakers created the state’s legal marijuana program, they made low barriers to entry to convince cannabis growers to leave the black market, and as a result, production has boomed, but marijuana prices in the state are in freefall. Read more
- New Jersey: A bold plan to tie medical marijuana expansion to the legalization of recreational cannabis could jeopardize both efforts in New Jersey, state legislators say. State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) is working on combining the two measures in a political gamble that risks dooming their chances of passage before the legislature takes its summer break at the end of June. Read more
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