23 March 2017
ARKANSAS
Arkansas House rejects proposed ban on marijuana edibles
http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/03/21/arkansas-marijuana-edibles-ban-rejected/75891/
The Arkansas House has voted against a bill to ban marijuana edibles in the state. The bill, which failed 52-40, would have specifically banned commercial production of edibles. Just last week, the Arkansas Senate voted down a ban on smoking MMJ.
CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles Creates Cannabis Licensing Commission
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/los-angeles-creates-cannabis-licensing-commission/
The City Council of Los Angeles, California has approved the creation of a Cannabis Licensing Commission which will be tasked with regulating the city’s legal adult-use cannabis industry, according to an LAist report.
Measure M Sets Stage for Billion Dollar Marijuana Industry in Los Angeles
By some estimates, medical marijuana is currently a $1 billion market in the city, surpassing Colorado’s entire market.
FLORIDA
Industry officials encouraged as Florida’s medical cannabis law takes shape
IllINOIS
Illinois lawmakers propose legalizing recreational marijuana
Lawmakers are proposing to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois but say the legislation probably won’t come up for a vote until next year.
MASSACHUSETTS
Mass. panel opens hearings on recreational cannabis law
A special legislative committee that’s considering revisions to the recreational marijuiana law opens hearings at the Statehouse Monday.
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
2017 Outlook for Cannabis in Minnesota
http://mjnewsnetwork.com/politics/2017-outlook-for-cannabis-in-minnesota/
Medical marijuana was approved for a small list of ailments in 2014, and Minnesota’s program is considered one of the most restrictive in the country. MMJ Patients cannot smoke actual cannabis flower, but instead must vaporize oils or take capsules. Qualifying conditions include cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders, MS, glaucoma, ALS, Tourette’s syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and other terminal illness. Intractable pain and PTSD were approved as qualifying conditions in 2016; pain patients were able to join the medical marijuana program in August of that year, while PTSD patients will be able to join starting August 1st of 2017.
So what’s on deck for cannabis in Minnesota in 2017? For activists, it appears that raising awareness of drug policy issues and the right for patients to access medical cannabis are on the top of the list.
OHIO
Medical Cannabis Grow Licenses in Ohio: Is Residency Requirement Justified?
The Department of Commerce aims to issue medical cannabis grow licenses in Ohio to 24 cannabis businesses. 12 small and 12 big companies will receive medical cannabis grow licenses according to the following criteria:
- Experience in medical cannabis industry
- Effective business plan
- Safety and security of medical cannabis business
- Ohio residency requiremnet and employment of Ohioans are preferable
