USA Roundup: California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, US Virgin Islands, Washington

CALIFORNIA

National Cannabis Bar Association 

NCBA Roundtable:

California’s Draft Medical Cannabis Regulations

May 31, 2017, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm in San Francisco, California

On April 28th, California released draft regulations setting forth a proposed structure for the regulated medical cannabis industry and affecting the stakeholders in this industry. Regulations issued from the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture totaling over 300 pages of rules. Join NCBA in this roundtable discussion to understand the impact of the proposed regulations and how and why they ought to be revised in order to best serve your clients, and to share your perspective with other attorneys.

This event hosted by Sideman & Bancroft and the conversation will be led by Lara DeCaro and Nicole Howell Neubert. We encourage all attendees to participate in this lively and robust discussion of the highlights and low-lights of the regulations. Bring your comments and questions and get ready to dig in. Networking reception to follow.

This event is free with code SBRT2017. There is no CLE offered for this event. Seating is limited; please RSVP immediately using this link. Question? Email info@canbar.org.

Location:
SIDEMAN & BANCROFT LLP
One Embarcadero Center
Twenty-Second Floor

LA TIMES EDITORIAL

Here’s the intoduction

Editorial

No sanctuary for marijuana in California

When Californians approved Proposition 64 to legalize marijuana in California last November, it was no secret that the drug would remain illegal under federal law. But that fundamental contradiction seemed manageable at the moment because the federal government had largely taken a hands-off approach to states that had already allowed the recreational sale and use of marijuana, and candidate Donald Trump had said he would let states decide on legalization.

The risk of a clash with the federal government seemed low compared with the benefit of replacing the state’s quasi-legal medical marijuana regime and its underground market for recreational pot with a regulated and controlled system for adults. That’s one reason The Times endorsed the proposition last year.

Now, however, we have President Trump, who seems to have forgotten his laissez faire stance on marijuana, and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, who comes from the “Reefer Madness” school of law enforcement. Proponents of Proposition 64 — both the advocates of legalization and the businesses preparing to come out of the shadows into a legalized market — rightly worry that the federal government may decide to crack down on cannabis operators even if they fully comply with state rules.

It’s understandable that state lawmakers want to resist potential federal intervention. But a proposal to make California a so-called sanctuary state for marijuana is not the way to go.

Full http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-marijuana-sanctuary-20170516-story.html

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Dems Call for Legalization in Budget Proposal

n a recently released budget proposal, Connecticut Democrats called for the legalization of marijuana use by adults 21 and older and for regulation and taxation of marijuana sales.

Unlike some of the long-delayed programs seen in other states, Connecticut wants to start cashing in quick. In the first year, adults would be able to purchase limited amounts from existing medical marijuana dispensaries.

During this early transition period, sales would be subject to a 25 percent tax — in addition to the standard 6.35 percent state sales tax — while a more robust regulatory structure comes into play. Once the state does license adult-use businesses, marijuana would be subject to an excise tax of $50 per ounce — in addition to the standard 6.35 percent state sales tax on retail sales.

An analysis of the plan estimates it would generate approximately $60 million in marijuana tax revenue in the first full year and $180 million in the second year.

More at https://cannabisnow.com/connecticut-dems-call-legalization-budget-proposal/

RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island lawmakers who aren’t ready to legalize marijuana might try to study it instead.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote this week on a bill that would create a legislative commission to study the effects of legalizing pot for recreational use.

The 15-member commission would review how marijuana legalization has affected residents of states such as Colorado and Washington and how it’s affected fiscal conditions in those states. The group would report its recommendations back to Rhode Island legislators by March 2018.

http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/05/17/rhode-island-marijuana-legalization-study/79498/

 

 

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

U.S. Virgin Islands Is Trying To Legalize Medical Marijuana…Again

Another try at making people’s medicine legal.

According to a report from the Virgin Islands Consortium, Senator Positive Nelson, the politician behind the territory’s 2014 marijuana decriminalization law, plans to initiate a discussion in the Senate, once again, regarding the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The lawmaker says his goal, this time around, is to emphasize the research that has surfaced pertaining to the therapeutic benefits of the herb since his last dance with legislative forces.

– See more at: https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/u-s-virgin-islands-trying-legalize-medical-marijuanaagain/#sthash.GjRRKVhM.dpuf

WASHINGTON

State of Washington law paves way for organic marijuana market

Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed a bill that paves the way for the state to create what is believed to be the first system in the United States to certify marijuana as organic.

The sponsor of the bill, Republican Senator Ann Rivers, said marijuana certified as organically grown is likely to be on sale in Washington in about a year and a half.

Washington is among a handful of U.S. states where voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana. Washington was the second state to begin legal recreational pot sales, in mid-2014, after its voters in 2012 approved it.

“This is consumer-driven,” Rivers told Reuters by phone on Tuesday night. “As we have moved forward in the legal marijuana market, we’re hearing people say, ‘We don’t want any pesticides, fungicides, none of that stuff in our weed.'”

The new law “creates a voluntary program for the certification and regulation of organic marijuana products,” to be administered by the Washington agriculture department, according to a state analysis of the new law.

More at http://www.reuters.com/article/us-washington-marijuana-idUSKCN18D09M

Senate Bill 5131

Washington Omnibus Bill Organic 5131-S.PL

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