Two Illinois legislators have introduced bills to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. However, state Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, both Democrats from the north side of Chicago, said they will not put the bills up for a vote this year. Rather, they will hold hearings on the bills with an eye toward putting them up for a vote next year.
Tag Archives: Recreational Marijuana
Nevada Senate Bill Would Allow Some Public Use of Marijuana
A bill introduced in the Nevada Senate would allow public use of marijuana in certain circumstances, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. As of Jan. 1, 2017, Nevadans can possess marijuana, but they can use it only in private residences. Senate Bill 236 would allow local governments to give businesses and events licenses so patrons can use marijuana publicly.
Colorado House Committee Limits Number of Home-Grown Marijuana Plants
A committee in the Colorado House has voted to restrict the number of home-grown marijuana plants to 12, according to the Associated Press. The committee voted 11-2 for the limitation. Currently, medical-marijuana users are allowed to have up to 99 plants at home, while recreational users can have six, which can be placed in greenhouses operated by co-ops.
Texas Misses Out on Millions Due to Delayed Start of Medical Marijuana Act
Delays in implementing Texas’s medical marijuana law could be keeping the state from millions in tax revenues, according to Forbes. The Texas Compassionate Use Act became law on June 1, 2015, but it required doctors to write prescriptions for medical marijuana. Two problems stem from that requirement.
Colorado Dispensaries Could Get The Right to Deliver
A bill introduced in the Colorado Senate could allow licensed dispensaries to obtain a state endorsement to make deliveries to homes. If passed, Senate Bill 192 would allow residential deliveries of up to one ounce of recreational marijuana and up to two ounces of medical marijuana. Dispensaries would not be allowed to deliver to commercial, public, hotel or dormitory addresses.
Poll: Iowans Increasingly Support Medical Marijuana
Iowans are increasingly supportive of medical marijuana. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found 80 percent of adult Iowans approve of medical marijuana legalization. Iowa has a medical marijuana program, but it only allows people with epilepsy to use low-THC marijuana oil—and that program will expire during the summer of 2017.
In 2016, Colorado Marijuana Sales Hit $1.3 Billion
In 2016, Colorado sales of recreational and medical marijuana sales combined hit $1.3 billion, according to a Feb. 9, 2017, article by the Associated Press. The figure, drawn from a Colorado Department of Revenue report, shows a steady climb from $699 million in 2014 and $996 million in 2015.
Maine Legislators Propose Extension of Delay in Marijuana Retail Sales
Adult-use marijuana legalization in Maine is set for Jan. 30, 2017, but the law included a nine-month delay in retail sales to allow lawmakers to set rules. Now Senate President Mike Thibodeau, a Republican from Winterport, Maine, and Rep. Louis Luchini, a Democrat from Ellsworth, Maine, have proposed extending the delay until Feb. 1, 2018.
Maine Governor Wants to Get Rid of State’s Medical Marijuana Program
Now that adult-use marijuana is legal in Maine, Gov. Paul LePage wants to get rid of the state’s medical marijuana program. Maine voters passed Question 1, the marijuana legalization referendum, on Nov. 8, 2016, leading LePage to say “we’ve got to get rid of medical marijuana” on a recent interview with a radio show.
New Hampshire Officers Worry About Legalization in Neighboring States
Law enforcement officers in New Hampshire are worried about the impact of legalized marijuana in neighboring Massachusetts and Maine. “Regardless of what the existing laws are in the state of Maine or the state of Massachusetts, marijuana possession is illegal in New Hampshire,” State Police Lt. Chris Vetter said.
California Could See $1 Billion in Tax Revenue From Legal Marijuana
In California, analysts are saying the state could see $1 billion in tax revenue from marijuana when a new legalization law becomes effective in 2018, according to an article in the International Business Times. The recently approved Proposition 64 prescribes a 15 percent excise tax on adult-use and medical marijuana.
As Massachusetts Votes on Legalization, Rhode Island Governor Plans Ahead
As Massachusetts residents prepare to vote on marijuana legalization, the governor of neighboring Rhode Island is considering the next move for her state’s pot policy, which already allows medical marijuana. If Massachusetts legalizes, Rhode Island will have to look at the issue “harder and faster.”
Anti-Legalization TV Ad Places Pot Shops Next to Toy Stores
As Massachusetts voters prepare to vote on Question 4, a ballot initiative that could legalize recreational marijuana in the state, opponents are slated to launch their first television advertisement on Oct. 18, 2016. In the ad, a mother drives her daughter to a toy store, which is located beside a marijuana shop.
LDS Leaders Want Members to Vote Against Recreational Marijuana
The leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is urging its members in Arizona, California, and Nevada to vote against the legalization of recreational marijuana. The top three leaders in the church made their appeal in a letter, according to KUTV.com, website for the CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City.
Maine’s Medical Pot Growers Split on Recreational Legalization
In Maine, medical marijuana advocates are divided on legalization of recreational pot, according to an Oct. 11, 2016, article in the Bangor Daily News. Residents will vote in November 2016 on Question 1, the ballot question which could legalize recreational pot. The state already has allowed medical marijuana.
Legalized Recreational Marijuana Brings Decrease in Medicinal Pot Applications
A new study from GreenWave Advisors reveals a drop in medical-marijuana applications in states where marijuana has been legalized or soon could be, according to Forbes.com. In three states where recreational marijuana has been legalized—Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.—the number of patients seeking official medical marijuana certification has dropped.
Marijuana Social Clubs Are Illegal, Alaska Attorney General Says
Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth has issued an opinion stating marijuana social clubs are illegal, according to an Sept. 1, 2016, article in the Alaska Dispatch News. “If that place is not a licensed retail marijuana store, consuming marijuana there is unlawful,” Lindemuth wrote in her opinion.
Musician Brendan Hill Creates a Unique Way To Sell Recreational Pot
Brendan Hill, drummer for Blues Traveler, has created a unique way to sell recreational marijuana in Bainbridge Island, Wash., according to an Aug. 24, 2016, article at Forbes.com. A little more than a year ago, Hill opened Paper & Leaf, tagged as “Bainbridge Island’s first and ONLY premier recreational cannabis boutique.”
In Arizona, Medical Marijuana Licenses Could Lead to Recreational Fortunes
Arizona is seeing a deluge of applications for medical marijuana licenses ahead of a November vote on recreational marijuana, according to an article at AZCentral.com. According to ballot initiative Proposition 205, if the initiative passes, medical marijuana dispensaries in good standing will get the first crack at licenses for selling recreational marijuana.
Nevada Pro-Legalization PAC Reserves $800,000 in TV Ads
The Nevada PAC behind legalization of recreational marijuana has reserved $800,000 in advertising at Las Vegas TV stations. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol wants to spread their message prior to November voting.
Massachusetts Legalization Debate Centers on Edibles
As Massachusetts residents mull their upcoming votes on a November ballot question that could legalize recreational marijuana, the public debate is centering on edibles. A group of Massachusetts state senators recently took a trip to Colorado, where marijuana edibles that look like gummy bears, fruits and animals have been outlawed.
Prohibition Gold Invents a Powdered-Marijuana Mixer Called PotShotz
Prohibition Gold has a new product for the recreational marijuana market: a powdered-pot mixer that dissolves in beverages. Called PotShotz, the mixer comes in a packet with 10 mg of THC in a quarter-teaspoon of powder. “This isn’t what comes to mind when you think about marijuana,” Prohibition Gold co-founder Tom Williams said.
Study Says Recreational Pot in Arizona Will Bring $82 Million in Taxes
A new study says Arizonans would spend about $500 million on marijuana if it is legalized for recreational use, according to a Capitol Media Services report at Tucson.com. That would generate about $82 million in taxes for Arizona each year.
Pro-Legalization PAC in Nevada Sees Contributions Spike
A pro-legalization political action committee in Nevada, Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, raised more than $100,000 this month. The PAC supports the Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana, which will appear on the November ballot. If voters affirm the initiative, Nevadans 21 years of age and older will be able to use marijuana recreationally.
Newsom Says Pot Legalization in California ‘Not a Done Deal’
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is telling supporters of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act legalization is not a sure thing. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act is expected soon to be set for November’s ballot, but Newsom, speaking to the National Cannabis Industry Association’s convention in Oakland, Calif., on June 21, 2016, said that does not guarantee its passage.
Teen Use of Marijuana Slips Lower in Colorado
Teen use of marijuana in Colorado has slipped lower despite the state’s legalization of recreational pot for adults. However, according to the latest biannual survey by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, high school students’ use of marijuana slightly decreased after the state allowed licensed retailers to sell pot in 2014.
Youth Attitudes Not Affected by Legalization of Medical Marijuana
A new study suggests youth attitudes are not directly affected by legalization of medical marijuana. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, said young people who live in states where medical marijuana has been legalized probably already had liberal views about the drug.
Both Sides of Pot Legalization in Massachusetts Want Further Study
A proposed ballot question in Massachusetts has supporters and opponents of marijuana legalization eager for more data about pot usage. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is trying to get a question on November’s ballot that would allow voters to legalize possession and use of marijuana for those 21 years of age and older.
Louisiana Governor Wants to Allow Broader Use of Medical Marijuana
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards wants to allow broader use of medical marijuana in his state. The Democratic governor expressed support for a bill authored by Republican Sen. Fred Mills of Parks, La., that would allow more diseases to be addressed with medical marijuana. But Edwards insisted he did not want legalized recreational pot.
Senate Committee Urges State To Proceed With Caution On Legal Recreational Marijuana
Boston-On Beacon Hill Tuesday, a special committee of the state Senate focusing on marijuana released its report of recommendations, should Massachusetts voters approve legalizing recreational marijuana this fall. View full article here.
Reform CA Files Recreational Initiative
Reform CA recently filed initiative language with the California Attorney General that, with enough support, would put recreational marijuana on the 2016 ballot. The proposed initiative will likely be only one of several alternatives, a scenario causing concern that the fragmentation of support might cause reform to fail again.
Corey Barnette’s Ambitions for DC’s Legal Marijuana
District Grower’s building in Southeast, Washington, D.C., is incognito by design—it shares walls with an auto body shop and has no sign indicating what goes on behind its weathered brick facade.
States Weighing Legal Pot Look to Tax Revenues in Colorado, Washington
When voters in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, D.C., Florida and Guam head to the polls in November to decide whether to legalize marijuana, either for medical or recreational use, some may wonder how much new tax revenue legalization might bring in.
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Moves Into MMJ
No, Buffett and Co. are not jumping into the production or distribution of marijuana, but they are trying to help those already in those lines of work.
CO Recreational Marijuana Sales Outpace Medical Marijuana
A sticking point about recreational cannabis in Colorado is the fact that more people frequent the medical dispensaries than they do the recreational ones. The reason for that can be explained by the significantly lower taxes on medical marijuana; why would you pay 10% or more for cannabis when you can simply pay regular sales…
Colorado Proposes New Edible Cannabis Rules
When Colorado legalized recreational cannabis eight months ago, no one was really sure how it would all turn out. Despite doom-laden prophecies from prohibitionists, cannabis legalization in Colorado has been a huge success.
What Happens if Oregon Legalizes?
It is high time to start speculating about what it would mean if Oregon were to legalize recreational marijuana on November 4, 2014. What will the business environment be like? What are the implications for the industry in the state of Washington?
BlueKudu
BlueKudu prides itself on cooking up the most quality edibles, as their cannabis chocolate creations are made with natural and organic ingredients. BlueKudu caters to both recreational and medical marijuana users.
Recreational Cannabis on Oregon’s Ballot
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. Taking a lesson from William Edward Hickson, Oregonians, led by cannabis activist group New Approach Oregon, have collected the required number of signatures for the “Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act” to qualify for the November 2014 ballot.
Botanico
Botanico is a recreational marijuana dispensary with consistently superior products and services at affordable prices.
State’s First Legal Marijuana Shops Open for Business
SEATTLE — Pot shops opened to long lines Tuesday as Washington became the second state to legalize recreational marijuana.
Seattle’s First Pot Shop Poised to Open Tuesday
A week before the grand opening of Cannabis City, James Lathrop paces by the conspicuously bare glass display cases in his small shop, tucked away just south of downtown Seattle.
Bumpy Road Ahead for Washington’s Legal Pot Industry
SEATTLE (AP) — Pete O’Neil saw Washington’s legalization of marijuana in 2012 as a path to retirement, or at least to his kids’ college tuition.
Proof Is in the Pot: Legal Weed Gives Colorado Business a Boost
New Year’s Day 2014 was the first day Colorado allowed licensed vendors to sell marijuana to anyone 21 years or older, making buying a bag of pot virtually the same as buying a six-pack of beer. Just 24 hours later, the state’s retail marijuana shops, most of which are in the Denver area, surpassed an aggregate $1 million in sales.
Warehouse Space Scarce as Indoor Weed Farms Skunk Denver’s Industrial Real Estate
Recreational marijuana has owners of Denver industrial property seeing green in more ways than one. Industrial warehouse space is becoming scarce in Denver for pot-growing operations. On March 11, 2o14, The Denver Post reported that the competitive market of warehouses for pot operations puts dispensaries in a head-to head competition for the space.
Oregon Eyeing Legalization a Second Time
Oregon cannabis activists are trying once again to legalize cannabis for recreational use with Initiative Petition 53; the odds of it passing have never been better. According to Liberty Voice, support for cannabis legalization has gained critical ground in the last two years. Polls reveal that approximately 51 percent of voters support the legalization of recreational cannabis.
Budding Recreational Pot Industry Sparks Innovation and Investment
Recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado and Washington state, and though it’s still illegal under federal law, more states are considering the move, setting the stage for a potential gold rush that could conceivably rival the repeal of prohibition. Economics correspondent Paul Solman talks to entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the cannabis industry.
Wenatchee Blinked
Court watchers sat on the edge of their seats this week, watching the conflict between federal and state marijuana law play out in the city council meetings of a tiny rural Washington State town. The local ordinance, drafted specifically to ban pot businesses, incorporated federal law by reference.
Washington Fortifying Pot Labels
On July 1, 2014, Washington will become the second state in the union to sell recreational marijuana. It has been a long 18 months since cannabis was legalized in Washington State, and the long wait has only served to stoke the fires of anticipation. One advantage to the protracted period of time between legalization and opening up pot shops is the ability to learn from Colorado’s mistakes. One mistake Washington hopes to correct is the inconsistent labeling methods of edible cannabis.
Are Marijuana Taxes Too High?
If there are still any cannabis naysayers left in the state of Colorado, then no one can hear them over the ridiculous amount of money being made there. According to the Denver Post, Colorado made $22 million in recreational sales in April 2014, netting the state $3.5 million in tax revenue. Sales were likely boosted by the cannabis holiday 4/20, which attracted thousands of out-of-state visitors this year.