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This week, New Jersey announced that it will license 108 cannabis businesses to help meet demand in the state’s medical marijuana program, which has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year. Elsewhere, the Google Play store updated its terms of service to prohibit marijuana delivery apps.
Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.
- Federal: The Google Play store has updated its terms of service to prohibit marijuana delivery apps. It’s unclear what motivated the policy update, though the blog Android Police speculated that it’s part of a larger trend of Google editing its Play Store to be more overtly family friendly. Read more
- Michigan: Michigan regulators expect to get emergency rules in place for the state’s recreational marijuana market this month. Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo hopes to start taking applications for adult-use cannabis businesses this fall. Read more
- Utah: On May 31, state agriculture officials began inviting applications from prospective growers who will be vying for one of 10 cannabis cultivation licenses. That puts the state on track for cannabis plants to begin growing this year, with the first medical marijuana products ready for patients in early 2020, according to a news release. Read more
- Alabama: The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill that could provide a pathway to bringing medical marijuana to the state. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence), would set up a commission to study the issue. Read more
- Illinois: Just after passing a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, the Illinois Legislature approved legislation making Illinois’ medical marijuana program permanent. The program, put into place in 2013, is set to expire next summer. Read more
- New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he does not believe legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in New York will pass before lawmakers adjourn for the year on June 19. Cuomo, a Democrat, supports legalization but said he doesn't think there are enough votes in the state Senate to pass a measure. Read more
- Missouri: On June 4, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services posted sample applications for patients and caregivers seeking medical marijuana ID cards, as well as sample applications to license marijuana facilities such as dispensaries and cultivation operations. This means the state’s medical marijuana program is on pace with the clock, as these two milestones were to be completed no later than June 4, according to Amendment 2. Read more
- Florida: As court battles continue about whether the state is properly carrying out a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana, the Florida House is again trying to weigh in. House attorneys gave notice that they will appeal a Leon County circuit judge’s ruling that blocked the House from intervening in a lawsuit to help defend a controversial 2017 law that was designed to carry out the constitutional amendment. Read more
- New Jersey: The Murphy administration, in a dramatic revamp of New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, is seeking applicants to operate up to 108 cannabis treatment businesses statewide, up from the current number of six. The New Jersey Department of Health, in announcing the move Monday, said the additional cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries would help meet a demand in the medical marijuana program that has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year. Read more
- Louisiana: Louisiana’s medical marijuana patients will be allowed to inhale cannabis under a bill headed to the governor’s desk. Final passage came with an 82-0 House vote Wednesday for the measure by Baton Rouge Democratic Rep. Ted James, which will let therapeutic cannabis patients use an inhaler, like asthma patients use. Read more
