Federal Judge Dismisses Cannabis Lawsuit Against Jeff Sessions as Medical and Adult-Use Measures Advance Across Country: Week In Review

We’ve rounded up our top 10 articles to keep you up-to-date on the latest industry news.

Bud Strains In Jars Adobe Stock Credit Rgbspace Resized

It’s been a busy week in the cannabis industry. In the past few days alone, a federal judge dismissed the Washington v. Sessions lawsuit against Jeff Sessions; Maine’s Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee sent a new adult-use implementation bill to the state’s legislature; Massachusetts worked to ensure patients’ medical marijuana supply at the dawn of adult-use sales; Tennessee, Idaho and West Virginia advanced medical marijuana legislation; and Illinois and Rhode Island considered adult-use ballot initiatives, just to mention a few.

  • The Arizona Senate voted to require the state Department of Agriculture to test the products being sold at state-regulated dispensaries around the state. SB 1420 now goes to the House. Read more
  • Another bill attempting to implement a sales and regulation system for recreational marijuana in Maine is headed to the legislature with significant changes designed to attract more support. The bill, which must gain support from a legislature that has so far rejected all attempts at creating a sales and regulatory system, would create a combined 20 percent sales and excise tax and would halve the number of plants Mainers can grow for personal use from six flowering plants to three. Read more
  • Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed the Washington v. Sessions lawsuit on Feb. 26, asserting the plaintiffs had not yet pursued all “administrative” pathways to reschedule cannabis through the Controlled Substances Act. The lawsuit had argued the Schedule-I classification of marijuana was a fundamental violation of constitutional rights. Read more
  • Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission is taking steps to ensure registered medical marijuana patients have an adequate supply once many medical dispensaries start adult-use sales in July. According to a new policy, dispensaries must set aside 35 percent of their product, or a six-month average of their medical marijuana sales, for registered patients. Read more
  • A tie-breaking vote from Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell on Feb. 27 advanced legislation that would permit medical cannabis in the state. With a 4-3 vote, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved the measure. Read more
  • A bill expanding Maryland’s medical cannabis industry to include more minority ownership is moving again in the state’s General Assembly, with amendments. A House panel approved amendments to the bill on Feb. 27, and the measure was expected to go to a vote in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Read more
  • Idaho’s House has advanced a bill allowing residents to use oil extracted from cannabis plants if the product is prescribed by a licensed practitioner. If approved, Idahoans would be allowed to legally possess and use the oil for medical purposes for themselves or their underage children. Read more
  • The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill on Feb. 28 that would increase the number of growers, processors and dispensaries able to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program when it launches this summer. House Bill 4345 would also allow businesses to act as any combination of growers, processors and dispensaries; allow certain patients to pre-register for the program before its July 2019 start; and enhance some of the requirements to qualify for medical cannabis. Read more
  • The Illinois Senate voted March 1 to ask voters on the November ballot whether adult-use marijuana should be legalized and taxed in the state. The measure cleared the Senate on a 37-13 vote, and now goes to the House. Read more
  • Under a bill filed in Rhode Island’s House of Representatives on Feb. 28, Rhode Islanders would be able to vote on a ballot measure calling for the end of cannabis prohibition. If a majority of voters approve the question on Election Day, it would not automatically result in legalization, but a solid "yes" vote would likely spur lawmakers into more seriously considering cannabis legislation when they reconvene for the 2019 session. Read more

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