The Florida Supreme Court on April 22 rejected a ballot initiative (pdf) aimed at allowing people to vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana, saying it would be “misleading” to voters. In a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said the initiative’s language—wording that people see when they cast ballots—that it “permits” marijuana use by adults “misleads voters into believing that the recreational use…
Florida Supreme Court Rejects Ballot Initiative Aimed At Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
Schumer Says Senate Will Move Forward With Marijuana Legalization Regardless of Biden’s Stance
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that he and other Democrats are ready to advance the controversial marijuana legalization cause. “He [Biden] said he’s studying the issue, so [I] obviously want to give him a little time to study it. I want to make my arguments to him, as many other advocates will,” Schumer said…
Does Legal Cannabis Retail Push Out the Black Market?
SANTA ANA, Calif.—As cities in Orange County, California, continue to debate allowing retail cannabis, proponents argue that legal dispensaries will help drive out black market operations. But while that might be the case in some cities, the reality is much more complex. Elliot Lewis, founder and CEO of Catalyst Cannabis Co. in Santa Ana, said…
New York Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Expunges Old Pot Convictions
New York legislators on Tuesday approved a bill that legalizes marijuana and expunges old convictions related to the drug. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, plans to sign the bill into law. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, or S854A, calls the state’s marijuana policies “broken, unjust, and outdated” and alleges prohibition of the drug “has…
The Potential Greater Costs of Retail Cannabis in Orange County
At first glance, the lure of permitting retail cannabis sales in cities across Orange County, California, seems compelling. A number of industry professionals see the county as an untapped market, while city governments are scrambling to generate more tax revenue in the wake of the pandemic. But though this may seem like a mutually beneficial…
Orange County: California’s New Cannabis Hot Spot
Orange County is one of the hottest, mostly untapped markets in the United States for retail cannabis sales, according to industry professionals—but not all of its citizens are pleased by the prospect. This summer, Santa Ana will become home to Planet 13, a retail cannabis superstore with over 16,000 square feet of dispensary space—the largest…
New Law in New Jersey Bars Police From Informing Parents of Child’s Marijuana Possession
A newly signed law in New Jersey prohibits police officers from telling the parents of a child charged with marijuana possession about what happened. S3454 was one of three bills signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, late last month that deals with cannabis, known colloquially as marijuana. The bill states that any person under…
Orange County City Looks to Recoup Lost Revenue Through Cannabis Sales
Costa Mesa is moving forward with its cannabis retail plans as it tries to offset revenue lost from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During a Feb. 23 special study session, city council will discuss a staffing plan for implementing Costa Mesa’s retail cannabis tax. The move comes after voters last November passed a ballot measure that will allow the city to…
With Court Ruling South Dakota Pot Referendum Goes up in Smoke
A state judge in South Dakota struck down a state constitutional amendment approved by the voters in November that would lead to the legalization and taxation of the recreational use of marijuana because its supporters supposedly failed to follow proper procedure. The lawsuit on which the judge ruled did not deal with Initiated Measure 26,…
South Dakota Court Ruling Sends Pot Referendum Up in Smoke
A state judge in South Dakota struck down a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in November that would lead to the legalization and taxation of the recreational use of marijuana because its supporters supposedly failed to follow proper procedure. The lawsuit on which the judge ruled didn’t deal with Initiated Measure 26, another referendum…
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