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What Happened in Weed Last Week: Sept. 2-7, 2024 by Andrew Ward

It was another wild week in weed, with Kamala Harris calling out Donald Trump for his cannabis flip-flopping and RFK Jr. doing something similar to the current Vice President a few days later. Don’t ya love how weed’s a full-fledged talking point on the campaign trail? 

In other big news, California might outlaw a significant chunk of an industry loophole. Meanwhile, Kentucky, Ohio, and former Attorney General Bill Barr all helped remind us that business is booming and legalization is far from certain as long as anti-pot voices have any power. And Cherokee Nation did weed lovers in North Cackalacky a solid while simultaneously metaphorically flipping the bird at state officials. 

That and plenty more in a busy week in weed. Get caught up.

Monday, Sept. 2 

VP Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of “brazen flip-flopping” on cannabis reform, showcasing how cannabis is a political football this election cycle. 

Kentucky has received over 2,300 medical dispensary license applications, with the figure doubling over 36 hours in late August.  

Citing clean air health protections, The American Cancer Society (ACS) urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto a bill allowing cannabis cafes across the state. 

Speaking of California, Antioch was identified as having the largest concentration of illegal grow ops in the state. If you think about it, for California, that’s like being the wettest part of the ocean.

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Former President Trump reportedly met with Florida Sen. Joe Gruters and Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers before his endorsement of Florida’s adult use ballot initiative. 

Cannabis sales in Denver decreased for the third year in a row, totaling $48.1 million in 2023. This is the second-biggest decline for Denver this summer, with the Nuggets’ 2024 free agency moves topping the list.

An Oakland, California, cop was placed on leave after police allegedly found $1 million in illegal cannabis at the officer’s and two other homes during a three-house raid.

Nebraska election officials have certified submitted signatures for a medical cannabis initiative, confirming that the measure will appear on the November ballot. You’d think Nebraska would legalize anything that boosts corn chip sales, but that hasn’t been the case so far.

Wednesday, Sept. 4

Maryland rec sales and gray market smoke shops are reportedly harming Washington, D.C. medical dispensaries, which shouldn’t shock anyone who’s even been vaguely following U.S. cannabis markets over the past couple of years.

After coming up short for this election cycle, Idaho advocates announced the launch of a new legalization initiative effort for 2026. 

In Wisconsin, the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis have joined forces to launch a new campaign aimed at medical legalization in the state. 

Thursday, Sept. 5

Former presidential candidate turned Donald Trump advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized VP Kamala Harris’ record as a prosecutor on cannabis issues.

In its latest tally, Kentucky has received nearly 5,000 medical cannabis business license applications.

Ohio regulators capped licenses in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, ruling that each city already has enough licenses for the medical and adult use markets.

And here’s a shocker: Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr thinks pot is a gateway drug and is against rescheduling. Take a moment to pick your jaws up off the floor, folks.    

Friday, Sept. 6

California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed emergency regulations that would prohibit hemp products containing a “detectable amount of total THC” and other new parameters. 

Unlike California’s recent gathering, Connecticut’s Durham Fair will not have pot as part of its festivities. 

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management expanded its list of dispensaries that are 30 days or more delinquent of supplier debts to 13 companies.

Saturday, Sept. 6

Cherokee Nation’s Great Smoky Cannabis Company became the first dispensary to open in North Carolina, much to the chagrin of state regulators. 

That’s a bit of what happened 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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