The possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis is no longer subject to criminal penalties, under legislation HB 837 that took effect of January 1, 2023. Under the new law, adults who possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and/or up to 12 grams of cannabis concentrates and/or any cannabis product containing up to 750 mgs of THC are subject to a civil violation, punishable by no more than a $100 fine. Adults who possess between 1.5 ounces and 2.5 ounces of flower or who possess up to 20 grams of cannabis concentrates and/or products containing up to 1,250 mgs of THC face fines.... View more in new window

From stunning upsets to long-forecasted blowouts, the results of this years midterm elections are sure to mold policy at the federal, state, and local levels for years to come. And while the spotlight of the 2022 midterms seemed to overlook the cannabis industry, several states voted on ballot initiatives that will alter the size, scope, and momentum of Americas marijuana movement. Five states voted on statewide ballot initiatives to legalize adult use cannabis: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. But while it often seems that the cannabis industr.... View more in new window

The U.S. Virgin Islands USVI is set to join the growing ranks of jurisdictions in the country to legalize marijuana, with the territorys Senate approving a comprehensive cannabis reform bill and separate expungements legislation on Friday. Just two months after Sen. Janelle Sarauw I filed the adult-use legalization bill, the Senate passed it handily, with amendments, in a veto-proof 11-1 vote. The expungements legislation passed unanimously. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. D, who has repeatedly called on lawmakers to legalize cannabis, is expected to sign the reforms into law. Alt.... View more in new window

Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly in international drug policy developments in 2022: 1. The Taliban Bans Opium With the withdrawal of US and coalition forces and subsequent rapid collapse of the Afghan government in August 2001, the Taliban once again took power in Kabul. During its earlier rule, it banned opium cultivation in 1997 with little impact and again in 2000. But after the Taliban was overthrown in late 2001, the country saw two decades of massive opium production, making Afghanistan the world`s leading supplier of opium and heroin, accounting for more tha.... View more in new window

A voter-approved constitutional amendment Amendment 3 permitting adults to possess cannabis for personal use took effect today. December 8th is a historic date for Missourians, said Dan Viets, co-author of Amendment 3, Missouri NORML Coordinator, and Chair of the Amendment 3 Advisory Board. Most of the 20,000 annual marijuana arrests in our state will end on that date. Instead, adults will be able to legally possess up to three ounces of cannabis, and soon will also have the option to grow up to 18 plants or purchase cannabis products tested for purity and potency from l.... View more in new window

Over 40,000 residents with marijuana-related convictions will have their records either fully or partially expunged on January 1, 2023, according to an announcement made earlier today by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont. On January 1, thousands of people in Connecticut will have low-level cannabis convictions automatically erased due to the cannabis legalization bill we enacted last year,Gov. Lamont said. Especially as Connecticut employers seek to fill hundreds of thousands of job openings, an old conviction for low-level cannabis possession should not hold someone back from pu.... View more in new window

Select cannabis retailers will begin selling cannabis products to those age 21 or older on Thursday, December 1. A press release issued today by the Governors office states that five operators have received licensure to provide marijuana products to both patients and adults beginning next week. We are proud to launch adult use sales in Rhode Island just six months after the Cannabis Act was signed into law, marking the Northeasts fastest implementation period, saidMatt Santacroce, interim deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Democratic G.... View more in new window

WNBA player Brittney Griner is returning to the U.S. after the government secured her release from Russian detention after serving 10 months of a nine-year sentence for low-level cannabis possession. And while theres widespread relief over the development, already there are calls from advocates and lawmakers to follow up with domestic reform and increased diplomatic efforts to release other U.S. citizens imprisoned abroad, including one teacher who is similarly imprisoned in Russia over medical marijuana. The White House was asked about that case at a press briefing on Th.... View more in new window

The Nevada Supreme Court protects workers who use medical marijuana, the District of Columbia moves to radically reform its medical marijuana program, and more. Minnesota Minnesota Medical Marijuana Program Adds New Qualifying Conditions. The state Department of Health has announced it is adding irritable bowel syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder to the list of qualifying medical conditions for the state`s medical marijuana program. The changes will go into effect on August 1, 2023. ``We are adding the new qualifying conditions to allow patients more therapy opti.... View more in new window