cannabis ballot measures

Elections 2022: Cannabis Ballot Measures

Election season is coming. This means that cannabis ballot measures, initiatives, initiated proposals, legislative proposals, etc. are moving to the fore. I won’t set out to explain the differences among the several state protocols. You’d leave. In the cannabis context, suffice it to say that “ballot measures” are somehow convoluted and dramatic all at once.

florida cannabis initiative

2024: Adult Use Marijuana in Florida

In 2024, we may finally see adult-use marijuana in Florida. This week, Smart & Safe Florida, a non-profit political organization, filed its ballot initiative, “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana“, with the  Division of Elections to legalize the adult use of marijuana in Florida. Make it Legal Florida already unsuccessfully tried to get adult use on

california cannabis exchange

Interstate Cannabis Agreements in California

I get asked a lot of questions about what California cannabis licensees can and cannot do under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”). California is actually business friendly once operations get going with a license– despite its many issues with the cannabis industry. For example, vertical integration is allowed. There’s no

olcc

Oregon Cannabis: OLCC is Talking Tough

Listen up friends. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) plans to drop the hammer on bad actors in the regulated Oregon market. Or so the Commission announced in a stern news release on Friday, July 29 (the “Release”). The Release is titled “Commissioners plan to tighten ‘change of ownership’ option.” For good effect, it

europe cannabis

EU Marijuana Legalization: A Wave is Coming

Exciting developments lie ahead for European Union (EU) marijuana legalization. It is inevitable that marijuana legalization sweeps the globe–if you haven’t seen it yet, please watch our webinar with Clifford Chance about the existing global economy of marijuana. The question is just one of timing. In Germany, as one prominent example, we’re looking at legalization

caoa federal cannabis legalization

Federal Cannabis Legislation: The CAOA is Back!

Yesterday, Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden presented the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) in the Senate. This version of the CAOA is a big deal, as it’s been over a year since the discussion draft of the bill was shown to the public. It’s also a big

california cannabis tax

California Cannabis Tax Relief: CDFTA and Assembly Bill 195

California cannabis tax relief is a big deal. And a real thing. What’s important now is how the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (“CDTFA”) interprets Assembly Bill 195. As I previously blogged, California is finally on board with a modicum of cannabis tax relief for cannabis licensees (mainly for the benefit of cultivators).

new york cannabis

New York Cannabis Updates: Steady as She Goes

The slow and steady roll-out of New York’s adult-use cannabis rules and regulations continues. The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has made clear: nothing’s stopping this train. But, delays are a given, much as we might hate them. The CCB met on July 14th to pass revised regulations and update the public on the state of

fdny cannabis

FDNY to Stop Cannabis Testing

Things are happening in New York as we get closer to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issuing adult-use licenses: today (July 14, 2022), the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) issued a memo to its branches stating that the FDNY stops cannabis testing for firefighters and applicants to

thailand cannabis

Thoughts on Thailand (Sort of) Legalizing Cannabis

Last month we weighed in on Thailand becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalize cannabis. We’ve  seen some bad reporting on this since then, along the lines of “weed is legal in Thailand!” The new Thai regime is not that progressive, but we still feel that Thailand has taken a step in the