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Are HIPAA-Style Privacy Regulations Coming to Cannabis?
As of Dec. 1, 2021, cannabis dispensaries and technology vendors operating in the state of Illinois must protect health information with the same stringent security and privacy standards required of medical providers under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These regulations, applied by the...
Rhode Island Legalizes Cannabis With New RICA Law
Rhode Island announced Wednesday that it would be the 19th state to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis. Democratic Governor Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act (RICA) into law, according to a press release on his website. Possession and Home Grow The RICA allows Rhode Islanders age 21 and over to possess up...
Department of Veterans Affairs Thinks Hemp Is Illegal. It's Not.
Zack Zindler and his hemp company, Native Ceuticals Tampa, were denied inclusion in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans First Contracting Program citing illegal substances, but legal experts say the 2018 Farm Bill states otherwise. The VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) announced Tuesday they have denied a...
U.S. Patent on Cannabis to Earn Millions for Government and Big Pharma
Fun fact: the U.S. Government held a patent on certain cannabinoids for 16 years. The National Institute of Health (NIH) licensed certain pharmaceutical companies to use some of these patented materials. In the event those companies develop a successful drug from those materials, the NIH receives a percentage of sales. To put...
New Jersey Cops On Front Line Of Legal Cannabis Battle
Can cops smoke cannabis in states where it is legal? It’s a question with no clear answer, mostly due to conflicting state and federal cannabis laws. And when the use of firearms comes into the equation, laws concerning the recreational use of cannabis by off-duty cops can become a quagmire. New Jersey is seeing this question...
Breaking Exclusive: Another Cannabis Company Sues the DEA
Attorneys representing a cannabis biopharma conglomerate and federal cannabis cultivation license applicant filed a petition in court today, citing that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is taking too long to issue a determination for its application. The petition, filed by Megan Sheehan of Sheehan and Associates in Rhode...
New York Senator Introduces Cannabis Community Reinvestment Act
Multi-state cannabis operators (MSOs) are making millions from the legalized industry. Meanwhile, many of the communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition have yet to experience an economic boost from legalization. To combat this troubling trend, New York State Democratic Senator James Sanders Jr. is introducing the Cannabis...
Is Cannabis Federally Legal Now?
Laws around cannabis can be confusing. Individual states have their own laws and regulations surrounding the plant and its products. Now, legislation called the MORE Act is being introduced that would legalize cannabis on a federal level. Current Federal Status Cannabis is legal for adult-use in 19 states and for medical use in...
New Mexico Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Earn $4.5M First Weekend
New Mexico launched adult-use cannabis sales on Friday, April 1, 2022. Sales were staggering. In just one weekend, the Cannabis Control Division reported a total of $4.5 million in sales. Nearly 70% are from recreational purchases. The state’s medical cannabis program has been in place since 2007. Friday’s change places New...
MORE Act Passes the House for Second Time
On Friday, April 1, 2022, the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity and Expungement Act (MORE) for the Second Time. The U.S. House of Representatives officially passed The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, a bill that would end the federal prohibition of cannabis by removing it from the list of...
Meanwhile in Canada, the Smoke is Heavy
A recent editorial in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, by a University of Toronto sociologist reviewed the brief history of cannabis legalization in Canada and concluded in rather unequivocal terms that by and large, we as a nation have come through legalization and are now moving on. “Canada took a fairly restrained...
Inside the National Cannabis Party's First Year in Action
So, I know what you’re all thinking … what’s up with the National Cannabis Party? Well, we had a chance to catch up with them and get the scoop on where they are now and what they have in the works. January 2021 was the birth of the National Cannabis Party (NCP), and it seems they haven’t slowed down one bit! The NCP crew...
Mississippi Now 37th State to Legalize Medical Cannabis
Mississippi just became the 37th state to legalize medical cannabis. The law went into effect Wednesday immediately following Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signing of the legislation. In November of 2020, a majority of Mississippi voters approved a medical cannabis initiative. It would have permitted people to buy up to 5 ounces a...
Cannabis Legalization Up For Debate in Congress
It’s been more than 50 years since the Controlled Substances Act was signed into law, designating cannabis as a Schedule I illegal narcotic “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” In that time, millions of Americans were arrested and imprisoned for non-violent crimes related tothe...
The Devastating Aftermath of Incarceration
“It’s equally, if not more traumatizing than prison itself.” — Stephanie Shepard. Imagine paying for a crime for the rest of your life. You’ve paid your dues, and now you’re ready to begin life as a free American again. But it doesn’t work that way. The label “felon” restricts your every move, lessening...
How to Apply for a New York Cannabis License
For those of you whose summer beach reading list does not include New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), Green Light Law Group has some advice. Here are some FAQs about the process for obtaining a recreational cannabis license in the Empire State. Future FAQs will examine specific adult-use license types and rules...
Medical Cannabis Flower Now Legal in Louisiana
The state of Louisiana’s fledgling medical marijuana program officially allowed the sale of cannabis flower on New Year’s Day. Cannabis in Louisiana is legal only for medicinal use. Medical marijuana (MMJ) use is allowed with a physician’s written recommendation for any debilitating condition. Adult-use possession of 14...
Progress Report: Cannabis Legalization
Senator Chuck Schumer has made cannabis legalization a priority. Let’s check in to see where the U.S. stands on legalization.
Is Weed Legal in Canada? A Guide to Local Regulations
More and more countries worldwide are legalizing weed. In Canada, its use is legal, however, under some restrictions. Are you wondering if you can buy weed legally in Canada and in which quantities? In our guide, you'll not only get familiar with the local regulations but also the proven methods to verify the quality of your...
What the United States Can Learn From Canada’s Cannabis Clarity
The inherent contradictions of American cannabis laws seem to appear in the news almost every week. At the state level, for example, Virginia recently became the latest jurisdiction to allow adult cannabis use, effective this July 1. But just days later, a court upheld United States federal tax laws that treat state-licensed cannabis...
California Governor Signs Bill to Legalize Hemp in Food and Supplements
The California state legislature has passed Assembly Bill 45, which will set regulations and requirements for the production and marketing of hemp and CBD products.
SAFE Banking Act Passes in the House (Again)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday morning the House of Representatives approved an updated version of the SAFE Banking Act, which provides guidance to financial institutions that are willing to work with legal cannabis businesses. The approved amendment to protect financial institutions that service state-legal cannabis businesses from...
Colombia (Finally!) Legalizes Dried Medical Cannabis Flower Exports
Colombia gave the go-ahead for exports of dried cannabis for medical and other industries. The Latin American country took another step to develop its marijuana industry, where progress has been slow despite its high potential. After initially being strongly opposed to legalization, President Ivan Duque signed a decree lifting a...
The True Cost of the Cannabis Potency Tax
Editor's Note: This article was published in the spring 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. New York has since legalized adult-use cannabis consumption. The author's perspective on potency taxes remains relevant, as several states are considering similar proposals. As New York continues to slow-step its way towards adult-use...
Federal Cannabis Decriminalization on the Horizon
New legislation was introduced Wednesday that would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, removing it from the list of federally controlled substances. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would empower states to implement their own cannabis laws. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and several other Senate...
Mexico Decriminalizes Adult-Use Cannabis in Remarkable Move
These are historic times for Mexico. On June 28, Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis. The Court’s 8-3 ruling came in response to increased calls for decriminalization, with the goal of reducing drug-related cartel violence in the region. Prohibition was declared unconstitutional in 2018...
Quick Hits: Open Cannabis Consumption in Near Future
New Jersey Planning Board passes legal cannabis zoning that allows consumption lounges. New products & businesses normalizing cannabis. Cannabis news, now.
Breaking News: Connecticut Legalizes Cannabis
Connecticut will be the fifth state after New York, New Mexico, Virginia, and technically New Jersey, that approved legalization this year.
Historic Federal Bill Introduced to Decriminalize Drug Possession
50 years after the "war on drugs," U.S. House Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Cori Bush have revealed a bill to decriminalize drug possession.
5 Laws Every Vape Company Owner in the U.S. Should Know
It’s always an advantage to know the vaping laws governing the marketing, sales, and use of vape products, especially if you’re a company in the e-cigarette industry. In the U.S, the sales and use of vape pens, liquid nicotine, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, or bulk import of such products aren’t without a list of requirements and...