A look at efforts to make legal pot foster social justice
5 years, 7 months ago

A look at efforts to make legal pot foster social justice

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Questions about marijuana and social justice have played a prominent role this year in several U.S. states’ debates about pot legalization. A look at some initiatives around the country: ____ CALIFORNIA When voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, they also invited people to petition to have old pot convictions expunged or reduced. ___ MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts’ 2016 recreational pot ballot initiative specifically called for policies to get people “disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement” involved in the legal cannabis industry. ___ MICHIGAN When voters last year made Michigan the first Midwestern state to legalize recreational marijuana, they told regulators to “positively impact” communities where pot enforcement was intense and encourage their residents to participate in the pot business. ___ WASHINGTON More than five years after Washington state legalized marijuana, Seattle officials last year began moving to clear past pot possession misdemeanor convictions automatically, without defendants having to request it.

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History of this topic

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states
2 months ago

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states

NPR  

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Three more states are voting today on whether to legalize the recreational use of cannabis — and if more than one of the measures passes, it would mean a majority of U.S. states have recreational marijuana laws on the books. …

Florida rejects marijuana legalization measure, other states still pending
2 months, 1 week ago

Florida rejects marijuana legalization measure, other states still pending

Salon  

On Nov. 5, voters in four red states will cast their ballots for legalizing cannabis and marijuana, the extracts from the plant. “It’s certainly not crazy to think you might see some other very conservative Southern states follow along, if Florida adopts it.” North Dakota: Measure 5 In North Dakota, advocates are hoping the third time's a charm in legalizing …

Harris pledges to federally legalize marijuana to bolster Black communities. Will it work?
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Harris pledges to federally legalize marijuana to bolster Black communities. Will it work?

Salon  

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris became the first major presidential candidate to endorse the federal legalization of cannabis, pledging to ensure “the safe cultivation, distribution and possession of recreational marijuana is the law of the land.” Though many states have legalized cannabis and its marijuana extracts, the drug still remains illegal at the federal level. It also states Harris …

Could America’s divide on marijuana be coming to an end?
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Could America’s divide on marijuana be coming to an end?

Associated Press  

The U.S. is divided when it comes to state and federal marijuana policy, but recent political developments could move the country toward a greater acceptance of cannabis. Both major presidential candidates have signaled support for a federal policy change to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, and voters in several additional states will get a say this fall on …

A decision on a major policy shift on marijuana won’t come until after the presidential election
4 months, 1 week ago

A decision on a major policy shift on marijuana won’t come until after the presidential election

Associated Press  

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. While it’s possible it could precede the end of President Joe Biden’s term, issuing it before Inauguration Day “would be pretty expedited,” said cannabis lawyer Brian Vicente. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, signaled support for a Florida legalization measure on Saturday, following earlier comments that he increasingly agrees …

Biden administration proposes to reclassify marijuana as low risk drug
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Biden administration proposes to reclassify marijuana as low risk drug

Firstpost  

Marijuana has been classified since 1970 as a so-called Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act – the same level as heroin, ecstasy and LSD. That classification means it is deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse US President Joe Biden’s administration formally proposed on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, …

Joe Biden says ‘No one should be in jail merely for using marijuana’ as US proposes reclassifying the drug as low-risk
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Joe Biden says ‘No one should be in jail merely for using marijuana’ as US proposes reclassifying the drug as low-risk

Hindustan Times  

US President Joe Biden's administration formally proposed on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift that would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion. Biden administration moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous drug The proposal to reclassify cannabis was unveiled by the Biden administration at the end of April and the Justice Department …

New York’s legal weed program plagued by inexperienced leaders, report finds
8 months ago

New York’s legal weed program plagued by inexperienced leaders, report finds

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s legal cannabis market has been hampered by inexperienced leaders who treated the state licensing agency like a “mission-driven” startup rather than a government office, according to an internal review released Friday. The report detailed several problems at the state Office of Cannabis Management, including constantly shifting licensing rules, poor transparency and an absence of enforcement …

Recreational marijuana backers try to overcome rocky history in South Dakota
8 months ago

Recreational marijuana backers try to overcome rocky history in South Dakota

Associated Press  

Advocates of legalizing recreational marijuana in South Dakota, a mission with a rocky history, submitted thousands of signatures to election officials on Tuesday in the hopes of once again getting the issue on the conservative state’s November ballot. Twenty-four states have legalized recreational marijuana, including as recently as November 2023 in Ohio, but “no state has as interesting or rocky …

As the US moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, could more states legalize it?
8 months ago

As the US moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, could more states legalize it?

Associated Press  

As the U.S. government moves toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, there may be little immediate impact in the dozen states that have not already legalized cannabis for widespread medical or recreational use by adults. Following two previous failed attempts, a Nebraska group is gathering signatures to get two measures onto this year’s ballot: one to legalize medical …

The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?
8 months, 3 weeks ago

The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Wash. — When Washington state opened some of the nation’s first legal marijuana stores in 2014, Sam Ward Jr. was on electronic home detention in Spokane, where he had been indicted on federal drug charges. “Social equity programs are an attempt to reverse the damage that was done to Black and brown communities who are over-policed and disproportionately impacted,” …

New York to probe sputtering legal marijuana program as storefronts lag, black market booms
9 months, 3 weeks ago

New York to probe sputtering legal marijuana program as storefronts lag, black market booms

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will evaluate its troubled recreational marijuana licensing program after lawsuits and bureaucratic stumbles severely hampered the legal market and allowed black-market sellers to flourish, Gov. The review will focus on ways the state can speed up license processing times and allow businesses to open faster, as well as a top-down assessment of the Office of …

Massachusetts governor to issue pardons for those convicted of cannabis possession
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Massachusetts governor to issue pardons for those convicted of cannabis possession

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey plans to announce this week that she’s following the lead of President Joe Biden and issuing pardons to those convicted of simple possession of cannabis at the state level, her office said Monday. In December, Biden pardoned thousands of people who had been convicted of the use and simple possession of marijuana on federal …

One state has a shortage of marijuana. Its neighbour had too much
11 months ago

One state has a shortage of marijuana. Its neighbour had too much

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Marijuana retailers in Connecticut …

LOCALIZE IT: New state laws on gender-affirming care, abortion, guns and drugs take effect
1 year, 6 months ago

LOCALIZE IT: New state laws on gender-affirming care, abortion, guns and drugs take effect

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: New state laws …

Delaware lawmakers give final approval to marijuana bills
1 year, 9 months ago

Delaware lawmakers give final approval to marijuana bills

Associated Press  

— The Delaware Senate gave final approval Tuesday to bills legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults in the state and authorizing the establishment of a state-licensed and regulated cannabis industry, setting up a potential battle with Democratic Gov. Buckson, however, led the opposition to the industry-creation bill that calls for state officials to issue up to 30 initial retail marijuana …

NY cannabis agencies sued by medical marijuana providers
1 year, 9 months ago

NY cannabis agencies sued by medical marijuana providers

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — A coalition that includes some of New York’s medical marijuana companies sued state cannabis regulators Thursday in an effort to open up licensing to all retail dispensary applicants immediately. The lawsuit, filed in state court in Albany, claims that state cannabis regulators exceeded their legal authority when they opened the initial application pool in August only to …

What’s next for marijuana legalization after Oklahoma vote?
1 year, 10 months ago

What’s next for marijuana legalization after Oklahoma vote?

Associated Press  

In just over a decade since voters approved state constitutional amendments to make recreational marijuana legal in Colorado and Washington, 19 other states have followed suit. But voters in Oklahoma, where faith leaders, law enforcement and most of the state’s GOP leaders campaigned against legalization, on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have legalized it. Kevin Stitt and much …

Maryland marijuana measure prioritizes social equity
1 year, 11 months ago

Maryland marijuana measure prioritizes social equity

Associated Press  

— Maryland is working toward creating a recreational marijuana industry with greater social equity, lawmakers said Friday, with more licenses for minority-owned businesses and proceeds directed to areas adversely impacted by the war on drugs. The measure before the General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, will enable the state’s existing medical marijuana businesses to sell recreational cannabis as well …

New York’s first recreational cannabis dispensary opens
2 years ago

New York’s first recreational cannabis dispensary opens

The Hindu  

The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on Thursday, opening up what is expected to be one of the country's most lucrative markets for cannabis — underscored by the dozens of unauthorized shops that have operated in the open for years. “We do have a lot more work to do, a lot …

'Quality Pot': New York opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary
2 years ago

'Quality Pot': New York opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary

Firstpost  

The widely anticipated opening of the first state-sanctioned dispensary, which is operated by the non-profit Housing Works, paves the way for a string of openings expected in the coming months in New York. The state legalised recreational marijuana uses in March 2021 New York: The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on …

NY opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary
2 years ago

NY opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on Thursday, opening up what is expected to be one of the country’s most lucrative markets for cannabis — underscored by the dozens of unauthorized shops that have operated in the open for years. “Today marks a major milestone in our efforts …

New York to open first legal pot dispensary by year’s end
2 years ago

New York to open first legal pot dispensary by year’s end

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York is set to open Dec. 29, marking a long-awaited launch of a cannabis industry that could become one of the country’s most lucrative. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that Housing Works, a minority-controlled nonprofit in Manhattan that serves people with HIV and AIDS, will be the first of …

The 30 most-read Los Angeles Times cannabis stories of 2022
2 years ago

The 30 most-read Los Angeles Times cannabis stories of 2022

LA Times  

Last year, in recognition of California’s 25-year-long experiment with legal cannabis, we compiled a list of the 25 most popular pot-related stories published in the pages — print and web — of the Los Angeles Times. We could’ve stuck with that theme by serving up 26 stories this time around, but because so much has happened on the weed front …

New York issues first licenses for legal pot dispensaries
2 years, 1 month ago

New York issues first licenses for legal pot dispensaries

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — New York issued its first 36 cannabis dispensary licenses on Monday, taking a monumental step in establishing a legal — and lucrative — marketplace for recreational marijuana. New York has also planned a $200 million public-private fund to aid “social equity” applicants to help redress the ravages of the war on drugs, especially in communities of color. …

After election, marijuana advocates look to next states
2 years, 1 month ago

After election, marijuana advocates look to next states

Associated Press  

— Law-abiding marijuana enthusiasts could find themselves in a bit of a predicament following voter approval of a recreational cannabis initiative in Missouri. Maryland residents will have to wait even longer — until the middle of next year — before a recreational marijuana measure approved this past week can take effect. After Democratic victories in last week’s legislative and gubernatorial …

Judge halts pot dispensary licenses in parts of New York
2 years, 1 month ago

Judge halts pot dispensary licenses in parts of New York

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York from issuing recreational marijuana dispensary licenses in Brooklyn and parts of upstate New York while a legal challenge to the state’s selection process is being considered. New York lawmakers designed the state’s legal market to make sure the first retailers were people directly affected drug law enforcement. Sharpe is …

Voters approve recreational marijuana in Maryland, Missouri
2 years, 2 months ago

Voters approve recreational marijuana in Maryland, Missouri

Associated Press  

— Voters approved recreational marijuana in Maryland and Missouri but rejected it in two other states, signaling support gradually growing for legalization even in conservative parts of the country. “State-level legalization victories are what’s necessary to move the needle forward at the federal level.” The state voting follows moves by President Joe Biden toward decriminalizing marijuana. “It’s pretty clear North …

Voters in five states decide whether to legalize marijuana
2 years, 2 months ago

Voters in five states decide whether to legalize marijuana

Firstpost  

The proposals are on the ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota and follow moves by President Joe Biden toward decriminalizing marijuana Arkansas: Voters in five states are deciding on Election Day whether to approve recreational marijuana, a move that could signal a major shift toward legalization in even the most conservative parts of the country. The …

US midterms: Legalising marijuana on the ballot in five states
2 years, 2 months ago

US midterms: Legalising marijuana on the ballot in five states

Al Jazeera  

Voters in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North and South Dakota deciding whether to OK recreational marijuana measures. Voters in five US states are deciding on election day whether to approve recreational cannabis, a move that could signal a major shift towards legalisation in even the most conservative parts of the country. The initiative has drawn the criticism of traditional legalisation opponents …

EXPLAINED: Which US States Put Marijuana On The Ballot in 2022?
2 years, 2 months ago

EXPLAINED: Which US States Put Marijuana On The Ballot in 2022?

News 18  

Recreational marijuana could be legal in half the country if the handful of states with cannabis measures on ballots this November pass them. Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota have measures on their ballots this fall for voters to consider legalizing recreational marijuana. The Arkansas Supreme Court cleared the way in September for voters to consider whether people …

EXPLAINER: Which states put marijuana on the ballot in 2022?
2 years, 2 months ago

EXPLAINER: Which states put marijuana on the ballot in 2022?

Associated Press  

Recreational marijuana could be legal in half the country if the handful of states with cannabis measures on ballots this November pass them. Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota have measures on their ballots this fall for voters to consider legalizing recreational marijuana. — The Arkansas Supreme Court cleared the way in September for voters to consider whether …

Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession
2 years, 3 months ago

Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession

Al Jazeera  

US president’s move comes amid efforts to legalise marijuana federally after recent success of state-level campaigns. US President Joe Biden has announced a sweeping pardon for thousands of people convicted of marijuana possession under federal laws, penalties that have disproportionately affected Black and other people of colour across the United States. “There are thousands of people who have prior federal …

900 apply for NY’s first licenses to sell recreational pot
2 years, 3 months ago

900 apply for NY’s first licenses to sell recreational pot

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — More than 900 would-be pot shop operators have applied for a chance to open New York state’s first legal dispensaries for recreational marijuana, regulators said Wednesday. The state has said it plans to issue about 150 licenses in this first round, which was open only to people with past pot convictions or their relatives. There’s no exact …

Inside California’s pot legalization failures: Corporate influence, ignored warnings
2 years, 3 months ago

Inside California’s pot legalization failures: Corporate influence, ignored warnings

LA Times  

Architects of the effort to legalize pot in California made big promises to voters. We cannot let that happen.” His blue ribbon commission’s report released months later suggested drafters of a legalization initiative consider limiting the number of licenses issued to any one owner “to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of …

Medical pot proposal gets bipartisan support in NC Senate
2 years, 7 months ago

Medical pot proposal gets bipartisan support in NC Senate

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Marijuana would be legalized for medical use in North Carolina with a physician’s prescription and purchased through dozens of tightly regulated dispensaries in a measure receiving initial approval Thursday in the Senate. The legislation, which received strong bipartisan support, could help people facing more than a dozen different “debilitating medical conditions” in which their doctor declares the …

Key details await as NY eyes $200M pot business equity fund
2 years, 10 months ago

Key details await as NY eyes $200M pot business equity fund

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — In an ambitious move to make its new marijuana industry equitable, New York is proposing a $200 million fund to help entrepreneurs of color and some other groups get into the business. Kathy Hochul’s proposal, unveiled last month, would be among the largest sums any state has committed to try to ensure diversity and social equity in …

NY clamps down on businesses offering marijuana as a ‘gift’
2 years, 11 months ago

NY clamps down on businesses offering marijuana as a ‘gift’

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — While New York works on launching a legal market for recreational marijuana, some entrepreneurs dove into a legal gray area by saying they’re not selling pot but giving it away while people buy something else. “New York state is building a legal, regulated cannabis market that will ensure products are tested and safe for consumers” and will …

Virginia Republicans push for changes in marijuana law
2 years, 11 months ago

Virginia Republicans push for changes in marijuana law

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — Newly empowered Republican lawmakers in Virginia who opposed legalizing simple possession of marijuana say they don’t want to scrap the law, but they do want to make significant changes. Democrats who supported legalization and advocates for people convicted of marijuana crimes are concerned the changes proposed by Republicans will strip the law of “social equity” provisions designed …

The 25 most-read Los Angeles Times cannabis stories of 2021
3 years ago

The 25 most-read Los Angeles Times cannabis stories of 2021

LA Times  

In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to legalize access to medical marijuana, lighting the fuse on a movement that, a quarter of a century later, finds recreational cannabis use by those 21 and older legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. In a nod to the Golden State’s 25-year-long experiment with legal weed, here’s a look …

Op-Ed: Talk about going mainstream: Cannabis has been invited to the California State Fair
3 years, 1 month ago

Op-Ed: Talk about going mainstream: Cannabis has been invited to the California State Fair

LA Times  

Cannabis will debut at the 2022 California State Fair in a new competitive category. After a two-year pandemic-imposed hiatus, the California State Fair is returning in 2022 with a new competitive category: cannabis. The proposed state fair cannabis judging and subsequent awards feels like an awkward compromise between people who enjoy smoking marijuana and those who are suffering from whiplash …

South Dakota lawmakers craft proposal for recreational pot
3 years, 2 months ago

South Dakota lawmakers craft proposal for recreational pot

Associated Press  

— South Dakota lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults while repealing much of the state’s new medical marijuana law. The Adult-Use Marijuana Study Subcommittee, which has been studying the issue since June, voted to recommend a bill that would allow people over 21 to purchase up to 1 ounce of cannabis for recreational …

Pot legalization advocates launch ballot initiative campaign
3 years, 2 months ago

Pot legalization advocates launch ballot initiative campaign

Associated Press  

— Advocates for legalizing recreational marijuana in South Dakota announced Tuesday they are trying for a second time to legalize cannabis possession and cultivation for adults through a ballot initiative. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws said it would launch a signature-gathering campaign in the coming days after the Secretary of State approved a ballot initiative proposal for circulation Tuesday. …

What’s next as Connecticut looks ahead toward legal cannabis
3 years, 6 months ago

What’s next as Connecticut looks ahead toward legal cannabis

Associated Press  

Connecticut is poised to become the 19th state to legalize adult, recreational use of cannabis, now that a long-awaited bill has cleared the General Assembly and Democratic Gov. Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection began working in earnest on new state regulations and licensing applications needed for the legalized marijuana industry a couple months ago. Seagull said her agency plans to …

After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists
3 years, 7 months ago

After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists

NPR  

After 50 Years, U.S. "It is a big disconnect," says Dr. Igor Grant, a psychiatry professor and director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at University of California, San Diego. "We'll see a decade or more of explosive cannabis research and potential new therapies," says Dr. Steve Groff, founder and chairman of Groff North America, one of three companies …

South Dakota passed medical pot, but physicians hesitant
3 years, 7 months ago

South Dakota passed medical pot, but physicians hesitant

Associated Press  

— Medical marijuana advocates have convinced South Dakota voters that legalizing the drug for medical use is a good idea, but they are struggling to do the same with many of the state’s physicians. But Melissa Mentele, who launched the medical cannabis legalization campaign, said that reluctance from physicians and health care providers could result in a bumbling rollout of …

Marijuana social equity: Seeds planted but will they grow?
3 years, 8 months ago

Marijuana social equity: Seeds planted but will they grow?

Associated Press  

DENVER — Terrence Hewing was working for a package delivery company in 2007 when police approached his cargo van in suburban Denver. It makes you almost feel kind of outcast.” Hewing, 39, recently became one of only a few Black entrepreneurs to receive a business license in Colorado’s recreational marijuana industry. States are making progress toward a more diverse marijuana …

Should states set pot policy by its potency? Some say yes
3 years, 8 months ago

Should states set pot policy by its potency? Some say yes

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — As marijuana legalization spreads across U.S. states, so does a debate over whether to set pot policy by potency. A sweeping 2017 examination of cannabis and health by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine listed increasing potency among factors that “create the potential for an increased risk of adverse health effects.” Some studies have linked …

Virginia becomes first Southern state to legalize marijuana
3 years, 9 months ago

Virginia becomes first Southern state to legalize marijuana

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana Wednesday, as lawmakers voted to approve Gov. The amendments lawmakers agreed to Wednesday would accelerate the timeline of legalization by about three years, well before retail sales would begin, a move that’s been cheered by racial justice advocates. Some Republicans took issue with labor provisions in the new …

Lawmakers advance legal pot bill, but more changes promised
3 years, 9 months ago

Lawmakers advance legal pot bill, but more changes promised

Associated Press  

Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday advanced Gov. Members of Lamont’s administration tried to assure the committee back in February that the governor’s bill — which creates a framework for a new legal system — was the starting point for discussion. The revised version up for a vote on Tuesday adds new legislative appointments to a proposed Social Equity Council charged with …

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