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What Happened in Weed Last Week: June 17-21 by Andrew Ward

It was another action-packed week in weed this week:

Federal and state regulations continued to move in all sorts of directions.

We saw an example of the ongoing differences between states and indigenous groups concerning cannabis sales.

Market trends show that cannabis is cutting into booze once more. 

And Maryland took a step towards restorative just.

This week’s news quick hits include all that and much more from what happened between Monday, June 17th, and Friday, June 21st, 2024. Let’s dive in.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Maryland governor Wes Moore pardoned more than 175,000 misdemeanor cannabis convictions in the state, marking a huge milestone for the restorative justice movement.

While North Carolina attempts to restrict cannabis sales, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are doing just the opposite in the latest debate around indigenous sovereignty and the right to sell cannabis.

A bipartisan effort among Pennsylvania lawmakers announced plans to legalize adult use cannabis in the state. The move comes as neighboring Ohio inches closer to launching its recreational market.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

After one month of a planned three-month effort led by the New York State Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, Governor Kathy Hochul said that legal sales are up across the state. At the same time, illegal shops continue to shutter in waves.

This July’s California State Fair will become the first US fair to feature an on-site dispensary and competition. The event will also allow on-site consumption, which will undoubtedly be a boon to funnel cake and other snack vendors. 

Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management will open its social equity verification process on June 24th, which is today if you’re reading this article on its publishing date. 

Former US Attorney General William Barr and the prohibitionist group, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, collaborated to ask the DEA to extend its ongoing public comment window surrounding cannabis rescheduling. This seems kind of like whenever two of Godzilla’s enemies team up–let’s see how it plays out. 

Two Iowa beverage manufacturers are suing the state Department of Health and Human Services over a new law limiting THC levels in adult use beverages.

Massachusetts Inspector General urged the state to appoint a Receiver to oversee the state Cannabis Control Commission and its day-to-day operations.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Many in the cannabis industry acknowledged the intersection of cannabis reform and racial Justice on Juneteenth. 

Lawmakers in Delaware’s House of Representatives passed a bill to begin adult use sales earlier than expected. The expedited launch would be made possible through existing medical dispensaries.

The States of Jersey, a self-governing island region under the British crown, could see its decriminalization debate delayed as ministers claim to need more time to develop legislation.

Almost 700,000 Florida medical marijuana patients received an email blast praising Governor Ron DeSantis for opposing the recreational cannabis use legalization efforts in the state. Many patients and advocates claim the email blast represents a misuse of patient information for political gain.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Minnesota regulators revealed that they seized 120 pounds of illegal cannabis flower from 91 retail locations the previous week on June 14th. The crackdowns relate to Minnesota’s ongoing flower sale prohibition until the legal market launches next year.

Despite making progress earlier in the week, it does not appear that legal cannabis will be included in Pennsylvania’s budget this year. Still, advocates voiced optimism, noting a bipartisan support among Pennsylvania lawmakers.

The North Carolina Senate approved a medical marijuana legalization bill in its first of two cannabis votes. The bill will need to be approved a second time before moving to the House, where legalization efforts have been blocked in the past.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Shiloh Jordan’s life was upended over a few crumbs of cannabis. But thanks to Maryland’s recent pardoning of thousands of cannabis convictions, Jordan and many other Marylanders now have better prospects and a potential chance at record expungement.

Despite failing to advance in this year’s legislative session, New Hampshire residents support for legalization, specifically House Bill 1633, which was rejected last week by lawmakers.

MSO Verano opened two new MÜV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Florida, bringing its in-state retail presence to 77 stores. 

Data firm Bernstein is the latest to report that cannabis legalization is eating into Canadian and American alcohol consumption.

That’s a bit of what went down in weed last week. Did we miss anything? Send us a message, and we’ll do our best to round up all the essentials next week. 

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