Cannabis In Politics

The Biden Administration’s budget proposal, continues to include a rider preventing Washington D.C. from utilizing funds to establish its voter-approved adult-use cannabis marketplace. This measure, initially introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) in 2014, has persisted despite D.C. voters’ overwhelming support for Initiative 71, which legalized cannabis possession and cultivation for adults. Despite efforts […]

In response to concerns over oversaturation in Oregon’s cannabis industry, the state legislature recently approved a bill aimed at curbing the proliferation of cannabis licenses. The legislation, passed last week, sets limits on the number of production, retail, processor, and wholesale licenses issued, with the goal of stabilizing the market and addressing economic challenges. According

Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts (D) announced her intention to pardon all misdemeanor cannabis possession convictions issued by the state. This decision is poised to have an immediate impact on thousands of individuals who have been burdened by past convictions for minor cannabis offenses. The pardon initiative, proposed by Governor Healey, requires approval from the

In a recent interview, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) expressed disappointment with President Joe Biden’s marijuana pardons, arguing that they should cover possession offenses under military code. Fetterman emphasized that cannabis should be treated similarly to alcohol under federal law. The senator’s remarks came during a conversation with Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo, where he diverged

The Virginia House of Delegates has taken a significant step forward in protecting public sector workers, such as government officials and teachers, from being terminated due to medical marijuana use. In a resounding 80-18 vote, the House advanced a Senate-passed bill introduced by Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D), sending it to the governor’s desk for final

Thailand’s cannabis industry is on edge as the government weighs potential rollbacks of its historic decriminalization reforms, prompting cannabis entrepreneurs and operators to brace for legal battles, reports This Week in Asia. The threat of litigation looms large following the introduction of legislation earlier this year by Thailand’s health minister, which could effectively criminalize recreational

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has announced a new legal battle against five Texas cities that have implemented cannabis decriminalization policies, as reported by The Hill. The lawsuit targets city mayors and council members from Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos, arguing that their decriminalization policies violate Texas laws on marijuana possession and

In a concerted effort to address the challenges posed by market saturation, the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon (CIAO) is actively advocating for the permanent extension of a licensing moratorium that is currently slated to expire in April. This development was reported by KLCC, shedding light on the CIAO’s strategic move to sustain industry equilibrium

In a significant milestone for cannabis reform, state courts in the United States have granted pardons or expungements for over 2.3 million cannabis-related convictions since 2018, according to an updated analysis by NORML. The report highlights a substantial surge, with around 500,000 individuals receiving relief in the past year alone. The analysis encompasses publicly available

Thailand is poised for a significant shift in its cannabis policy, as announced by the Minister of Public Health, Mr. Cholnan Srikaew. The proposed law, detailed by the Thai Examiner, is set to strictly regulate cannabis, concentrating exclusively on its medical applications while effectively outlawing recreational use. The proposed legislation introduces a stringent threshold, declaring